Art ought
to be free
The image of the starving artist is an apt and correct one. And yet, I remain firm in my belief that art ought to be free.
Free to enjoy by all.
Free.
Art, when turned into a commodity, becomes soulless. A heartless vessel meant to produce money for the company that invested in its creator. The creator themself will receive little. They will remain the starving artist.
All the while, the company behind them will reap the rewards like a medieval landlord collecting taxes from their serfs.
And so, all of the art I put onto this website, including my writing, will be 100% free to download and view. While I accept donations for my work as a form of acknowledgement or appreciation, I do not require or ask for anybody to give anything.
I write, I paint, I photograph for the sake of writing, painting, and photography. I do not do these things to improve my financial standing. If I wanted to do that, I’d just sell my soul and work for the GOP.
Optional Donation Station
While art ought to be free, society should also appreciate the artist enough to ensure that they do not starve, go unhoused, or are forced to endure unnecessary hardships. We have shifted to a monetary-based system, where artists are fed at the behest of the company that sells their work. With all of that said, do not feel you must pay or donate to enjoy art. It is for everybody. Finances should not be a barrier to entry. Donate if you can, but enjoy nonetheless.