Generational Dichotomy?

Welcome.  I'm glad you're joining us.  Today, I'd like to discuss a topic integral to modern art business.

Recently, I've been listening to a lot of interviews with experienced, successful artists, on the Artists Helping Artists podcast, and the The Savvy Painter podcast.  Listening to their stories of how they came up within the art world, how they work, the problems they face and how they overcome them, and their advice to younger artists, paints a picture of what it takes to be successful.  There are a number of themes that emerge, when you hear many of these artists saying the same thing about the same subject.

However, there are some contentions.  When these artists are all saying the same thing, it drives home that idea as something that I need to do.  But when they're disagreeing over a subject, it muddles things a bit, and makes them more interesting at the same time.  One such subject is the topic of self promotion through social media.

When I say generational, I'm not really referring to age, though it can correlate.  I'm thinking more in terms of experience as an artist, the time period in which they began working professionally and selling their art.  What I've noticed with this topic, is that the artists that are against promotion through social media, began in the 70s or 80s, maybe even 90s, working through the gallery system.  Those that are breaking into the field within the last fifteen or so years consider it to be an integral part of art business.

Once upon a time, if you wanted to be successful as a painter, your road led through galleries.  You'd work to get galleries to represent you, then they'd promote you and sell your work.  If you weren't represented by a gallery, you weren't taken seriously by most.

The advent of social media opened a new path.  Self promotion, instantaneous exposure of images of your work to potentially millions of viewers, now makes it possible for artists to find legitimacy and success outside of galleries.  Many artists that have found success this way still use galleries also, but it isn't the only game in town anymore.

The argument against the path of social media seems to stem around the concept of distraction.  It takes too much of the artist's time, occupies too much of their attention, is too much of a distraction from their work.  That time, energy and focus should all be directed towards growing as an artist and producing work.

I don't necessarily disagree with this stance.  I think there's a lot of truth to it.  But, I also think it's a lot easier to say such when you're already successful and have no need to do such things.  For someone who has yet to find success, it's a self-controlled alternative that puts your career in your own hands, without the need to rely others.  That's hard to ignore.

This topic is interesting.  It's multi-faceted.  I don't believe there's any correct answer, but I think it makes for interesting discussion.