Could This Be Why You’re Not Making More Art Sales?
Ah, the infamous "starving artist mindset." It’s like the party crasher that shows up, eats ALL THE GUAC, and can’t even contribute a worthwhile anecdote to the rest of us party people to earn their tortilla chips.
I know, right? Rude!
We know better than to open the door to this loathsome interloper of merriment; however, it has a sneaky way of showing up… all the time. Let’s shove this freeloading trope into an Uber, wave goodbye, and block its number before it tries to come back.
For centuries, people have spun this ridiculous yarn that true creativity comes with a side of cheap-o ramen noodles (lookin’ at you, Maruchan) and unpaid bills. Who came up with this nonsense? But more importantly, why does it persist?
Before I attempt to answer these questions, it's important to take a magnifying eye on how the starving artist mentality shows up in the lives of artists—even those who seem to have it all figured out.
20 Ways the Starving Artist Mindset Crashes Your Party and Eats All the Chips
Waiting for the “Perfect Time”: “I’ll launch my website when I finish this next collection... and when I take better photos... and when Mercury is out of retrograde.” Newsflash: perfection isn’t coming. Start before you’re ready.
Giving Away Your Work for Free: “It’s for a charity auction! And exposure!” Unless the exposure is guaranteed to lead to paying clients, your time and effort deserve compensation—even for good causes.
Devaluing Your Own Skills: “It’s just something I threw together; it’s not that great.” If you don’t believe in your work, why would anyone else? Stop underselling yourself with disclaimers.
Staying in Hobbyville When What You Want is to Go Pro: “I really want to be a full-time artist but it scares me.” The ego works in weird ways to keep us “safe” at all costs. Even if it means going against what are heart desires. Even when what we want is for our own good.
Letting Impostor Syndrome Run the Show: “I’m not as good as [insert artist here], so who would want to pay for this?” Spoiler: plenty of people would—you just have to put yourself out there.
Believing Artists Can’t Budget: “I’m not a numbers person, so I just try not to think about money.” Avoiding your finances doesn’t make them disappear—understanding them puts you in control.
Downplaying the Time Art Takes: “Oh, this didn’t take that long to make.” Yes, it did. And it took years of skill-building to get that good. Honor the time and effort behind your work.
Overcomplicating Simple Decisions: “Should I post this? Is it good enough? Will people even like it?” The starving artist myth thrives on your second-guessing—trust your gut and hit publish.
Ignoring Rest as a Creative Tool: “I can’t take a break; I have too much to do!” Burnout isn’t noble—it’s counterproductive. Rest fuels creativity, and you deserve it.
Confusing Criticism with Truth: “That person said they don’t like my style—maybe I should change everything!” One opinion doesn’t define your worth. Stay true to your vision, not someone else’s preferences.
Underpricing Your Work: “Wait, $50 for a painting I spent 20 hours on sounds fair, right?” Spoiler: it’s not. Your work isn’t a thrift store find—it’s an investment.
Apologizing for Your Prices: “Sorry this is $200… I can give you a discount if you want!” Newsflash: the people who value your art don’t need an apology—they need your invoice.
Feeling Guilty About Success: You finally sold out a show, and instead of celebrating, you’re wondering if you’ve “sold out.” (Hint: you didn’t. Order the champagne.)
Avoiding Self-Promotion: “I don’t want to seem pushy, so I’ll just whisper about my new collection to my cat.” Marketing isn’t pushy—it’s how your art finds its people.
Saying Yes to Every Commission: Even the one where someone asks for a painting that looks like a painting from another artist they can’t afford. Boundaries, my friend, boundaries.
Believing Struggle Is a Badge of Honor: “If I’m not a little stressed and broke, am I even a real artist?” Yes, you are. Stress isn’t the prerequisite for greatness.
Thinking Marketing Is 'Selling Out': “Real art doesn’t need a pitch.” Actually, real art does—otherwise, it’s just sitting in your studio collecting dust.
Fear of Raising Prices: “What if no one buys it?” Well, what if the right people do? Raising your prices attracts the collectors who see your value.
Romanticizing the Hustle: Bragging about working 14-hour days while eating cold pizza isn’t inspiring—it’s a cry for help (and maybe a hot meal).
Letting Perfectionism Be the Boss: “It’s not ready yet—I just need to tweak this one more thing.” Then another. And another. Meanwhile, that piece hasn’t left your studio, and you’re stuck in a never-ending loop of “almost.” Progress beats perfection every time.
Artists Know Better… So What Gives?
This is the question I ask myself so often. I’m pretty sure most artists have at least felt some measure of success. They’ve also seen other artists attain the business of their dreams (so we know it IS possible).
You, me, and other artists like you certainly deserve better because a world where this ancient myth still haunts the artists is one I refuse to accept.
I’m not saying I have all the answers, but I know that we can start getting smarter than this sneaky bugger. And in order to move forward to cast a new vision where we’re free from this way of thinking, we must analyze how we got here, and why it’s still holding us back.
But first, have you taken my free quiz yet? I’m holding on to the hope of a world where every artist can thrive and become prolific and profitable. How about you? If you’d like to get a quick assessment of where you are and what moves to make going forward, then pause reading this article for a hot sec, take the quiz, and come back here when you’re done. The results will be sent to your inbox right away.
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What’s Fueling the Starving Artist Myth?
1. A Romanticized Struggle
Blame history. Artists like van Gogh, Bach, and even Edgar Allan Poe often lived in financial hardship, and their stories have been retold with a certain wistful allure. The idea is that suffering somehow makes the art more authentic, more “real.” But here’s the kicker: these stories were crafted posthumously. That means their financial struggles didn’t make them successful; they just happened to be a part of their lives.
This glorification of struggle has created a harmful ripple effect that modern artists are still grappling with. We’ve been taught that struggle equals authenticity, and authenticity equals greatness. But does it? Think about it: if van Gogh had access to a solid marketing strategy and supportive collectors during his lifetime, would his work have been any less impactful? Absolutely not. In fact, he might have had the resources to create even more masterpieces.
2. Cultural Glorification of Sacrifice
Pop culture and society at large didn’t help, either. We love a good narrative of struggle turned success—just look at the music industry. The stories of heartbreak, addiction, and hard times aren’t just fodder for hit songs; they’re practically a prerequisite for stardom. Taylor Swift built an empire out of heartbreak anthems. Every country singer seems to have a tale of loss or hard-fought redemption. Even Adele’s most celebrated moments are tied to songs born from heartbreak and grief.
This glorification of sacrifice has become embedded in our cultural psyche: pain equals authenticity. The more you’ve endured, the more legitimate your art becomes. It’s as if the creative process isn’t considered “real” unless you’ve suffered for it.
But here’s the problem: this narrative creates a false dichotomy. You’re either a “pure” artist who struggles for your craft, or a “sellout” who dares to thrive. The reality? Creativity and financial success are not mutually exclusive. You can honor your artistic integrity and pay your bills. You can write love songs from a place of joy, paint without existential angst, and build a career on curiosity and innovation instead of pain.
This cultural obsession with sacrifice keeps creatives stuck, undervaluing their work and doubting their worth. It’s time to rewrite the story: one where struggle isn’t the badge of authenticity, and thriving artists are celebrated, not shamed.
3. Everybody Loves the Hero’s Journey
We’re suckers for a good hero’s journey. It’s practically written into our DNA to root for the underdog who faces adversity, suffers a few defeats, and triumphs in the end. From mythology to pop culture, we’ve been raised on stories of struggle: the phoenix rising from the ashes, the artist battling inner demons, the musician pouring heartbreak into a chart-topping hit.
This narrative isn’t just familiar—it’s celebrated. And while it can inspire us, it often traps artists in a dangerous mindset: you can’t be brilliant unless you’ve “earned it” through pain.
The hero’s journey makes for compelling storytelling, but it doesn’t need to be a blueprint for a creative life. You don’t need to claw your way out of despair to create something meaningful. Struggle doesn’t own creativity. Joy, curiosity, and stability can be just as powerful sources of inspiration.
Let’s stop expecting every artist to live out a tragic three-act structure just to prove their worth. The story of a thriving artist is just as valid—and far more exciting for the person living it.
4. The Manufactured Scarcity of “Good Art”
The art world loves to tell us that “good art” is rare. Galleries and institutions carefully cultivate this illusion, keeping the pool of “anointed” artists small and exclusive to drive up the value of their work. The narrative goes: only a select few possess the genius or talent worthy of museum walls or high-end auction blocks. And if that’s true, then of course the rest of us—mere mortals creating work in our studios—couldn’t possibly deserve financial stability.
But here’s the truth: this scarcity isn’t natural—it’s engineered. By keeping the circle of artists they promote intentionally small, galleries and auction houses can increase the perceived value of an artist’s work, creating demand that benefits them while leaving most other creatives out in the cold. Worse, when those select artists’ works are resold on the secondary market—sometimes for millions—those profits go straight into the pockets of collectors or auction houses, not the artist who created the work in the first place.
This system feeds directly into the starving artist myth. It says: If you’re not one of the chosen few, your work doesn’t matter. If you’re not struggling, toiling in obscurity for years before some gallerist “discovers” you, then your art can’t possibly be valuable. It’s a system designed to keep artists dependent on external validation and to uphold the idea that art is only legitimate if it comes with struggle.
5. The Economic Inequality Problem
Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: not everyone can afford to live the “starving artist” lifestyle. This myth is often romanticized by those with financial safety nets—the ones who can afford to struggle safely, knowing they have a safety net if they fall. But for many, especially those from underrepresented communities, the reality of financial insecurity makes pursuing art a nearly impossible gamble.
And here’s the cruel irony: the very struggle that’s supposed to “fuel” creativity often ends up smothering it. When you’re spending all your time working multiple jobs to survive, there’s little energy—or time—left to pour into your art. How can someone find inspiration when they’re worried about rent, food, or healthcare? Many talented artists are forced to throw in the towel long before they’re ever discovered, not because they lack skill or passion, but because the system simply doesn’t allow them the room to thrive.
This is the paradox of the starving artist myth: it promises that struggle will lead to greatness, yet it’s the very thing that prevents so many artists from creating in the first place. By perpetuating this myth, we’re not just excluding voices—we’re actively losing them.
Art shouldn’t be reserved for those who can afford to suffer. It should be accessible to anyone with a vision, and it’s time to dismantle the systems and beliefs that make creative success feel out of reach for all but a privileged few.
6. The Lack of (Good) Business Education
The starving artist myth isn’t just a mindset—it’s an institutional failure. For far too long, artists have been told to focus solely on their craft and leave the “money stuff” to someone else—or, more often, to no one at all. The message is clear: art and business are separate worlds, and trying to master both somehow diminishes your authenticity.
But here’s the reality: in today’s world, the artists who thrive are the ones who embrace branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship as an extension of their creativity. They treat their art as a business—not a side hustle or a passion project.
That said, while there are more resources available today for artists to learn these skills, there still aren’t enough good ones. Much of the advice out there is overly generic, overly complicated, or overly focused on tactics that don’t actually align with the reality of being a working artist. For many, the learning curve feels so steep they give up before they even start.
The truth? Artists deserve better. They need practical, tailored education that teaches them not just how to sell their work but how to build sustainable, thriving careers without sacrificing their vision. Art school doesn’t cover this. Many online resources don’t go far enough, or they’re simply regurgitated marketing advice that commodifies art. Until we close this gap, the myth of the starving artist will continue to thrive—because we’re not giving artists the tools they need to rewrite the narrative.
7. The Permission Trap
One of the biggest ways the starving artist myth keeps its grip on you is by convincing you that you need someone else’s approval to take yourself—and your work—seriously. It whispers that you shouldn’t invest in your art business until a gallery “discovers” you, a collector validates your work, or you hit some arbitrary milestone that proves you’re “worthy.”
This waiting game is one of the myth’s most insidious traps. By holding out for external validation, you put your future in someone else’s hands. Meanwhile, you stay stuck, avoiding the investments—whether in professional help, education, or tools—that could actually build your career.
And let’s not forget: the myth also tells you that “real artists” shouldn’t worry about things like marketing or selling their work. But let’s be real—building a sustainable art career is entrepreneurship. The artists who thrive aren’t the ones who wait for permission; they’re the ones who take ownership of their path, even if it means stepping into uncomfortable territory like selling or branding.
The longer you wait for a gallery to “anoint” you, the longer you stay stuck in the starving artist mindset. Taking action isn’t selling out—it’s showing up for yourself and your creative future.
The Truth: Innovation and Sales Thrive on Stability
Here’s the thing the starving artist myth gets completely wrong: financial stress doesn’t fuel creativity—it stifles it. When you’re worried about making rent, juggling multiple side gigs, or wondering how to pay for materials, there’s little room left for the freedom and experimentation that groundbreaking art demands.
Think about it: when your basic needs are met, you can take risks. You can spend more time in your studio, push boundaries, and experiment with ideas you might otherwise dismiss as “too risky.” Stability creates the space for creativity to flourish—not struggle, not starvation, but a solid foundation that lets you dream bigger.
If we want to see innovative, boundary-pushing art in the world, we need to support artists in building sustainable, thriving careers. This means dismantling the systems and beliefs that keep artists tied to the starving artist narrative and creating space for artists to thrive without the pressure of constant financial insecurity.
👆🏼 And this is exactly what I’m here to do.
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