Gothamist: Living the Starving Artist Life

crystal

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 11:43:05 -0500

I've been married to a starving artist for 20 years. There have been high points and lows as far as the income he makes goes. I do know this, his mind isn't like a "normal" persons mind. At times when he has taken a "real job" to pay the bills his creative flow is lost completely....he feels things more than the average person. This can be great for creating his paintings, but difficult to live at times, it's a sacrafice I'm willing to put up with. I can work a job I hate and grin and bear it like everyone else by just sort of desensitizing my feelings. He's unable to do that. I'm not saying all artists are ruled by their emotions, but mine certainly is...and sometimes it's a beautiful thing.

Icarus

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:15:06 -0500

Are you a hot chick?

Escape Brooklyn

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:14:15 -0500

Move to Philly. Seriously. Or some other affordable, artist friendly town; NYC is neither. (Chicago, Austin, Twin Cities, and Portland come to mind). I moved to Brooklyn 5 years ago after finishing my MFA in film, and haven't pursued art since because I've been too busy and tired just commuting to my day jobs in Times Square (from Ditmas Park in Brooklyn, one of the few places where I could afford to buy a co-op) and paying the bills. I hear from friends who also want to escape New York that ten years ago NYC was great for artists, but that it's really taken a bad turn. Between the insanely overpriced real estate, overcrowding, and new hoardes of rich folk (like so many of these commenters who just obviously hate artists), it's no longer a good option. I personally have already bought an investment property in Philly and will be moving there as soon as my husband is done with his Masters degree.

greg

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:54:59 -0500

uh two words.. outer boroughs.

nick

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:47:48 -0500

p - would you consider an apartment with walls a "fancy thing" if so, i dont mind working a job i hate so i can have one.

mimi

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 10:30:46 -0500

don't rule out the bronx. an earlier post said to consider it, and you can find large apartments in pre-war buildings. there's also a non profit co-op complex in the van cortlandt area that is well maintained. it's amalgamated houses. the costs are tied into income and tenants are screened. of course you have to have some income to qualify, but if you have the income you can get a very decent apt (huge by manhattan standards).

p

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 02:11:43 -0500

To all of the Vitriolics, Most of the "starving artists" that I know (including myself) have jobs. What makes them starving artists is working just enough to survive...and do their art thing, whatever form that may be. Rather then spending time at a job they hate to buy lots of fancy things, they work enough to live on a tiny budget, and are happy because they're doing their thing. My advice, actually you shouldn't follow this advice, but it is cheap. Empty loft space...instead of walls, string and fabric to divide space between roommates. cheap, barely provides privacy. cheap. Thank god I have since moved into a new place. Good Luck.

nick

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 00:22:47 -0500

a "starving photographer" eh? just take a crappy photo, give it a title that doesn't relate to the picture at all, upload it to flickr, and bam! YOUR WORK IS ON AN "EXTRA, EXTRA" POST.

Hofit

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 22:54:40 -0500

I don't understand why starving artists have money to drink beer but no money for paying rent...

ethnotime

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 20:46:35 -0500

Starving-artists need to use their creative skills when it comes to living on the cheap in New York City. All the artists of the 1980's moved out to Brooklyn when it was no-man's land. In 1988, people would have laughed at you if you said you were moving to Williamsburg or Park Slope. Artists need to think along similar lines: Bronx is a great idea. There ARE safe areas and one could definitely get a nice BIG apartment for cheap. The other thing the starving-artist needs to learn is how to live on the cheap. Is there a blog for that kind of thing? If not, there needs to be one.

bob

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:26:43 -0500

Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, etc...with roommates. Do cocktailing a few nights a week at a club in West Chelsea.

b_g

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:00:31 -0500

ya I have to say that, as world-weary and cynical as it sounds "find a job" is a good solution. but I think artists have a lot of options here in nyc. freelance! painters, sculptors w/construction skills, photogs, whatever. there are freelance opportunities that will string you along, and may pay well. there are a lot of "housing" options that, if you are flexible (and not trust-funded) you can work a weird schedule, get cheap rent, and space to work. you probably have to live w/someone. obviously, a job takes time away from yr art, so if, like myself, you 9-6 it (commute makes is 8-7), get a job that does not follow you home or stress the balls (or tits) off of you. if you get health insurance at that job, plus vaca + sick days, you can pour that free time (and money) into yr work without sweating about yr food. or start dating/marry someone who is "independently wealthy" or just has a good job and can handle yr artsiness (the latter is a common situation in nyc, by my experience)

megc

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:58:34 -0500

Temping is a better bet than fast food ("may I take your order"). Nice atmosphere, better pay, and you actually learn truly useful skills as a temp, including all those customer service skills you gain in the food industry. Just beware of places that will only pay you $10/hr (for shame). In this city, that is a ridiculous pay scale. Even $15/hr is cutting it close. Also, yes, getting a roommate/housemate is a good option for saving the $$. I do both (temp and have a housemate) while doing my art. I like what you say, #10 Arturo van Artisan. I'm a musician here in NYC, and it's challenging to make it just on your art. You do what you can, though. Sorry to see all the hatin' on the artists, though.

Herbert Kornfeld

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:46:44 -0500

learn to like cold spaghetti and shoprite beer or move back to bugtussel and deliver for Dominos

Herbert Kornfeld

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:44:56 -0500

get used to cold spaghetti and shoprite beer

Matthew

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:43:37 -0500

Craigslist Move to Brooklyn Roommates

JC mafia

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:57:40 -0500

Move to Jersey City, it is like Williamsburg but nicer and cheaper, and you get grant money and support from nj pro arts

hr

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:31:42 -0500

Learn these five simple words - "May I take your order?"

Arturo van Artisan

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:28:45 -0500

NYC artists have to be tough. Most artists suck it up and get a job while struggling to make their art. In many ways, the added pressure helps the creative process. I'm amazed at the amount of art people produce here, all the while struggling to pay the bills. Consider the amount of art coming out of NYC versus a place like, say, Amsterdam or Berlin, which are a lot more artist-hospitable. Why isn't there more art coming out of those "artist havens"? It's probably because they aren't feeling the burn of survival like those of us here in NYC.

disconnec

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:16:18 -0500

get a fucking job, hippie.

R

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:14:46 -0500

you could look into artist live work spaces at places like flux factory www.fluxfactory.org

Constant Dater

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:11:21 -0500

I would say the first step would be for her to get off her ass and do shit herself, instead of having her friend find work and apartments on her behalf. Because honestly if you don't have some hustle, you're not going to make it as an artist (or as anything else, for that matter).

Samantha T

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:05:31 -0500

This is more of a compliment than an insult to artists, writers, etc. - I've often been thankful that I'm really just not all that creative. I can't imagine being a talented artist and, yet, unable to afford my rent. That sucks. As for the starving artist nay-sayers, many, many of our most respected artists of yesteryear lived on the fringes and were broke.

so there

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:42:36 -0500

Actually, all the working artists I know DO have day jobs. Most people who move here also have creative endeavors on the side, so the term "starving artist" covers a pretty broad range. I think anyone with a low income deserves a crack at low income housing. People love to bitch about trust fund and starving artists...a city can't survive on investment bankers alone.

uhoh

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:40:39 -0500

i know i can't STAND that starving artist BS! if you don't want to get a paying job, don't complain about it!

Charles the artiste

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:36:06 -0500

You could try to get a day job that would put you in contact with the art scene-like working at a gallery or being an artist's assistant or working at an art store. Or work for a design company or for an advertising agency. Or get a day job that allows you to daydream a bit and not come home totally exhausted and too tired to work on what you really care about. But yeah, get a day job-it sucks (sort of-if you were at home working on your art 24/7, that might not be the healthiest thing and a job will get you out and interacting with people a bit). Also, if you really want to save money...move to the Bronx. Seriously. You would get a ton more space for less money so you would be more likely to have room to work and maybe some money leftover. It seems like some artists are starting to head out to the South Bronx a bit but the northern parts just west of the zoo are nice too. Another random suggestion.

k

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:29:48 -0500

Agree with #1. The only artists that don't have to get 9-5 jobs are the ones that aren't starving.

Questions & Answers

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:22:59 -0500

"Anyone else have suggestions for surviving the city on a starving artist salary?" Yes, get a real 9-5 job like everyone else.