By Jonathan E. Himlin

“To create without passion is to create nothing at all.” Bruce W. Sykes

Art Is Creativity
In its purest form, art is creativity. And if you agree with Mr. Sykes’ contention, you must also conclude, then, that art requires passion in order to create anything worthwhile.

As a group, artists are long on passion. Throughout history they have struggled famously for its cause, often sacrificing security, health and happiness to satisfy their own hunger for artistic truth above all else. Sometimes great rewards follow as a result. But too often the adoration of audiences is more difficult to attain.

Passion Doesn’t Always Pay the Rent
In short, passion doesn’t always pay the rent. So, artists are frequently faced with the task of toning down their work to make it more marketable to the mainstream, or resorting to more commercial ways to make money. But is commercial or commissioned work the enemy of artistic creativity? Or is it a matter of adding your own creative signature to whatever work you do, commissioned or not? (more…)