Artists & Illustrators magazine quotes painter Ewan McClure on the subject of creativity and money (or candy):
"If you give a chimp some paint, paper and brushes, it'll get right down to it. It will scribble, mix colours, and evidently have a good time. As soon as you reward the chimp for the painting, there's a shift in attitude. It'll then try to find the bare minimum it has to do for the payout. The pleasure in the act is lost, and the candy becomes the goal."
Interestingly, that's also the main point in Daniel Pink's new book, "Drive," about what motivates us most effectively. Employers usually think it's money but more often it's satisfaction and a challenge.
The magazine also quoted painter Mick Rooney, who has had a long career. He says, "My work comes and goes [in popularity]. One minute people want to invest in it; the next, they're walking past it. I never want to discover myself in that way. I don't want to know that I can make money out of something. I want to develop and challenge myself and make paintings.
If you've ever been buffeted by the changing winds of the marketplace, these are good thoughts to have in mind.
(For support in your writing, see my book, "Your Writing Coach," published by Nicholas Brealey and available from Amazon and other online and offline retailers.)
