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Okay non-artists, we need to have a talk.
A thread about art therapy and how it's not therapy for working artists.
A thread about art therapy and how it's not therapy for working artists.
You may have been told in life that art is therapeutic. That making art is therapeutic.
And it can be! For many, it is, for some, it's their outlet that saved their life. I have a lifelong friend who does music therapy, and her work is amazing.
And it can be! For many, it is, for some, it's their outlet that saved their life. I have a lifelong friend who does music therapy, and her work is amazing.
I have another friend who got her master's in therapy and social work, her bachelors was in art, and a lot of her work involves art as therapy. It's a wonderful and amazing tool for expression, especially for those who otherwise are uncommunicative.
However, and I have to really drive this home here.
Working artists don't get therapy via your commission orders.
Working artists don't get therapy via your commission orders.
Art for money is not therapy.
Art as a job can be better than other jobs for people, but it is still a job.
Art for pay is work. It's called artwork. It is not the same as art for therapy.
Art as a job can be better than other jobs for people, but it is still a job.
Art for pay is work. It's called artwork. It is not the same as art for therapy.
A lot for non-artists think art is some magical, self healing, always enjoyable experience. But just like any other craft or job, it can be frustrating, it can be exhausting, and it can put us into depression or low moods just like any other profession.
So please.
And I see it in every art field, fine art and what have you,
Please stop acting like you're doing us some sort of mental health favor or acting like a savior when you buy or commission art.
Yes, we love that you love our work, we love that you are buying our work, -
And I see it in every art field, fine art and what have you,
Please stop acting like you're doing us some sort of mental health favor or acting like a savior when you buy or commission art.
Yes, we love that you love our work, we love that you are buying our work, -
we love to work for people and sometimes even with people.
But please stop with the hero complex.
But please stop with the hero complex.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS and it exhibits in many many forms
Artists are not your therapists.
We are not trained to be therapists.
I've had complete strangers commission work in one message, then immediately start a one sided therapy session.
Artists are not your therapists.
We are not trained to be therapists.
I've had complete strangers commission work in one message, then immediately start a one sided therapy session.
Because you are our client, we now feel obligated to listen and respond to you until the transaction is complete. Please do NOT abuse that.
(as a side note, I just have to say this is not spurred by an individual occurrence, but something I've been discussing with my art peers from college as an overall concept)
