Should Artists charge money for their content?

[Someone Depressing]

The job of an artist is a hard one that requires time, practice, and is often thankless. It's also the exact kind of environment where fights or tension arises, especially among people paying for specially commissioned artwork and the artist.

If they want people to have to pay for their art, fine. But if they want to cut off a large part of their viewership and amassing controversy from their fanbase, then that's their problem.

 

[FPLOON]

I always thought that it kinda needs to be a balance between the art everyone can see and the art everyone has to pay up some bones to, at least, own a copy of the artwork in question... Then again, those are the kind of artist I tend to follow and/or pay for commissions to, so there might be a bit of bias in that thought process...

With that said, it's still the artist's choice to go from "all are welcome" to "paying customers/viewers only" the same way it's the audience's choice to continue following/supporting the artist in question... and the copyrighter's choice to file that "cease and desist" claim on said artist, but that last one better have a good-ass reason for doing that, though...

 

[Diddy_Mao]

I guess that depends on the content in question.
Artists looking to remain independent and still make a living off of their creative works tend to have to set up and maintain multiple revenue streams.

Merch sales, patreon, ad sales etc.

And that's all well and good.

However, in my opinion, locking your content behind a pay wall is pretty much just career suicide.
Look at the webcomic industry for example, the bigger names out there have managed to develop a fan base willing to voluntarily support their favorite artists and they do so without charging up front for access.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Let's say that I take up engine repair for a hobby. I do a few repair jobs for friends for free, just for practice. But as I get better, I start buying better tools, and eventually take a job at a repair shop to do it professionally. Do I still "owe" people free repair jobs because I started off doing it for free?

Why are people so against artists earning enough money to actually do it as a career?

I don't know, but you'll find that level of resentment against anything that isn't a 9-to-5 "joe job". "How DARE you try to earn a living from this! You should give it to me for free, but continue to put full-time-job work into it!"

 

[Vykrel]

in regards to you example, it isnt very costly for him to be making the art he is making. while he has every right to charge people to view it, i think its a bit lame. what would be ideal would be to allow people to see it for free, but provide them the ability to purchase it, as well. there are plenty of people out there would would be willing to buy a print or a poster, whatever. im not spending a freaking cent just to look at a picture, though. if im spending any amount of money, it is with the intention of putting said artwork on my wall. this dude is probably not making nearly as much as he could be making if he had gone a more traditional route. just let people see the stuff, and if they like it, give them a way to buy it.

as for other types of art, many of them require a hell of a lot more time and effort, so it only makes sense to charge money.

 

[Fox12]

I don't know. Hey, Harlan Ellison, what do you think?


Oops, sorry everybody, that was a mistake. I'll put him away. Come on Harlan.

...

He's right, though.

 

[The Choke]

Snippity.

Yes. Absolutely yes.

The artist gained popularity and recognition for their product and when they were reasonably sure they had a strong enough fanbase to start supporting themselves with their craft, they did.

Should content-creators who were creating for free on Youtube and then get picked up by a publication like the Escapist get paid? Yes? Then an artist who builds their reputation has the right to get paid, too.

Good on them.