Isn't art just supposed to be beautiful/meaningful?

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I wanted to get a pack of 200 sheets of sketch paper, it was only 5 bucks so I thought it was a great deal. My roommate complained that my art is an expensive hobby that I need supplies all the time. I have thus far bought two 5 dollar sets of pastels, a set of charcoal, three sketchbooks . . . she says that my hobby takes about 20 bucks a month . . . Ive been doing this for at least three and that is all i have gotten.

Well one thing led to another and she said that the overall cost was because i was not being productive. My art is recognizable as mine (i didn't see this as a problem) I can draw a lot, show it then store it. I asked her what she meant by productive. She said it did not make money but used money and it did not serve a purpose.

And here I thought art was just supposed to be . . . well art!

Mind you, they would rather buy me a 80 dollar bamboo drawing tablet than get me sketching supplies. My adopted family is weird.

Based on your topic name art can be many things. It doesn't have to be either beautiful or meaningful. Look at Picasso, I wouldn't say his art is beautiful or meaningful.

it's none of your roommate's business as long as you pay your share of rent, food, and utilities. sounds like your roommate is a carper. ignore the lout.

i bet your roommate has a hobby and wouldn't like anyone to criticise their spending on it.

From one artist to another, take my advice-- if you're going to pursue art, either as a profession or a hobby, you're going to have to get used to people like your roommate who see it as wholly impractical. That's just the way some people are. People who see things in terms of dollar figures, or say that art isn't a "real job", or that it doesn't serve a purpose are abundant. And they are also wrong, unless you choose to see things their way. Of course art serves a purpose. It's an outlet for self-expression, a basic human emotional need which I would argue is just as important (if not more so) for some people as the money which buys food and puts a roof over one's head. It creates objects of aesthetic beauty, which help people create comfortable environments around themselves. It fosters political and philosophical discussion, which means it serves as a very important social catalyst. And of course, every building that has ever been built, every product that has ever been designed, every video game that has ever been programmed or movie or TV show that has been filmed owes its existence to some form of artistic discipline.

If you can make money off of your artwork, good for you. That's definitely a bonus. But simply loving the creative process, I think, is sufficient to consider it valid as a pastime. You shouldn't let anyone tell you otherwise. What matters first and foremost is that it has beauty and meaning for yourself.

In addition to what Chevand said, if art really had such low utility, Homo sapiens would have never invented it in the first place, and then we'd differ little from Neanderthals or other hominins who had little if any art whatsoever. Our proclivity for art helps set us modern humans apart from other animals. Besides, who really wants to live in an ugly world?

If there wasn't art, what would be the purpose of money? Money is cold and dead. Art is alive and warm. Sure, it doesn't buy food, but why would you want to eat if there is no reason to live?

That's silly. Lots of people spend way more than $20 a month on "unproductive" hobbies like video games, sports events, concerts, what have you. Even people who dabble in other art forms can easily shell out $500 or more on a DSLR camera or the same on a musical instrument. If it makes you happy, it's productive, and you are free to spend whatever YOU think it's worth; it's not for anyone else to judge. Very few artists of any sort are able to make decent money from their creations, so if that was the standard of something being "worth" doing, we'd all be living in a culturally impoverished world. Keep it up and don't listen to haters!

I think this post leads to a natural curiosity if your roommate's area is complete spartan and bare. Totally free of decoration. I mean no posters or anything on the walls.

Or if they spend any money at all on Music or DVDs.

"Hmmm. Well, that silly art is going to save us $20, what was I thinking? But I'm going to make up for it. Look what I just found - the cable bill - $70 a month, would you believe it. It looks like we're nearly a thousand dollars behind over just the last year!! That's quite a bit of catching up to do, and I just don't see it happening. At least we caught it in time, we can cut this right away. I understand they bill for a partial month so we can stop losing money on it right now, today. Also, I've been thinking, it's high time we have a garage sale. There's alot of good money sitting here going to waste, I am sure we could get at least a few hundred if we pared right back to just a few pots and dishes, some cutlery, a couple pairs of clothes each, a blanket or two, and some barrels to sit on. I don't see anything else around here that is productive, it's just a waste of money. In fact, aren't we paying rent or property taxes or something? They've got some nice tents for sale down at the hardware store, and we do have the car for when winter comes."

Thanks guys u al. Sure cheered me up. Its har
d for me not to feel guilty easily.

Not everyone is obsessed with making money as their highest/only priority.

$20/mo is nothing... most people spend way more than that in a single meal or night of drinking.

Read my signature below. Art is one of the things that makes life worth living for me (the other being my family). $20 a month doesn't seem much, if this is your main interest (I take it you don't spend much on other stuff). If you start painting (especially with oils) your costs will go up, but perhaps by then you'll be able to sell some works. If not, it still serves a purpose - it makes you happy. Keep it up and post some on here.

Yes, please share!