Be Smart about Art

I have recently met an old person who was selling his art supplies because he stopped doing art. I saw a perfect example of "failed artist" who is about to loose his mind because of his ideas and opinions. He seemed so agitated, he couldn't even stand at one spot, walking back and forth in the room and talking non stop.
He was telling me that he used to do surrealistic painting and tried to get into galleries. And all the galleries were telling him the same thing: they liked his stuff, but it won't sell. And he was blaming Canadians for not understanding real art, saying that real culture is in Europe. He was spieling all this word about people not wanting so see art and not caring about it at all. There was so much madness in him. The ideas and desire to be appreciated for what he is doing literally made him crazy.
But why should anyone care about someone' picture? After all its just a picture. Craving for publicity is a very ego-centred goal.
He asked me how I survive being in the art industry myself. I told him that I don't struggle because I treat art as a job, not as a lifestyle. If I wanted this to be my lifestyle I would paint because I love it. I am aware that I won't be able to make a living doing it. I would probably have to work somewhere to survive. But if I would hope that my paintings would feed me, then my life would be full of disappointments. I use art in a way that people need and buy, then my job is full of success and pleasure. Any artist has to adopt to a situation in order to make it a source of income. We have to be flexible in what we're doing. Then disappointment won't be a part of your life.