Mark Simon. All images courtesy of Mark Simon.

Art is a creative endeavor.

Art is beauty in the eye of the beholder.

Art is style meets function.

Art is expression.

Art is business.

Whoa. Can I be a real artist and say that it's a business?

Hell, yes.

Am I "selling out" by making money from my art?

Hell, no.

We've all heard some artists bitch about not wanting to "sell out" by having to do anything artistic outside their own petty lives. They prefer to work some menial or non-creative job. Then they complain about being a starving artist. You might be one.

If this sounds like you, get over yourself. Not wanting to be "forced" into creating art for others is copping out, not selling out. Working on a timeline? That's life. Get used to it and stop being so damn lazy.

No one is saying you can't be creative when working on a commercial project. In fact, that's what clients want. They just want it on time.

Art is a business. It's a good business. It's also a rewarding business. Yet, it's still expressive. Plus, dare I say it? It's fun.

Who's more of an artist? An advertising creative director by day who continues to create at night? Or someone who works at a fast-food restaurant by day and complains that no one takes his art seriously at night. Who's creating more? Who's happier with his choices?

Whose art is likely to progress more? Someone who practices a craft, in some fashion, all day long? Or someone who only gets to it when they get tired of playing Halo 3?

Being an artist for a living helps us be more creative in every part of our lives. Art embellishes our lives. It takes artists to give style to function. Architecture doesn't have to be artistic. It can just be functional and boring. But, when an artist brings something else to the designs, whether it's homes, chairs or toasters, we all benefit.

Working as an artist makes us happier people. We're happier and our families and friends around us are happier. Feeling that you have to suffer for your art is just a bunch of crap.