So lately I& #39;ve been noticing a trend, where every time I RT my own art or promote my Patreon, several people will unfollow- and even block me. This puts me in a weird spot, because even though it& #39;s people& #39;s prerogative to follow whoever they want, it& #39;s also telling of a mindset-

whereby an artist being proud of their work or wanting to make a living off of it is somehow reprehensible.

It& #39;s especially perplexing because at some point those same people followed because they liked the art enough to see more of it, but yet are seemingly revolted at-

the idea that there is in fact a person who poured countless hours of work into that piece and needs to make a living just like everybody else.

It& #39;s like a new age turn on the romanticism of the starving, tortured artist, who fills the world with beauty for everyone else-

while withering in silence and anonymity.

So here& #39;s my take: art takes time and patience and it& #39;s often grueling and unrewarding and subject to ridiculous amounts of scrutiny for little in return. If the idea that a person who is willing to put up with all of that-

could still have enough pride to show it bothers you so much, then you do not deserve art.

This isn& #39;t 1890- we aren& #39;t here to be recognised after we& #39;re dead. Get over yourself.