Do Artists Live in Fantasy Land?

Steadfast (oil) 20cm x 25cm by Malcolm Dewey

While browsing through Pinterest recently I came across a quote that suggested that artists lived in their fantasy land and should be pleased about it. On the face of it this seemed like standard dogma. Heck anyone trying to make a living from painting pictures must be living in fantasy land right? Not so fast.

Some may be cruel about it and call artists delusional. I am not sure if anyone would have called Picasso delusional without coming off second best. Many artists come to mind who, I imagine, would put up a vigorous argument that they have a firm grip on reality. 

In truth an artist must strike a balance between creativity, imagination and reality. To succeed the artist must have focus. A steely determination is called for even in the face of criticism from loved ones. A large ego? Perhaps but that is not what I mean here. A grip on reality does not require ego. It requires humility, acceptance and resolve instead.

Julia Cameron, author of the acclaimed The Artist's Way, writes that an artist's creativity is grounded in reality. The artist cannot be distracted by pretense and arrogance. Nor timidity. Instead the artist must get an education in the realities of life including such things as marketing, finances and strategy. The artist is a brand and business too. It is foolish to leave these in the hands of third parties.

Every successful artist today has a grip on these realities and still must retain creative innocence. I demanding life indeed.

Now can anyone still suggest that artists are lost in fantasy?