This is the seventh in a series of articles about what it means to be a lifelong artist. This article is written for an audience ages 18 to 25.

As you begin to or continue to think about your priorities as related to your artwork, you will also realize that not only do you want your artwork to somehow supplement your income, ultimately you want your artwork to be so sought that you would even be able to quit your “day gig.” Not to shatter that illusion, however the percentage of non-performance artists who support(ed) themselves solely with revenues generated by the sale of their artwork and over an extended period of time is very small–probably less than 1%. So, if you haven’t yet reached that pinnacle of success, consider yourself typical. What’s wrong with being a typical artist? Nothing really, unless you want to raise a family on a typical artist’s income. That kind of thinking would require a serious reality check.

For you, the thought of having/raising your own family rarely if ever enters your mind, and you therefore do not need a reality check but rather an occasional mental carrot to keep your creative juices flowing. At this point in your journey, it may be of some consolation to think of yourself as a “producer.” Because you are an artist, you may never become as much a “consumer” as the average (American) person who is forever busy trying to keep up with or outdo the Jones family—and as a result in these times also goes into extreme debt.

Simply attempting to pay your way through college can also cause this problem, regardless of whether or not you “consume” much of anything else but food. As an artist, you know you can’t afford to go any further in the direction of debt than absolutely necessary, because you have learned you need to continue purchasing your supplies and equipment and spend a few additional dollars on promoting your artwork. In avoiding and ignoring the whole keeping up with the Jones family scenario, what are you missing anyway? Nothing but stress.

The only down side to resisting the temptation of economic competition (if you actually think of such as a temptation) is that the “status quo” may perceive you as being a bit odd at times. Not that this should bother you. Your family members and true friends are going to love you no matter what. Nevertheless, it may be helpful to anticipate certain situations that arise in conversation with not only your family members and friends but also with people who don’t know you very well. Don’t be surprised when it seems even your family members don’t know you very well, especially if you are the only practicing artist in the bunch. There are likely many creative people in your family (talent is hereditary), but most of them probably chose paths other than becoming a lifelong artist.

So, what do most people (non artists) do in their free time? A large majority of Americans go see or watch movies on a regular basis. Watching TV and movies is so common because it is so easy. It is easier than reading. Listening to music is also widespread but music is another matter. While listening to music, it is possible to add an activity such as cooking, cleaning or painting a wall or a picture. The only creative activity you might be able to accomplish while watching a movie is working on your guitar licks, (without an amp or headphones of course).

Imagine attempting to work on your brush strokes while watching a movie. It would take you twice the amount of time to complete the project and would probably look absolutely ridiculous. There you are, looking up from the canvas to glance at the TV, shifting your focus from the rhythm of your work, then returning your focus back to the canvas where you then have to reposition your brush, because while you are glancing at the TV, your glance becomes a gaze, then a stare . . . Your brush begins dropping from in front of the canvas to closer to your hip, and the paint soon dries on the brush. This may be a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea.

A movie is considered “popular,” because most of the general public goes to see it at the theater or has seen it on cable, etc. When most everyone sees the same movie, it becomes food for conversation, even years after the movie was made. As an artist however, you have likely spent much more time working on your artwork than watching TV, playing video games, going to movies and whatever your cohort deems “the thing to do”–You know, consumer style activities.

Frequently in everyday conversation, someone makes reference to a specific movie or a specific actor in a specific movie or a specific line in a specific movie and you have no idea what they are talking about because frankly, it doesn’t interest you. But of course, you don’t want to let on that it doesn’t interest you (or maybe you do).

The conversation goes something like, “Remember that scene from . . .” or “I just love that line from . . .” or “That reminds me of what Johnny Stardust said in ‘Big Screen Magic’ . . .” When the conversationalist pauses in his or her dialogue, noticing the blank expression on your face (wondering if you are even paying attention), he or she says something like, “You’ve never seen that movie? (What is wrong with you?)!!!” How can you answer this question politely? Just feign a patient and pleasant expression and shake your head ever so slightly. As you stare at each other, depending upon how well you know each other, the other person might experience an ah-ha moment and say, “Oh, that’s right . . . While everyone else was rushing out to see that movie, you were attempting to perfect the bar chord.”

Not that the conversation has to end there. It is just as entertaining (and usually less time consuming) to listen to someone’s retelling of a plot as it is to take the time to go rent and watch the movie yourself. Then at some point, the conversation might take a refreshing detour from the norm and involve a discussion about what artists do in their free time (not that anyone would get it), and at least one person in the crowd will chime in with, “I always wanted to learn how to play guitar (but watched movies instead).”

So, though you may feel a bit uncomfortable in some conversations (if not bored to tears), you will be comforted in remembering the difference between producers and consumers and in continuing to spend your free time the way you want to, not the way the general public thinks you should.