Abstract
In this chapter, Scillio explores two cases of people trying to make a living from their artistic practice. Peter is a sculptor. His story exemplifies the tensions involved in trying to do what you love and making a living. Cam does silk screen fine art and graphics design, but he earns a living from working as a printer’s assistant. He has struggled for many years to make his art the basis of his income earning. Recently he had a breakdown, but is now “remaking” himself. Key themes discussed include the importance of recognition and the social relations in the artistic field, the way social problems can be personalised, and the malleability of personal ideals. Another important theme is the way psychological self-work can be seen as rewriting a career story.
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Scillio, M. (2017). Cam and Peter – Artistic Practice as Precarious Work. In: Making Career Stories. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55179-1_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55179-1_9
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