Art as engagement

I've been teaching more of late and working on solo work much less. I had a serious dilemma to reconcile after years of creating artwork in my studio and selling it to a variety of markets. Fine Art galleries, local art exhibitions, open studios, grant awards and commercial licensing with a New York agent. My work had started to reflect the markets I needed to sell the work in. I began with a vision and was able to hold to it for about 40% of the work. Then the critics, judges, and middlemen started to weigh in on what the art "should" be. Put the subject in the center, no birds, no orange, too fine art, too commercial, I was once told that my execution was too refined. Then there was the stealing of images, pleading for timely payment, contract disputes. The final straw came when I was rejected for a grant as a social change artist because I had to make a living in licensing. I took a break from making art for about a year, the only thing I created was a "fuck" stone. Slowly with the support of my "Theo", I began creating oil paintings, ceramics, textiles, handmade books and sculpture NFS. I came to the conclusion that I had a wealth of experience and wanted to turn people on to the idea of creating art as free expression, storytelling and a cathartic and pleasurable experience. For the first time I feel my "artmaking" is actually connecting with people on a visceral level. Art is a language of the soul and available directly from artist to individuals. And I get paid to make that exchange. Balance.