Art Bound Podcast, Ep. 2: The Myth of the Starving Artist

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Where does the misconception of the tortured, starving artist even come from — and how can we combat it?

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In this second episode of Artists Network’s Art Bound podcast, host and K Contemporary  gallery owner Doug Kacena sits down with two incredible “hustler” artists, Nina Tichava and Carl Ortman, to share their stories of how they became successful full-time artists, their battles with the misconception of the starving artist, and what they feel is necessary to get our culture to value art and artists more seriously.

About the Artists

Nina Tichava was raised in both rural northern New Mexico and the Bay Area in California. She was influenced by her father, a construction worker and mathematician, and her mother who was an artist and designer. The reflections of these dualities — from country to city, pragmatist to artist, nature to technology — are essential to and evident in her paintings. Tichava is the recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Award Grant in 2007 and has exhibited professionally since 2009. Her work is featured in numerous private, corporate, and public collections and has been exhibited in major national art fairs including Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Seattle, and San Francisco. Her work has been included in shows at the New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe NM; the University of Science and Arts Museum, Chickasha OK; and the Museum of the Red River, Idabel OK. See more of her work at
ninatichava.com and on her Instagram page, @ninatichava.

Carl Ortman is an artist based in Salida, Colorado, where he owns and runs the Carl Ortman Gallery. Ortman’s subject matter is predominately landscape and figures, and his background in art and psychology, through formal education and mentored apprenticeships, has helped to form the artist you see now. He’s done the plein air circuit, including the Grand Canyon Invitational Plein Air and Gallery Show, and has traveled across the country with his art, showing in a number of galleries. See more of his work at carlortman.com and on his Instagram page, @carlortman.

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Nina Tichava
Photo by Matthew Brault Photography

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You colour the sky / Lantern Series
(acrylic and mixed media,16×60) by Nina Tichava

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Where does the rainbow end, in your soul or on the horizon / Lantern Series
(acrylic and mixed media, 60×60)
by Nina Tichava

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Cities in sunlight continents in rain / Lantern Series
(acrylic and mixed media, 24×60)
by Nina Tichava

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Carl Ortman

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By Carl Ortman

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By Carl Ortman

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By Carl Ortman

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Episode Highlights

In this conversation between artists, Tichava and Ortman discuss the dichotomy between the product and the maker, the romantic myth of artistic inspiration versus disciplined studio time, and so much more.

Catch 22

Nina Tichava: People expect artists to be tortured and only making art for the joy of it. It’s glamorous, poetic, intense. But at the same time, there’s a practical side: You might not be okay with living in a gray room with a single chair and a can of beans. You’re supposed to be dedicated to art according to “art history,” but then if you want to be out living, experiencing things, and engaged with the contemporary world, you need money, time, resources. It’s a catch 22.

Persistent Practice 

Carl Ortman: When someone calls you weird, pay attention to what those attributes are and find where they fit in the world. I’m very emotionally volatile.  After years of doing this, if I just stay with it, then tomorrow when I’m on point, at least I have something started. So keep going.

On “Real Jobs”

Nina Tichava: I would argue that if your safety net does not exist — you’re not adjunct teaching, tutoring, etc. — if you only have your art to rely on, you’ll make more. You might make some weaker paintings, but there’s going to be more of it. That in my opinion is how you get better at painting and discover what you want.

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