I haven't read the links yet Ben, but when I was in school one of my instructors always said "no money, no art.... and remember that"
I always liked what Georgia O'keeffe said to the City counsel of a small town near here, where she grew up. When asked if she'd like to donate a painting to the library there, since she grew up in the town, she responded with something to the effect of "maybe you'd like to donate your library to me, since I grew up there?" my words may not be exact, but....close enough
Edit: Man he was mad, and I don't blame him. What in the world makes some people think that art, and art that takes a lifetime to learn...either by going to school and then the school of hard knocks, or the school of hard knocks period, is any less valuable than what they do? Nobody...amateur, novice, anybody should ever sell themselves for free. Art is worth something and if it isn't worth it to the artist who makes it, who in the _+#@ is it worth anything to? I've been told that there are bands playing in popular bars, for free...just for the publicity in some major cities here...that really helps anyone trying to make a living at it eh? I've seen people devalue a work of art right in front of an artist " too expensive"...what a crock. Who do these people think they are! Well I'm not going to rant, not with a link like that...he says it way better than I could.
and besides I don't wanna pop a cork.