Reward Art + Reward Process = Great Art

Traditional models of reward for output do not make for great art!

Key to making great art is that both artist and employer acknowledge their relationship to reward.   Artists are motivated by challenge and exploration. Making art and stories in new exciting ways is extremely stimulating. This motivation often means creatives can commit long intensive hours to making. Most though also need  time to reflect and produce no physical work at all. One half of the process is output with very visible results. The other half is input (what artists do to feed their creativity). This half is far less visible but no less valuable. In fact it is more valuable!

Traditionally workers have been valued for output. This model not only doesn't work for artists it goes to undermine the very output we seek from them.  Remunerating artists only on results and not on their process leads to a shift in the artists relationship to reward.  The need to output becomes paramount and in the end both the artist and the art suffers. It is integral for any artist to identify and to value both their making and their process. If employers want the best and most creative work from their employees (which they do because it is a far more valuable product) it is integral for them to identify this too.

Everyone brings art to their work. Not just painters, designers or sculptors, everyone. Whatever work we are looking to create we will deliver a far superior, more innovative and valuable product when we can value the human balance of creative output along with creative input.