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The arts is dependent on the economy and the desires of the public. If all you do is string beads and for ten years made a decent living, then suddenly someone comes out with strings of noodles that the public goes nuts for, you're SOL as a bead stringer.
While most services and goods are dependent on a fickle public, none more so that Art. This includes music, visual arts, fashion, etc.
The dependency on a good economy also is paramount. Given the choice between food and a nice painting, most middle class would choose the food.
"Starving Artist" is a cliche`ed reality. The materials needed just to create cost and, unless one is within the most elite of their craft, being in the hole is a fact of life.
In the over 4 years that I've been active in my chosen field, I have probably made about $3000 freelance(the full time job is in this field but my work belongs to the studio). Subtract cameras and equipment(two grand or more), printing supplies, printer, finishing supplies such as matting and framing and show fees and it's pretty clear I'm not in it for the money.
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