Graphic Arts is not Fine Art

Graphic arts is not fine art. True, there are some graphic artists that
produce artwork that customers will buy and hang on their walls, but
this is just another of the many specializations. For the most part, we
are production workers required to produce artistically pleasing
production work. The image of the “starving artist” does not belong in
this field at all. We are stuck (for lack of a better word) with the
requirements of production and that will always limit our artistic
expression. Another serious problem: deadlines! Our customers can’t
wait for us to produce that most wonderful design or graphics, they
need it now! Companies planning marketing campaigns see the production
of printed materials as only part of their efforts; we too, must see
our efforts as such and avoid disrupting the rest of their timetable.
And don’t forget budget. Someone has got to pay us for our efforts and
that will limit our creative efforts. True art cannot be limited but we
must constantly face these limitations that will always keep us from
being true fine artists.