@icedquinn @newt
>they're all contorting themselves to the market for money.
markets are a natural phenomenon that exist whether anyone likes it or not.

Lets say the artist does not "contort" to the market:

If an artist charges above market, which many do for things that they don't actually want to sell (sentimental reasons), they sell less. Maybe they don't sell at all, and they can't get income from it as a profession.

If an artist charges below market price, they are in some senses cheating themselves with low pay, but some do it anyway to start getting their name out there and getting experience and work to build their network and reputation. Most artists hate on them for "cheapening the craft" and lowering the market price, but they are snobby.