Why is art do expensive?

Why do a lot of self taught artists have a problem with art school trained artists?

• I went to Art School in fact two of the best art schools in the UK I have a 1st class BA in Fine Art and a Masters in Fine Art. I enjoyed it, got a lot out of it and I enjoyed the theory which was mostly continental philosophy, political theory, psychoanalysis and art history. I think I am a much better artist than I would have been without art school but I have an open mind and I like work by non art school trained artists too. Places at good art schools are limited so not everyone can get a place and not everyone has the time, money or inclination to study art at degree level and that's fine. I see a ton of good work by artists from all backgrounds and I think such diversity enriches my local art scene. I am a member of some community art facilities like a dark room and a print workshop. It's great fun but it seems that people who didn't go to art school sometimes resent those that did. They get very defensive about their work and ability and will even quite openly attack the trained artists. I know some artists can be sniffy about where people studied etc but surely that is just their problem and should be risen above? Do you have any experience of this, what are your thoughts on this?

• Answer:

  Almost everybody is eager to classify those around them and those with less training are more likely to be twitchy about those with more training even before something specific happens - most people doubt some aspect of their work no matter what their training but people with less are quick to focus on what they think of as elitism. I once encountered an entire gallery run by a group of artists who were angry that their pleasant paintings did not get accepted/considered/win in art competitions where high concept or abstract or intense paintings won. And as I listened to the two representatives on duty at my visit, I kept by mouth shut while looking at a dozen or so impressionist versions of wild flowers, lakes and woods painted 50 years after my great aunt did the same thing in the 30's, about as well, and 100 years after the original intense artistry. I was looking at dabs.