Back in Minnesota, there was a lot more of that *tortured/unappreciated/suffering genius* BS amongst the throngs of losers sketching on matchbook covers in schithole bars on the west bank.
A few genuine bohemian artists, (Dylan, Koerner, Ray and Glover), ruined it forever there and made every talentless schmuck think that they were simply undiscovered. It's even worse in Europe, more real artists have actually suffered there over the ages.
The real art scene is a little different. It's very much about commerce and it's fueled by massive amounts of money. From the up-and coming painter I know who is starting to sell his stuff to big celebrities to the mega-buck modern art scene to the in-between world of Chagalls and the like, it's all about the cheddar.
