Because often the times are a fad, something that will pass quickly and fade away. I don't know if you remember but there was a time when painting on black velvet was all the rage. Painting with the palette knife was the thing to do.
Vandalism in the name of street art is considered the way of the future now. It's going to pass as well. Spray painted wall murals on private or public property isn't really something with staying power.
An artist whose works remain valid long after he/she is dead is not a wannabe, but a true artist. They worked well in their life and produced what they knew was valid artwork. They wanted to be good at their craft, to master their talent, not wannabees.

In art if you are a real artist, there no such thing as flash in the pan.

Picasso was better known for his earlier stuff than his more modern pieces. So because we were aware of the legend, not of his current pieces. Flash in the pan...no..time out.

He became a signature, the only ones that liked his art were poor people, and they couldn't own a Picasso.

When young artist's go through a hey day, it's usually first fame that does them in..some recover and get back to work, others don't.

My own case in point (sorry) I became "the newest thing to hit the LA art scene in a long time"...well it lasted one year, 1995.

I probably could have taken to the highest points of adulation, I chose not too scene. I enjoy not being noticed.

Remember with all this is writing, you're not in the same room as me, and we do not know each other, so I am kind of invisible, but with good guiding info, whether your give me 10 point or not, this subject is everything I am, you and no-one else can change that environment ever, and when I die, I'll still be remembered, and what prices my works are selling for on southern hemisphere art scene and parts of Europe, will spend one day as a news article page one or three.

From there I moved on and became an art director for a couple of firms, out of that, I started to re-discover animation again, and for the first time realized I was actually enjoying my life.

One day I'll do a retrospective exhibition, and sell everything, because where I came from, I'm a mystery as well as legend, sometimes feel, in my own mind, that's denial on my own behalf. Because I have another way of expressing myself, and diplomacy isn't in there.

So in a sense some, including myself, don't do the fame game well, don't like being pawed like a pet monkey and sit through dull conversations about how talented one is, you're a genius.

When I hit the spotlight, I had already spent a bit over 8 years in art school, ate potatoes, and baloney every day, sometimes I'd switch to baked beans and bread, my dog was eating better than me.. Worked as a theater backdrop artist for a few early years, basically worked at anything that allow me time for my art.

By the time I got the contract of a lifetime, it was 1995 and I had already spent 27 years painting, designing and exhibiting.

Essentially I hit the top of the crap heap.

It occurred to me I was selling my jewels at bargain basement prices, mind I was getting $1,200 to $5,000 a piece, sometimes a big fish would come in.

I stopped exhibiting so I didn't have to sell anymore to pay for the show.

If it is in your heart you certainly cannot be a wanna be, because any person who has put on a major art show, will tell you how much work is involved, agent, management or no.

It no that easy. My art took me around the world, and that's called, being an artist, whether you know me or not, I did it for me, no-one else.

Most of my art friends, that is the real arty farty's, mosey through many spectrum's of the art scene, acting, musician, writer, painter, designer, exhibitor. That is all they do.

Staying power, easy as pigeon pie, just don't get off the treadmill, that's only staying power you require, working, always working....too many think that party, party is staying on the treadmill, where I come from, that's smooshing and wasting time.

Discipline, belief, living it, dreaming it, eating art, art, art, art,art.

That is how it is done, and that is how you can loose it.