You’re probably familiar with the term “Art versus commerce.” It’s one of the concepts that we take for granted are opposites. “Good versus evil.” “Communism versus capitalism.” “Left versus right.” The problem with lumping art versus commerce into this list is that if you are an artist, you’re required to find a place where art and commerce meet, or you’re not going to pay the rent or keep the lights on. Aileen’s two guests on Out to Lunch today are artists who have found unique and different ways to make a living from their art.

Dirk Guidry is the visual artist’s definition of a split personality. On the one hand, Dirk is an abstract painter. His paintings are swirls of color, blending onto the canvas with movement and emotion, but without much obvious representation of anything recognizable. On the other hand, Dirk is a wedding painter. He goes to a wedding and paints the reception. Live. On the spot. The bride and groom leave with a painting of their wedding, complete with recognizable representations of their guests. 

Hunter deBlanc has been a singer/songwriter and professional musician for years, playing in various bands. But Hunter dates January 2017 as the beginning of his current career – his push to become a solo artist. Because of an interesting musical journey that saw him land in Australia as a cocktail piano player on a cruise ship, Hunter is better known, and has more records played on radio, in Sydney Australia than in Lafayette Louisiana where he lives. Being internationally famous is not altogether a bad thing. But being a star in Sydney and living in Lafayette has its challenges.

Photos over lunch at Cafe Vermilionville by Lucius Fontenot.