Observations

The last time I checked, I didn't have any high-brow art credentials and I know that no one ever accused me of knowing everything. I might not be a critic or an expert, but I do feel like my observations make sense and probably are worth the time to consumers even if I am not a part of academia.

Quickly,

There types of art:

Fine Art
Commercial Art
Personal Art

Fine art is the good stuff. The kind of art that can and should cost big bucks. Not all fine art is pleasant or desirable. It simply reaches above the trends and proclivities of potential buyers and seeks to be observed "as is".

Commercial art: illustration, commissions, and graphic design. The content or style is not the question. It is the end game. All mass produced "art", custom art, or art created as a vehicle for a message is commercial. The purpose is money. It is a great thing to do, but it can be soul sucking.

Personal art is the stuff everyone does. From macaroni glued to construction paper by a kindergartner, to a watercolor in your art journal, to the crafty art projects that people enjoy. These things are often copies or versions of art that already exists. Everyone must start as a practicing artist before advancing to the other levels.

Four types of artists.
Ones that focus on skill
Ones that focus on decorative ideals
Practitioners
Explorers

Three types of art buyers:
Collectors
Curators
Consumers