o man my aunt told me that before... yea i know this
perception.
if the artist is dead, its always for sure the money will rise
mah. but its possible to make it big when alive, and it has
always been the fact that a dead artist work will be more
profitable when he/she was alive - regardless if the artist was
successful or not successful when he was alive.
the public has formed a HUGE stereotype about the term 'starving
artists'. if the person has the talent, skill and openess to
improve , mindset, they will most likely succeed. most are just
happy to live by their art. making it big isn't that much of an
issue with you work by hard and not money. live is too short not to
enjoy :D