Van Gogh did sell a painting during his life - "The Red Vinyard" now in Moscow at the Pushkin Museum. He also traded paintings for lodging, food and art supplies, which is sort of selling.
Fascinating topics. Seeing as you both are smaller and independently run artists, I assume you both feel a more intimate connection with your creations. So meaning, presentation, context, appreciation, etc. matters a lot to the creator. On a much larger scale, big corporate brands create product on such a large scale, the care for the fate of their products is tossed aside in favor of the concern for money. There is nothing wrong with independent vs corporate environments in regard to what is more or less artful, but you both are doing the job of entire companies. You are doing the marketing, production, advertising, etc. you yourself put more work into your product and it is only natural to feel a sense of attachment. I respect you both immensely for conducting yourselves how you do because inherently what you do is difficult in nature to sustain but your love for your craft really does shine.
