expression
being able to live as an artist is no blessing
A twist on the proverb 芸は身を助ける (artistic skill helps one make a living), suggesting that relying solely on art can lead to hardship or misfortune.
See also: 芸は身を助ける
「芸が身を助けるほどの不幸せ」ということわざもあるように、芸だけで食べていくのは楽ではない。
As the saying goes, 'being able to live as an artist is no blessing'; making a living solely through art is not easy.
The original proverb meaning 'artistic skill helps one make a living'; this word is a cynical twist on that idea.
A parodic variation of the proverb 芸は身を助ける, adding ほどの不幸せ to invert the meaning.