Yeah.
I don't have a lot to say today either, and apparently my typing skills are totally lacking today.
I took today to really try and forget for a minute that I am making art to sell. One of the things that I really find myself questioning is am I making art for myself, for other people, or just for the sake of trying to make money? I know that those are kinda ugly questions...but I find myself asking them quite a bit. So I am trying to get back to this idea of making things to make things. Trying to keep myself in it. I don't know if I am really making sense to anyone but myself, but I have been thinking about this a lot today, and recently.
Not that I don't think that my work is not me! No. That's not what I mean at all. I guess I get a little to focused on the whole money issue, and I know what will sell, so I keep making it...but at the same time...I really really really don't want to have to work a job that I am not happy at. And I still need to pay the bills...so I don't know. I guess this is where things start confusing me.
Well, anyway. Today I really focused on drawing and working with materials that were directly around me. No running around trying to find stuff. I just sat down and worked with what I had. I really enjoyed myself and have a few things to post later. They aren't quite done yet :)
Anyway. Hope everyone had a good Friday and hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
8 comments:
I know how you feel. It really is the pressure of making money. It can be hard to balance creativity with what will sell. I think you stop growing as an artist when you begin to paint what you know will sell rather than what you want to paint. But when you run short on money doing something new feels like a waste of time because your not sure what others will think. I guess what I'm saying is I have no clue myself.
it's a fine line isn't it? when i made ceramic "art tiles" and was selling quite a bit it became a job rather than a passion and i kept at it for awhile but my heart wasn't in it. with encaustics i painted for 2 1/2 years without showing or selling anything until a dear friend peeked into my studio and tactfully suggested that i should consider "a show" or something. Being on etsy and blogging changed the game because it blurs the line between what you are doing for yourself and what you are doing for others. What you have created so far is lovely and you have some people who will be interested in following you as you venture out...but at the end of the day it can't be about money. Your art will suffer if your heart isn't in it...
There is no fine line. Working 9 to 5 is pure hell. I know.
Make art, enkoy art, sell art. Be happy.
We love Chloe!!
You know I get what you are talking about.. All those questions..
I am right there with you.
Etsy and the all the other opportunities for artists to sell there works online and beyond are amazing along with all the self promotional "art biz 101" books that are out now drilling the concept of the starving artist as a myth to power through, these are good things and are wonderful progress, but at the same time I think they also add pressure to try to make the same kind of living one does from a 9-5 through our art, and when we don't, we beat ourselves up and get too focused on the money. We have to step back and remind ourselves that we are artists and not just working for the almighty dollar.
Pressure,art,money,questions, fraudulent feelings- I so get it. Hang in there.
I am glad you had a good time working! That is something...
this is a great topic... loaded and kinda dense with "what ifs"...
i come from the other side, the artist who has a regular job and tries to make art and do the regular work world. The up? steady paycheck and no need to make anything to sell. The down? I constantly lose my place, start over and sometimes work steals the best of my energy like this summer. I have to be really disciplined to keep working.
this is one of those life things that in my mind has good and bad stuff on each side.
BUT , if i were your age i would go for it and be the most ragingly sucessful artist doing exactly what you wanted to do and make. you have age on your side and time to build that success and name for yourself. and you have the ability and talent to do it!
am i too bossy? can't help it. us older artists have to look out for the younger ones and make sure you are supported.
smiles, Janice
I have a job where I work at night so I can create during the day. However, once I started making some money on etsy, I found my work trending toward the style people liked and then I just quit making them. I started some new things and then poof, more success.
Your work is great and people will follow you on your creative journey. Just make what you want.
Trina
This is a great topic, it's important to share thoughts about it and think about it. I heve expireienced this problem in my time while i was working as a freelance pattern designer. Because certain pattern designs started to sell better that others, i found myself making more of those who sold. And then i found that because i was not thinking about this topic properly, but actually just thinking in terms of paying the bills, that slowly but surely i lost my niche, the soul in my work just slipt away, and that made me feel totally joyless in creating. Ifelt depressed because of loosing all that. So i think you asking your self these questions, is very courageous & important to do. And sharing it with each other is that aswell. So thanks for blogging about this.
I think your work is wonderful and people will follow you, you have people hooked on your style.
As long as you keep the passion in your art it doesn't matter.
Katherine
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