I am really bad....
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I am a better than "good" artist these days. I am confident of my acquired skills and freedom to create. I am a great teacher and good at it because I love it. I am a responsible artist. I work for the art community and organizations that support the arts: Past President and now newsletter editor for the 100+ MidAmerica Pastel Society; On the board of the Olathe Arts Alliance; Volunteer with the Olathe Visual Artists doing monthly free workshops for the community; I also belong to and support several regional and national art organizations. I try to stay as involved in the art world as I can. Okay! now that I have bragged about my worth to art, you can see that I am good at what I do. right? |
I have discovered that there is more to be a responsible artist than what I have laid out above. And that I am really, really bad at it, in fact a miserable excuse when it comes to getting my art to the public... Being a marketer. Professional Artists must make sure their art is seen. I promised my viewers and myself several months ago a blog a month. Other artists do it. I promised I would do an informational newsletter quarterly. After all I do a newsletter for an art organization quarterly. I don't even change out my old work on my website and add new paintings/drawings. I leave anyone who may be interested in my work..... hanging.
So why you ask, or maybe you didn't because you already know. I was told from day one, that if you are going to create art, you have a responsibility to yourself to show/display it. And that when you show your paintings and drawings be prepared to sell them. Ok I did that. But as my expertise grew and my pricing structure did as well, the ability to hang a piece on the wall and see it walk out the door was no longer the norm. I had to take time out of my creative life to become a marketing agent for my work. That, like doing my sales taxes is unpleasant, boring, and very time consuming. No artist wants to spend time on anything but creating. Well maybe spending time with the grandkids, but.... you see where I am going.
If I want to be creative, I need paints, canvases and paper, Pencils, brushes, an easel and memberships to to organizations to keep yourself engaged. And when you aren't good at marketing and selling, You're probably gonna need a "sugar Daddy". Well I don't have one! I am going to have to buckle down and "invest" time in all aspects of this new career.
In the months and years to follow, I swear to myself and you, whoever is reading this, that I will work With the bad stuff. This is mid August. watch for it. August is a lot of whining and promises. then September You will see some fun and new stuff and quite frankly some unabashed requests to look at the art, consider it for your home, and maybe contact me about a commission. Yah I really mean it. I am serious. I will not fail!
Oooh, New Art Stuff!!
I have come to the conclusion I am worse than my husband and his collection of fly-fishing flies, when it comes to new art products. And Jerry’s Artarama emails are the sticky flypaper… Gotcha!! “75% off and free delivery if you spend $45”. Well, who wouldn’t be able to spend that much. “Here’s a gift card for being a loyal customer”. “ Shop these new products and try out some for as little as $1.25!”
I have to admit, I haven’t spent full price for my basic supplies in a long time and have gotten to know some really great products, recently introduce to artist. My newest finds are just plain cool!
How about a handheld mini vacuum to run over your work area to pick up erasure pieces, graphite or pastel powder and dust, sharpener residue, little scraps of paper, and spilled sprinkles that fell off your chocolate donut. It’s rechargeable with a cord, and simple to empty. Marked down to $13.49. Can hardly wait for it to get here and am already wishing I had two.
And then! Yup, there is more. Jerry’s showed me a pencil/pastel sharpening tool with a steel grinder/sander plate like a rasp. It has a cup for catching the residue and a clip for attaching to my pastel easel or drawing board. So, I will not only have sharp points without digging up a sharpener for a quick twist, but I will be able to save the dust from sharpening my hard pastels to a nice edge to make new pastels, and even have charcoal or graphite dust to use for shading. Sale at $4.49 or, I figured there were so many uses, I ordered the box of 30 at $2.00 apiece. What a bargain! Can hardly wait. I figure I have gifts for my students and all my artist friends. Love to share my finds. That’s what being a teacher is all about.
And then! Oh yah, more! I have been planning on drawing/painting and doing studies of some antique dolls. I have a few in the upstairs guest bedroom (which might be kinda creepy except that room is used for granddaughters’ weekend stays) and photos of many more I took when I worked in a doll shop doing repairs of lots of old dolls. On close out were some colored frames in a luscious soft teal, a pale powder blue and a mint green, (also a pale pink or orange and a “Southern yellow” that was “whew” bright), complete with glass and hanging supplies. The soft colors will be a great complement to the dolls in their bright dress and only $16 and $20 for standard canvas sizes. Perfect for a series of paintings.
I find that new stuff (sale priced new stuff) makes me work. It inspires me to not only begin but to complete. Especially when they are really cool frames. Having the frames for a series is such an artistic production motivator to get them done and showing them. But a new sharpener will make me want to tackle a piece with tiny detail I may have procrastinated over, and the mini vac will just make me work because the clean up is easier.
Come on now, everyone, let’s hear a loud “YOU GO, GIRL!” Will post some results in a month.
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