Life as an artist isn't that easy
There is a general misconception that an artist’s life is a walk in the park - I mean who wouldn't want to make pretty pictures all day, right? I mean what's the problem? Why take it so seriously? Well, if I want to be a professional artist, I do have to take it seriously. My income relies on it. So no, it is not all frivolous colour and paint and ink and drawing, and making stuff that looks good. It is frigging hard work! Here are some of the roles I have to play:
Artist
Marketer
Administrator
Book keeper
Researcher
PR officer
Project manager
Sales rep
Social media co-ordinator and website administrator
Delivery (wo)man
General dog's body.
The list is not exhausted either. As you can see, while artist is at the top of the tree, it forms a very small part of what I need to do to get my work out there ... and THAT interferes with my primary purpose. I am constantly trying to find the balance between creating and the rest.
Right now, I'm feeling stuck. I have lots and lots and lots of ideas. Images invade my sleep, my brain is in overdrive and I end up completely stumped. Where do I start? What should I do? WILL IT SELL? SHOULD I EVEN CARE IF IT SELLS OR NOT?
It would be nice to say it doesn't really matter. Just follow my heart's desire. But then there's the real world. There are bills to pay and kids to support through university. Therein lies the rub. I want - possibly need, to play with lots of different types of media, printmaking being one of many avenues. I also want to paint, to explore photography, to make things. What I don't know is, if I indulge myself and play will that in turn, lead to something far better than anything I've done to date, or will these things just turn out to be a distraction from where I should be concentrating my efforts.
Aunt Ursula Series 1 3
Aunt Ursula Series 1 12
127/STL-HexhamAbbeyHarpist
And even if I stick to printmaking the thing that completely stymies me is does it matter if I'm working on totally abstract subject matter one day, floral monotypes the next day, prints based on Hexham Abbey the next day, playing with pattern or natural materials the next and so on. How consistent does my subject matter have to be? It's so BORING isn't it to keep doing the same thing over and over again just a little bit different ... isn't it?
There are times when I'm tempted to just walk away from it all ... but I can't ... being creative is an integral part of who I am. I am simply incapable of not creating art for better or worse, whether anyone else wants it or not. Trouble is I'm not Picasso. I believe he used to simply move out of his apartment in Paris when there was no more room and start again. I don't have that luxury.
And my apologies if all this sound like one great whinge. That is not my intention. It's a bit like thinking aloud. Sometimes you have to put it down on paper, (or on the computer screen) to help figure out WHAT .... WHAT AM I MEANT TO DO? I know I'm not alone in this. My good friend and artist, Michelle Milburn has put out a post on the same subject today. It was her post that inspired my to write mine.
There must be others out there. If you are one of them perhaps you might leave a comment below or on my Facebook page. I'd love to hear your take on it.