|
"I am an
Artist."
We've all
said it at some point in our lives,
right? Some of us said it back in
4th
grade, when
asked what we were going to be when we
grew up.
But we've
most likely said it recently, maybe
only in our heads to ourselves. That's
why we are here, at a crossroads,
determining how to make our artwork
also our livelihood. Some of us may be
starting out, others are battle-scarred
and still standing, but equally as
determined.
We want
to be artists.
I was
born with the inclination to make art.
However, my journey was not a direct
trajectory to the general populace
fawning over my paintings. It was more
like a series of opportunities and
experiences that prepared me to run my
own studio and take control of my
creativity.
So how do
you begin?
In my
head there are two areas of
preparation, each of which I will deal
with in separate articles. There's
emotional preparation, which I'll
address today. There is also the
physical preparation which I'll talk
about the next time around.
So first
off, stand tall and say it out loud.
Start your mental prep:
"I am an
artist."
Say it so
you believe it. So that others will
too. Remind yourself often during the
day about it. Doesn't matter if you are
currently making money flipping
burgers. If you have art in your soul,
it'll be there forever, waiting for you
to be ready to let it out. Believe in
your truth - that you are an artist.
When you start to believe that bit, you
are ready for step two.
Step two
is a dose of realism. Think about this:
are you ready to take something you
most likely are passionate about and
transform it into a job? You must be
rational. Jobs are not easy, even when
they are deeply loved. There are days
when they are torturous, along with the
days of jubilation. There are also many
days you simply slug through. Artists
experience the same sort of
rollercoaster as any other career
might.
The
successful artists I know doggedly work
through every type of day imaginable.
They consistently work their tails off
making new art, learning new skills,
meeting new people, recruiting new
collectors, mentoring younger artists,
volunteering in their community, and
expanding their own horizons. Making
art is their job first and foremost
despite the variety of hats they must
wear (and that's another article
altogether) in order to run a
successful studio. For those who are
lucky, making art remains a passion
(whether it's the entire process or
just a sliver/particular subject
matter). For others, making art becomes
a livelihood.
Being an
artist is the same as being an
entrepreneur. You are selling creative
widgets -
paintings/ceramics/glass/jewelry/photographs/whatever.
The widget entrepreneur doesn't look at
his widget and wax nostalgic - the
widget is a means for the entrepreneur
to put money in his/her bank account.
The entrepreneur knows his widget
inside and out, its pluses and
negatives in the market, prices it
accordingly, and works within his/her
network to sell those widgets to a
particular demographic.
That is
the same path your artwork will take -
there's no room for sentimentality over
a certain painting or subject matter.
Your artwork is a product, and that
demands a non-emotional, strictly
business mentality, regardless of the
type of day you are having.
So while
you stand at the crossroads, repeating
"I am an artist," ask yourself the
following questions.
-
Can I go into
my studio or workspace daily
and make art?
-
Can I protect
my studio time with the demands
of all those other areas, in
addition to the other
commitments I have in my
personal life?
-
Can I
separate my emotions from my
artwork?
-
Is there a
market for what I make? If
there isn't a current market,
can I make one?
If you
are to become a working artist who
earns a paycheck, the answers to the
above must be all yes's. Most likely
adjustments will need to be made.
Furthermore what you initially prepare
for may not be adequate. You can always
finesse as you go along. And that's ok
- part of the fun of being an artist is
the freedom to structure your life for
the best fit possible.
So
honestly think about your personal
artmaking process. Turning your art
into a commodity will test your
emotional fortitude in ways you never
imagined. Forethought will better
prepare you for the following
scenarios:
-
You will hear
people criticizing your work,
telling their friends under
their breaths that their 5 year
old can paint just like
that.
-
You will have
people roll their eyes when you
quote a commission and say
"You're not
serious?!"
-
You will have
a mountain of rejection letters
from galleries, juries and
other sources saying your work
didn't make the cut.
-
You will have
deadlines that, over time,
could change your perception or
enjoyment level in the creation
process.
Can you
handle the above? If so, prepare
yourself to handle the following as
well:
-
The awed
discussion about process that
occurs in front of one of your
pieces.
-
The tears of
joy in a client's face when you
deliver their project,
something they could not get
anywhere else.
-
The personal
sense of accomplishment when
you see your work hung in the
company of those you viewed as
mentors only a short time ago.
The amazement when you realize
your work deserves to be there
and holds it's own in that
crowd.
-
The
overwhelming calm that comes
with true contentment and the
knowledge that you are living
your dream on a daily
basis.
Preparing
yourself emotionally for the transition
from just being an artist to being a
working artist is the biggest part of
the journey. The rest is cake. It's
hard work, eating cake every day
(someone's got to do it), but it'll
also be more rewarding and healthier
all around if you take the time to
think about these points and begin to
ready yourself.
And don't
forget your mantra.
"I am an
artist." You are, aren't
you?
|
