A New Beginning

So, I knew it had been a while since I had posted on my blog, but I didn't think it had been over two years. Once I started using Facebook, it became too much to post news everywhere. Facebook, with cc's to twitter, and email newsletters became the primary means of communication. However, my interest in Facebook has waned. It does seem to be a necessary tool in the artist marketing arsenal though, so I will keep posting.

This year, I'm turning my attention back to my blog. My intention for calling this blog "Working Through Art" has been two-fold. To promote my work, but also to share what I have learned as an artist (how to paint and draw) and as a businessperson (how to make a living selling art). I find great joy in teaching classes, private lessons, and workshops. I hope this blog will become a valuable resource for others to learn from my successes and failures.

Going forward, I will share inspirations, tutorials, Q&A's, a look into the stages of creating my paintings, and more. I will try to post at least twice a week, so stay tuned...

Finding a Balance

Here's a struggle that I am constantly facing. I would like to have a body of work to approach galleries with, to participate in solo or group exhibitions, and to market to collectors. Galleries usually want a minimum of 15-20 paintings when reviewing new artists. You need a good number of paintings to be in an exhibition. And what I have learned in the past year, is that it is important to create series of work. I have several ideas for a few series of paintings that I am working on now. In opposition to that, is the need for immediate income.

Art is a very expensive profession. I have three tubes of paint that I am out of, and they cost about $120 total. Not many people realize the supply cost that goes into creating a painting. I go through almost a set of brushes per large-size painting. I prefer linen to canvas. Then, there are the obligatory monthly bills—the cost of living. The immediate need for income surpasses the need to build up a body of work. I feel like I am caught in a spin cycle, trying to fight my way back on top of the water.

To fulfill my immediate monetary needs, I take commissions, I sell my work to interested buyers, and I teach. I like doing all three. Commissions are important because you know that the work you are creating is already spoken for, with a partial deposit. Direct sales are the goal of every artist. There is nothing more satifying for an artist than to create a piece of work and have someone fall in love with it and claim it as their own. I also enjoy encouraging beginning artists in the foundations of painting, helping them grow in their understanding and skill.

However, I have recognized that to make it to the next level, I need to do more. I need a great body of work that sets me apart in the crowd. So, I am trying to figure out how to do it all. I think it is important to set goals and revisit them daily. What shows do I want to enter this year? What kind of advertising do I want to do? In what galleries would I love to be accepted? I guess I am recognizing the need for a business plan. Artist's don't like to think about business much because it leeches away the creativity. I am blessed to have a wife who helps me with the business side. I don't know how people like James Gurney do as much as they do, but it is encouraging.

I must find that balance between immediate need and future goal. I must document my goals on paper and revisit them daily to keep myself on track. I'll let you know my progress...