Hello everyone!
I recently joined and thought I'd introduce myself. I might be jumping ahead a few steps by joining your group but my hope is one day I'll be ready for an art fair... for now though, I'm no where near ready. Hence my subject title, after reading through some of your comments I feel like I'm a freshman in a senior art class.... so far behind all the talent and knowledge. :/
I finished college a few years back with a BFA in graphic design. Unfortunately that was when the economy and jobs started dwindling. So I finally accepted a job as a Project Manager for a software company. It pays the bills and isn't too stressful so for now it works for me. But my creative juices just pour out of me after a while. I've started keeping a notebook at work so I can jot down ideas.
At this point it's going to take forever to create all the pieces I have in mind. My day job and the rest of my life get in the way of my art time. Ahhh! How do you guys balance it? Between a social life, planning a wedding in November and all the sports my fiance and I play there's nothing left in the day. And for now sleeping and eating are the "activities" getting the boot. :(
Last year was rough though. My ex saw art has a waste of time and money and laughed at the thought of making it a career. When I finally split from him he destroyed almost all of my artwork. Devastating to say the least. But I'm with a guy now who loves my work and he inspires and encourages me daily. My boss is also an artist and has shown her work in galleries and fairs. She wants us to go in on a booth together at a small fair sometime soon to get my feet wet. Between the two of them I've been able to bounce back.
BUT... I'm basically starting all over. I saved all the pieces of my old artwork, the ex basically ripped them all in half. I'm hoping one day I can create a piece of work out of them.... first I have to be able to look at them without crying though. So for now I'm going to continue to build my portfolio. I have some many different mediums I like working in. I feel like everyone always finds a niche and I'm just all of the place with my work.
Any advice, thoughts, opinions you have are more than welcome! I've started a blog and a website I'd love feedback on as well. Thanks for your time!
Becca
Replies
Hi Becca and welcome aboard :) I'm so sorry to hear of the past trauma with your art, but it sounds like you've already gathered a supportive group around you and we're here now too! Hope to see some of your work soon :D
Hello everyone! Thank you sooooo much for your comments and support. I can't tell you how much it means especially after this holiday weekend. I had three days to sit and create and it was AWESOME! :D Unfortunately the weekend ended with my fiance and I seeing my ex. When I see him, I see my all of my artwork ripped into pieces and it brings me down. Hopefully I'm just like Karole and despite my ex I'll continue to work hard and succeed just to spite the idiot. ;)
Again, thank you. I read my fiance your responses and both of us were in tears by the time I was done reading them all. Seriously it means so much to hear the similar struggles you've all been through. Hope to see you at fair soon! ;)
We all feel like we're inadequate at some point, probably each day. Its the nature of art.....you are putting yourself out there for people to judge....with their $.
If you were in a booth next to me I'd feel old, short, dumpy, frumpy, and uneducated. You are young, have that BFA, and skills way beyond mine. You'd intimidate me!
You pay your bills. Arghhh. I'm still working on paying my current and backwards bills from the "economy."
My point....no need to feel like a freshman. You're new blood, with new ideas, you can teach us "seniors" a thing or two. The "seniors" are often jaded, negative, tired, stuck. They need the youth to get on with things and rework old tired ideas. There is a whole lot of wonderful things in the art fair world. You bring that to those of us who have been in shows for years.
There's been lots of complaining that the art show artists are old and there is no youngsters coming up. Poop on that. My dot is one, you're one, Christina is one. We been-there's-done-that need to situp and pay attention to what you are doing and have to say.
Wait patiently...the karma wheel will turn on your ex. You must have been on to something if he struck there.
You will need to evenetually settle into a niche and develop a "body of work" to get into the top shows. But since you are not there yet, enjoy all your medias. It took me years to find metalworking and once I did, I knew I was home.
Visit lots of shows and get the feel of the good ones vs the less then good shows.
Ah, grasshopper so much to share. You've found the right spot.
hth
C
Sorry about the ex- had a similar ex myself, so I know the devastation you feel. It really chips away at the self confidence and security when a destructive individual attacks something as close the soul as our Art or craft. Positive thoughts to you! (stubborn witch that I am, I strive to succeed just to spite the fool, it really burns his crackers). Take advantage of the Forums- really great and helpful advise, tips and tricks there. The vets here are all amazingly good, funny and full of great insights! When you need advise just ask!! Glad you found us, and look forward to hearing more from you!! Good luck!
Christina and Karole,
Thanks for your thoughts and advice. I am trying to schedule my alone time for painting. Right now my schedules a little too hectic to set aside certain nights (tues & thurs) as you mentioned, Christina but I'm hoping things will eventually settle down. For now I'll just take it week by week. I have to! I have too many projects I'm waiting to start and I'm so excited about them!
I have a feeling I'll be back on this site quite a bit asking for advice. Especially once I feel I have enough pieces to really start selling and looking into art fairs.
Thanks ladies!
Welcome Becky! My ex also laughed at me when I started doing art. He would stand BEHIND me while I was sketching grabbing the pen out of my hand saying 'Youll never make a DIME at this!'.
I now can proudly say 10 years later that Ive made quite a fine living at art, and of course I DUMPED HIM! :)
hang in there. Make time for it if its important to you. YOu know it is:)