living as an artist (2)

Earning a Living as an Artist - Doable?

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One weekend this fall I was in Fort Wayne, IN, to judge a new and cool art show. My sister was invited to her friend's home for a barbecue and I was included. We drove out of town FOREVER it felt like and all the way I'm thinking, never would I live here in the middle of nowhere. Except ... we got there and it was wonderful. I know a lot of artists live in out of the way places (they're affordable after all), so here are a few shots of Kim and Steve Rorick's home and studio. 

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I've known Kim a long time and watched her progress from first pots to a fine professional. She apologizes for the studio looking so clean (company is coming and none of the tables are in the shop because they are holding up a very fine barbecue dinner in the garage.) See images of her work here.

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Kim is a part of a large network of artists who live in the Ft. Wayne area. They jointly hold studio tours, support and show their work at a co-op gallery, The Orchard Gallery, and start art fairs to help one another live the creative life.

Kim's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.rorick.3

Her etsy site, Painterly Pots: https://www.etsy.com/people/PainterlyPots

Do you live in a community like this? Is your home full of great art? Show us ...

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Last five months

I told myself that will keep this year my post low and keep a low profile. I like to meet the people that are part of the group but at the same time I created problems for myself.

Last October was my worst month as income goes. As eternal hopeful I am I was hoping the One of A Kind Show and Chicago will save me has it has done in the past but it was not the case. I got some orders for the Holidays and that help but my moral was low.

To make things worst, I also only got into only three shows for the winter. The choice was simple: gamble my savings for the winter or stay put and using my savings to hold on until the shows start again, I am assuming I will get into shows. I find myself wondering what I will do for the next four or five months. I realize, I wont be able to work in new images until the month of March. My lady friend asking what you would for the next months.

I find myself in a cage. I decide to ask if my old job need help for the holidays and winter. I manage to get 20 hours in there. I am surely found myself doubting my choice of living the company but surely enough I found out that I did the correct choice for myself.

I Also found myself doing a recommendation of my lady friend I sign up for Postmates (an app for people with a money or no time to get stuff for themselves). Postmates turn to be a great choice since as time when I start bring in at least 500 a week per 20 to 25 hours of work. The best part I sign when I want and keep busy enough that make my time away from lady friend pass faster. At this point I will doing it with the shows.

Artists may think that I could support of myself with my art or was not good enough to get into shows but there is no really reason why some have great success and other don’t. Even worst how thing in art show change from day to day and weekend to weekend. The weekend before Cottonwood, I was part of Amdur productions boot camp. It was great experience since I basically confirm base what she was talking I already doing everything she recommends to do.

I head early to Dallas to spend some days with lady friend before the show. My first show of the year (2015) was Cottonwood. While I find myself meeting people, I was concern of people knowing about my post specially when promoters I told me that I do not speak highly of some the shows, I had been black listed.

I think the best part of the show was spending time with James Parker, Karen, Anita, Stephen, Mark and Wendy. I think they all have a great show. I have a bad Saturday and good solid Sunday but not enough to make up for the bad Saturday. I should walk out of there sad but I walk feeling very relax and happy. I really can not tell you why but I just saw the show as work time and nothing else. The dinner time with my friends and the days before with my lady friend make me appreciated my life.

During the show I was looking how the new people react to the my first two 30X45 frame to 36X51 and introducing the 18X24. Both was successful and the only thing was I could not sale one of the large pieces. I also figure out what speed I need to drive with the trailer attach to match ratio of fill up the gas tank when I was not using the trailer. So overall you may not see reviews about the shows from me anymore but more about the experience of doing the show because lets face it when I am at the show I going to the mobil show to work. Plus there are thing that people tell you that I am doing because it is good advice and for that I am grateful.

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