To what extent for your art
 

To what extent have you gone for your pursuit of portrait painting?

I am inches, milliseconds away from my decision to move to Atlanta, and into a better artist's environment. Everything is pointing in this direction, my job is ending and no potential jobs have materialized in Cleve in spite of my search. The relationship is over ;C , yet I know it is for the best. My kids are well on their way, though I will miss my new granddaughter ;C ;C pic attached.
And my lease is up end of April where I have been paying exorbitant rent and utilities.

So my question to you is this, tell me an encouraging story of how you "left your security" to pursue your dream. I have always dreamed of living simply, in a beautiful countryside, and painting. I even have a small studio apt lined up, thanks to a wonderful friend here at SOG (you know who you are, and how appreciative I am!!!)

the only thing holding me back is fear -
of loneliness
of failure
of losing financial stability (though it is woeful even now)

I am sure your story would inspire fellow students here!

Thanks
Patty

When I was 24 (I know, things are different for people at different ages) I left Toronto and moved to Florida. Granted, I had a job lined up, but I didn't know a soul and had never visited the state other than for the one job interview. I never regretted the move for a minute, then or years later.

I also happen to really like Atlanta. A lot more portraits get commissioned there, but then again, there are also a lot of portrait artists there to compete with.

I moved from Syracuse to Kansas City 3 years ago, and I definitely don't regret it. Granted, I was newly married, but also had a 3 y.o. son, and no jobs lined up. We just packed the truck and drove off! (Yes, I still have the husband and son, and we're doing well.)

I think determination has a lot to do with the outcome. We did have help moving here from family who lived in the area, but we wanted to be on our own ASAP. Within 10 days my husband landed a job, and we had a loan and a contract on a house within 3 months. The house we bought is very affordable; less than our apartment in Syracuse.

Since then, we've been pinching pennies so that I can stay home while my husband goes to college. It's not glamorous, but it's getting us where we want.

Loneliness is an issue because it takes time to build relationships as familiar as ones you already have established. If you can hold out for a year or two, though, you should be fine.

I'll tell you, though, my poor mom REALLY misses me, and her grandson.

Goodluck and keep us posted! :D

Well, Michele and Lacey have different experiences from me.

My story is about failure...

3 years ago I moved from south to southeast in Brazil and it was a complete disaster! I was working full time painting and now just part time, I have other jobs in order to make a living. The point is, I moved from one place where the cost of living was considerably low to a very expensive city.

Now things are getting a little better, but some time ago I thought I was in inferno.

I made a lot of mistakes, first one, I sold everything and thought I would be able to buy new stuff here, but, no way!!! I had to rent an apartment and get two other jobs other than drawing and painting.
In Brazil everything is more expensive than in other countries and taxes are extremely high, I don't post my work here because I can't afford a good camera, and I think it would be useless to use the one I have because it shows everything incredibly different.

Second big mistake, I didn't check anything about the market here, I didn't know that nobody here likes fine art.

Third big mistake, I got indebted... interest never sleeps, gets tired or sick, it press you all the time.

OK, OK I know I'm only mentioning financial problems, but, that's the root of all evil, because I don't have time to do the things I like, even making friends is quite hard because I have no free time. I work about 14 hours a day including Saturdays. I miss my wife and son a lot, because I see them only during lunch time and on Sundays.

I really wish you all the best, I wish you'll have a good experience while moving to Atlanta.

Ps.
 

Please don't get depressed after reading that!
As I mentioned, things are getting better and I think I'll be able to spend more time with my family soon and also have some time to do volunteer work, one thing that I love to do.

All the best,

We moved from France to Canada 6 years ago. Everything was fine in France, but we decided we needed some change in our lives. It took us about 2 years between the decision and the move because of the visas, many papers to fill, many fees to pay. The first year we were a little stressed because we made too many things at the same time , but very excited too. The second year we felt homesickness, so we organised a trip to France, and family came to see us. We don't regret it. Our life is very different from what we knew in France, maybe no better job opportunity, but better standart of living ( as a cabinet maker, for sure, as an artist, I think but I will have a better idea in few years) I'm feeling that we built something, we create our chance ... The big difference maybe, is that we feel that we are actors of our lives, not only spectators.
Next step: we don't know yet. I would like to go back to France but just for one year or two . We are speaking of going somewhere else too, where? we don't know yet, maybe far, Australia ...
The first move can be frightening, the second is only exciting !

PS: nice little nose of a little baby.

It is really hard to say.

It really depends on how strong a family and support network you have, how important that is to you, the local economy and of course your age.

Atlanta, I don't think is going to be any cheaper than Cleveland, it may be more expensive.

It will be hard to make a dent in a very saturated market unless your portfolio is really up to snuff and ready to present to a critical clientele.
Have you done all your homework vis-a-vis your skills, life drawing, design and color studies etc.

Just changing locales, even to what may seem a more sympathetic one, will not always ensure that you will be a better or more successful artist. That is always up to the artist.

If you really hate your city because it is economically depressed, dull and uninteresting and the people, all boors, that is another thing. But usually there is culture and cultured people in every major city in this country.

Michele is a stellar example of what hard work and determination can do in another city, that has never smiled kindly on the portrait arts.

Also, today, if you have a wonderful portfolio, there are really good portrait agencies that will promote you, whether or not you live in an igloo in Alaska, if you have the right stuff. Also there is our friend the internet, and wonderful venues like our own "Strokes 0f Genius" website.

But go, if you feel in your heart that it is the right thing to do.

PS.

About 25 years ago, I was pondering just such a move, not to Atlanta, but from Providence, Rhode Island to Boston or New York.

I felt I was stuck in an insufferable backwater, all the cognoscenti and opportunity was elsewhere and I only had to move to achieve my goals.

My dreams have immeasurably changed from those desperate and uncertain days.

I have stayed, and I wince at the thought of having left. However that is my story. Your situation and dreams are yours, so listen carefully to your heart.

Above all, Patty, I think you should feel confident that your colleagues are here for your moral support, and that you should never feel alone.

Best of luck to you.

My husband and I left our grown children and extended family in Washington state to live in Minnesota so I can go to school. I'm almost finished with the third of four years. Has it been good? Yes! Has it been lonely? Yes, especially at the first, but now I can see it would be easy to live the rest of our lives here if we didn't have such strong commitments to draw us back home. We've made friends through school, my husband's work, church, and neighbors.

About failure, you won't know if you don't try.

Financially, I think we may end up in better shape because selling our house allowed us to invest in property we can subdivide and sell when we return. Plus we have a house here we'll sell.

This has been an adventure for us, and it will still be one when we get back home, I will be trying to start a business as a painter and my husband will be working on his second career - he's still contemplating what he'll do. One drawback is that we'll be in a rural area but I'm not too worried about it because of the internet. That's it up to this point, you'll have to wait with me for "the rest of the story."

I was hoping you'd post in this thread, Debra, since I know what a leap of faith you took to change longitudes for a few years in order to get the art training you wanted.

Preliminarily, references to

That actually sounds like a LOT of fun to me, but then that's maybe just my own crazy approach to the idea of change and trying new things.

As Steven says, it depends on how you feel about new situations.

Yeah, I know. I wasn't going to make too much of that, but I nearly had a case of wanderlust kick in as I typed out that scenario. But then, I'm comfortable living out of a tent or a boat anyway.

And in fact, I'm looking at tonight's storm forecast (6-10 inches of new snow in the Twin Cities, 25-35 mph winds) and thinking about tomorrow morning's snarled commute to my cubicle far away in another galaxy. A few seasons' worth of tides, beach scavenging and painting in salt air might be just the kind of character-building experience I need to sign on for. Maybe even meet a real Irish mermaid who'll be my Muse.

As the travel folks say, you won't know if you don't go.

I wish only the best for you.

Good luck on your new adventure.

By the by I am also a fan of Pema Chodron, I named a cat after her.

We'll thicken it up for you with a roux, call it "bisque" instead of chowder. Couple of tablespoons of Tabasco, you'll be a happy beachcomber.

Say . . . you're not one of those Irish selkies, are you?

Happy travels.

Steven, Steven! Whenever you are in the cafe here I always reach for my dictionary knowing I will be looking up something. Selkie is not in Webster's so for anyone else who did not know what a selkie is, from Google:

"The shy Selkies are marine creatures in the shape of a seal. They can be found near the islands of Orkney and Shetland. A female can shed her skin and comes ashore as a beautiful woman. When a man finds the skin, he can force the Selkie to be a good, if somewhat sad, wife. Should she ever recover the skin, she will immediately return to the sea, leaving her husband behind. The male Selkies are responsible for storms and also for the sinking of ships, which is their way of avenging the hunting of seals"

Being a Muse is a much more attractive proposition!

Thank you Sharon, all the support here is appreciated and you WILL be hearing of my adventure down south. I met a woman this morning who told me I will find everyone is more pleasant (which I have experienced on my trips to Atlanta) in the south because there is more sunshine. It is 70 and gray and raining today in Cleveland, tomorrow it will be 34 and Lord knows, it is never ever good weather for the St. Patrick's Day parade, though we all show up for it anyways!!

I'm glad you've made that choice.

What helped me was joining various groups (art groups, hiking groups, whatever you're interested in) whenever I moved to a new city (I've done it a few times, actually). You will probably miss your family and friends a lot, so getting out and about to meet new people will make all the difference.

A good idea, Michele. I am looking forward to meeting our Julie Deane and joining her art group!

Check out the Portrait Society of Atlanta, too, of course!

Good luck to you, Pat! I've been following this thread but, since I have never felt the desire to pull up roots and move from Philadelphia, I didn't have much wisdom to impart and so I've just been reading all the wise and varied responses.

And just because I'm content here, it doesn't mean I don't like to travel, so maybe I'll see you in Atlanta.

Alex

Alex, after visiting Philadelphia's wonderful art museum and downtown area, i don't wonder that you are content! I had a wonderful (full) day wandering around that museum last summer.

Still, my area of Georgia is warmer....we're mad cause this is the second winter with no snow except a flurry.

Michele = Portrait Society of Atlanta , can't wait to join! I have a great story about the last time I visited Atlanta. My friend lives in Buckhead and we stopped at her neighbor's to pick up her daughter from piano lessons. The homeowner was eager to meet me because she knew I was there to study portrait painting. She opened the door to her very large, very posh, extraordinary home and pulled me directly into her living room where hanging above the huge fireplace was a huge painting of mom and dad and the three kids. My lord, it was the most awful painting I have ever seen! The heads looked like they were printed from a cheap computer printer and pasted onto stiff, flat bodies. It was truly horrific! and the woman was elated because it was painted by some "named colorist" whom EVERONE was using to paiint their portraits.

...there's room for at least one more good portrait artist, and give me some time, I will visit that neighborhood again, with my portfolio in tow!!

Alex I think Philadelphia is beautiful and would love to visit again. Once I get settled you have a place to visit in Atlanta, I promise!

Julie - I am HOPING not to see snow for some time! But I guess a flury or two would not hurt. I keep going to the website and viewing the current weather - I can't wait!!!

Steven - I saw all that snow you got this past week - UGH! I lived in Grand Forks N D for three winters in the 70's I know what it is like. I do have to admit though, anyone who suffers from SAD will feel better in ND/Minnesota. They may have long cold winters, but there is so much sun and it is relecting on pure white snow for months. I never felt the winter blahs in North Dakota!

More proof of the power of perspective.

I'm glad my favorite winter landscape artist had it, too.

Willard Metcalf

Dear Pat, I never said this but I always thought it would be nice to see the Cleveland Museum of Art again, perhaps meeting you there. (We have a farmstead I need to visit, a couple hours east of Cleveland on Rt 322, which of course ends right at the very entrance of this fine museum!) You don't have such a shabby museum, in my humble opinion.

I don't see where I'd actually be able to visit Cleveland in the next couple of weeks, so I will just have to wish you a fine and serendipitous move to Georgia. I wish you all the best! Keep us posted.

So if you ever drop into Philadelphia again, let Alex and me know.

Garth

PS: And Julie! How come you never told any of your Philadelphia Forum friends you were visiting????

Hi Garth -

Mea culpa - I had exactly one day to visit the museum, plus I had never paid attention to who lived where, so never really thought about it.

If I ever go back (and I expect I will sometime, since it's a few hours' drive from some family members), I'll be sure to be in contact. It would be fun to meet some SOG'ers!

Steven - I'm sure it is only a few hardy midwesterns could paint en plein air in winter - this is one hardy artist!! But his landscape represents the clear air of Minnesota beautifully.

Garth - Thanks for the invite, it is good to keep track of where we all are for those excursions we like to make into museums around the world. And for your information the Cleveland Museum of Art is under a complete renovation which has given me serious withdrawals. You will have to wait until late 2007 before you visit!

Aw shucks, Pat! Here I am suddenly stranded in Jamestown, PA (after all!), with my ancient Mercedes broken down. I am only seventy miles away, but can't get away. I am sorry the Cleveland Museum is closed, but that will keep me out of trouble for the moment. I will just have to plan a future visit to Georgia (where all my car parts are coming from). I wish you the very best in your transition and move.

All the best,

Garth