Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post

Tammy Nielsen · 07-26-2002, 10:31 AM

Thanks, Michael and Gene for bringing up so many interesting points.

I live in a small town and people ask me why I do art and I say, "Because I've never been able to get the security type of job." I literally paint to survive. Someone asked me to paint a mural on their barn, I said, "Sure," then went to the library to learn everything I could and painted a mural. It's still there and colorfast, after 5 years. I've met some wonderful people and had wonderful adventures. But if you call and ask me to do other jobs I do those too, just so I can keep going.

I'm planning to have an Open Studio soon, which should be interesting. And I go down to a local resort on the weekends and do portraits like Lon used to do at the mall. I get to do a few from life, but most are from photos. But Gene, I'm passing out the business cards. And I love the strokes people give you while they watch you work. "Wow! You're good!" never hurts me at all. And I always ask people if they're artist, and if they are, I try to encourage them to get going while they're young and can see well (glasses give me fits), and to get their work out there. I asked one little girl who was doing laundry how many times anyone stopped and told her "Wow, you do a great job in the laundry." I tried to get her to draw each night, etc. Well, those are just some of my experiences.

07-26-2002, 10:31 AM	#4
Tammy Nielsen Juried Member Joined: Apr 2002 Location: Overton, NV Posts: 79	Being an artist Thanks, Michael and Gene for bringing up so many interesting points. I live in a small town and people ask me why I do art and I say, "Because I've never been able to get the security type of job." I literally paint to survive. Someone asked me to paint a mural on their barn, I said, "Sure," then went to the library to learn everything I could and painted a mural. It's still there and colorfast, after 5 years. I've met some wonderful people and had wonderful adventures. But if you call and ask me to do other jobs I do those too, just so I can keep going. I'm planning to have an Open Studio soon, which should be interesting. And I go down to a local resort on the weekends and do portraits like Lon used to do at the mall. I get to do a few from life, but most are from photos. But Gene, I'm passing out the business cards. And I love the strokes people give you while they watch you work. "Wow! You're good!" never hurts me at all. And I always ask people if they're artist, and if they are, I try to encourage them to get going while they're young and can see well (glasses give me fits), and to get their work out there. I asked one little girl who was doing laundry how many times anyone stopped and told her "Wow, you do a great job in the laundry." I tried to get her to draw each night, etc. Well, those are just some of my experiences.