Painting, the loneliest profession?

[Karin Wells]

I've been chatting with a few full-time painter friends of mine. Our recent topic of conversation was that we all know people who want to become full-time professional painters. And even though they are not short on talent, they cannot seem to put in the hours necessary to make that leap.

All of us (pros) agreed that although we put in some really long hours in our respective studios, we relish the time and do not mind being alone.

However we've observed that many painters get "lonely" and cannot deal with the isolation of this profession.

I'm wondering how other painters feel.

Do you share a studio and find it distracts you - or does it fill a social need?

If you work alone, how do you cope and do you like it?

[Michele Rushworth]

My studio is in my home. I have two teenage daughters. My husband works at home one day a week. I have an assistant who comes three days a week.

With all that going on, I truly love the days when it's just me in the studio!

I do know a landscape painter who lives alone and has a studio in his home. He is very sociable so he organizes regular plein air "paint-outs" and also runs an informal critique group.

[Chris Saper]

Hi Karin!

I agree that the isolation is not something for which everyone is suited. I like it, but it might just be the way my socially-challenged genes are set. I lived mostly alone until I was 35, and even in the corporate world, a lot of my work was solitary.

Still, I do realize that I need more balance - my family definitely takes the quiet out of my day, but I find that scheduling concerted time with friends is very important as well.

I enjoy an open studio where I can chat with other artists while we work, although I'd never do it in a workshop setting. For those who don't deal well with the isolated nature of being an artist, perhaps a shared studio would work, as long as it doesn't become distracting.

I think that might be answering a different question from the one you pose...ie, those who cannot "seem to put in the hours necessary. " Perhaps they can 't due to other commitments or priorities; perhaps they are hoping to be "discovered" or perhaps they simply aren't willing to engage in so many frustrating hours. Hard to say.

Nice to see you back, Karin!

[Karin Wells]

Originally Posted by Chris Saper

I think that might be answering a different question from the one you pose...

Not really. It is interesting to explore all the issues of working as a painter. I wondered if the inability to put in long hours was a distaste for the isolation.

However, demands of family and the other parts of our lives that require our time and attention certainly factor in. I wonder if is unique to women that our time is something that we often have to fight to protect?

When my father was ill and dying, I missed a LOT of painting time. Family always comes first for me and I certainly have no regrets about that.

When my children were small, I did not, could not, paint. I got a late start.

[Laurel Alanna McBrine]

Good topic. I think the more extroverted you are, the more difficult it is. Since I fit somewhere in the middle on the Introvert versus Extrovert spectrum, I do find it hard to focus sometimes and often end up on the phone (headsets are a marvelous invention!). I wonder if that is why some painters enjoy teaching – in addition to making a living, of course? Open studio sessions can be fun and alleviate the isolation for those of us that need more association.

Once I get absorbed in painting, in the “flow” so to speak, I have no trouble spending hours, even days alone. In fact, I truly resent interruptions once I am on a roll.

Michele, I was wondering if you would be willing to expand more on how you came to have an assistant, what you have the assistant do for you and compensation arrangements?

[Michele Rushworth]

Michele, I was wondering if you would be willing to expand more on how you came to have an assistant, what you have the assistant do for you and compensation arrangements?

Sure, I'll start a thread in the Business section.

[Alexandra Tyng]

I am definitely an introvert, and I love working long hours alone in my studio. My idea of a treat is waking up and realizing I don't have anything to do other than paint all day! When I get going I'm very productive, and I have to be because in addition to portraits, I have to paint enough landscapes to keep three galleries happy. When I'm on a roll, I really hate to be interrupted. I'm not a multi-tasker. Right now I don't have an assistant, and frankly I don't know if I could get used to having someone sitting at my desk doing things on the computer or stretching canvases or whatever.

But I am also rather sociable. I try to meet a friend for lunch or coffee on the average about once a week, just to keep up with my friends, some of whom are artists. If I don't have a chance to go out, I keep in touch by phone. There are two or three artist friends that I regularly call (or who call me). And then there are the appointments, errands, business matters, all of which take hours and hours out of each week.

I would say I'm happy working this way because I have to drag myself out of my studio to do the other things. If you have to drag yourself INTO the studio then maybe you aren't cut out to do this kind of thing.

[Julie Deane]

I don't know if this topic applies to artists who work full-time at other jobs. Certainly the social aspect of that makes the time alone in the studio all the more sweet.

For me personally, I like being around people at least part of the day. But when it is studio time, I don't want to be interrupted, which might happen in a shared space.

[Karin Wells]

Originally Posted by Julie Deane

I don't know if this topic applies to artists who work full-time at other jobs.

I'm sure it does. After working all day, does one look forward to going home and working alone? For some, I suppose, it might be hard if their full-time work is solitary. For others it might be a relief to be alone.

[Carol Norton]

When my children were small, I did not, could not, paint. I got a late start.[/QUOTE]

My start was a late one, too. With the hours spent on family and a 30 year teaching career, my day started at 5:30 (a quiet 30 minutes reading time alone) then from 7:30 to around 5 pm I was at school. After school, children and husband were attended to, and papers were graded until at least 10:30. The only time left for me was an occasional weekend. Upon retirement, I finally knew I could take the time that painting demands of me.

After our move to a new state and retirement, I had to FORCE myself to mellow out and to get to know new people. However, I found that I still resented people dropping in to just ......purposlessly sit around. As a matter of fact, it drove me to distraction! My true (get-to-the-point) nature resurfaced and I soon realized that "balance" may never be a part of my personality. The funny thing is that now I just don't care.

I really do enjoy being with some people. I have no tolorance for wasting time when I could be painting or thinking about painting.

To balance out the isolation factor, I joined two art leagues. Carving out and guarding "alone" time has always been crucial to my peace of mind and it is critical for creative thought.