To what extent for your art

[Patricia Joyce]

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 , yet I know it is for the best. My kids are well on their way, though I will miss my new granddaughter 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

[Michele Rushworth]

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.

[Lacey Lewis]

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!

[Claudemir Bonfim]

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.

[Claudemir Bonfim]

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,

[Marina Dieul]

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.

[Sharon Knettell]

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.

[Sharon Knettell]

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.

[Cindy Procious]

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.

[Debra Norton]

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."