Working in multiple mediums...

Louise T. Dailey · 04-18-2006, 09:32 AM

Hi everyone-
I am in a quandry and would very much appreciate some thoughts/advice. I also am hoping that this is the appropraite board for this post.
I work in charcoal, pastel and oil. I have been plagued with the idea that perhaps I am spreading myself a little thin, but when I think of no longer offerring one or two of my mediums to concentrate more on one, I can't possibly decide how to go about it. I love all three mediums. Oil is certainly the most challenging for me, and that makes me want to work in it all the more. However, people love my pastels and charcoals, and I enjoy that they don't take me as long to finish (I can make pastel and charcoal behave much more easily than I can oil). I have a healthy waiting list for my portraits (about a year) and I am also doing some pet portraits, some house portraits, as well as some abstract paintings by commission. This is a *major* decision for me, as I am the sole provider for my family of five right now. I enjoy all of my jobs, and I like the variety very much. However, I do not want to become a "jack of all mediums and a master at none". It is just so hard to think about actually turning down commissions! I take my career seriously, and have goals, but they get muddled when I think of all I am envolved in. I do not have a web site, so I will post an example of each medium. My prices range from $800 for a h&s in charcoal or sepia to $4,000 for a full length oil. I hope this all makes sense. Some of you may read this and think that I am complaining about a wonderful thing. Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly thankful, I am just getting the sense that I need to choose my path, and not sure of how to go about it.
Louise

Louise T. Dailey · 04-18-2006, 09:44 AM

a couple more...

Michele Rushworth · 04-18-2006, 09:53 AM

I'm not sure why you feel there's a problem. If you enjoy the variety and your clients do too, why change? However if you're starting to feel you want to get better in one medium or another, you could choose to devote your time to that. There's no one "right way" to be an artist, after all!

Louise T. Dailey · 04-18-2006, 10:14 AM

Michelle- Thanks for your response. I want to do the right thing from a business standpoint. I suppose I am doubting myself because I have been getting conflicting advice on the subject. Hence my post here, as I thought that answers from all of you whom I have grown to admire so much would help. I think I may need to simplify. I am working so hard, and putting in so many hours, and am still having a bit of a hard time financially. With this long waiting list, I suppose my next move should be to raise prices, but I just did that a few months ago. I love pastel, but oils are "where the future is" or so I have come to believe. I am just fairly new to all of this, and wanted some input at this crossroads before I make any major moves. I realize that choosing what/how many mediums to offer is a personal decision. I would like to hear everyone's opinion about working in various mediums. Is it a boon to offer choices, or is one percieved as more of a specialist when he/she works in one medium only? Or am I crazy for worrying about all of this?
Louise

Mischa Milosevic · 04-18-2006, 06:24 PM

Louise, I fell for you and I think I see what you are getting at. Let me share just two thoughts with you and you let me know what you think. First, when you have a year waiting list for oils than If this is your choice of medium than go for it. Until then stick with the clients you have. Second, each medium you tackle do more than your best. Do better than your previous. Push your self beyond your limitations. Give it all you got! Never be satisfied at the level of skill you are at. Your work is already good but don't you be satisfied. There is other mountains to climb.

Look at Cassatt. Research about her work. Like, what year she did each drawing/painting and compare her work of that year to the previous year. Try to figure out what she saw and how she applied it in her paintings/drawings. Let the masters of old be your guide and inspiration.

I hope this helps.

Sincere regards,
mischa

Louise T. Dailey · 04-19-2006, 05:38 PM

Mischa- Thank you. My posts have come across differently than I intended, I think. I am not very good at putting emotions to paper (or keyboard). I have been at a crossroads, in great part because of what you refer to. I have SO MUCH to LEARN, and I don't want to be doing so many "good things" that I miss out on the "best". I do love to study the old masters. Doing just that is what initially sparked my interest in portraiture, actually. Yes, we should always be striving to do better. Not better than anyone else, but better than we have done in past. That is what I love so much about this work. There will *always* be more to learn. If that weren't the case, I would have already put my paints on ebay and moved on to something else.

Sincerely,
Louise