"Professional Artist" - Page 2

Michael Fournier · 09-02-2002, 02:29 AM

Oh, Karin, here we go again on Kinkade! I thought we put that one to bed in the Pepsi thread?

As for making a living as a painter, or in any other profession, it is simple.

1. First you must believe you can.

2. Then you must do what it takes to become what you believe.

3. And last, you can't give up on that belief the first time you fail.

Oh course the second part the "doing what it takes" is where I could get into all kinds of controversy. But I won't, I'll just leave that up to each of you to figure out what that means. Since we are all at a different starting point, that part will be different for each person.

Karin Wells · 09-02-2002, 07:54 AM

Quote:

...And last you can't give up on that belief the first time you fail.

Or as in my case, the second time I failed, the twenty-second time I failed, etc..

In the area of painting, having the personality of a pit bull doesn't hurt, i.e., "I CANNOT FAIL IF I DON'T EVER QUIT." I am convinced that I wasn't born with much talent, just desire and a strong will. And for me, that has made a difference.

I do not think that "success" depends on "markets," or really anything outside of ourselves. I personally do not think of "success" as a particular amount of money (unless, of course, you choose to define it that way).

Poor ole' Kinkade sure takes a beating, doesn't he? In his favor, I do think that he understands the nature of light and can visually manipulate it. It is just his taste that lowers the artistic standard and allows us envious (and $$ poorer) types to take pot-shots.

I am always flabbergasted by those who say they deserve to "make it" because they have "tried hard enough." Do they really understand how many long hours are required at the easel? The intense personal study of art required? (And I do not mean just going to art school and taking a "workshop" or two.)

Patt Legg · 09-02-2002, 09:25 AM

Karin,

My comment was a weak attempt at humor, and I hope that I didn't flabbergast you. I suppose I had better stick to painting and give up my underlying desire to be a comedian. Ha!

Quote:

True professional artists therefore are no different than any other true professional. It all boils down to what comes from within. Calling upon an inner spirit to accomplish the difficult and not settling for the mediocre. I can relate what you said to my experience in the operating room. Thanks for clearing the fog. I can see clearly now.

Alicia,

Well put, and I totally agree with you that it comes from within. Unfortunately many judge or measure professionalism by the dollar sign.

What would others feel, if posted on this Forum, was a fantastic web gallery in which the art was comparable to the talent of the old masters, and yet the price was $250, instead of $250,000. Has that person still "made it" ?

Aww, the plot thickens.

Karin Wells · 09-02-2002, 11:18 AM

Patt,

Oops! I did not mean to direct my comments towards you personally, and your remarks did make me chuckle. But don't dump your day job in art for a career in stand-up comedy!

Something else, however, was on my mind. I spoke to a fellow two weeks ago who complained bitterly that he hadn't made it in portraiture. And after all his "hard" work, he deserved to be "on top" and was surprisingly angry about not being there. I have a good idea of the time he puts in, and we obviously define "hard work" very differently. I also remember what it was like after art school graduation. Too many of my classmates seemed to spend more time complaining about the "lack of jobs" when they had hardly even looked. BTW, those people generally did not stay in the "art" business.

Persistence always pays off.

Alicia Kornick · 09-02-2002, 01:08 PM

Patt,

As for the artists that are painting comparable old masters for $260.00 instead of $260,000.00, I would say they have made it, but must be living in a cave and don't know it.

True story: a doctor I worked for told me this story. He knew a plastic surgeon who didn't particularly like doing facelifts (they take a long time to do). This surgeon decided he was at a point in his career and didn't need to do any more facelifts. He would rather do other procedures. So, he raised his fees on facelifts to an exhorbitant amount, thinking people would go somewhere else for this procedure. Instead of that happening, he had more people wanting him to do facelifts then ever before. Moral of the story is the public thought that since he was charging so much, he must be better than anyone else doing them. People were traveling from out of town to come to him.

The public perceives price for quality. I think Kinkade (sorry) figured this out.

Karin Wells · 09-02-2002, 01:32 PM

Thanks for the story, Alicia. I've been looking for an excuse to raise my prices!

Patt Legg · 09-02-2002, 01:58 PM

I did it again, Karin. It is I who needs to explain. I must be having a slip back in time and feeling a bit"moody" for lack of a better word to explain. I will try to stop being so SENSITIVE.

I think that a portion of my unfortunate misgivings about my working are from comments that I still hear about artists locally and even my in-laws in New Jersey, California, etc.. Once again, it is an education need and informing them that FINE ART IS NOT THE SAME AS PAINT BY NUMBER.

Quote:

So, he raised his fees on facelifts to an exhorbitant amount, thinking people would go somewhere else for this procedure. Instead of that happening, he had more people wanting him to do facelifts then ever before

Alicia,

Thanks for your story. It sure LIFTED my spirits today and it is so true. I have seen that happen. When it happens around my "neck of the woods" others' comments are "and who does he/she think they are" and "this isn't New York, you know."

p. s. The above comments are not necessarily those of the writer of this thread.

Thanks again out there. This site is such an inspiration.

Cynthia Daniel · 09-02-2002, 02:00 PM

Me too, Karin! Now we've got a reason.

Chris Saper · 09-02-2002, 02:07 PM

Although my studio was built as dedicated space, and is 100% devoted to my art, I have a family member who will not refer to it in any way other than the "back bedroom".

Alicia Kornick · 09-02-2002, 09:43 PM

Patt,

Sorry, I didn't get to finish my story. My husband was home today and accused me of ALWAYS being on THAT web site. Can you imagine that!!! What I should have said to him is yes, and thank God For It. Instead, I went to cook.

I wanted to tell you to go to the Biz and Resource Center on this site and download the eBook, "How to Become a Famous Artist and Still Paint Pictures" by W. Joe Innis http://www.portraitartist.com/resources/. If you haven't already read it, you should. Very funny, practical and enlightening.

Administrator's note: Or, you can purchase this book at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ex...strokeofgenius

Don't feel bad about what the "locals" say or your family members. There might be more than a bit of jealously involved there. I have donated enough art to my family. They time to time mention they'd like to have a portrait, they just don't want to pay for it.

There are people out there willing to pay for your experience and talent. You need a patron. Read the book.