Joy Thomas' first time

[Jean Kelly]

Bank? What bank? Banks lend to artists? You've got to be kidding! My bank is the "International Bank of the Long Suffering abd Patient Husband".

Jean

[Joy Thomas]

Originally Posted by Jean Kelly

Bank? What bank? Banks lend to artists? You've got to be kidding! My bank is the "International Bank of the Long Suffering abd Patient Husband".

Jean

I hear you loud and clear Jean.

18 years ago, I approached my local bank for a loan to build a studio on my property. I was armed with a year's worth of signed commission contracts complete with down payments. The bank was carrying the note on our farm and house and knew how much equity my husband and I had. The loan officer (someone I knew well) said, "Joy, I would fell more comfortable about this if you would bring in your husband or father."

Mind you, I was (and still am) the bread winner of the family...my husband worked for me full time and "my Daddy" had not had anything to do with my finances since the day I left home after graduating from high school!. My father had never even lived in the vicinity!

So my husband went to the local lumber yard (this was before the days of Lowe's or Home Depots here) and struck a deal with them to finance the materials so we could set about building the studio by ourselves.

A few years and many unveilings later. We went to the bank again ...this time we mortgaged everything we owned...even so, the maximum we could borrow was just $72,000. In just one year, we spent every penny on additional training, an ad campaign, a web site, brochures and advertising through magazines. It did serve to boost my career, I received national commissions as my work came to the attention of important collectors. In the years that followed we continued to take those same kinds of financial risks.

I have supported my family entirely "by the brush" for more than 20 years now with my husband (and master framer) of 27 years working full time with me. We are both from poor families who do not support (or even approve) of our good efforts as artists.

It has been a modest, bohemian lifestyle... (albeit colorful, exciting and intellectually stimulating). It was a challenge to raise our three children with such an unstable income. They learned to be clever, working their way through school and earning academic scholarships. Our children are grown now and are on their own financially. Like us, they will probably never inherit money or know the security of even a modest trust fund. Perhaps they will make a little money by selling the rights to my work someday.

Looking back, we would have been better off financially by investing that borrowed money in the stock market during the 90's, but we were trying to build my career. (It truly does take money to make money, but in art...it takes money just to live as an artist and to even lose money!). Our goal was to secure important portrait commissions to insure my place in history and to make just enough money that we could continue to pursue "the artist's life".

If one has a steady income to spend on constant advertising and marketing then eventually they may flood the market with enough information that they become "a thing". But without serious funds (or the backing of someone with funds) it is unlikely that any artist will ever make much money on artistic merit alone! Women and other minorities must face the additional obstacle of prejudice and sexism.

Hang in there Jean, and give your understanding husband a big thank you.... from all of us.

Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas

[Michele Rushworth]

Fascinating post, Joy. Thanks so much for sharing it.

It sounds like you found the ad campaign to have been worthwhile. Can you tell me where you advertised and what seemed to work best?

It also sounds like you're saying that an artist has to keep at it, always advertising, never letting up, in order to keep things going. Have you found that to be the case, or did those initial successes lead to enough high profile work that it was all the jump start you needed and became self sustaining after that?

[Jean Kelly]

That is an amazing story, I also thank you for sharing it. You both (husband and you) sound like fascinating people with a lot of guts and love for art.

My first husband was also an artist, but when it came to encouraging me or even allowing me to have some time to paint, it was "no way"!
I divorced him. My current hubby is my biggest supporter and fan. I'm a newcomer to painting (4 years), and now am disabled but I keep working. When I get discouraged I'll come back to your post, and charge forward again. I love the part about bringing in your husband or father! When will they ever get it?

Jean

[Joy Thomas]

Originally Posted by Michele Rushworth

It sounds like you found the ad campaign to have been worthwhile. Can you tell me where you advertised and what seemed to work best?

It also sounds like you're saying that an artist has to keep at it, always advertising, never letting up, in order to keep things going. Have you found that to be the case, or did those initial successes lead to enough high profile work that it was all the jump start you needed and became self sustaining after that?

I often ponder those ads, (which were in Southern Accents and Veranda.) I did secure commissions, as a result, from heavy hitters in New Orleans, Tampa, Shreveport, Nashville, Chattanooga, Dallas, Washington D.C., New York City, Martha's Vineyard and other less notable locations...however the cost of running such a campaign was so staggering that my profits were not as substantial as one might hope...but as a woman trying to enter a male dominated field, I felt I had no choice. Southern Accents was the most succesful venue for me. Indeed the ads along with a flurry of awards and articles in American Artistt magazine The Artist Magazine served to bring my work into view of many clients. Unfortunately, the costs of such ads have increased to such an extent that they are no longer a viable option for me.

I do still receive commissions, through word of mouth from past portrait commissions that I received from the ads.

I think the most important advertising is to secure high profile portraits (like the one you painted of the Governor!) and then make sure to put lots of press releases out about it. Then you will be seen as "bona-fide" in the eyes of collectors...and competitors. Your own response to that sort of success must be swift...that is why I suggested you use the Governor's portrait as a segway to higher fees, to let clients know that as you move UP so too will your fees.

Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas

[Joy Thomas]

Originally Posted by Jean Kelly

That is an amazing story, I also thank you for sharing it. You both (husband and you) sound like fascinating people with a lot of guts and love for art.

My first husband was also an artist, but when it came to encouraging me or even allowing me to have some time to paint, it was "no way"!
I divorced him. My current hubby is my biggest supporter and fan. I'm a newcomer to painting (4 years), and now am disabled but I keep working. When I get discouraged I'll come back to your post, and charge forward again. I love the part about bringing in your husband or father! When will they ever get it?

Jean

Good for you, Jean...I think it's important to move away from those who discourage us as we attempt to "follow our bliss".

I'm glad you found my story useful, it does take some guts to do this, unless of course one is independently wealthy, on the other hand, I can't imagine life without my art...can you?

Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas

[Michele Rushworth]

Thanks, Joy. Hearing about your experiences is very helpful!

[Jean Kelly]

No Joy, I can't imagine life without art now, it's as important to me as breathing.

Jean

[Mischa Milosevic]

Joy thank you so much for sharing your struggles and career experience wit us. I truly understand your struggles and my hat off to you and your husband for supporting you. Many couples forget that they are to be as one and work through all things together.

I hope I am not out of place and others will not mind if I take a moment to share some personal things with you.
Some years ago I was in a motorcycle accident from which I did not fully recover. As a result I was not able to continue my career in the field I was in at that time. So, God helped me recover and opened the way for me to pursue a new career a career in the humanitarian field. I was in the humanitarian field for some ten years. The work was quite rewarding but I noticed that if I was to continue I would be putting my health at serious risk.

After some serious thought I decided to invest my savings in to art education. Many thought me bold for taking this step but beside my passion for art my reasoning was that I can take my work with my anywhere.

Being that I am from Europe I found an art academy in Florence. I spent 2.5 years, a year and a half short of the full four year program, at The Angel Academy of Art. I still have a few things to learn, color, in order to have the basics down but as we all know it is a on going process.

To echo the statement of others I to cannot imagine life without art.

What do you think about doing a few freebies for prominent individuals to get ones name out there?

Thank you again for sharing your experiences and your time with us.

mischa

[Claudemir Bonfim]

This has been one of the most curious introductory threads I have ever visited.
I think this should be move to the Cafe Guerbois Discussions section. What do you think Michele? (just kidding!)
I can clearly see Garth counting the digits anxiously!