Advice on agents?

Karin Wells · 01-31-2009, 08:24 PM

I was searching for something and found this topic...and noticed that it was about 6 years old.

If you're still out there Heidi, can you give us an update?

Heidi Maiers · 02-01-2009, 12:05 AM

Hi Karen,
My, this has been a long time since this was posted and I'd forgotten about most of it.
As that experience turned out, I still think the guy was absolutely well intended and a nice fellow but - like a lot of people I've met since - turned out to be someone with big dreams but never got his project off the ground. I did make several sculptures for him for his own personal collection, which he bought, but that's as far as it went.

Have been approached by other people since then who also had big ideas, but I don't think realistically had the know-how or experience to turn those ideas into anything concrete. Others were purely out to make money off of me, and those were pretty easy to spot.

So, for the past 6 years the direct-client portrait commissions have been all I have been doing (that, and my regular day job) and I have had a long waiting list for the past 3 years now and am turning down most projects. Ideal situation I think, because I can pick and choose the jobs that interest me and am not having to deal with any 3rd parties. I still don't sculpt for a living, but I've come to the realization that that is by choice. I just like the safety of my dependable income too much.

Of course, even as I write this, I am yet again entertaining the idea of doing some commercial work for a guy in LA that would involve making a line of sculptures (about 1 per month) and receiving royalties on the sales of those. Jury is still out on whether to consider it seriously or not. May just be another person who is all talk and no show, but you never know and don't want to blow off something that could turn out to be a great opportunity.

Karin Wells · 02-01-2009, 01:23 AM

Thanks for the update.

I am a full time portrait painter. The pressure is on to generate enough money - and, like most of us, I'd rather be at the easel than doing "business things."

But that comes with the territory.

Good luck with the line of sculptures - I hope it works out for you.

And by the way, your Video was wonderful - I really enjoyed it. In my next life I want to be a sculptor.