Just how dedicated are you?

[Elizabeth Schott]

In this economy, I am not sure about any other full time artist here, but the

[Lynn T. McCallum]

In November I was moved to concentrate on art. There was no more savings or settlement money at that time. My husband was laid off from a great job at Nortel almost two years ago; it has not been easy. We just keep plodding along. It's hard but it's going to happen. The market is starting to open up again and the telecom is looking better. That's a different story, though.

Michael's has given me a few teaching spots and the pay is pretty decent. Some folks are happy to just get a mark on a piece of paper. There is another teaching job or two at local community centers but that is during the winter session. Hey, if you're teaching art, you're doing art when you show what your students need to know. There is no time for little pleasures. I spend a lot of time painting (well, you're right that's a pleasure, but don't tell anyone).

It's a making up for lost time thing. Years ago when I should have been a starving artist I was a successful chef, well fed, but artistically starved. So here I am in another pair of paint and gesso ruined jeans knowing that the time that is being put into painting will soon pay off. December 2005 is my give up point, maybe.

All of you artists out there trying to break in the business don't give up, just paint. Paint to your heart's content. Be selfish sometimes (hence the unreliable artist). You'll tick some folks off but you need the time and space to develop. Don't be guilty either by the fact you have fun painting or drawing. Who said that work has to be no fun? I had to tell my family if I'm in the studio, pretend I'm at the office with a bad, low-paying job. Since then I'm allowed to paint as long and whenever I want. Until the law was set, they bugged me about all kinds of little things they could do themselves. Paint and you will be rewarded, give it time!

Beth, you'll get there. Don't let the time thing hang over your head. That's pressure. Don't do that to yourself. Just give yourself some more time, relax, have fun and it'll happen! I have faith in you!

[Jeff Fuchs]

Beth,

You're trying to do two things at once: Develop skills, and make a living at it. You're just reaching a point in your art that you are making saleable stuff. You can't expect the money to roll in until you can show a serious body of work. If you keep painting like you have lately, it will happen.

Lynn's idea about teaching classes is a good one. I know an artist who would literally starve if he didn't. Which brings me to another point. This guy does work that I'd be embarrased to show. Despite this, he asks $1500 for a charcoal drawing. They just don't sell. He has stacks of art... large stacks, in his home. If he dropped his prices, they might sell (might!). But he says "I've been an artist for 20 years, and my prices reflect my level of professionalism". Okay, so starve, but there are times when you REALLY could use $50, but you insist on putting a $1500 price tag on your work. I've been to shows where his work was the worst in the place, but the most expensive by far.

What I'm trying to say is, sell the stuff cheap if it gets the wheels greased. I have another friend, an SOG artist, who donates a small portrait to charity auctions. Usually, the winning bidder wants a larger portrait, and pays the difference. Then friends see the portrait and want one for themselves. I'm not sure he still does that, since he's well established now.

I'm glad I'm doing it the way I am. I'm working on skills now, while still employed. You've got an uphill battle. You mentioned not being able to work and paint at the same time. As a graphic artist, couldn't you do limited freelance work? When I was a graphic designer, I had tons of time on my hands. That's why I had to go to work for the state

[Lynn T. McCallum]

Talk about finding out your worth. The donated painting is the route to find out just what your worth really is. I have donated two and they went for some nice prices. These were silent auctions and I have yet to hear from the winning bidders, but then it has given me an idea of my worth.

Beth and Jeff, we all live in or near some really big major cities so we have an advantage here. There is the Humane Society, food banks, nature centers, the list goes on. It works the same way in smaller towns, but then you can always ship or send a coupon.

The world is our oyster, so let's get shucking, gang! Yes, it's hard work but there is a beautiful pearl in the end.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Jeff and Lynn, as you are both right above, I have been told "this is hard, very hard!", but then please remember I am not starting as a babe in the woods - I do have 2 degrees in art (big deal right?) and have been drawing for years.

I don't know if you have noticed this in my personality but when I decide to do something I like to give 120%, so when I was freelancing it was very time-consuming too. That's what my question was mainly asking, if it is better to get a mediocre job or dip into savings.

Teaching would we great, but what? I am certified K - 12 for Art, but there's a full-time job.

Thanks for the art auction tips. I do those. I have also noticed a lot of new posters here come to the table as I did. When first diving into this I couldn't believe how many commissions I was getting - of course I want to sneak around like the Grinch and take them all back. Now that I have a hint of what I am doing it IS "hard, very hard".

I got a day job a couple months ago after I freaked out about our finances. I lasted 4 weeks. That 4 weeks made a good difference in our cash flow, though. And I was so miserable, when I quit I returned to painted renewed, refocused, and utterly motivated.

If I needed to do it again, I'd look for something that was short term, because although returning to paint was wonderful, I found that even a month off meant a lot of catching up with PR, skills I'd forgotten and people I'd not spoken with. I've stopped doing everything that isn't paint-related - it's just too hard to keep on track.

Things are crummy right now but I truly believe something wonderful is just around the bend, if I can just outrun the wolves, and keep pedalling forward. So I have a new plan, maybe some of this will work for you:

• Look for students. I charge $12 for kids to come and do crafts/painting for 2 hours Saturday morning. Kids are easier than adults because adults will flake out on you, but they are more hesitant to flake out on their kids. The children are downright ravenous and loads of fun. Also look for homeschooling networks. Homeschoolers fall into 2 categories - money and no money. The money ones would love to have a tutor for their kids for art. Schedules are good and even around here they'll pay $30/hr for 2 kids if I bring all the supplies and do all the cleaning.
• Give a workshop. The local art council asked me to do a 2-day workshop, early November. One of the council members works at the local paper so it's not too difficult to get coverage. $75/student for 2 days (hey, I'm no Tim Tyler).
• Michaels around here is a pain to work with, so I've given up on them, but there might be small painting or decorative schools who would love to have you as a guest teacher.
• Ask the senior center if they want someone to teach watercolors. These are usually very low-paying, but extremely gratifying.
• Call mom and ask if she wants that mural in her bathroom.
• Hold a garage sale.

Also, with this bounty of downtime, I've got time to do some "creative investing" in things that won't pay off yet, but get me ready for the hordes of customers who are undoubtedly just about here....

• Paint at the local park.
• The Toledo Museum of Art has a copyist program that they are dusting off for me. Seems no one had asked for it as long as anyone could remember. Thanks, SOG!
• Paint and polish my studio. Frame things that need framing. Curate my own show, in my mind - which paintings would go together the best?
• Update my portfolio and website
• Go to gallery openings and try to make some new connections
• Take a workshop
• Re-read every back issue of ID, HOW, American Artist, Art in America, Artnews, Artist Magazine, and SOG post. Check out artdeadlines.com for calls for entry and grant deadlines.
• Apply for a grant
• Remove all failed paintings from their stretcher bars, re-stretch and gesso
• Work in charcoal more
• Visit local artists. I keep hoping they'll have "extra" work they don't want to take, and maybe will throw me some scraps. I have a friend who is very highly paid - I'd love to have her rejects!
• Go to the art museum. Go to a town hall meeting (with a portfolio), write a letter to the editor, join the art council. If you donate a painting, try to get a commission on the final price and go to the event (with a portfolio). Be seen, be heard, be professional.

I'm optimistic! I can't say I do all these things all the time, but I try to. Something good will happen. It will.

[Lynn T. McCallum]

I need to say this before someone jumps in on this, but when I said 'worth' above, I hope you all know I meant your art and not anyone as a person. To compare your worth with just your art is just plain wrong.

Beth, I was just talking about little part-time jobs not full-time. The part-time gigs pay pretty well. You may put in eight hours max and you'll walk home with okay pay for that time. Hey, working full-time and trying to do art is so frustrating and draining. I have been there and done that, it was the worst set-back in my art development, ever. Ten years of doing no art at all - imagine. Like you I was an art major at UGA (GO Dawgs) and Watkins Institute in Nashville. I put my brushes and pastels down for very dumb reasons, but here I am trying to get on that art bicycle again. It is not easy.

Everyone is in a set-back. My mom deals antiques and for a while there she was really squeaking by. Her old bad shows suddenly became her new good shows. Now the antique shows are seeing a little light and some Atlanta art galleries

[Jeff Fuchs]

Another thought. You know how I tell everyone to draw more? Well, if you have a number of drawings to add to your next show, you'll accommodate art buyers on a budget. The guy who can't afford your painting, might jump at a drawing for $75. Several drawings could make the difference between a show that makes a profit and one that costs you.

[Jeff Fuchs]

Beth,

If you saw this thread:

http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...&threadid=3199

you know there's hope. We should all have such problems!

But go to Lara's website. You'll see, it's all about the skills. The higher the quality, the stronger the door you'll need to keep the public from knocking it down. No $75 drawings there.

Keep improving and showing your work. And from time to time, put down the brushes and draw!

[Heidi Maiers]

Lynn,

I can definitely relate to what you are saying here and how under the circumstances, all you can do is dedicate yourself to your art, hope it pays off, and try to see the positive side of the situation.

My husband was laid off too on December 26, 2000 after 31 years with one company and is still desperately searching. Like you - no savings, investments wiped out. I thought I would be depressed about it, but the past three years have been great because I finally found the motivation to really put my mind to my art and try to make something of it. I have done more with it in the last 3 years than the previous 30. And yes, I work full time and am also writing a book so I am kicking myself for always using the ole "I don't have time for my art with a full time job" excuse (used that one for 7 years). You need more than dedication - you first need motivation and the rest is easy.