Art business. It almost seems like an oxymoron. I know when I was growing up, I never imagined, in a million years, that I would be working at the business of doing art. I am even still struggling with not feeling awkward when referring to myself as an “artist”. Perhaps it was my up bringing. Oh, I don’t blame my parents really. It’s just the way things were. I grew up in a solid, middle class, hard working, Midwestern family. My folks taught me about a lot of things, such as the Golden Rule and the importance of a strong work ethic. Art, was never a topic. In fact, as a kid, if asked if we had any art in the house, I would have laughed and said, ”Of course not”. In my mind, art was something you visit at a museum, (which we rarely did), or something only wealthy people had. Art was big paintings and sculptures by famous, usually dead people. It certainly wasn’t something I could or would ever do.
Now here I am, struggling at making a go at a business making my very own “art”. Its one thing to finally accept becoming an “artist”…but the business of art? That is another struggle altogether. My childhood notion that artists were always dead people , thankfully, didn’t last past the 3rd grade. It was replaced with one that is almost worse. Artist are people that walk around with dreamy expressions, have visions, wear funky clothes and are generally described as hippy, dippy and trippy. Let’s not also forget, they’re starving because they don’t have REAL jobs. The word “business” on the other hand, summons images of the corporate world, ie; suits, money, rules, committees, money, legalities, and did I mention money? How could one word have anything to do with the other? It’s Craziness.
I am happy to say that I have long since abandoned both stereotypical views and am embarrassed that I even held them. Unfortunately however, I find that many other people still hold this ridiculous idea of an artist. I feel it even more pronounced for polymer clay artists because polymer clay is still such a relatively new medium. “How lucky you are”, I’m told by a well intentioned person,”you get to play all the time”. I think even my own In Laws wonder why their son puts up with a wife that ”plays” all day.
Yes, I do consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to do what I love doing…but “playing”…playing ??? Most people have no idea what is involved. I, myself, didn’t even have a complete picture, until recently, of what is involved to make an art business work. I’m learning that the creative work itself is probably only 50 % of it. There is the marketing, and maintaining your on line presence with web sites, and blogs. Perhaps you have an on line stores. There is figuring out show scheduling, meeting application deadlines, up dating mailing lists, keeping up with the latest news/techniques in your field, photographing your work, updating portfolios, and sending thank you notes. All of that is in addition to actually doing the shows themselves. There you are dealing with lighting issues and how best to display your work. Yikes! Top that off with all the everyday flotsom and jetsom that life sends your way. The grocery shopping still needs to be done, the house cleaned, the dogs feed, bird cages and fish tanks to clean. sigh. The list goes on. Sometimes, I think a “REAL” job might be easier. After all, the hours are usually more regular, as is the income. I could go back… NAH!!!!! I am loving what I do and loving the fact that I am still learning about this business of art. I am going to try not to worry about how other people view artists. I have learned that as long as I view myself as one, it is all that is important.
