Skip to main content

The Island awaits...

In 2019 I fulfilled my goal to have actual "stuff" to sell in my Shop. I invested in prints and matting material and a paper cutter and was able to assemble my art prints myself and sell online and at vending events.
Some events were fruitful, some were a bust-but they were all good learning experiences and helped me connect with the general public.
Heres a short list of goals and also things Im leaving behind in 2019 as I actively try to take my art career and business to the next level in 2020.

1. A bunch of low paying projects to make ends meet. Doing a bunch of low paying projects takes precious time away from doing a high paying project, working on pieces for shows (which fetch triple or quadruple digits) and creating "art art" as opposed to quick sells. My goal is for more meaningful ART ART and Im not interested in making ends meet anymore. Im tired of scrounging, hoping and having to take breadcrumbs. As someone once said "I WANT MILK IN MY CHEERIOS". I want the ends to meet and keep flowing into my savings account.
2. Things I really don't want to do
As an artist there are things I like to paint and things I hate to paint. Text, letters and intricate portraiture falls into this category. I do them to get better at them-and that is useful...but these are things I will try to not find myself doing if I can help it. I'm a Nature painter who deals with expressionism, imagination and color. The more I stay on that street the happier I am.
3. Low Balling Myself
Been there, done that! This falls into the making ends meet category. I have a talent and it's going to be paid for. Estimates will be thought out, the going rate at least AND NO LESS. This is reason number ONE that Im in the boat with the leaky hole and sinking while everyone else is on the cruise ship to vacationville. Paintings and work aren't getting prices slashed and anyone who values me will hang with this too.
4. Business Plan
Guess who's just been swimming without a plan to actually get to the island? Me. Just survive the day, swim,swim! Now it's time to actually have a plan, a map and an actual boat and name that island that's gonna be mine. Its time for business planning and talking to people in the know. Grant proposals and getting funded. I'll be going to workshops, seminars and getting in where I fit in to learn about making my business work for me.
5. PRODUCE
This should be #1 on my list. One thing the Fair taught me this year was BE PREPARED- people actually want your stuff. HAVE THE STUFF THEY WANT. Be ready so you don't have to get ready. My studio is going to get so many hours put in it this year. With two solo shows early in the new year the fires already been lit. Its time to change the game and go after the milk in my cheerios.

Last thoughts...I have been my own worst enemy in my art career. Wasting time, selling myself short, hurting myself to please others or get the bid. In order to change my situation I must change my behavior. It all starts now.
Onward to the island we go!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Digital Vacation

  Have you looked around and discovered you have filled your life with bad habits? If you said NO- good for you, you might not be human! 😁  I was experiencing a major BLAH and it was all because of ME. What I spent time on, consumed, did and did not do. I also felt like the willpower I used to have in abundance was gone and I wondered if I would ever get it back.  First and foremost I had to look at my main bad habits. What was the very first thing I did every day. EVERY DAY! I reached for my phone, I social media blitzed my brain over two long cups of coffee every morning. I made sure to look at my MEMORIES like it was my job every day. Ruminating on the past and seeing everyone's angry opinions and celebrity/political posts and regurgitated memes ad nauseum....is actually not a very optimistic and healthy way for me to cruise into the day. Not only is this not good for my spirit it wasted almost two hours of every morning. 💀 That's precious time!  I'm weaning mys...
Post a Comment
Read more

So what's the Scenario?

Street Artist 'My Dog Sighs' Paints Faces on Cans Found Littered on the Street I found this interesting art on Pinterest and thought it would be a good example for a proposed scenario.....indulge me if you will.... The scenario is this....this street artist paints on cans. Pretty cool right? Pretty neat! He's probably not the only one who paints on cans in the world but he most likely is the only one in his little neck of the woods and art circle. Ok, let's pretend I invite this CAN painter to be in this big group show we do annually at my gallery. (This is pretend land, I dont have a gallery but roll with me...)  Ok, he is a hit, everyone thinks his can faces are awesome and he's considered pretty unique for doing this medium in our little art circle. Ok fast forward into the future....it's a year later and it's time for our big annual show...here's the scenario....we don't invite the CAN artist to come show again BUT we do hand out a can ...
6 comments
Read more

Top 10 Reasons

  Have you seen Labyrinth? The scene where she finally realizes she had the power all along and that actually Gareth did not ...that's powerful stuff. My favorite part....aside from every scene with David Bowie prancing about in too tight leggings. 😁 My digital vacation got interrupted yesterday. I've still been checking my messages in Messenger because HI IM AN ART BUSINESS AND THAT DONT STOP. I was alerted that the scammer had hit up a mutual friend and because I was trying to be Art Spiderman I went swinging back online to see what was going on. Unfortunately the scammer got someone and I had to make another PSA about it to help my peeps understand what was going on. Barring that though... it's up to YOU to be SMART PROACTIVE RESEARCHING humanoids. I can't save you.  Also my brief pop into fakebook gave me enough fodder to want to keep my vacation going. Here's what I was met with on messenger and on my page upon landing:  1. People pushing politics/celebrities ...
Post a Comment
Read more