Comments on: On getting into galleries and being an artist

By: The business of art… Getting a foot in the door. : ArtStuff

The business of art… Getting a foot in the door. : ArtStuff — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:49:49 +0000

[...] road to tread, in this article I came across, some of the issues explored were very relevant. Go check it out and let us know what you [...]

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:07:46 +0000

Wonderful post, I am an artist, real or not. I have no choice in the matter it is what I am and what I do. I work two day jobs, and I spend all my free time workin in studio and marketing my work to the outside world. It’s hard work, I never feel like I have made it…but I know I will someday. With direct and thoughtful marketing, with desire and passion, with not knowing how it will all turn out…I do it all anyway. I have no choice, I am an artist, I must continue, and so I do. What I am is enough and I am happy with what I create, share and learn in this world. Thanks for posting this, it’s just what my tired end of the year brain needed.

By: Philip Koch

Philip Koch — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:40:59 +0000

Once you develop a real vision (through years of painting) it becomes a lot easier to keep it in a central place in your life. As I see it, the stronger your work, the more you own your work the love and energy to see to it that it will be collected, preserved and admired. Being an artist is a romance alright. But it is also a practical matter of balancing emotional concerns with financial and time demands. The last thing we want to see are young artists giving it their all only to crash and burn. A life in art is an endurance race, not a sprint.

By: TracyWall

TracyWall — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:00:28 +0000

Excellent post, Alyson, and such an interesting discussion! As someone who has always had other jobs to support myself, I still consider myself a ‘real artist’. I’m getting better at calling myself a ‘profesional’ artist because that has more of an implication (to me) of being the main source of your income. It’s all semantics. Either way, I know that I am miserable to be around when I haven’t painted for a few days. I guess I see it written for those who want to be more on the ‘professional’ side of the continuum and need a spur to get there. Thanks for offering such food for thought! I’ll have to ponder this! (Is it Thursday?)

By: Sikiu Perez

Sikiu Perez — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:10:57 +0000

Thank you Alyson, this article inspired me to write about my personal choice in my blog, I did a cross reference of you with a link and your name.

By: Jennie Rosenbaum

Jennie Rosenbaum — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:00:44 +0000

I never had a choice. my art keeps me going, it gives me purpose and life. it is inextricable from my daily existence and I think about it 24/7. my disability keeps me out of a day job so I have no excuses not to push as hard as I can at this. sometimes I resent that fact that I don’t have a choice, I’m not allergic to money afterall! but I resent the time I have to stay away from the studio much more. so I work as hard as possible to succeed -even when the daily grind of working at my career detracts from the pure joy of creating and I’m working so hard on the business that I can’t get to the studio. all I need to do is read the comments from collectors and fans and get into my studio, or sketch in bed if I can’t stand, to recapture the passion.

By: Linda Lewis

Linda Lewis — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:11:51 +0000

I’m an older artist as well who became a professional artist in my 50′s, yet I always thought like an artist. I have always thought in images and in terms of how I could capture a feeling or idea or pattern. For those of us who grew up in communities with no art instruction in school or access to art museums and in homes where the closest to a painting we got was a Norman Rockwell calendar the possibilities of becoming a professional artist was not something I for one knew existed. Only after having access to art museums and galleries as an adult, did I slowly realize that this ‘thing’ I loved to do–create art–could happen at any time of my life. And yes, I am obsessed. Sometimes I feel like I’m making up for all the hours I missed creating in the past but this is what I must do. Do I consider myself a ‘real artist?’ Yes.

By: Sheree Rensel

Sheree Rensel — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:28:07 +0000

Oh Alyson, Thank you SO MUCH for posting this! The Winkleman quote: “He said that you should only be an artist if you HAVE to be an artist–that the “real” artist has no choice. The “real” artist goes out and gets six jobs if that’s what it takes to support herself and her art. It’s a hard life and you have to have that passion. You have to feel like you have no other options” resonates with me. I mean, it is heartfelt. I have found myself trying to defend myself lately. I never had a choice. I have always had the passion. I never really had any other emotional/spiritual option either. I have been an artist since I was born! I spent 17 years doing the bohemian artist thing. I did quite well. I had collectors driving up to my studio in their Jaguars. I made a living and supported myself and daugher. However, it was a sparse living. I wasn’t making enough to buy a car, let alone a Jacq! This is because I do the kind of art I want to do. I don’t create for the clients. I make my art. If someone wants to buy it, great. I don’t change my mode of work to satisfy the market. I know, I know, that sounds stupid. So be it. If you are the type of artist who likes to do that, there is nothing wrong with that at all. However, I just didn’t want to follow that path. Anyway, there came a moment in which I made the decision to take a full time day job for the simple reason I wanted to be an artist who can afford to be the kind of artist I want to be (without painting for the client.) I still sell my work. I produce tons. I am still a “certified” REAL, professional artist. I am not a bad person because I don’t try to survive on Etsy or Ebay sales. I am glad Winkleman said this. I know for sure. I AM AN ARTIST AND THERE IS NO TURNING BACK! (Day job or not) If anyone looks at my CV, what else in the world could they call me other than an ARTIST????? Sheree Rensel wizzlewolf.com

By: Alyson Stanfield

Alyson Stanfield — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:29:53 +0000

Some really great comments here! Fiona: Yes, “Professional artist” is a better term. Lori: I get it. I started out as a painting major and realized I didn’t have the passion and commitment. I just liked the art history classes a lot more. All: Sometimes trying to be a professional artist gets in the way of the passion. There are some people who just want to make art for themselves and trying to make a living from it ruins the passion. Too much pressure! That’s why “professional artist” is a better term. I think it’s important to know where you stand. I also think its vital to know how incredibly difficult it is to make a living from your art. Daniel, you’re right. There are other professions that require similar commitment. I think those who are self-employed (like me, like artists) require the most commitment since the fire has to come from within.

By: Daniel Sroka

Daniel Sroka — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:06:38 +0000

“He said that you should only be an artist if you HAVE to be an artist — that the ‘real’ artist has no choice.” Sigh. This kind of over glamorization of the decision to be an artist really tires me. It helps perpetuate all of the myths of what an artist can or can’t be. Yes, an art career is tough, so you’d better really want it. But the same is true for nearly every profession.