Comments on: Can your art business survive divorce?

By: Esther

Esther — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:10:58 +0000

My advice is : Behind every cloud, there’s always a silver linning. Don’t give up your creativity. Think of out there are people who is willing to give you support and encouragement. The loss may be just another way to remind you to better yourself. God bless you.

By: Sandy Jackson

Sandy Jackson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:15:14 +0000

You might try going to Divorce Recovery Class by Bruce Fischer most cities give this class.
Just a word of encouragement, I created many new works while going through my divorce all inspired by my emotions. Every time I reached a new milestone I painted about that moment of clarity and growth.
Moving to a new studio was weird at first, but now is a wonderful place. It takes time. My advice is don’t rush it. Keep moving in the direction of your art and it will come.

By: Michael Pendergrass

Michael Pendergrass — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:37:23 +0000

When I first separated then divorced I felt my universe had collapsed into a black hole! My creative spirit was the eye of the storm. Without it I don’t know what would have transpired. Sometimes I think it hits us creative types the hardest. Thank the universe there wasn’t a bottle of absinthe around!

By: Deb Schmit

Deb Schmit — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:36:44 +0000

I agree with Betty Ann McKinney on Point #3.
Art is your best asset in times of uncertainty.
Remember, adversity is the very thing that drove most of us to a life of creativity. So let your art be your comfort. Your studio, your solace.

By: Linda Starr

Linda Starr — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:34:47 +0000

We had to sell our home and are now living in an RV traveling across the country looking for a less expensive place to live. My husband said I should wait till we get another place to live and then start making things in clay again. At first I got library books and wrote in my journal, but I just couldn’t stay away from clay. Luckily I packed my whole studio up in my car and am now using stuff out of there in my RV and stacking clay everywhere; going to pottery studios and paying to have my work fired along the way. I am so glad I didn’t store everything. I realize I need clay more than anything and I suspect this artist who is going through a divorce will find he will feel the same way. It also forces me to be more creative working a small space, so please don’t put everything in storage and keep working in your art you will be much happier, make sure you take time for yourself and to squeeze in your art no matter what.

By: kat

kat — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:31:05 +0000

I am a divorced mom of 2 teenagers. I have them 24/7 year round. I also have a day job. When your kids are doing their homework that’s the time to create…even if it’s an hour in between dinner, dishes and walking the dog, it is too important to me not to do it. My studio is my drafting table in the corner of my living room in a very small house.You can find the balance and inspiration too after you’ve given yourself some time to heal and adjust to your new life.

good luck…you can do it!!

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:22:23 +0000

Mister, you have got to get moving! Two things that come to mind are primarily works done by women, but I think they may have something to offer your. Watch the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” and read the book “Eat Pray Love.” You must look at this divorce as a bump in the road and an opportunity to redesign your life. You will get through this, there will be better days… even better than you can imagine. Please don’t get stuck in anger, resentment, and/or the need to control. If creativity is a path to self discovery, why not divorce? Good luck and know others are wishing you the best!

By: Kathleen Bennett

Kathleen Bennett — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:45:21 +0000

Divorce is like death. Whether amicable or not, it changes your life. Allow yourself time to heal. Find ways to keep your artistic side alive. You may need time to grieve. Allow yourself to feel what you feel. Your creativity may lessen a bit or even disappear for a while. Give yourself time and your artist inside will come alive again. You will make it through this difficult time and you will be a better artist because you survived. It can be a long process, but it will be worth it because you are worth it.

By: Lynne Oakes

Lynne Oakes — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:42:46 +0000

I once offered to write a column for an art mag where artists facing various difficult issues in their lives could write in for help and suggestions. It was not taken up by the magazine unfortunately. I think there are far more challenges for artists to handle than get fully addressed anywhere. I hope there is a virtual group such as you mention, and if not, that someone starts one.

I can tell you that doing some art (I say some because it wasn’t much in the beginning) was one of the key things that ‘saved’ me. Divorce hits right at the creative heart of a person and it takes a Herculean effort to refuse to quit. I taught some senior classes at that time and doing the art demonstrations for the students was my first ‘new’ art. I started to realize that through my new art, I was not dead and I did have a future, a real future that I could create in oh so many ways. It was and is never simple to come through such things and I don’t want to sound as tho it is.
But when I started doing more and more artwork, I remember thinking ‘He’s never seen this and never will’….it was a tangible proof to myself that I could create without him in my life. I was capable of rebuilding and restoring my life myself. I also came to the thought “It’s my life and I’m not letting anyone else’s actions ruin it”. So in that way I took my power back and started forward on a journey that is now fully in tact once again and BETTER! WAY BETTER!