Looking for design inspiration?   Browse our curated collections!

Return to Main Discussion Page
Discussion Quote Icon

Discussion

Main Menu | Search Discussions

Search Discussions
 
 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

What If?

You are an artist working and selling art, your art business is booming! What if you get interested in a direction that is meaningful and fulfilling to you, but does not sell at all, do you follow this new exciting direction or continue to put your efforts into your financially successful direction you have been doing?

Reply Order

Post Reply
 

Joseph C Hinson

9 Years Ago

I take railroad photos. Not exactly a booming aspect of fine art photography. I did it way before I ever sold one or got published in a magazine. I would still take them even if I knew I had made my last dime for one. I'm pretty sure most of the replies are going to be a lot like mine.

 

No-brainer.

This is not an either/or situation. You don't have to stop one thing to pursue another.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Joseph, we shall see!

 

Jeff Corwin

9 Years Ago

I would refer you Malow's hierarchy for the solution. Maslow developed one of the few tools that will always predict human behavior.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Wendy, I might disagree with you on that. I have had many friends who spent their days making art for others at work. When they come home they are too tired to do art at all. Any art you make sucks energy from you, we cannot all be Picasso! For the sake of this thread it is either/or for the most part.

 

Jeff Corwin

9 Years Ago

.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Jeff, without looking that one up I would venture to say food, shelter etc. first?

 

Jeff Corwin

9 Years Ago

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

 

Marlene Burns

9 Years Ago

Been there. Done that. 1990
Never looked back

 

Jeff Corwin

9 Years Ago

Yes.. lol...tried to post link...failed

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Maslow was not a romantic!

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Marlene, in your case the risk paid off!

 

Jeff Corwin

9 Years Ago

No he wasn't...but his pyramid is one of the few universal truths about human nature.





 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Yet I have known artist who gave up a life of comfort and took on a much less comfortable or predictable life to follow their vision.

 

Jeff Corwin

9 Years Ago

But when the cold and hunger get bad enough we all give in...and can any parent let their kids do without? Self-sacrifice builds character, but sane people will only take it so far!

 

Jeff Corwin

9 Years Ago

Btw...sometimes something has to be given up to go to the next level, but basic needs must be met. You might be referring to the artist's need for self-actualization which might require lower areas on previous levels, but each level's needs have to be at least partially satisfied

 

Can't have an either or without a true scenario Ron. Conditions are much more than a straightforward "either/or" question. Develop the scenario. Do you have a family? Are you in hock up to your eyeballs? Are you a retiree making a supplemental income? These things matter too.

 

Duplicate...

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Glenn and Jeff, I teach for money and like the lifestyle of the paycheck, I have a family etc. Based on this I would have to say if push came to shove I would sell out. When I was younger I just painted and found out the lifestyle sucked! Part of the problem may have been my lack of marketing or searching for an audience but in any case I am much happier teaching and painting without worries as to where the money is coming from. Looking for the true romantic out there, anyone?

 

Ron,

I sold art for a living for many years. Many a customer would ask me if the value of the art I sold was going to continue to rise. My standard answer was... "if conditions were to stay favorable, yes. But if we were living in the land of The Road Warrior, we might be burning that art to cook our road kill!"

 

Iris Richardson

9 Years Ago

I found it takes a special personality to totally give yourself over to art. It helps to have a spouse who has a regular pay check that is for sure.

As a professional artist I know the up and downs. Boy is art a roller coater or what? Especially since 9/11 the commercial work has never been the same since that day. An artist who focus only on the money aspect will burn out. In order to stay on top of our field you have to create your own work. If you don't it will be like a flower which is not watered the art starts to look stale.

 

Jean Moore

9 Years Ago

I believe the true romantic only exists if there is another source of income, if they are not dependent on their "unprofitable" new direction meeting their basic needs.

 

Jeff Corwin

9 Years Ago

@Ron, I have had times when road-kill would have been a step-up :) However, eating dead skunk, cooked or not, can give a person a unique perspective on the value of things...

 

Louise Reeves

9 Years Ago

Spouse works 60 hour weeks. I can't find a job that I can do. I keep doing what I'm doing despite lack of sales (although I do ok at festivals but I won't get rich let alone pay a few bills).
I think the "exciting new direction" might be worth exploring. Afterall, it's how I ended up doing what I do now, so I wouldn't be any worse off.

 

Marlene Burns

9 Years Ago

Ron, I never looked at it as a risk. It was where I needed to go as an artist that was developing authentically. The gallery wasn't happy with me or my new work. It has taken 25 years for my raptorsto be at knowledged and appreciated. After I completed the raptors I gave up images completely in my abstract work. It was just a step along the way for me

 

Melissa Herrin

9 Years Ago

When art is no longer fun is the day I lay my brushes down.

 

Roy Erickson

9 Years Ago

When money is not the object - you can do whatever you like - if you need the $$ - you can do what sells - and keep the non-selling work going on the side - to 'follow' your dream. Ask me - Money isn't really the object of my art or photography - it's nice when it happens - but selling, especially the digital abstracts - well - they are off in that direction and please my inner self - if no one else. Digital Abstracts

 

Martin Capek

9 Years Ago

What If your work does not sell at all?
That is reality for me :D

 

Robin Campos

9 Years Ago

I have always loved the aspect of black and white in photography or drawings, and feel that my strongest medium I work in, is drawing with graphite and charcoal. But black and white photography or drawings just aren't a big seller or valued as it once was. Today, most art that sale, have color.

Recently I have added color pencil drawings to my repertoire taking my drawings to a new more desirable level in hopes for more sales and or commissions.
Do I feel like a sell out? Yea, slightly, but I do realize if I don't go with or make a "change" when it comes to my art business, then my business will not change.

Photography PrintsSell Art Online

 

This discussion is closed.