I Told You So..you Will Fail.

Your title is misleading....seems like you told YOURSELF so and YOU failed.
Lots of us are plugging away and not failing.
Best of luck with your new job.....I guess one of your problems was that you perceived 'artist' hours to be less than they should be in order to up your chances to succeed. ;)
Looking forward to your continued participation in the threads as someone who enjoys creating....at that, you have not failed.

Art can be a lot more fun as a hobby.

How much are you looking to sell all your stuff for, though MI is a long way to drive to get it all.

Congratulations on your new job... we will miss you on the discussion forum. Maybe you can photograph Fords, & post the pics just for fun!

"Your title is misleading....seems like you told YOURSELF so and YOU failed.
Lots of us are plugging away and not failing. "

This was in reference to a thread I made a year ago about the odds being against ANYONE trying to make a decent living in the art world. You say "lots" of you are not failing but that simply isn't true. SOME are making a decent living as artist but they are the exception, not the rule. More power to them. If you can do it...do it. But you have to be realistic about it as well.

What I meant by "artist hours" was not setting the alarm clock for 6:30 five times a week. I am not, nor have ever been, a morning person. Artist have the freedom to work on their own schedule more than people in "real jobs" where someone tells them what to do and when.

JC,

I have at least $4,000.00 in all of it. I was hoping to get half back as it is like new (I only used the trailer last year and it barely has 500 miles on it). If YOU drive to Michigan, I would sell it to you for $1500.00 cash. All you need to do is add your art!

Cheryl,

We have a couple Saleen Mustangs at our dealership and a $73,000 2014 Shelby Mustang. I am already trying to figure out a way to get some shots of them!

I am going to talk to the owner about letting me take shots of these new Mustangs, framing them, and putting one in the trunk for whoever buys them. Along with my business card in case they want to buy more shots of THEIR car.

John, I think you are making a wise move.

Decades ago, I was going to be a writer. I wrote screenplays, which sell for about a million each, and a novel.

I gave it a shot for about six years, then gave it up and got a job at The Writers Computer Store, where I worked for another 10.

Then I went to work as an artist. But I had social security as a backup.

Now I have no bills and I live in a lovely home with my daughter and granddaughter and can sell or not sell my art and my novel and screenplays.

I will never give up, but it is certainly nice to receive that check from SS each month.

Good luck. You'll get used to the 6:30am thing.

Failed? What are you talking about? 5K in two years is nothing to sniff at. But yeah, I realize that's not enough to live on. I think few can do that. John, I'm glad you will be doing auto sales, and since you like Fords anyway, it will be something you can enjoy. Don't forget about tax write-offs for continuing your photography work, even if you don't do it full-time. You'll find your way back to it, I'm sure. Auto photography seems to be a big thing now, hint hint.

Best of luck to you, and please do pop back in!

EVERY time I am on the cusp if getting the 6D something else comes along.

Let me crunch some numbers.

John, I recall your thread quite well.

I will say this, art as a side income has been a great thing for me.

JC,

Here is the booth. Everything you see (minus art) plus a nice little trailer which I can take pictures of if you like.

Good time to jump into selling cars, real estate or what ever. Economy is booming and with pent up demand they must sell themselves. Enjoy the ride John!

I hear ya' John. After 33 years in the same job and about 20 of that spending mega overtime hours, the last thing I wanted to do is make my artwork a chore. I never was tempted to do the art show thing. Way too much work when you're otherwise employed.

I'm enjoying the on-line journey much more and I'm starting to make a little grocery money. It's always nice to be able to BUY something with what you're making online - I got a camera bag out of this month.

Now if I could only make enough to replace my stove, which just kind of died after about 25 years of service. It's microwave food for a week or so now.

i wonder if its because people didn't want to carry home frame and glass prints. if these were flat, or some other material, if they would have done better.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I sold a lot more matted and bagged stuff than framed stuff Mike. But sold enough framed 24x36 to make them worth bringing.

The stuff on the wall, to me, was just "advertising" that I sometimes would sell. It was nice selling a framed one because I made more, but then I had to frame another one to replace it!

I have a day job and yet every minute I am not working, my mind if obsessed with art. I could never give it up just because I'm not sucessful enough yet to sell full time. It's in my blood. It's my passion, my outlet for expression and a great stress relief from the day job that is nothing remotely close to art....

Good luck, John in your new endeavor. Neat idea about the photos for the customers of their new car. Our local dealership used to provide a new calendar to the owners standing in front of their new purchase. From one Ford guy to another, sell a bunch! :)

seems everyone is getting a job these days. you, blaine... it almost makes me want to just sit back in my chair and not do any of that again...


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

"...it almost makes me want to just sit back in my chair and not do any of that again..."


In my third year of doing it. I like it. :)

You surprised me John! I am glad to hear you will still hang out with us now and again. I wish you the best of the best in selling Fords. Things are picking up, but don't sell that camera!

Great post John and best wishes to you and yours. Others on this site and this thread should really thank you for your honesty. They would be better off moving on too and focusing on what really matters in life.

You have not failed. Id be thrilled to have made 5000 dollars on things I have created. I sold 2 tshirts with my art on it. Even thou I only made pennies I was happy someones walking around with my art on their tshirt. I like coming and talking to people here that share some intrests even if we have 0 in common its cool. I love seeing other peoples work. I know i will nevet be rich from my art or anyrhing I do but If I make on person happy or make them snile and they paint or make something for me when we are doing arts and crafts, it makes me feel rich. I miss my job I hope I find another rewarding job soon.
Never give up on anything that makes you happy but if it feels like work or its not enjoyable anymore take a break maybe come back to it one day. Sorry for my typos I am typing on my phone because as some of you know I ruined my keyboard :( havw a blessed and Happy Easter.

I've thought about giving up myself (I had a meltdown not long ago, as some here might remember). But after thinking it through, it feels like I'm really just getting started, and I've learned a lot, especially from hanging around here and getting great advice and encouragement from people. So I'm going to follow Uncle Walt's advice and "Keep moving forward." I have a day job I dislike, but I'm not going to focus on that - I'm focused on what I want to accomplish artistically. After all, the common factor in most, if not all, success stories is persistence.

But I respect your decision, John, and Ford makes a great car - you can be happy you're helping to sell a good product. You are NOT a failure at your passion if you gave it your all. Success is such a fickle and tricky thing anyway; serendipity plays a huge part in it, and that's something nobody can rely on or predict. And you can always continue your passion as a hobby. If you see it as a form of recreation, instead of a chore, then very likely you'll create better art. Seems to work that way for me.

JC - It's a pretty good deal from John. Just take a vacation - and take your camera.

I once had a light dome - the best in the market (JMHO). I did the Florida circuit for a couple of years - a lot of work - often worth the effort - but almost as often not. I think I broke even when I sold the 'dome' to another artist who was younger and ready to take on the challenge.

I'm not allowed to speak of sales - but I can tell you that my abstracts are failures. I'm too old and too tired and at the moment too sick to go find another job - if I had to have one to keep a roof over my head.

Yeah, it is hell of a deal.....

I was planning on getting all that stuff next spring, but......

Turn back all who enter.....

John,

It is too early to say you failed. You need a job. So? Everyone needs to make a living.

Never any shame in that. You dont know yet if you failed in the arts.

Good luck,

Dave....who might fail in the arts during his life time.......I need to write my will......copyright this!!

JC,

I will throw in a photography tour of the local landmarks before you leave!

Did someone say car sales? I sold my ad agency in the late 80s and didn't have to work for awhile. I moved to Southern California and decided to sell cars (Fords!). There is no faster way to get to know an area and the people who live there. My wife at the time was horrified ("I was married to the president of an advertising agency, now I'm married to a car salesman!"). Fine. That turned out to be a perfect time for a divorce. You've been warned.

Selling cars was a blast. However, I'm the kind of person who has a blast at almost everything. Contacts I made during the three months I was at the dealership turned into freelance marketing, advertising and graphic design projects. From there I formed bands and opened shows for touring acts. I added fine art to the mix in the late 90s.

The point, I think, is that we attract exactly what we want in life. The tragedy is that sooooo many people have no idea what they want.

If you are, at your core, an artist, you will be that no matter how many curves life throws at you. Or a doctor, writer, musician, car salesman, real estate agent or insurance broker. Sure, the path can get challenging at times, but if it's your path it's ultimately a pretty satisfying journey.


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

Man, I wish I could buy that stuff off you. I've plan to do some tent shows in the near future, but this is just a tad too early in my art ventures to invest in all that.

As far as you failing, I disagree with that. You're giving up not failing. There is no way that you've exhausted all the opportunities that you could have tried. Although, I do think it is a bit harder for photographers to break through the money making barrier than it is for painters. It seems that you are saying you are not quitting entirely; just making it more of a hobby.

If you're the bread winner in the family, than I certainly can understand the urgency to make a living. May you be very prosperous in your car salesmanship.

Your idea about photos of those mustangs and putting them in the trunk is awesome, I'd think that was so cool if I just bought a sweet car and it came with a top notch portrait of itself.

Dan,

I just read a poll that put car salesmen at the top of the least trusted professionals. Even above members of congress! Really? Congress! I will work to change that attitude one customer at a time. I do have to say I have never felt so at ease in such a short time at a new job.


Brighton,

Thanks for that! These are the cars that aren't just "A to B" and that is why I think people would appreciate it.

My mom's husband had a Victory motorcycle and I took some shots for him for his "man cave". He hung them in his basement even when the bike was in his garage. When he took it into the local Victory dealer he also brought the framed shots of the bike with him. In the end, the owner of the dealership bought his bike for his personal collection and paid him $400.00 extra on it if he threw in the pictures.

My idea is to make a private gallery here that people could use to order shots of THEIR Mustang. I would use the last 5 digits of the VIN as the password to personalize it even more.

Depending on when you sell it, I'd probably be in for 2k if JC doesn't buy it.

I sell more off FAA than on, and added together it's a nice addition to the family income... but not a living.

At the bottom of it all is this

(what JC said):
Art can be a lot more fun as a hobby.

That's just it. It USED to be fun, but no longer is. And I miss that. My wife tells me the same thing - that taking pictures with me is no longer fun.

The reason is simple: Long ago I used to take pictures of things I liked. the grain of old wood, the textures of this or that, etc. But now every potential shot is filtered with a question: will it sell? And if the answer is no, even though it is something I might enjoy doing, I move on. And it is just no longer fun.

So I hear you, John. I would like to join the chorus of those who might be giving you the cliched pep-talk telling you to keep plugging away, keep trying. But at the back of my mind is the same quiet, still little voice that says "To H with it all," and to go back with you - to having fun.

Dan, I have the same feeling about the things I shoot. My wood textures and knot photos don't get a lot of views, but it's what I like. Along with the old, abandoned and worn things, it's a niche.

I have a ton of trees posted. Yeah, it's just a tree but I try to find the unusual, dead, gnarled tree and they don't sell either but I did sell one on another site.

It's so much more enjoyable, though, than trying to figure out what sells. Everything and anything can sell, the right person just has to see it. It's waiting for that person to stumble on the image that's the painful part.....I'm just trying to get as much stuff (quality stuff) up as possible so people maybe will trip over me and find me that way.

"... and we never failed to fail, it was the easiest thing to do..."

Dan: I can completely relate. It is why I stopped taking pictures (seriously anyways) for about a decade. I always felt like I was so busy trying to find the perfect shot that I was missing things and the whole reason I was not enjoying my time away as much as I could.

Even now I often feel I need to chase a boat down if I don't have it or the river is busy. I spent 7 months chasing the Saginaw because someone wanted a picture of her. I am glad I got her, but at times I just want to relax. And I am terrible at doing work after the shot is has been taken.

I enjoy taking pictures and want it to be fun. I usd to take pictures of things I liked and if someone liked it enough to spend money on it, great. At times it feels like work. And I appreciate that people are doing this as a career, bit I enjoy photography more as a hobby that sometimes brings in money.

I know how you feel Gales of November!

I had a moment in Paris last year with my girlfriend... We were on the Eiffel Tower during an electric storm and I was freaking out trying to capture the lightning over the city. She got sick and tired of me obsessing over the photos and finally said 'this isn't why I came to the Eiffel Tower!'. She was right. I put the camera away and enjoyed my time with her (at least for a while lol).

In some ways the camera helps us to see and in other ways it can cause us to miss stuff.

I'm still going strong with the photography though, although sometimes I just choose to leave the camera behind. It's made me miss a few shots but sometimes I just want to enjoy my environment without obsessing over getting the next photo. Unfortunately I seem to like taking pictures of anything... People, landscapes, animals, macro, whatever so I'm always noticing stuff.

I just hate to see you sell everything. What happens down the road if you get the bug again? You will be more reluctant to start up again because it would be from scratch and you would have to repurchase everything. Why dont you just sit on it for a year or so and then see what you feel like then? Being burnt out happens to everybody, well most everybody. I mean $5k is some dang good money, well to me anyway.

Melissa Herrin may be giving you some great advice. People have been know to not make it selling cars just like anything else. No trying to jinx you, I wish you all the best but it takes a certain kind of person to make a good living selling cars.

Its not just the money that you would have to reinvest, but the fact that you would have go out and have to put it all together. If you ever decide to do a show or two, you be less reluctant if you already had the set up in your garage.

A year from no may be a better time to make the decision.