Well, as much as I hated to let it go, the studio is no more. It was a sad day as I dropped the keys of yesterday and said goodbye. I will cherish the many good memories I shared with my studio mate Bryan and I look forward to bigger and better things.
Renting a studio can be a joy and a headache, and it was definitely a learning experience for me. Trying to juggle it, creating new work, while having a corporate day job and a family over the last two years has been hard. The first year I was in it 4 times a week at least, working, thinking and growing as an artist. I am still amazed at how much work I created and started on. Then schedules changed, "life happened" and the last year I might have made it up there once every two weeks. Ultimately we just couldn't justify paying for a space that we weren't using. If only I could have made money from the space to justify the expense, or so I seem to think. The question(s) I still ask myself are; when do you let go? Did I try hard enough to make it work? Did I do the right thing?
Every artist wants to sell their work, as do I. It's one thing to create the work and an entirely different one to create a market for it. Just because you create it doesn't mean people will want to buy or if they do, can justify the expense. This is one thing I have had to learn and come to terms with. How do I help create a market for my work in and around my life and busy work schedule. Today's internet connected world makes it seem so easy to "get your work out there and you will be an instant success", the money just comes flowing in. It didn't for me. I didn't start this overnight either. I have been painting and working on my art since before 2001. I am just now reaching a point where I thought all my efforts getting to this point were about to pay off. Well lets just say Im still pushing, still trying to let out what's inside of me.
Now the biggest question I have is... where do I go from here? How many of you have home studios, families and or day jobs? How do you do it? I don't feel like I am alone so any insight would be really helpful.
Until next time... keep creating.
Every artist wants to sell their work, as do I. It's one thing to create the work and an entirely different one to create a market for it. Just because you create it doesn't mean people will want to buy or if they do, can justify the expense. This is one thing I have had to learn and come to terms with. How do I help create a market for my work in and around my life and busy work schedule. Today's internet connected world makes it seem so easy to "get your work out there and you will be an instant success", the money just comes flowing in. It didn't for me. I didn't start this overnight either. I have been painting and working on my art since before 2001. I am just now reaching a point where I thought all my efforts getting to this point were about to pay off. Well lets just say Im still pushing, still trying to let out what's inside of me.
Now the biggest question I have is... where do I go from here? How many of you have home studios, families and or day jobs? How do you do it? I don't feel like I am alone so any insight would be really helpful.
Until next time... keep creating.