Follow your intuition....

On Wednesday my mom gave me an article from the local newspaper. It was an article about a guy who was taking satellite images of the earth and creating Kaleidoscope images. Much like my work with the exception that I take my own photos. At first I was frustrated. How could someone get recognition for that but I can't seem to get anywhere. Don't get me wrong his images really are quite spectacular. Check them out at www.nickolasschiller.com And then I had this little thought, well if the paper knew about my work they would find it interesting too. And before I had time to doubt myself, I emailed the editor of the local paper and sent a link to my website, telling them I did the same thing as the article they just ran only my images are of local landmarks, and that I did the imagery myself and didn't let the computer do it as Mr. Schiller does. I sent it off and felt satisfied that I had said my peace. The very next day, I received a phone call - I wasn't home - bummer and the reporter for the paper left a voice mail that she loved my work and wanted to do a story on it! Well if that wasn't so exciting! WOW! I am so glad I listened to that inner intuition that told me to let them know. I am learning to listen to that intuition more and more, it knows better than I do sometimes! The reporter said she would call me in the next couple of days and let me know when it runs.
Isn't that exciting? I wonder what doors that will open. Where will this take my art career? Where will take my work career, for she asked me about that as well. So it may open professional doors as well. We shall see, I am a bit nervous about it, but it is a good nervous, a sort of excited nervous. I can't wait!

Thoughts

I had this idea that I was going to take off with my art work with ease. I guess it is a due an artist must pay in order to stick with it. Rejection is part of the game. I am beginning to see that it is all about Marketing yourself and your art. I have put that on hold lately, school seems to be consuming my time. But I must get back to it. I have plenty of subject material to create new works. I must devote at least an hour each day to my artwork, whether it is marketing and promoting or creating. I would rather just create I think most artists would but it is about the marketing as much as the creating.
I would really like to make a trip to Chicago when it is warmer to get some Chicago material. I have a friend in the art world in Chicago and I have been told that Chicagoans love my kind of work.

As I read back over this I have to question why do I create my artwork? Is it to make money? Or is it for the pure joy of making it. I would have to say that it is for the pure joy of making it and showing it to others! I get a big kick out of seeing peoples faces light up when they see my artwork. It is about creating the artwork to bring joy to others. If I get some money out of it great! But I won't quit my day job just yet! ha ha! But what a dream that would be to travel around the country doing custom images and creating new ones from the world around me! WOW!
I HAVE A DREAM......... (can't you just hear that booming voice of Martin Luther King?)

I started a painting this past week that has been stuck in my head for almost 4 years! Can you imagine? Why it has stuck with me for so long I do not know, other than it must be painted! It is exciting to see my vision coming to life. I don't work on it but a few minutes here and there, but it is at least started and in progress. I really do love to paint, there is something about getting your hands into the colors and the smells and the moving of the paint around to get an image to come to life. I am really not good at painting subject material, I am better at the feel and the movement of the colors, more of a modernist really, and it is all about self expression and feeling. So I will never be a Michaelangelo or DaVinci but I will sure be happy playing in those paints! You can tell I have had a great day if I have paint and ink stains on my hands!

It is my desire to do more painting. I love my computer art, I am passionate about it, and I am getting better at it but there is something about the paints and the inks and the paint brushes that bring such happiness.

Here is my latest computer illustration done in Adobe Illustrator:

Dreams....

On Monday I found out that I was turned down to be in the Art of Photography Show. I have been told by so many that my art is unique and different and really good, but yet I got turned down. The good news is I was so sick with the stomach flu that it really didn't matter! I wonder if my work is so different that it really doesn't "fit in" with the other works and so therefore it was rejected?
I have fluctuated between wanting to give up and keep trying. It was only the first show and I have a friend who has encouraged me about the great masters and how some of their work was turned down, and now it is highly collectible. She is just a blessing, and a real encouragement to me. I am just not sure what to do.
Do I have what it takes to be a successfull artist? I think it requires a lot of grit and determination and persistance - and money. It costs a lot of enter shows and it is a gamble almost. You pay to enter hoping that you will get in and get the recognition you want or even a cash award. Not to mention if you do get in you must have your pieces framed for display and then the cost of shipping there and back!

So now I have to find another show to enter - which is not likely cause the funds are low, or I have to find ways around home to promote my work.

The local corporate art dealer wants me to call her on Friday and talk more about the pricing of my pieces. This seems like a promising area, and it won't cost me money it will in fact bring the money in and allow me to expand slowly. I haven't worked on my artwork this week because I was so sick, so I must put in a little extra time each day. I have made a commitment to myself to work at least an hour every day on my personal artwork.

The Beginning

I have been a graphic designer for many years, and I have neglected Art for Art's sake. I had my creative outlet in my work. Well now with the advent of computers and software that is accessible to all, everyone thinks they are a graphic designer. Secretaries are doing web design, companies are hiring the next door neighbor kid to do their websites (not that they are good mind you but they have a site so they are happy) Okay done venting....I had just finished a tedious task at my job and I took a break - I started playing around with stock photos and cutting them and flipping them and I created a couple of kaleidoscope images. I entered them into a local art show and my friend, told me that she thought this was my niche. I really enjoyed making them, and I agreed. I thought it would be better if I took all of the photos myself, and created them. So I started taking photos and creating the images mostly for the fun of it at first. I was involved in the artist group in our church. As I show my images to people they get excited about them. I decided that the journey that I have begun should be documented in order for others to learn what to do and what not to do. I have been reading books on supporting yourself as an artist and they are in conflict at times. I am going to take what is written and decide if it works for me. So as I start this journey, documenting it along the way, I hope that it will help someone else who is looking to become an artist full time. And when my images are hanging in the New York Museum of Modern Art people can pull up this blog and see how my journey has arrived at that point. So without further ado, let's start at the beginning:

• Created the concept - something unique that no one else seems to be doing.

My designs were the result of playing around with a medium I knew well. The computer and Photoshop.

• Entered the images into a guaranteed show. Most shows are juried.

It was a chance to get my feet wet, learn about framing and displaying my art and writing a artist statement.

• Began reading about how to BE an artist

There are many good books out there. Two of my favorites are Taking the Leap - the insiders guide to exhibiting and selling your art by Cay Lang and How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist - Selling Yourself Without Selling Your Soul by Caroll Michels

It is better to be informed than to let people manipulate you and sell you short.

• Looked into taxes and income - not a favorite of mine and for most artists

I was offered a chance to be in an art show and thought it would be a good way to promote my art. It would have been a great way to get the word out about my artwork to the public, but by being in art fairs and shows I was then put into the market as a retailer. This would involved collecting taxes, getting a tax id number and filing those taxes monthly. I would want to hire an account if I did that. Being an artist to the bone, numbers and I don't jive well. Don't get me wrong, I could learn it, I could do it, but bills and money are my least favorite thing in the world to deal with and I would not be good at it. It is not my strength. I did learn however that if you sell through a gallery or a shop they are responsible for the taxes and you get a check which you claim as income at the end of the year which is the same as my freelance and contract work. A much better way for me to go. A piece of advice that my accountant gave me for my business is to have a separate checking account for the business and put all deposits in that account. Then pay yourself to your personal account. This is a great way to keep the books without having to do a lot of book work. All income is recorded and can easily be added up at the end of the year. Same with your expenses write them all out of that account and you have a record of your expenditures. I also keep a envelope in the desk beside me for any impulse purchase receipts that I make out of my personal account. It would be better if you didn't do it this way but I am impulsive and I recognize that and compensate for it this way.

• Showed my images to anyone who wanted to see them

You would not believe how many good leads I have gotten from showing my work to people who will listen. I don't brag that is not my nature, but I do show people who are interested the work that I do, I carry around a notebook size portfolio that I bought at the art supply store it is flat and has pockets in it which 8x10's fit into perfectly. It fits in between the seat and console of the car perfectly. I showed my images to a person who was manning the booth for the local artist guild and made a great acquaintance as well as receiving a lot of encouragment about joining the guild and what else I could do to promote and market my work.

• Began attending forums at the local art museum

The local art museum is a wealth of invaluable information on everything from applying for grants to shipping your artwork to shows. Investigate this in your area.

• Built a web site for displaying my artwork on

It is great to be able to send people to a website that has your work on it. I don't have to get pictures of my work since it is already on the computer. Make sure you have good images. I have done several portfolio sites for artists, don't use the snapshot you took of your artwork. Invest in professional photos or learn to do it well, yourself. No glare on the photos and make sure the lighting is good. This is a quick and easy way for people to reference your artwork, and hopefully they will promote you by sending associates and friends to your link.

• Looked into becoming a member of local artists groups

Our city has several artists groups you can become a member of. I have yet to join because the funds just aren't there, but it is high on my list to get memberships to the local artist groups. Great resource and I feel I could learn a lot from the members themselves.

• Followed leads of friends and put my images up in a local shop

A friend of mine told a shop owner about my work and she wanted to see it. So I took her several pieces and the shop owner has put them up on display. I am a little disappointed that none have sold yet, but hopefully people are seeing them.

• Entered my images into a national juried show

I entered my first juried show in San Diego two weeks ago. I am anxiously waiting to hear on March 5 if I made it in or not. The excitment is mounting! It is expensive to do this so if you have limited funds choose wisely. The best piece of advice I was given is enter in shows with works that are similar to yours if you want in. My work is so unique that it does not fit in many places. I take photos and manipulate them. Many shows are pure photography or paints, pastels, pencils - traditional art. When I found the magazine called Camera Arts and it had the calls for entries posted and all of them are for my genre of artwork, I was ecstatic! I feel like I have a good chance at this show - watch for updates.

• Followed lead of a friend and contacted a local corporate art dealer

I contacted a local art dealer, who sells art work to corporations, hospitals, lawyers, architects, and so on. She was very excited about my work and thought she could find buyers for it. Good move on my part and a great contact. I am a little disappointed about what she thought the market would bear as far as pricing goes, we may need to examine that closely. Especially when I tell her what the cost is and how much time I have in the pieces. More to come later.