Thank you, Debra--very useful post. At nearly 80, and with more than a quarter century behind me as a professional artist, I am re-evaluating the triad you mention of Cost, Time & Quality. There are aspects of my former art career that are no longer in the picture: for example, I no longer teach: I have eliminated all juried plein air competitions that involve travel across the country; I have raised my prices to make what I create more cost effective without any significant impact on sales; I have for the last 10 years concentrated on smaller works that are easier for me to manage with the energy and time I have available and which are attractive to my gallery and home studio audiences; I purchase (when on sale) only one type of frame, which is now my "signature" frame; I no longer take commissions as those proved not to be time-cost effective for me; and this year I made a decision to eliminate any future off-site shows to which I am invited as featured artist because of the difficulty in transporting, hanging, and returning artwork back to my home studio gallery, which will remain the basis of my ongoing display and the cornerstone of my twice a year sales. I continue to enjoy the management my own financial and business side of art, but am happy to find and pay for assistance (not always easy to find) in many of the the other aspects, especially technical.
Thank you Claudia for your insightful comment! I am 63, and I was just half joking with my husband that I am questioning my life choices. I worked all morning on a pretty physical task, getting work ready to ship and I limped upstairs to find a heating pad for my back, going "I think I'm getting too old for this pace. I need to take my own advice!" LOL. It's wonderful to hear your words today.
Thank so much Debra. This was SO timely. I really appreciate all the thoughts and suggestions. It's always tricky to reassess what one does and the costs of time, materials, emotions and energy, yet it is important to do. I think we care and overthink way too much. Our students, collectors, fans, etc....I don't think care half as much as we do. They just want us to be happy, but the angst we go through....Oy Vey!!! As long as we are giving it our best and doing it with love and care, well, what more can we really do? Your thoughts on efficiency in our studio, in my opinion, help keep our anxiety down so we can create and be creative without the visual and emotional chaos. Thank you.....
Thank you, Debra--very useful post. At nearly 80, and with more than a quarter century behind me as a professional artist, I am re-evaluating the triad you mention of Cost, Time & Quality. There are aspects of my former art career that are no longer in the picture: for example, I no longer teach: I have eliminated all juried plein air competitions that involve travel across the country; I have raised my prices to make what I create more cost effective without any significant impact on sales; I have for the last 10 years concentrated on smaller works that are easier for me to manage with the energy and time I have available and which are attractive to my gallery and home studio audiences; I purchase (when on sale) only one type of frame, which is now my "signature" frame; I no longer take commissions as those proved not to be time-cost effective for me; and this year I made a decision to eliminate any future off-site shows to which I am invited as featured artist because of the difficulty in transporting, hanging, and returning artwork back to my home studio gallery, which will remain the basis of my ongoing display and the cornerstone of my twice a year sales. I continue to enjoy the management my own financial and business side of art, but am happy to find and pay for assistance (not always easy to find) in many of the the other aspects, especially technical.
Thank you Claudia for your insightful comment! I am 63, and I was just half joking with my husband that I am questioning my life choices. I worked all morning on a pretty physical task, getting work ready to ship and I limped upstairs to find a heating pad for my back, going "I think I'm getting too old for this pace. I need to take my own advice!" LOL. It's wonderful to hear your words today.
Thank so much Debra. This was SO timely. I really appreciate all the thoughts and suggestions. It's always tricky to reassess what one does and the costs of time, materials, emotions and energy, yet it is important to do. I think we care and overthink way too much. Our students, collectors, fans, etc....I don't think care half as much as we do. They just want us to be happy, but the angst we go through....Oy Vey!!! As long as we are giving it our best and doing it with love and care, well, what more can we really do? Your thoughts on efficiency in our studio, in my opinion, help keep our anxiety down so we can create and be creative without the visual and emotional chaos. Thank you.....
Exactly!! You are most welcome. Thank you for your comment Elizabeth. And happy New Year.
Thank You!
Thank YOU! and happy New Year Ellen!