I have been pondering lately, my art journey to this point. Initially when I began reflecting, I felt that I didn't have that classic moment in my childhood, where someone in my life broke me and my confidence in art making. But it turns out that I do have some stories and that now, underneath, I suffer self doubt and my resistance to create is strong. I LOVE art, so I have never felt fully discouraged. My family were always supportive and I survived high school because I had the art room.
But thanks to some key moments, I do have a challenging battle ahead of me.
Consciously, I agreed with most of society, that being an artist doesn't support anyone financially and that I would have to seek 'real' jobs in life. Thanks to an opinionated intermediate teacher, I was encouraged to take economics in 3rd form as a core subject at high school instead of art. There I lasted only a term before I was given permission to vacate that class to take refuge in the art room. My high school art teacher is quoted above - she was someone who gave me a platform for my passion for art to be expressed. From there, I took all the art subjects I could and went on to complete my fine arts degree straight after high school. Then I had to step into the real world...I have spent the last 20 years battling between the real world need to earn a living and the soulful need to be an Artist. Fast forward to today, where I personally accept that YES, true story - being an artist alone won’t support you financially in any sustainable way. *ouch*
Stay with me...I'll explain.
The harsh truth is, it can be a fulfilling hobby or alternatively you can try making art your job and become a factory. This looks like making art you know you can sell cheaply and quickly, you exhaust yourself hosting a workshop that you wildly undercharge yourself for or complete commissions that drain your cup, instead of filling it and generally this work is completed in your 'spare' time.
For me, that scenario isn’t any better than working at the 'real' job.
Worth? Value?
I have been lucky enough over the last 10 years, to experience and explore my entrepreneurial self. I have grown to understand business more; what it looks like to be a disciplined professional, what personal habits and characteristics are involved that equal success and I have learned about my own skills and capabilities - everyday I strive to BE and DO better. I have come to a time in my life, where I want to be pulled by my vision in the morning when I wake up and I want to engage in daily life in a way that is more loving and gentle on my spirit, my body and my family.
The missing piece, (the business mindset-skillset), I believe is the bridge between making art and making a living FROM art. I have switched my focus in recent years, to learn about what it takes to do business and I've accepted that I didn't understand any of it when I thought being a humble artist meant just surviving, being funded and doing cheap/free work for your local council OR that if you made money from your art - you definitely weren't a real artist and you'd probably sold your soul.
THE NEW TRUTH - YOU CAN EARN A LIVING BY BEING AN ARTIST, BUT, YOU MUST DEVELOP BUSINESS SKILLS ALONGSIDE YOUR ART PRACTICE.
I’m at the bridge *the call to action* and I’m bringing with me all the tools I have; from all the 'real' jobs I’ve had, the education, the healed (and healing) wounds, spiritual explorations, motherhood, wonderful mentors both in my life, in my past on my path and via podcasts and books. I carry with me the experience of having multiple small businesses; the hardship, the mistakes, the rewards and most importantly the personal growth and development.
So here I begin again and I’m taking you and Jim Rohn with me for accountability. Thanks for joining me and I hope you are inspired by what I will be sharing in the coming months.
NG
“DON’T WISH IT WAS EASIER, WISH YOU WERE BETTER. DON’T WISH FOR LESS PROBLEMS, WISH FOR MORE SKILLS. DON’T WISH FOR LESS CHALLENGE, WISH FOR MORE WISDOM.”
JIM ROHN
