The Burning Question: What Do I Have to Do to Get Business?

"Grace and Love"  18 x 36  

The other day I had a conversation with someone who was seeking out business advice around her art/craft business and one thing that became apparent within seconds of our conversation starting was how unhappy she was. Frustration, despair, anger, and negativity oozed from her lips as we talked about ideas around running a creative business.  

What was lacking anywhere in the conversation was passion.

I'm not saying she wasn't passionate about what she did, I'm sure she probably was, but it was buried so deep within, she was not conveying it.

All I could hear was how there were roadblocks everywhere.

Nothing was going well.

Business was horrible.

No traffic.

She didn't have money.

She wasn't going to sell online either.  

She didn't have a computer and wasn't about to get one, she couldn't afford it.

Collect emails and send a newsletter?  No way, I don't even have an email address, why would I do that?

The truth of the matter is, there's not one person out there that goes into business for their self, that doesn't come up on a roadblock or an obstacle to overcome, at one time or another or quite frankly, frequently in what they do.  

If you are lacking passion or drive to do what you want to do that is bigger and stronger than a monetary reward, than you probably aren't going to be successful.  Those roadblocks will trip you up every time if you are lacking drive and passion.

It's that drive to create and to put your ideas out into the world anyway you can that keeps you fueled on a day to day basis. You have to keep seeking out opportunities. You have to continue to hone your skills and improve what you do all the time.  Will you need to refuel from time to time and take breaks? Of course.  No one's well is at full capacity 100% of the time.  Ever.  Bigger than drive perhaps is  a compulsion  to do this more than anything else in the world.

When things aren't happening, you have to take a good look at yourself and  consider that part of the reason may be external factors, but also take ownership for what you are doing or not doing to the best of your ability. What needs to be changed? What can you do differently?  It's easy to get discouraged during down times. I've been there and done that too...but the important thing is to know that there are MANY things within your control that you can do to be better or more successful (whatever your definition of success is).

If there is a roadblock that you refuse to cross for whatever reason, then know that maybe that is just the thing that is keeping you from being successful.  Be open to change, because change happens whether you want it to or not. Perhaps that roadblock was put in your way by the 'universe' to force you to change directions. It could be a little bit of both, too.  Something you need to cross over, or something you need to turn and go a different way.  Thank about that for a minute.

As the conversation continued,   she fought me tooth and nail on any suggestion that I had for her.  I don't have all the answers for sure, but the lack of consideration even for a minute of anything that I mentioned showed me that she wasn't asking out of a sincere place of trying to improve her business, it was coming from a place of desperation and need to just survive.   

The passion wasn't apparent. 

Also lacking was an entrepreneurial spirit.  The fact she was in a creative business was more or less because she couldn't find a job elsewhere and this is what she knew and what she enjoyed doing.

It's very difficult to make a hobby a business if you lack drive or are working from a place of despair.  Honestly, there are a lot of creatives that aren't great business people...but you either have to roll up your sleeves and learn how to be a business or surround yourself with those that are. Hire out. Trade services. Join clubs or organizations that can provide mentorship.  

I never want to discourage anyone from creating or doing art because I think it is life changing  for not just yourself, but for those around you as well as the world at large.    My point for this post is that if you are in business or looking to be in business for yourself, make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and be willing to do whatever it takes to make it work.   But most of all, never loose the passion that drove you to do what you love. If your attitude is in the toilet,  chances are your business isn't going to be far behind. 

  The person I was speaking to that inspired this post is a good person and the interaction was a teachable moment for both of us.  I think  she knew most of the answers but was unwilling to hear them, for me..having the courage to tell someone something they didn't necessarily want to hear was hard honestly.   If someone is struggling and wanting to find a way out, if you say everything is rainbow and unicorns, and wonderful--well, that isn't helping anyone either, right?

Find your way to shine and let the world see all the good that you have to offer!  "Positivity" and belief that you can do something is 1/2 the battle...figuring out the steps to take to make it work and running after them as if there is a lion chasing you is probably the next step ;)  

Remember:  let your passion shine for everyone to see.  If it's buried so deep within your soul,   the world is going to pass by without noticing your gifts and that would be a shame. 

I've said this before and I'll say this again,  think long and hard before turning a hobby into a business...even if the start up cost is lower than say buying a software company or restaurant chain, it doesn't mean that there are no costs or no investment necessary.  Time and energy being the biggest investment of all..but of course there are other things you just have to have or do to make a creative business get off the ground.

Lastly,  remember...no one has all the answers you are seeking.  The questions are always changing. The answers are always evolving. The path is winding and the starting points are all slightly different.

Make YOURSELF be the authority on what you do by never stop learning and discovering around your chosen business/art/craft.   The art of discovery is a great fuel to keep your passion going, which is at the core of how to generate business...if that is indeed what you want to do. 

Thank you for stopping by today!

Artfully yours,

Jodi 

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To subscribe, click HERE.  This month's edition is coming out soon and there will be some exciting news along with an awesome sauce special that you will have first dibs at!

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HUGE HUGE HUGE milestone hit this week (more about that later) in my Etsy shop!

Before the New Year, I had about 40 items in my shop
Art by Jodi Ohl...today, I topped over 100 items. I've been slowly adding on items, extending lines and just overall doing a better job at listing my work and keeping the shop updated.  I had a goal to hit a 100 items and I was going to try to keep it around that  number of offerings but I think I'm going to continue on and up that goal to 150 items before the end of the year.   I have a blog post or two about some 'aha' moments as to what has happened this year and why that hopefully can helps some of you. Stay tuned for that!

To see other items in my Etsy Shop, please click HERE. :)

Burning Question: What Inspires You? My Top Ten Ideas PLUS a special coupon code good this week only!

 As a creative type with a background in business, I like to look back on my progress on a regular basis and share some  'aha' moments with you from time to time. Well, really I try to incorporate my own experiences and nuggets of wisdom whenever possible and enjoy hearing what you are discovering as well, in your own artistic pursuits.  

(as an extra bonus I have a GREAT coupon code for you at the end of this post! :)

My sample for the upcoming ReMe reTREAT in Ocracoke Island, NC

I haven't posted a  "Burning Question" in a while so I thought today I'd bundle one in this post as it kinda relates to my topic of 'aha' moments and nuggets of wisdom I wanted to share.  

"What Inspires You? " asked by Emma

That's a great question and one that never really stays the same or is exactly formulaic if you will.  I can't say, "if I take a walk in the woods and look at textures, I'm inspired to run back to my studio and experiment.....or  anytime I dip my feet into the ocean waters, waves of inspiration pour over me"...do those things happen?  Definitely.  Do I have time for artist 'dates' daily (or even sometimes weekly), no...not always.  So then, where does that inspiration to create come from, especially if you are working on your craft daily for hours and hours at a time?  

I think you pull in inspiration from anything and everything you do.  You have to have your eyes wide open on a moment to moment basis to see things others miss or feel things others may dismiss. 

I have conversations with myself, or with others in my head and then play them out in the studio.  But most of all, I simply show up and do the work.  It really is about creating good working habits for the most part, because the more you do something, the more the doors open for the next  idea and the idea after that. 

And once I have an idea, I try to expand on  multiple times...not necessarily recreating that painting exactly but revising it and seeing what else can I do for as long as I'm excited about a process/composition/topic activity.

You stay inspired when you are excited about something you are doing,  and the flow will continue to feed you with ideas the more regular  you are with showing up to do the work.

Does this mean your faucet will always be on?  No...most definitely not.   I don't want to profess any delusional thoughts to you by saying every day will be rainbows and unicorns in the inspiration category or that you will always feel like going into the studio to create with abandon.   Life will throw you curve balls when you least expect it which will derail you for a time. In those moments, allow yourself a break, a nap, a trip, a artist date, or clear away clutter that is impeding your progress both literally and figuratively.

I'm going through a bit of that myself lately. Clutter and unnecessary activities have put obstacles in my way due to my not being clear on what I want in certain areas or not listening to what signs have been put before me.   I notice when I feel pulled in too many directions, I trip over myself rather than removing the obstacles.   It's hard to be inspired when you are chasing your tail.  When I'm focused and not distracted, at peace and calm.... there's no stopping what I can do. That's when the flow of inspiration gains it's greatest momentum.

 Here are some more tips on how I get inspired or stay inspired:

1) Keep a journal.  Whether it's a visual journal, doodle journal, written one, or some combination of all the above, the act of documenting thoughts, playing with color  or patterns, and getting something-anything on the page, will serve as a source of reference for future projects. Art Journaling is also a good habit that will not only help inspire you, it can help relax your mind.

2)  Plan out your activities and most important tasks each week and build in time to work in your studio to create.  These activities could be both personal and professional. By having a plan, you are creating more likely to accomplish the tasks you need to and leave more room for those that you 'want' to do.  (Note, the need and wants aren't necessarily mutually exclusive..but some may take higher precedence over others.)

3)  Stay well rested, eat well, and exercise regularly.  Your physical and emotional well being plays a big part of your ability to stay inspired among many other things in your life.

4)  Don't be afraid to make mistakes.  The fear of not being perfect can derail your creative activities probably more so than anything else.   I'm not saying give yourself permission to do shoddy work, but give yourself permission to experiment, play with new techniques and compositions,  try new colors, and do all of that over and over again.   Remember, masterpieces are few and far between but remarkable and inspiring work is created everyday..IF...quite frankly, you just go to work without worrying about the outcome.  Worry about the outcome as you finish, not as you start.

5)  Repeat designs and expand the possibilities within a collection.  Sometimes when you are excited about something and have a good plan, you can make it even better the more you tweak it by experimenting.   This is also important when developing a collection.  Tying your work together by repeating color palettes,  themes, motifs, and even designs helps in creating a cohesive collection.  Discover how far you can take those ideas, by taking those ideas far and wide.

6)  Evaluate where the heart strings are being pulled in your every day and professional life.  Saying yes to everything means you are taking time away for the right things.  It's hard to let go of the wrong things, especially if they have meant a lot to you in the past.  The problem though is, you start to loose your focus and hence your inspiration when there is so much going on that your head is spinning.  In fact, it's likely to cause temporary (or long term) paralysis, so to speak, if you are spread too thin.

My sample for an upcoming class this September at Random Arts in Saluda, NC.

7) Surround yourself with people that believe in you and lift you up rather than bring you down.  If you are uninspired...take a pulse on the mood of the world around you.  Negativity from within is poisonous, but when it comes from the outside in, well it can darn right kill you.  

8)  Know that from the outside looking in,   it may seem like everything is a bed of roses for those people you admire. They may  have something you want and  appear as if what they are  just doing is just flowing day in and day out without any hiccups or effortlessly 100% of the time.  This is never true. Those that make things easy,  most likely do so because they are insanely committed to what they do. Your mentors  live and breathe their passion and that is why,  from the outside looking in, it looks so polished and easy.
 If you want something with all your heart and soul, you don't wait until the inspiration hits, you run out and find it by doing the work.

That's the magic sauce most of all...doing the work.  

No one said it was going to be easy.

No one said you are going to have time for it (hey we are all busy!!)

But when it flows and you are in the groove-yes it does flow like a open wide faucet and others will be envious of what you do.   You can lead some people to the water but you can't force them to drink it...they have to do it themselves. You have to do it yourself. 

9)  This is one that I have a hard time with...but I know that when I do this, I am way more inspired then when I don't....keep your space open and neat.  It doesn't have to be spotless or totally clutter free, but at the very least, take time to pick up at the end of the day, clear your desk, put away a few things, throw a few things out on a daily basis, and reclaim your sanity by not tripping over yourself physically.   I'm a work in progress in this bullet point...after I finish writing this post, I'm going to go into the studio and clean up. Going forward, I'm going to take time either on Fridays or over the weekend to really clean up because I think it's important to start your week fresh and create a space you can flourish in.

Featured art in the March/April issue of Cloth Paper Scissors

10)  I was reminded of this last tip by a comment on another post I wrote for ReMe last week. It's important to share what makes us smile with others, those little things that we take for granted on a day to day basis should be celebrated.  Take time out to listen to others, to learn about those we love--to learn about the world around us, and you will be amazed at how you feel (and how you will make others feel by just being there to share back and forth).  Capturing the moments in our lives through our art is why we do what we do...it's a celebration of our history, our point of view, and our dialogue with one another.  What's more inspiring than that?

Last but not least---I wanted to thank my readers for taking time out to follow my blog, newsletter, Facebook, and all the other platforms out there.  I couldn't do this on a day to day basis without you.

Save 20% in my shop all week (including paintings, classes, prints, magnets, cards, supplies) using code "hellospring" at check out.  (custom orders not included).

Stop by and see what's new!

If you would like to share what inspires you or ideas you incorporate to stay inspired, leave a comment here!

Likewise, if you have a "Burning Question" about the art biz, creativity, living the creative life, processes, email me at jodiohl@hotmail.com  . I'd love to hear your thoughts and will incorporate as many questions as possible into my future blog posts.

The Burning Question: How do I Market My Work Article 1 aka Don't Put The Cart Before The Horse

Up today--More from my series "The Burning Question"

"The Cul De Chick"  36 x 36

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I had a little respite from my normal surroundings by taking my work on the road for 2 days as my ReMe business partners and I worked on our 2015-2016 program.   TONS of exciting things coming up...which you will be hearing about over the next few months.  

  That leads me today's topic, which is another installment of my series, "The Burning Question".

Many of the things Jean, Penny and I talked about over and above our planning had a lot to do with marketing, so I thought it fitting to share this burning question:   One of my newsletter readers, Ellen, asked recently,  "How do you Market your artwork?"

Marketing is such a robust topic, I think I'd like to address this over several installments so be sure to check back periodically for more updates.  For today, I am going to just start with a larger overview and a few steps or questions for you to think about as you formulate (or tweak) your own marketing plan.

In the beginning:

When I first decided that I wanted to sell my artwork,  I pretty much had no idea what I was doing honestly. Most of what I did (and still am doing) is going by my gut instinct on what avenues to pursue or not to pursue.    One thing I want to suggest though before you worry to much about marketing, is to first and foremost, make sure you have a body of work to even market.  

It's kinda like not putting the cart before the horse kind of thing.   I've seen people fret for months and months about the perfect business card, perfect branding elements, go overboard on signage and those much needed business marketing materials before they really even have an identity or body of work to worry about selling.  In the mean time, they have lost a lot of needed time to produce work and hone their skills while chasing the marketing materials. But the plus side of it is that they have a bad ass business card. (heehee).

SO....rather than worry about the branding portion of your business if you are in the beginning stages of your creative business...worry about making art non stop.  Do it as much as you can.  Develop a body of work, a collection, and develop your skills. 

DO buy business cards but keep them simple for now, maybe use images of your work (like moo cards) or other simple formats that simply state your name and your contact information.

ALSO: I'm a big proponent of using social media to market your work, to tell your story, and to start understanding who exactly is your core customer that is drawn to your work.   (Note--who is drawn to your work isn't necessarily who you might think your core customer is in the beginning, and it may not even be who 'converts' to a paying customer, but it does give you insight as to where your marketing efforts should possibly be focused.

What? You don't use social media for your art?? 

Okay my friends....that's one of the first steps I might suggest at least starting with if you are wondering how to market your work:

1.  Establish a blog (I use blogger but there are others you could consider, some are free and some are not).  Think long and hard about your name for your blog.  I chose Sweet Repeats long before I started my art business as I was originally interested in re-purposing yard sale and thrift store finds. Those that don't know my blog or haven't had it linked somewhere to them along the line may have a hard time finding it.  Because I have had it for so many years (I started blogging around 2006), and have had my name linked to it and my artwork linked to it, you could search for me and find it but if I were to do it all over again, I'd just use my name since most people search for my art by name.

If you already have a blog but it's been long neglected.  Dust it off and get back in the rodeo! I know this post is rather long for a post in general, but remember, not everything you blog about needs to be a chapter in length.  Think twice about posting something on Facebook if it requires a paragraph of explanation...instead start posting things like that on your blog.  (This topic also deserves more in depth discussion!).

2.  Establish a Facebook account for yourself personally and for your business.   I know...I know...not everyone wants to be on Facebook or share everything about their life.  It is time consuming. It's also a great way to 'somewhat freely' connect with your audience and build a following. You are leaving 1000's, in fact potentially millions of connections on the table if you choose not to pursue this avenue of marketing and sales.  The other point is, YOU choose what to share.  Your customer base does want to know about YOU the artist.  YOUR STORY. They want to see a bit behind the scenes.  They want to be INSPIRED by you.  Your followers  may not care to see what you are having for breakfast everyday (but hey, if its drool worthy or promoting a local restaurant that you love..what have you..share that love if you are inclined to do so).

REMEMBER---for any social media outlet you choose...the way you present yourself has a lasting effect and impact on your clients and customer base. If you are Wendy Whiner because no one has signed up for your class or bought a piece of art in a week and your mortgage is coming due...honestly, no one wants to hear that. Not that you can't share the ups and downs of your creative life, just watch for your 'tone' and how professional or unprofessional you may come across.

3.  Pinterest for me has been another great way to promote my art, and to really start showing people what it is that I like or am drawn to.   If you see a board called  "My Style"  in Pinterest you'll see that I really like cowboy boots, casual but bohemian style clothes, industrial  type of home decor.   If you check out my color collections, you'll see some of the colors that make my heart sing!   Sharing your artwork on a board you create is a must.  Every time I do  a blog post or list something on Etsy, I also share on Pinterest one or two things that coordinate with those posts.  

When I look at the stats  for my blog and Etsy account,  tons of referrals and readers come from Pinterest.  Many of those referrals have converted into sales, in fact, some of my biggest sales over the last 12 months have come from Pinterest.  Just sayin.  

I have a lot of room improvement in all of these areas, but at the same time, I try not to get too wrapped up in how many followers I have even though I want to see those numbers go up. Rather, I hope I am reaching the RIGHT customers who are truly, truly, interested in what I'm creating, teaching, or writing about (or all the above).   That's my goal right now---to reach the right customers while increasing my reach across the board over time.

4. Other social media outlets to consider joining or using to start developing your brand identity and connecting with your 'peeps' :  Instagram (especially popular with a younger market but increasingly popular because of it's 'mobility' and ease of use),  Google Plus (I'm still figuring that out), and LinkedIn (not for me but you may find it useful), Twitter--I am liking that format more and more since you can now share pictures pretty easily.

5. What do you do first or do you have to do it all? You may not want to work with all of these platforms and frankly you may not  have the time to use all of these outlets, so choose a couple for now or look into a program that can share or schedule posts across multiple platforms.  The key to any of these outlets is to not just post and run. You must be engaging. You need to share content that is interesting to your readers or followers. Commenting and following others in the industry is important, too. Don't be 'one sided' in the 'conversation and sharing'. You also need to be regular with your postings because for you to be effective in this type of marketing,  it can't be a once a month update and expect your reach to be wide enough to see much difference in anything you are trying to accomplish.

6.  Newsletters: If you don't have a newsletter platform, I'd also suggest developing one.  I use Mailchimp for my service and it's totally free up to 2000 subscribers.  I'm not at that number yet so for me, doesn't cost anything to use the service other than the time it takes to create a newsletter. It's fairly user friendly to create a newsletter, too.  (This was another question that I intend to address more in depth down in this Burning Question series..stay tuned for that!)     One of the reasons I highly recommend having an email list (especially if you do shows or already have a blog established) is because those that those that sign  for your newsletter have REALLY established that they are one of your peeps and want to hear from you on a regular basis.  Think of yourself, if you sign up for an email newsletter somewhere, it's definitely a business you care about or enjoy shopping with (or if it's more of an educational publication, you are saying you want to hear what they say about topic xyz) on a regular basis.   This list of readers is also YOURS.  If Facebook or Twitter go away tomorrow....you still have your newsletter list to communicate to your core customer with. 

If you solely count on any one platform for your entire social marketing campaign..you are putting all your eggs in one basket and that's a little scary to think about....remember "My Space"??????

If you are wondering what to  focus on growing or are wondering what to do first...I say REALLY focus your energy on growing your newsletter as one of the top 2-3 areas of marketing. 

While we are on the topic...have you signed up for mine? :)

If not,  here's a quick link for you to do so:

Sign Up Here

See how easy was that?  

Making it easy for your customers or potential customers to find you and follow you is half the battle! :)

Let's circle back around for a moment----don't get so caught up into any marketing campaign or growing your followers in addition to establishing your brand before....before what:

You have a body of work  (or at least a few pieces and know that you are constantly creating so that more are on the way) to showcase.

You don't want to be a 'one hit wonder' do you???  People forget real quick if you are here to day but gone  tomorrow (or for that  matter, gone over the next year to 10 years) while you create your next creative endeavor (painting, jewelry collection, song,  poem, article,writing,  baby clothes,  or like in my last essay..the best chocolate chip cookie). Again, keep creating and keep communicating!

7.  The last thing I'm going to touch on for the web based marketing section of this list is You Tube.  If you have the gumption to start video taping even a part of your process, you would be surprised at how important You Tube can be to establishing your identity as an artist.   

Yes, it's not the easiest thing in the world to video tape yourself or your project.

It's not impossible either.

You could also do slide shows of your work.

Little clips promoting your work, your classes, your next show...whatever...can have a HUGE impact on your overall sales and marketing. They are also fun to do once you get the hang of it.


****NOTE--Having a website is VERY important but I'm not going to touch on that right now because it's an area that I haven't fully integrated into what I do...I have one, but it's just in the beginning stages of development and may change soon.  In other words, it's a work in progress and needs to be tidied up.  If you want to see what I have so far....take a look here.  It's dusty though :))

See what I mean...this is a robust topic, isn't it?

There's so much more to cover than just what are your options (online) to start your marketing, and I recognize that it's not a one size fit all type of answer. I'm basically trying to address those that resonate with what I do because, chances are, some if not all of these points will be helpful to you.

Let's close today's Burning Question Answer with this recap:

1.  Before you start worrying about marketing in general...create your heart out so you have something to market with and a direction you want to go in.

2.  Do have communication tools ( such as basic business cards or moo cards)  available to hand out to those that want to know about your work or have your contact information for future reference.

3.  Research a variety of social media platforms and decide on a few that you are most comfortable with and start at the very least building your following by sharing what you are working on now (people love seeing the behind the scenes work), and what inspires you and your art.

Leave the very deep and dark personal stuff out of the mix along with the drama.  Don't start it and don't  partake in it.

4.  Figure our a way to start or grow your Newsletter list.  Those are your core customers and where you will find the  most success at converting  readers to sales, or reader to followers..all of which are important to you as an artist and a business. If Facebook closed tomorrow, you'd still have your newsletter list to reach out to and connect with.

5.  Take the time to find your own groove and what works for you, but be regular about your interactions no matter what you do.  Don't post and run, or post and disappear...or everything you are working on developing will fade away.  

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My last ask of you is to write your story: 

Why do you do what you do?

What's important to you? 

Who are you hoping to impact by your creativity and why?

What inspires you?

Who do you think is your ideal customer/student/reader?

Answering these questions may help you identify key points of your marketing plan and your reason most of all of why you are in this creative business in the first place.

Don't put the cart before the horse.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that it's easy. It's not hard either...it just takes time to develop.

It took me 2 hours today to write this post today, another 6 hours before this post even happened to write my newsletter whereby I had a reader ask this question. I spent another  hour setting up a spread sheet to keep track of my readers questions, and several hours just thinking about my answer before I wrote this post today.

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It's marketing time that may go unseen from the surface but hopefully in addition to reaching those of you who are interested in starting your own art biz (or enhance what you already do), I hope to reach even more people that have yet to find me yet...so to me, it's time well spent. I love sharing ideas and helping others so it's a win win situation for us all :)

I hope you have gained some insight from today's burning question!   I have plenty more to share so be sure to follow my blog.  An easy way to follow if you aren't already is to join this service:

Bloglovin

Do you have a Burning Question you'd like to ask? I'm seeking questions of all sorts from YOU! (Art Biz,  Living the Creative Life,  Art technique questions, Inspiration, How To...just to name a few of the categories)

Leave a comment here or feel free to email me privately at:  jodiohl@hotmail.com

Until we meet again!

Jodi

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Don't forget,  just a few more days left to take advantage of my online class sale over at Creative Workshops!! (This includes my newest class, "Podtastic!"

Get your art on with me! :)

The Burning Question: Art for Hire vs Art For Fun

In my newsletter this week, I shared some of my most recent blog posts and posed a challenge to my readers to share some of their "Burning  Questions" around art, the artistic life, and a creative business in general. (You can join in too, if you'd like to see one of your questions answered read on here and send me a message!  I'm going to do a giveaway for one of the readers during my next newsletter!!).   I have to say, I'm loving the response so far and am super duper excited to continue on the series started last week with another question from one of my readers.  

12x16 on hardbord  Black and White Abstract Study

Art for Hire vs. Art for Fun 

....and how do they differ?

Here's today's question--and it's a 'meaty' one..so let's get started!

Hi Jodi!  I met you at the CREATE Mixed-Media Art Retreat in 2013, and I have a piece of your artwork hanging happily in my art room!  My burning question has to do with balancing artwork created for business versus artwork created for personal pleasure.  Once you become a professional artist, do you still have opportunities to create art simply for personal pleasure, or does it pretty much always have to serve some purpose--for a show, as a demonstration, as a commission, etc.?  And how is your process affected?  Is your process different when you are creating a piece for a specific purpose, versus just messing around, having a fun, trying out a technique, etc.?

charcoal sketch created for an upcoming class  "Extreme Portraits" at Random Arts  February 28, March 1st, 

This is a great question because the root of the question is a huge struggle for many artists, especially those that have decided to work at their passion full or part time as a career choice.    What is at the root of this question?  I believe it is this:

Am I less of an artist or less artistically driven once I create for the purpose of making a living or (gasp....for the purpose of being very comfortable in my living as a full time/part time artist)?  Do I FEEL different because now there is an intention  of creating for the exchange of  money versus painting/creating just because?

more sketches for an upcoming class  "Extreme Portraits" at Random Arts  February 28, March 1st,

This is a very real struggle because for some reason,  many people do not view what artists do as worthy of making a good (great..decent..more than decent) living without loosing their soul purpose of creating. It's as if the thought of creating for a purpose is any less of value than just simply creating without definitive reason to make something.  Artist struggle with the exchange of money for what they do when they do not value what they create as worthy of the exchange.They also struggle with that exchange, when they are not creating art for sale for the purpose of making a living (ie doing it as a hobby vs doing it to pay your mortgage!).

   When you take what you once did as a hobby and turn it into a business, there is a very real chance that you will create most things in the hope that there will be an exchange of money so you can keep on doing what you.....LOVE...to do.  There's a lot pressure around that fork in the road. Some of it is cultural, but most of the pressure comes intrinsically because if the exchange of money doesn't happen and you stress out about it, it can effect how you feel about yourself as an artist (your self worth).  

36 x 36  Work in progress

The stress of HAVING to make a living from your art, can take the fun of creating out of the whole mix, if you are not doing it for the right reason.  

Think about that statement for a minute.  

 Let's say you make the best chocolate chip cookies on the block and are the hit of every bake sale your kids school have, to the point people start asking you to make the cookies for Christmas or xyz holiday.

   

This is cool....so, for a little bit of extra money and for the joy of doing so,  you happily agree....and then it starts to snowball and you get orders not just for Christmas but for Valentine's Day, too. 

 You start to think, maybe I could do this and make more than just a little extra money, maybe this could be a part time job, after all I love to make cookies! You go through the process of buying better equipment to make you cookie making work  more efficient.  You perfect the recipe...go through the steps to make this whole venture  official and get a business going and an industrial kitchen to operate in. Boom YOU are in the cookie business.    Now that's all well and good, if YOU love making cookies, dream about making them...and can't stop thinking of all the different things you can do with your new business now that has taken off...in other words, you truly want to do this day in and day out for the rest of your life because you are passionate about it.  Making cookies gets you excited to get out of bed in the morning!

If the point of you making cookies was just to have fun and create a batch here and there for friends, family and the occasional bake sale...then no..turning your hobby into a business is not going to make you happy and it's going to effect how you feel about what you do in a million ways.  

The stress of doing something full time that never was meant to be a business will effect you and your process significantly.

If however, you chose to go into the art business full time because you can't think of anything more in this world you'd like to do, day in and day out for the rest of your life...then doing things for a purpose should bring JOY to you....

I get excited and jump for joy every time I get a commission order!   

I LOVE going to the post office because it means I sold something and it's going out into the world.

I love going to the studio and creating work for a gallery--it means I'm in a GALLERY! whooohoo!

I am thrilled when I am working on a class and already know I have people signed up waiting for that special day when I am teaching it.

When I check my email and see I have an order I say a prayer of gratitude, someone wants my work!!! Another reason to do a cartwheel!!

...I hear from a customer or a student that received my work or took my class and tell me how it's impacted their life/home/artistic journey...I  feel like it's another sign I'm on the right path.

Here's the thing guys. Working for yourself as an artist is no different then working for yourself in any small business (in the beginning and for most small businesses that is).    Is that shocking?

Here's the truth about being an artist full time:

*You are it.  You are the only one that can do YOUR art. That's a lot of pressure.

*It's a lot of hours.  Non stop hours to be sure.

*You have to not only create art, you need to sell your art. Market it.  Make a name for yourself in countless ways.

*The business comes in waves.   There will be times of plenty and times of pretty much crickets.  

*There is nothing greater than seeing a blank canvas develop into something amazing.

*There is nothing more frustrating then staring at a blank canvas and hoping your muse shows up!

*It's hard to balance studio time vs. business and marketing time.

*It's hard to balance personal time vs. business time...especially if you work from home.

*You have to treat your art business as is if (because it IS) it is a true business. 

*You will have deadlines to meet.  What business doesn't???

*You are held accountable for your actions, work and commitments.  Any time you have customers, or others that are counting on you for something (product or service), you are held accountable...and if you don't have those yet, you are still accountable to yourself and your dreams/goals/aspirations.

*Learning what to say yes to and what to say no to is a struggle. This perhaps is one of the biggest things that causes frustration to many artists (or really any business person) because if you are doing something that is not inline with your ultimate goal, you can find yourself wasting a lot of time and energy on the wrong projects and not enough time on the right ones.

*Your 'play' time is your work time. You are are always trying out new things (or should be), honing your skills and practicing.   

*Pricing your work to match the market, the value of it,  and your 'credentials' plays a crucial role in your success.  Understanding how to price your work plays a huge role in your success.

*You need goals and even a loose business plan in your creative business otherwise you will be 'floating' on the waves of your success and your not so successful accomplishments. 

*If you love what you do and are passionate about it,  you will feel so much empowerment by doing what you do for a living.   IF it was truly meant to be a full time/part time career choice.

*There will be days that you just don't want to do anything and need a break. That doesn't mean that you are less of an artist if you want to walk away for awhile.  It means you are tired. It means you need to refill your well. It means you are no different than any one on this earth, artist or otherwise.

30x30  Waiting For You

This topic brings up so many things that I could expand on further, but I hope I at least addressed the hot buttons for you.       The main thing I want you to walk away with is this:

Before you jump in and decide to turn your hobby into a profession,  be sure that is what you really want to do.   Understand WHY you want to do it.  If the answer is, I can't imagine myself doing anything else for the rest of my life...then make it be so!!  But, also understand--it is a business and you must treat it as a business just as if you were opening up a cookie store, a computer programming consulting business, real estate office, interior design business,  restaurant or retail shop (just to name a few).  You need to do it right and not feel bad AT ALL for asking for compensation for what you do.  You also need to take care of yourself and fill that well when it runs dry..because in the end,  even if you are in it to win it...you can't go on forever without taking a break and resting, relaxing and enjoying life, too....just like anyone :)

Do YOU have a Burning Question that you'd like to see addressed or discussed?   Check out my newsletter HERE for instructions  (or reply to on this post in a comment!).

Until we meet again,

Jodi

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More abstract art in the shop:

20 x 24 

Letting Go and Not Looking Back

Special:  Use code  15foryou in my etsy shop at check out and save 15.00 off any purchase of 85.00 or more.  Good now through 2/1/15.

The Burning Question: Why Is it that I am Drawn to OTHER things?

From time to time I get asked questions about  living a creative life, art business, and tons of art technique questions, so I thought I'd share the questions posed occasionally so that everyone could chime in on the discussion or perhaps benefit from my insight.

Notice I didn't say answer.  There rarely is one right answer or truth that fits nice and neatly for everyone.  Even for technique related questions--heck, humidity, temperature, substrate,  and brand of supplies, can skew a technique related answer.  

The same holds true for insight around what to do, why or why not to do something around your creative path or art business. **Not that humidity effects your art biz..heeehee** but your individual circumstances and your ultimate goals effect your direction.  Your experience could effect the question and or answer.

So, with that said...take my advice as for what it's worth.  It's just my opinion based on my circumstance and experience, or my point of view as I see it today...and yes it could change tomorrow :)

Today's question is from a friend on Facebook  who posed this question/predicament to me:

'I often find in my road to mastery, being drawn into different directions which often results in using different mediums. I stop doing what I was doing and go on to that 'new' thing and may not get back to my original medium or path for say up to 2 years.'  Why is this so?  It makes it hard to master anything when this occurs.

My reply:

To me, it sounds like you are in the 'percolating' stage of your creative self. You are still finding what it is that you really like to do.  Is it Acrylics,  oils or watercolors that tempt your art'full self?  Perhaps you are drawn to the allure of encaustic painting or the textural effects of  of raw collage.  Are you drawn to the old papers found at a thrift store, knowing there will be a use for them down the road?  Do you pick up a journal and use it religiously for 2-3 months and then let it get dusty for a year or more?   Maybe you find pen and ink drawings exciting or a portrait painting a challenge but one that you want to take on.   In the quiet of winter do you cozy up with a knitting needle and go back to working on a blanket you started the year before?  Maybe it's the sale ad that came through your email this morning with a promise of 20% off if you order 100.00 or more of new art supplies that you find impossible to resist despite the fact you have a room full of stuff that has yet to be touched.

We all go through the percolating and distraction stage.  The stage where we hunt and gather information, supplies, and inspiration.  We want to do what others are doing, and doing better than we are (because we have yet to start).   Easily bored or uninspired, we move on to something else to capture our attention for the time being (and the time being could be years).  We pick things up, and we put them down, in a cycle of learning and exploring that is neither good nor bad, depending on what it is we are really looking to achieve.

At some point however,  YOU, WE,  need to decide, what it is that we really want to do and where is it that we want to go.  Based on those answers,  the next step is to pare down the distractions or limit those 'extra curricular activities'  to our 'filling the well' time if we want to go down the path of mastery of what's really important to you.

No supply on earth is going to be the one size fits all answer to making you a brilliant artist.  Having a 100 of those supplies will not make you the best at what you do. Granted, good supplies have lots of value and I'm not saying that certain supplies won't make your work better, but to believe it's the supply in itself that's the answer-would be a fallacy.

Being drawn to different types of techniques is totally normal and very much encouraged.  But you are right, it is hard to master a few when you are distracted a lot.    Perhaps you aren't ready to make a choice about your art and that's why you are easily drawn to other mediums.  If you are ready to make a choice, know that it doesn't mean you can't go back to something else here and there (or for long periods of time).

When I first started creating, collage was my favorite  medium.  And then it was journaling.  And then I knitted for a while.  I moved on to drawing.  Then water colors called me for a period of time, until I discovered acrylic paints...and at that point, I was hooked. I still do all of the things I love or loved  (well except for knitting) , but I decided when I became really serious about my craft, to zone in on acrylics.   I wanted and still want to discover all I can about the medium and stretch my limits as an artist using acrylic paint as my primary medium.  But I still want to do other things, too,  and I think when other mediums (or genres of art)  pop into my work for periods of time--they are there to serve a purpose.  They help me grow as an artist.

Really understanding why you do what you do and what your ultimate goals are as an artist (and an individual) is very important in this process as well. It's hard to know where you are going without some idea of where it is you want to go! :)   

Don't loose sleep over the fact you are in the percolating stage if in fact that is where you are.   Trust your instincts and you will know when it is to start specializing in whatever it is you want to do.  Listen to yourself  so you can hear when it is time to take a break and play with some other 'toys' or processes.  

If you are on the edge of the percolating stage and about to get off on the road to mastery, then very possibly yes...it's time to make a decision . Start drawing out a road map of how you are going to get there and stick to it.  Get excited about it and passionate about your process.  Be swayed by other things when it makes sense to, or supports your ultimate goals.

Or...maybe it's not time to make  a decision.

If you never master anything but are great at a lot of things, that's okay too.  If you are happy with the path you are on, that is all that matters.  Life is a journey and all parts of it should be enjoyed. If you aren't enjoying one part, the beauty of this life is that it's never too late change your direction. 


  Mastery does not equal success. Nor does success equal happiness. We all define each in our own way, and find our balance according to the beat of our individual drums.  Understanding our definition of mastery, success, and happiness should be perhaps a first stop on the road however.

Carry on my friends and have a fantastic weekend!
Jodi



Do YOU have a burning question around the artistic life, art business, art techniques or topics you'd like to hear or learn more about?  Leave a comment here! I'd love to use them in upcoming posts!


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