3 things no one told me about being an artist

I have been working as a full time professional artist for about five years now. When i started out, i didn't really make a conscious decision to suddenly "become and artist" it kind of just happened organically, which i find is a pretty common story. However, when i look back I know i did have a fairly romantic notion in my head of how life would be as an artist. I thought that spending all my time just paining and creating was going to be easy and stress free. However, here are three things that i was not aware of before i began.

1. You will be a one man band. 

Unless you happen to have a tower of money in your backyard, if you are wanting to make an income from your art then you need to realise that you will spend at least 50% of your day doing everything except actually creating. Running a business as an artist means 50% creating 50% EVERYTHING else. This box labeled " everything" contains advertising, marketing, photography, website building, listing items for sale, admin work, accounting, emailing, negotiation, packaging, posting, planing, communicating, ordering...etc etc etc. Sometimes you will spend a lot of time doing all these things and not actually be making any money from it. Unlike most jobs where you get paid for all this work...as an artist you just have to do it in the hope that eventually it will result in some income. When you do finally get around to creating you art, you are still going to be very much alone in your own little world. You have to learn to be self sufficient and to be able to make decisions on your own about which direction your art needs to go in. I do a lot of talking to myself. 

2. Insecurity.

Us artists are an insecure bunch. Because you tend to spend so much time on your own doing your own thing, when it comes to sharing that thing with the world there is a lot of self doubt that comes out with it. Running any kind of creative business that relies on you making something individual and unique and then selling it is like riding a rollercoaster. Will people like this? Will someone like it enough to buy it? Will i be able to make more? What if none buys it? What should i make next? Is that person selling more than me? Maybe i should do what they are doing? 

Unfortunately i don't think this whole insecurity thing is ever going to go away. I feel just as nauseous releasing a new paining for sale onto my website now as i did 5 years go. 

Income is also an insecurity. It is sporadic and irregular. There is no way to predict or plan for how much you may or may not sell from one month to the next. You just have to keep plugging away in the hope that something you make will resonate with someone else out there in the world and they will buy it so you can keep making new things. Although i would consider myself to be quite established now and i can to a certain degree predict roughly how much i will earn each month (based on previous months and upcoming jobs) it is still and always will be a struggle.

3. You can not switch off. Ever.

Now, I know you don't necessarily need to be running a business to have this problem. Generally, being a creative person means that you are always coming up with new ideas and plaining your next move. However when you are relying on it for your livelyhood it can become almost impossible to take any actual down time. My mind is constantly spilling over with ideas that i just don't have enough time in the day for. So i have had to become quite good at being ruthless when choosing what i dedicate my time to and what needs to be put on the wait list. 

All artists struggle with the fact that there is simply not enough time in our lives to do all the things we want to do. And when you are running a business there is even less time. I need to be very specific and strategic when it comes to what i create. Which means that i spend quite a bit if time staring off into the distance with a glazed expression, while my brain is trying to process and prioritise all of the things. There is also a fair amount of risk involved in any new project that you start. Will it be profitable? Will my collectors like it? Is it going to take too long? Is it going to cost too much? 

A big part of being a full time artist is being disciplined enough to shut off a lot of the extra noise in your head. The little voice that is convincing you that learning how to screen print is a great idea even though you don't own any equipment or knowledge and it would take up way too much time to learn. Or the other voice telling you that you need to apply for a grant to create a sculpture in the middle of town even though your not a sculptor. Ot that time your brain thought it would be a good idea to maybe cut out 100 squares of paper and draw a different kind of beetle on each one. 

 If i followed every single tangent that my brain took me on i would never actually get anything done. You need to learn to focus your energy onto one thing and just keep doing that one thing...but that doesn't stop the new ideas from flowing every day. 

There is so much more involved in making an income from your art which is why i have compiled all my thoughts and experiences into my ebook, Painting Money. Painting Money takes you through all the steps that you need to take in order to set yourself up to sucseed as a professional artist. One of the topics i talk about is mindset and how to get your head into the right place. If you would like to read more, you can purchase my ebook via the website here. 

Do you have a Sketchbook ?

.... I have a confession. I am a sketchbook purchasing addict.  

I love buying sketchbooks, the new fresh clean pages, the potential and anticipation of filling them with pretty things. However, I am not that great at actually using them.  

At this point in time time I think I have four...maybe even five sketchbooks going at once. I usually have one in my bag, one in the car, one at my home and several at the studio. 

I use them sporadically to sketch composition ideas, jot down names for paintings or ideas to sketch later. I also use them to brush up on my general drawing skills and some poor souls just get random pages torn out of them when I need to write down a shopping list or phone message. I have some that were really expensive and others that were just impulse purchases from discount stores. 

I love the idea of starting with one sketchbook and filling in every single page with sketches and art but I just can’t seem to commit. I also love looking through older sketchbooks to see how my ideas have changed or developed. Sometimes I’ll come across old sketches that never made it to a full painting and I’m inspired to finally paint it.  

What about you? Are you a fellow sketchbook hoarder?  

How to choose the right artwork for your space.

Original art can totally change the feeling of a room. A well placed artwork can pull together all the other furniture and elements in the room or make a statement all on its own. It’s a great way to add a bit of personality to a space, owning an original artwork is a special way of adding an individual touch to your home.   However it can also be hard to know exactly what kind of artwork is best for your space and making a descision can be hard.  

The main question I have clients ask me is what size artwork is best for their space.  If you are lucky enough to have a large wall then go as big as you can, or consider a group of two or more paintings that go together (a dyptytch or triptych) 

Generally speaking, hanging a large painting in a small room can actually make the room seem bigger.... which is the opposite to what you would think. People will often make the mistake of purchasing an artwork that is too small for the wall. Artworks will always look smaller once they are hanging, so if your budget can allow it I would always recommend going larger or waiting until you can afford a piece that is bigger. A large painting will create a focal point and add movement to the walls, especially if the subject of the painting is a landscape or inspired by nature.  

However, creating a gallery wall consisting of many smaller artworks can also work in any space as long as there is a cohesive look to the artworks (such as similar framing styles).  Gallery walls are great for people that don’t want to commit to just one artwork or they have many favorite artists and they want to be able to collect a little something from everyone. Purchasing smaller artworks can also be a little kinder on the pocket, as you can build and add to your collection over time. 

Dont be too concerned with matching your art with the existing room or decor. Add modern art into older style homes and traditional art into modern homes. The contrast of styles works every time. It is more important that you choose an artwork that creates an emotional response within you when you see it rather than choosing something just because it matches the sofa. If everything matches too perfectly, the art work will end up blending in rather than standing out as a statement.  

Choose and artwork that you love, your opinion is the only one that matters. If it makes you feel something special then buy it. If you love it enough it will naturally find a place in your home where it fits. 

Finally, If you seen an artwork that you love but it’s not quite the right size or colour, always approach the artist and ask if they are able to create a custom piece. Most artists are happy to create private commissions, and if they are not able to then they may have something else available in their studio already that fits your needs. 

If you have been thinking about purchasing one of my paintings but you’re not sure if the size is right or if it will work in the room, feel free to send me an email with some images of your space. I am answering questions like that all the time so I’m happy to help.  

Tools of the trade

The main medium I prefer to work with is Acrylic paint. Over the years I have experimented with every art supply and material imaginable. Early on, while I was studying Viaual Art at TAFE,  I was actually using oil paint because I thought that you weren’t a “real artist” unless you knew how to use oil paint. 

As I have aged and matured I have realized how rediculous that idea is and that you can be a real artist and use whatever materials you like. I also always hated the messy cleanup process that is involved with oil paint. So once I started to get back in to painting on a regular basis I decided to use acrylics.  

The fast drying time, vibrant colours and easy cleaning qualities are all perfect for the way I work.  

I also use a range of brushes to create my art, all of them are cheap and some of them are not even “artist” brushes. I use nylon brushes, house paint brushes from the hardware store and a few mop style brushes that are meant to be used for stenciling or applying gesso but I like the scratchy messy marks that they make.  

I am a terrible brush owner. I abuse them all the time. I let them dry out, or I soak them for days on end in dirty water. I use them to varnish and then forget to was them. I use them to scoop out blobs of paint, smoosh them into containers and clog them up. When they are dead I throw them out and buy new ones. 

I use a few different brands of acrylic paint, but mostly Derivan Matisse, Golden Acrylic and Hydrocryl. I mix different brands together to make up my own colours as well as using colours right out of the tube. If I know I’m going to use a particular colour a lot then I will mix up a big batch and keep it in a plastic container with a lid. I also use Liquitex paint markers to add in some of the fine details on top. 

I paint on both stretched canvas and watercolour paper, I have my canvas custom stretched and sent to me and I purchase my watercolor paper in large sheets or pads. The canvas is 12oz cotton and the paper is always 300gsm cotton or above. 

Open Studio 11th-12th November

This year I'll be taking part in the Yarra Valley Open Studio Tour which is held over three areas and three weekends between September and November. The Warburton area will be on the 11th and 12th of November from 10am-4pm.  

You can come and visit me in my studio at 21 Woods Point Rd in Warburton (in the YREC Business Village opposite the caravan park). I will have original artworks for sale, including paintings on canvas, paper and a exclusive collection of hand painted original ceramics.  

To find out more about the Open Studios, including the other participating artists, you can visit the official website at  https://www.yarravalleyarts.org.au/yvaopenstudios

Inspiration vs Painting

Here is a quick little peak into my process. The paintings for my upcoming exhibition were all directly inspired by the Yarra River. Some were sketched interpretations and others, such as this one below, were inspired by photographs.  

I never try to copy a landscape exactly, I always like to use my own interpretation which gives my paintings their imaginative and dreamlike quality. As you can see, although I was directly inspired by the photo, the finished painting has taken on a whole new feeling of its own. I tried to emphasis the feeling of the sun going down and the last warmth from the day hitting the riverbank to the right.   

Last Light (152cmx101cm Acrylic on Canvas) will be in display during my exhibition Yarra, which is being held at Cambridge Studio Gallery in Collingwood from the 8th to 26th of March. There will be opening drinks on the 12th of March from 2pm, it would be lovely to see you there. 

Studio snapshots

Here is a little peek into the studio and what I've been up to lately. If you want to see more behind the scenes stuff make sure you subscribe to my instagram account.  

I've started another piece for my new series. This will be in my show in March titled Yarra where I will be focusing on the local river scenes. 

I finished (and sold)  this pretty piece. 

I also completed this commission that was started before Christmas. I usually don't take that long to finish commissions but I have been away a fair bit these last few weeks.  

I have a big pile of canvases due to be delivered soon so it will be a busy few weeks. If you would like to pop into the studio to view anything in person then feel free to message me. I haven't forgotten about that Open Studio day either... it will happen soon!  

New Year. New Studio

I mentioned on here a few weeks ago that I was planing on moving out into a new studio space. Well the time has arrived. I picked up the keys to the new studio last Thursday and I've been slowly moving in over the last few days.  

I have been a full time professional artist for about three years now, however now that I have a "real studio" I actually feel like a real professional now. So silly but that's how my brain works. 

I'm really excited to see where this next year takes me and to see how having a studio outside of my home for the first time ever changes the way I work. I'm hoping that I will be a bit more productive during the week. I find it hard to not procrastinate doing other things when I'm at home, it's always much more tempting to just sit on the couch with my knitting and Netflix. Hopefully having official working hours and a place to go every day will make me more accountable and productive when I need to be.  

It will also be awesome to be able to welcome clients into my studio without having to lead them through my lounge room and messy kitchen first. I am happy for anyone to pop in and see me whenever I'm there (which will be quite often during the week and by appointment on weekends).  

After the Christmas and New Years break and once I have settled in I am planing on holding an official opening/open studio day. I'll let you know when that's happening via Facebook early in the year.