‘The TALK’
Day 10- I got “The Talk” today. “The Talk” is a talk that most artists hear from time to time. “The Talk” consists of words like ‘real job’ ‘when’ ‘money’ and so forth. I don’t particularly enjoy “The Talk”. There are usually warning signs that are given so I try to avoid “The Talk” at all costs. However, I found myself cornered and in the depths of …well you know what today.
It’s not like I have never had a ‘real job’ before, in fact I have had many jobs in my lifetime, from waitress, model, sales assistant, music sales manager, nanny, cat nanny, receptionist, fine art advisor, photographer, web/graphic designer, telemarketer, English teacher, event promoter, framer’s assistant…etc.
My goal was always to find a job that utilized my creative skills or a job that left me with enough energy to paint. I always found it difficult to maintain the two worlds. I would end up working too much and not paint enough. It was always difficult to feel inspired in an exhausted zombie like state at the end of your work day.
It’s just so hard and depressing when you know exactly what you want to do in life but that something has to be balanced or many times for some artists done as a hobby.
I read once a quote “Do what you love and money will follow”
Well I have been doing what I love now for some years….and well money? Where the hell are you? Catch up will you!
Don’t get me wrong. I am never bitter. This is what I love, I choose to paint but once in awhile for a second I catch myself feeling a tinge of jealous towards friends or family…its really tiny but its there for a second.
I see my friends buying cars, condos and just affording the lifestyle. I’m just so far from that it’s insane.
There is something inside of me that will never give up, painting no matter what. I know if I keep painting it will take me somewhere. I will never let my painting become a ‘hobby’ just so I can live the lifestyle.
There really should be a SAVE THE ARTIST FUND.
Without artists the world would be lifeless, without soul. Really think about it. What would we do with our days? No novels, no poetry, no music, no opera, no movies, no galleries….etc.
We wouldn’t know about our history as we do today. It’s endless.
Artists must stay strong, focused and driven. Don’t give up when you get “The Talk” Follow your passion.
I love you fellow artists.
Even you, Bob Ross, I felt like I was channeling Bob today. I was painting trees and thought of him and his afro “I’m just going to paint a little happy tree here.”
January 11th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Julia,
This is an age old topic. In fact, I have been researching this very issue for the past few months. I am much, much older than you. I have lived all the different kinds of artist lifestyles. I have been a Bohemian artist, making art in my ghetto studio. I have picked up cans on the street in order to cash in the deposit money to buy food for my dinner. I have walked miles because I had no car or much of anything for that matter. However, I have always made my art work. I can remember being so poor, while trolling through garbage bins to find “art supplies”, I asked people on the street if they had any left over Latex paint in their garages! I have survived many years being an artist who lived hand-to-mouth.
The TALK is very familiar to me. However, I never heard it from anyone but myself. I have always been responsible for my own financial existance, so the talk was self-inflicted.
Well, 13 years ago the TALK took. I got a real, full time job with benefits. I still have that job and I am sitting here (after work) feeling like that ZOMBIE you mentioned in your post.
This topic is a sticky-wicket. I want the “stuff” (my nice, my little art house in Florida, my great car, my credit cards, my paycheck EVERY two weeks, etc.) However, I still hear the talk in an opposite way. I always ask myself “Do I really need all this stuff?” I just want to paint.
Despite having a day job, I have always made and shown my work. I just don’t know if there is a perfect answer to this artist’s question or is compromise the answer? I don’t know.
You will figure out what works for you!
Sheree
January 11th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Me, too – on my own nearly all my life, finally got sick of too many years of hand-to-mouth starving artist “poverty is the mother of invention” crap & got a full-time job.
Ha-ha, also sitting here after work, zombie’d out & wondering if I have the energy to get a little painting in before next work-day arrives.
Gotta pace myself at painting now, but oh, how nice to be able to buy art supplies when I need them!
And getting ideas down into my sketchbook when the excitement hits, then later painting them out onto canvas, is OK too.
In fact, in some ways better than doing the all-nighter, 20-hours-at-a-stretch art marathon.
& yeah, sometimes I think maybe I’ve given up in some way & joined the masses (what about the whole “living your passion at any cost” thing?), but what the hell – it’s ok as long as I am able to make paintings.
By the way, I really like your stuff! Even if you do have to compromise at some point, never give up painting ’cause you have talent, girl!
Glad you’re here on 30day, & I like your writings too.
January 12th, 2007 at 8:11 am
maybe we can start one here:)
January 12th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
What about a part time job? Sometimes I find that when I feel I have a painting deadline approaching with not too much time, it nudges me into action, and I find that if I just wake up a little earlier and stop blogging so much, that I actually have a decent amount of time after my part time job. I also have a boost of energy when I come home, knowing that hey, this is my time, and I have something to create. . .turn up the music and lets have some fun.
Granted, there’s the wifely duties, house, laundry, dishes, figure out dinner everyday. . and I don’t even have kids, yet. I can’t imagine how Moms do it all.
For me, it’s a discipline and a balance that I struggle to maintain – making lists is helpful and I need to have a certain routine when it comes to when I paint and when I clean the bathroom. . etc.
It’s a constant learning of marketing practices, too. Hey, if I’m painting masterpieces (and I’m not) who cares if no one ever sees it? It will never help me out financially if I don’t learn how to get it out there, put myself out there, and market my work. That’s half of the “job” of artist.
So, with all that said, consider a part time job, at least. That way you don’t feel like the entire day is gone when you get home, yet you do have a bit of a cash flow. Hint, temp jobs pay really good.
Keep it up, if I don’t have a creative outlet, I get cranky, and I think I would die. . .so, whatever you do, keep painting.
January 14th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
As artists we have to wear many hats. How do you do it? It’s really a balancing act. It’s great to hear your stories. Thanks for the advice and support.:)
I really agree with the creative outlet thing. I feel the same when I don’t paint. Craaaankky!
January 15th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Well, I have a really sweet, suportive husband, that says he would like me to put art as a higher priority than the housework. I appreciate his tolerance for dirty floors and piling laundry, but I in good conscience and maybe the desire for sanity cannot paint if the house is a total mess. I don’t want the first thing he sees when he comes home to be dirty dishes in the sink. He’s been working all day, and I want him to come home to a safe, peaceful place. Keeping in mind, that it would make him very happy if I had painted that day, I must make both a priority.
I try to keep things straight, at least. I work on this in the mornings, and then after I have lunch is usually time for art. But things always get in the way, graphic design jobs, I work 2 days a week, and we are constantly hosting. . we have an open house policy with the teens in our youthgroup so people are always coming by, people have needs – and people are more important than things, so I neglect those things to help out. Also, if we don’t have leftovers, then dinner must be thought through and planned.
It’s a balancing act, but I found that very rarely is everything just right. If I’ve taken the time to paint, then the bathroom will have to be cleaned romorrow, or there may be a few dirty dishes in the sink, still. . .it’s a trade off, usually. I never have it together.
Right now, the house is pretty clean and straight, but I haven’t painted in 6 days! Ah, the tradeoff.