How to be an artist?
Hi,
Being a teacher for many years I use to offer this little story.
The question is what is a true artist. An artist is creating a
beautiful castle at the beach and time just slips away. There it is a
masterpiece in his mind and a feeling of joy as the last bit of sand
goes on. In the mind of the artist “it is perfect”. At the time it
doesn’t matter that the tide will soon come in and wash away his
masterpiece. He doesn’t think about that fact the it might not live
forever so a piece of him lives on. This is a piece of art. It let the
artist release his emotions through his hands into the medium the sand.
But then a quick look to see if mom or dad or a customer is looking, it
now changes to a product. Something to be sold to mom or dad or the
customer.
So the moral of this story? Are you making a piece of art or a product.
If you have created a masterpiece in your mind it is art and might have
to wait till a like mind comes along. Hopefully your not dead! If you
have created a product for others to buy then you have to find out what
is in their mind and create something for their pleasure.
I think that the answer is creating art for yourself for your own
enjoyment but also creating art as a product so you can eat. But then
you need a practical business sense to look for unique or needed
artistic products. Mom or Dad or the Customer is waiting to buy
something that gives them pleasure. So you need to go to the places
where your product will sell.
An example: if you sell art at a swap meet look around at what the
customer is expecting and and cater to their pleasures. If you sell at
a fancy Gallery find out what those customers pleasures are and create
a product for them.
I have taught and worked with many artists and even live with one, in
fact I am one in my mind. Art makes me smile. Business lets me pay the
rent. Know the difference. This wisdom can save you lots of heartache
in the future.
Love,
Freida Wolden
Freida’s Adventures
Article by Freida Wolden posted at Monochrome yahoogroups on 27 Dec 2004 – (I was the moderator Oruc Yildirim)
Mrs Freida please contact me if you are ok for posting your valuable thoughts – Thanks
