For many artists, each creation is very personal. And sometimes the idea of letting something go (ie SELLING) can be very daunting! There is a cycle for many artists...selling to create, creating things to sell...which comes first? What is the ultimate goal? Would you like to sell only large pieces occasionally, so you have lots of time to create in between, or do you mass-produce work, in order to sell more frequently?
I had a professor in college tell me "If you are afraid to sell something, you are afraid that you will never make anything better"
And I think that's a great philosophy. You can be incredibly proud of a piece, and even have reservations about selling it, but ultimately your goal should be to grow as an artist - you never know what the next creation will be!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
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7 comments:
http://emptyeasel.com/2008/09/29/the-financially-successful-artist-commercial-sell-out-or-role-model/
great article to fuel the debate!
I am definitely in the mass produce to sell category. Clay and all the expensive equipment and supplies needed to produce pottery force this issue.
I make several pieces a month JUST FOR ME! Years ago I had a teacher say to me: Why do you produce all that functional $hit and sell it for nothing when you could make some one of a kind larger things and get bigger money?
He's right, one large vase commands
200$ and a mug fetches about 20 ,and believe it or not a mug is more work when you include pulling a handle.
I love to work with clay, it's my lifeblood and it's also my business.
I have to sell. There are some pieces I don't want to part with, and some I wish I'd never sold but if they are gone then it forces me to work harder to make better things and newer things.
I've done work with oils ,batik,acrylics,some stained and fused glass that will never see the glaring lights of a gallery, nor be offered for sale because those are my creative outlet.
All of the work done no matter the media makes the other work better I think.
Wonderful question.
Some of my stuff is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stonewear/
I NEVER create to sell. I use to try to make items that I thought would appeal to people and it took all the fun out of creating. I have found that when I create for ME then other people respond more positively because I guess you can tell if something is made with love or just made for a buck.
I use to wish that I would get picked up for a licensing agreement and now I think I'd die if I were expected to create the same type of work over and over!
Renee :)
Interesting question. I was just interviewed for a piece on 'Success' and had to answer questions very similar to this! Lots of food for thought.
I create because I 'have' to. I become something less ME if I am not creating. I sell, so that I can continue to create. If money were no object, I would happily give my paintings to whomever connected with them and 'had to have it!'
I do, at times, try to make paintings that are more 'commercial' and find myself happily engrossed in that activity when it is seasonal. I've had a blast making paitnings to turn in to holiday cards. Now that my inventory is stocked, I can return to painting via inspiration rather than for a purpose.
This is something I've gone back and forth with a lot when I first began selling my paintings. That first sale felt very strange, as I couldn't imagine my painting hanging somewhere else, and being somewhere where I couldn't care for it. (sounds weird, I know)
I think I do a mix of creating pieces specifically to sell that are smaller, maybe more accessible, and other, larger, more experimental works for myself.
Just like Debra said, if money weren't an issue, I would still paint because it's just what I do!
I have tried painting with the buyer in mind. But I never predict well who will buy what. Something I think should sell just sits there and something I never thought does! I wish I could crack the magic code to be able to make paintings that would sell like hotcakes. But then I wouldn't have any time or energy left to paint something satisfying for me.
I guess what I have learned and am putting into application is to create art that makes me feel good and proud of myself. To paint what emotions I'm feeling. Ans thinking If I like it then there's bound to be someone on this planet that will like it to and purchase it.
"An artist is. It’s soul deep." I completely agree with this sentiment. I have not been blessed with many art sales as of yet, but I create what I want. I work in many styles and media, and if I find a style that sells well, I will likely make more of it, but I could never be pinned down to one style. If I were only creating for the consumer, and not for myself, I wouldn't feel fulfilled by it.
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