What sort of artist do I want to be then?
Remember me talking about difficult conversations a few posts back? Well continuing emails with a few people have caused me to think. I’ve had a few rejections for proposals and it is somewhat disheartening. I’m told the proposals are strong by various people, but they clearly don’t “fit” at the moment. Do I carry on sending them out to places, or do I plod on doing my own thing with local groups, and possibly hire a gallery to share with a friend and get some work seen? I know some people are a bit sniffy about the gallery space for hire thing, but surely if you choose the right one it’s an opportunity to control how your work gets out into the world.
So what sort of artist am I?
I think I’m clearer about what sort of artist I’m not. I’m not one to do artificial networking in trendy cool places. I’m not worried about being “spotted”. I’m not wanting to do craft fairs/art fairs, even though I could probably make more money that way. I’ve done that before and I find it eats my brain, my heart, my soul. I don’t think I’m going to make any money. I don’t want people to tell me what to do. I don’t want commissions.
I want to do my own thing, have my own thoughts, carry on my conversations, online here, and emails to other friends and artists, the continued conversations, difficult or otherwise. I want to make stuff. I want to band together with my fellow art teachers, protesting about the current state of things. I want to accidentally network with people I find I have an affinity with. I like doing things locally – well, within 30 miles or so.
A re-evaluation then:
Don’t spend weeks writing proposals, spend weeks making work.
Photograph it properly.
Sort out my website – again.
Make stuff.
Write my blog(s).
Meet nice people.
Talk.
Write.
Make stuff.
Book a gallery space.
Make stuff.
Make stuff.
Show stuff, invite the nice people.
Talk more
Make more stuff.
Go to Bulgaria.
What do you reckon then? Am I being lazy? Complacent? Avoiding the real issues?
