So, here I am. Finally writing a blog on A-N. I’ve been blogging over on my own site for a while now – Mud’n’Art – where I’ve been musing on being an artist living in an isolated rural location. But that’s been more about my work and what inspires me. What gets the creative juices working and how a rural practice avoids the cliques and trends of the rest of the artworld (TM).
This occasional, and probably sporadic blog is less about the fluffy arty stuff and more about being sensible, effcient and generally professional in my work.
I’m an artist. For me it’s not just something I do because I like it, or because I think I’m good at it. It’s my livelihood. It’s what I do for a living. It’s all I do and has to feed me, clothe me and pay the mortgage. In short, it’s a business. I count myself fortunate that I manage to do this, to some extent, for a living. I know that for many artists this isn’t a viable option. For others it just ain’t going to happen. But this doesn’t mean I’m a better artist or that I know what I’m doing. In fact I know I’m not a better artist than lots of others and there are many ways in which I don’t know what I’m doing.
A few months ago I was lucky to recieve a re-view bursary from A-N. The purpose of this was to go on a journey to see how I can be a better artist and get a better understanding of what I’m doing. Regardless of how far along your career you are, there is still plenty to learn and buckets of room for improvement.
So, over the next few months I’m meeting and conversing with some people who I believe will help me move onwards and upwards. My work is often ambitious, and so is my list of mentors. Fortunately they seem just as excited by the opportunity as I am. It’s a good start.
