Editorial: Why do you do your art?
My easy answer to this question is: because I have to. There are so many other questions that bog us down and sometimes keep us from moving forward. Like: how is the gallery model changing? Do I need to move and create within that change in order to sell my work? How do I continue to find flow and inspiration? How can I create value for others? What if I get burned out? Can I overcome it?
So many things seem to be changing in our world these days. Frankly, it is not easy to keep focus, not just with our art. There might be some answers in meditation in order to turn off the distractions. It takes discipline for sure. Over the years, I have learned to choose a reasonable sized task, have intension, and protect my focus. I cannot let the outside voices get to me while I am working. I literally turn off the distractions.
What might help is to define your why. Define what you think is your success and not let galleries or social media dictate what is good. We should decide as artists what is good and what success looks like for ourselves. Are you doing it for the art market, for yourself, or for art history? Maybe it is a little of all three. Just don’t be manipulated into thinking that you must sell. If the gallery approves someone’s work, it makes them money. That does not mean that it is meaningful art. We have certainly seen enough horrible work with red dots on them in galleries. I would prefer to make work that is important to me. If the galleries like it and it sells, fine. If it can stand the test of time in art history, that would be great too, but I don’t think that is likely nor necessary. I am doing it because I like it. I have made the decision to take the risk, confront and question myself and what I am doing. All I can say is that when you decide your direction, stick to it. Your personal discovery is what is the most meaningful part of the process.
Use whatever platform you have to reach out to people who feel the same way. When your work strikes a chord with others, the feeling you will get is inspiring. Knowing that you created a reaction or feeling in someone else is why we do this and takes the importance away from the sales. But if you can do this, the sales will come. You are being true to yourself as well as creating influence. Word of mouth is trustworthy within your sphere of personal contacts. It is a privilege to create art for them, to create value for them. That one-on-one communication and direct promotion has so much value. It is a deeper connection. This might sound old school, but those relationships are more inspiring than any anonymous comment on social media.
Go to openings, have conversations, create relationships and mentorships. Instagram will never deliver this. It is a bottomless pit. Make yourself valuable to real people. That is where not only where you will get satisfaction and inspiration, but also where good promotion begins.
I never want to lose track of what makes me happy. Things that I thought would make me happy as a young photographer turned out to be misleading sometimes. Happiness and success means different things to different people. I have gotten real about what that looks like for me. It has always been healthier to base my success on things I could control. I kept my focus on how much was enough. There are always going to be other artists out there who are better than what I can do. I cannot dwell on that. What is enough for me? What can I control instead of letting others control what I should be thinking and doing. I have learned that working hard and living cheaply put me in a place where I had enough money to do my art and pay my bills. I made sacrifices and choices to get me to a place where I could prioritize my actions. Finding balance comes with experience.
I did a lot of shows to get name recognition, but always understood that my focus needed to be on making the best work that I could. Then what happens will happen. It becomes about why I am doing this, the quality of my work, my relationships, my community, and my intensions. I set my goal posts properly. Just understand too that those goals can change at any time for something different with a new priority. Obligations arise, interests and priorities change, but I still need to own my time. I own my decisions.
Invest in yourself and your needs. Find people you can trust, maybe a mentor, to help shape your work. Define your why and commit to it. Understand what is enough. What does success look like for you, remembering that Instagram influence does not need to be part of it. The prize is the journey. Control it without letting your emotions dictate your actions. Put in the work. Know that you are worth it. Stop dabbling and commit.
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