I hate it when I tell people that I'm an artist and they immediately ask what my husband does for a living. I especially hate it when I'm showing at a festival and someone is IN MY BOOTH and asks what my husband does. Are you trying to tell me that my artwork sucks and there is no way I could ever make a living off of it?? Because that is what I'm taking from this conversation!
I want to say "Lets get this straight! I am not a starving artist! Art is a business like any other, and I'm good at both the creative and business aspects! I OWN THIS BUSINESS. I am CEO, CFO, and every other three letter acronym. Yes, my husband works too, but I don't need him to pay my bills for me."
Instead I say he works at a boring job and change the subject.
I wish the starving artist term would be banished from existence so the next generation could see artwork for what it truly is -- important.
I just don't understand why people do not consider artwork worthy of manking a living off of. I'm not getting rich, but I'm not struggling to pay bills either. I go on vacation. I eat out. I buy occasionally rediculous things like pumpkin costumes for my dogs simply b/c I want to buy them. And I work my butt off. I am not idly sitting at home "waiting for inspiration". I am painting, creating, researching, responding, applying, editing, experimenting, eatingbreathingsleeping my business every single second of every single day.
I guess what I would really like to say is:
Don't dismiss my work so quickly just because it is different from yours.
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LUV IT Amy! Can I borrow that ?
I like when they walk into my booth and say Did you MAKE all this?! Really surprised at how much is there...I happen to have a passion for earrings and wire wrapped pendants...my fave things to make, and have lots on display, so people are always making comments like "how do you find the time?" My response is - "I MAKE time for this- I enjoy it, and it is a great stress reliever!" I honestly couldn't imagine a day where I'm not in the studio creating something....and like Victoria, I am usually working on something at shows. Can't sit still for an entire day, so drag my projects bag with, and work on them at shows!!
That is a fabulous answer!
Just what does an artist look like????
If someone said to me, "What a great hobby!" I would smile and say, "May be a hobby for some, but I take my art career very seriously and work full time at it. You can see the results..."
I, too have have had people assume this is my "little hobby". And ask what my husband does, or what my "day job" is. I think it's the "little hobby" comment that gets to me the most. But after seven years, not so much anymore. I just chalk it up to the source now, and let the uninformed comments slide right off my shoulders. When asked if I have a "shop", I say "Yes, your in it" hand them a card and advise them to visit the website for upcoming events, or call for an appointment at the studio.
Most of the "public" think we hear about these events, show up, whip our tents out, and just start selling.
They have NO IDEA of the work involved. It is a business, slightly different from the norm, what with the travelling, and set-up/tear-down, but still a business-paperwork, bookkeeping, planning, budgeting, marketing and all.
And the ones who have at least an inkling of the process, those are the ones who appreciate our being there at all, purchase from us, and don't make silly comments like the above mentioned ones, or even worse.
LOVE that comment Geoff! I am absolutely going to steal that from you next time someone says the likes to me!
David -- wow, if only they knew that in order TO make a living out of this life, we are so much bigger work Nazis to ourselves than an 8-5 boss ever could be.
My favorite line from customers (even my own friends) is "so if you do shows on weekends what do you do all day durring the week?" assuming that I sit on my ass and just wait to arrive at the show with no driving, no show prep, no set up, breakdown, creating, book keeping, applying to shows, tracking inventory, framing, loading the trailer, emailing customers, shipping orders, running errends, laundry, cleaning, cooking..shall I go on. Other than that not much other than selling at shows. ugh.
Geoff -- best response I've ever heard to that question. Love it.
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