Okay,
Can we please talk about professional artists for a sec? I know my views are probably off because I didn’t go to art school, but there are so many paintings I see that go for thousands, sometimes millions of dollars, and they look like my child did them! How? How do these people get their paintings to become worth so much? I just don’t get it. Then I will see a very detailed painting that probably took hours to complete, it looks so real, but it only sells for $100. Somebody, please tell me what the secret is!
I love painting so much! It is so fun to look at how my work has improved over the years and receive feedback from my friends and family. I tried to set up an Etsy page before, but I didn’t have any success with that. I also wanted to keep all my favorite paintings, soooo I know that didn’t help me. But, who wants to sell their best paintings? I use them as decor in my house. I ended up quitting my Etsy page after a year of no sales. I probably had priced them too high, but how does one know how high to price them? I also have seen where people print photos of their paintings and sell them cheaper. Is this a better way to do it? And how do they get these pictures? Do they pay someone to take professional photos of them? And how many prints do they order and of what sizes? I would love to get some feedback on this. Here are some of the paintings I have done in the past. I also created an Instagram page on my paintings hoping I would become famous, but that hasn’t happened yet. Ha!
One of my work friends is an incredible artist! She draws pictures on her computer, I don’t even know how that is possible. She wants to go to an art show and sell some of her work and mentioned I should do it as well. It would be so fun! But what if I go and I don’t sell one painting? I would be crushed and feel so discouraged! Has anyone gone to a craft show and had success or did not have any success? I don’t want to set my expectations too high but I want to also have some success at the same time. Thank you in advance for any information you all have to share! I truly am curious about how all this works and I hope it can shed some light on others who are questioning the process.
A friend on Facebook asked for folks to weigh in on your discussion/questions. What makes some artists great/prosperous/worthy of praise? I don’t think there’s a simple answer. I will say this, I’m an unimpressive/not famous/pretty much below average artist. My heart and brain aren’t 100% art. I’ve never been willing to commit my entire lively hood to my art. I’ve never felt I had that something special that made me a Monet or Dali or Chihuly or Andrew Carson.
What sets them apart? There is something deep in the soul that others can feel when they look upon a great Pollock or the exquisite Sasaki. All so different yet when I gaze upon their works my soul yearns to see through their eyes. Their works also make me desire to view the world in a different way, and to aspire to make my own space a more beautiful place for others to perhaps also aspire for something greater.
I enjoy having pretty pictures on my walls, and something that fits my existing decor, but if I had the means, I would build a home around great pieces of artwork. Instead, I save and I go to visit the “great ones”, so that I can remain inspired. When I see a great artist I do often buy a card/print or small sampling of their art. I can’t support a large purchase, but I feel it when I see something great.
If you yearn for greatness, look deep within. Is it truly your calling? Do others seek inspiration through your works? Could you walk away from everything else and make art what you live for? Would you bet your home and possessions that your art is worthy of the praise and finances of others? Do you devote every moment available (and maybe some that’s not really available) to studying similar artists of your medium? Do you strive to make it your expertise? Can you live without painting/sculpting/drawing/photographing/etc.?
If you have answered no to any of these questions, your art is a hobby and not your profession. It’s ok to be a hobbyist artist. It doesn’t make you any less talented it just means other things in life have great importance to you outside of your art. Keep painting, drawing, sculpting or whatever you love.
I believe god speaks to us all in every small way. Some days I see and hear nothing. Some weeks I see and hear nothing, Some months I hear and see nothing. Some years I hear and see nothing. But then amidst it all greatness is right there for me. Live for those moments.
Thank you for your perspective Rachel! I appreciate everything you had to say. I do think my paintings are more of a hobby and I probably will never make it as a professional artist because I value teaching more. I don’t want to make it my career and spend all my time working and perfecting my art. But at the same time, if I do want to sell some of it on the side I don’t have the means to know how much it is worth. From your post, I realize that I don’t put effort into researching other artists and I don’t spend “that much” time on my paintings. If I were to do it again, I would definitely take all this into account when pricing out my paintings because I do want my work to be in my family and friends’ homes.