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Yesterday's article was from the collectors' point of view; what you think artists like ourselves should do. We're weird, so a lot of that doesn't apply. Today's article is about what you, as an artist, are doing or are considering. Both of these articles are inspired by Alyson B. Stanfield, whom we met and follow on Twitter, in her ArtBizCoach Blog. There are two general schools of thought that sound like a Roadblock on The Amazing Race:

Go for it! or Wait and see....

Art isn't what some would call an "essential". It is, but when it comes down to spending on food, or something that lifts one's spirits, food most often wins out. Once you fill your stomach, you can then think about making your head feel better. Art is one of the first things to go when budgets get cut, which lands the artist in a precarious place, as far as what they spend their energies doing to fill their stomachs. Often, artists hear from parents and sometimes friends:

"When are you going to get a real job?"

Not great, especially from those you look to for understanding and encouragement. We know we're not "normal". If artists were normal, we couldn't do what we do. I often prayed:

"God, please don't let me be normal."

This isn't a slam against anyone. It is the realization that I'm not "normal" and it would just about kill me if I was forced to abandon and ignore my talents. It isn't that I haven't done "normal" work. I have—lots of it: carpenter, slung burgers, worked a drive-in dairy, draftsman, engineer at Kodak, painted houses, produced mechanicals for a print house, ran a 40 inch 4-color printing press, bindery, process camera. Good experience. Not what I was put here for. When times get tough, one does what they must to keep going; looking forward to the day when it all changes for the better and the Sun shines again. (The Tough Get Going) The question is, where is your turning point? How bad does it have to get before you abandon your calling? How far are you willing to press in the pursuit of your career when, no matter what you do, nothing seems to work? Is it working but millstones turn slow and, after all this investment, that which you seek is just around the corner? Giving up now would be the worst thing you could do. It is what you want to do, yes? I often feel that tough times are a test to see just how much we really want what we say we want. IF you stick it out, you will be rewarded. If you knuckle under, well, you didn't want it bad enough. Good things, things worthwhile, don't come easy. So, here's your question for the day. Are you:

• Branching out into new fields and breaking new ground?

Examining the Pursuit of Career and Happiness in the
Modern Age.

Decided I'd visit it this topic myself. It is something that crosses my mind every so often; more so now in these uncertain times. It is also the topic of Joy's blog post a few days ago. I haven't read hers, not wanting to influence my writing here, although I do know the photos that are there and will reference them. I will read it, once I've posted.

Normally, the saying is: "Do one thing, do it well."

Then there's: "Variety is the spice of life."

I often get asked, and wonder myself too, do I prefer commissioned works or making my own pieces to then sell. Many artists refuse to take commissions, feeling that it will compromise their artistic integrity. I can see their point, but if you work with your client right, this doesn't have to be the case.

Commissioned work is fine with me, as long as I can get along with the client. I certainly like being paid up front and having a solid job as I work. If the piece comes out different than originally thought up, I can chalk it up to experience and learning and start another one that will be the commissioned art piece.

We're back and we're thankful. To recover and get us back into the Good Swing of Creating Art, there's only one thing to do... Fire Sale! Anything you order through any of our websites will get a 13% discount - and there's tons of new stuff up there!

http://sphericalmagic.com/ and all the sites listed there, and also
http://spaceart.org/ and any of the artists listed there as well.

Here's your special discount code to enter into the cart when you place your order: 451F

I think many "space" artists immediately narrow their own market and success by adhering to that title. We're artists — first and foremost. Let the gallery of works show that we can focus into space related things, but we can broaden our scope, and therefore our market, into numerous other paths.