Went to a networking seminar today for artists. No one had samples of their work. Very very artsy group. The speaker was a Bank Executive, very together, well dressed, great hair, great speaker. She looks for new artists as she sits on the board of the banks charity foundations. She was great. Very inspiring. But artists have no business sense at all. I must be lucky that I have some understanding of business. I don't even know how these people pay the rent. Art school needs to teach the business of art to their students. Most of the artists had no formal training. Many emailed me links to their artwork. It made me feel better. I was doubting my work. But after I saw some of their sites, I was proud to say that I earned a livign for a long time as a commercial artist. However I was jealous. These people would just sit down and make art. For so long, the only way I can do art is for someone to give me a project and a deadline and then I can pump it out. You need 15 screenprint ideas for boys tee shirts, not a problem, 8 floral patterns with matching stripes, only using 6 colors and all in perfect repeat, easy, design a line of jeans with cool back pockets in one day, deliver it to the buyer and have the details to Hong Kong in 4 hours, sure. So when I get to sit in my studio without someone barking orders at me, I am lost.
I took out my slides from Junior High (I did my art portfolio for Art college in 8th grade, knowing that I would graduate early, of course my parents had other plans) and I was shocked. Some of the pieces art great. I can't believe that I did that work. But then again I was given guide lines as to the project. One piece I remember so vividly. I was inspired by Romare Bearden and I remember each step I took to make that piece. So I decided that for me to work, I must set up guidelines or a theme and work into it.
So I picked up the brushed, looked at the canvas, gave myself a guideline and went for it. Not bad I thought, but I needed some validatioan. (see the brown painting) So I emailed my critic (my sister, who has different taste than I do) and if she enjoyed the painting, well then I guess I maybe able to be successful. At least for today, between the artists from this morning and my sister, I feel that my artwork may have some merit.
I have been thinking about all the chemicals an artists uses. Acrylics, polymers, cleaners, tupentines, mineral spirits, paper towels, etc. When I think of all the waste it really bothers me. I use a product called Citrasolve to clean my brushes as well as use it as a solvent in my art. It is made from oranges. I try to recycle and use magazines and old papers for my collages. But all that acrylic pant and polymer medium that I wash off my brushes and goes down the drain, I am sure it will never decompose. If it is archival for my art, it is to last 50-100 years. I started to venture into "encaustics" and I will be taking a class soon. It is made from beeswax and recyclable I never have to clean my brushes. I think this will be the way for me to go. But I need to heat the encaustics and keep them heated while I paint and that takes electricity. I guess I will try my best. The artwork posted is titled "Flagstone". Maybe if I name my artwork with organic type names, I will feel more bio-friendly.
