Blog

So, I’ve been a busy girl for the month since my last post! The actual reality of being an artist is quite different than the outside perception people have in their minds of you hanging out at your studio all day painting away to music and gliding across the floor as you fling paint in the direction of a canvas. The reality is it is lots and lots of hard work and constant self promotion in order to even get your work seen much less sold. Since I have written last, I have been preparing my studio for visitors for the holiday open house at Wild Ibis, I’ve taken paintings to various locations in Orlando (35 mi from my home) 6 times, I have picked up paintings from different locations in Orlando where they were showing 4 times, totally revamped and rehung my retail space at Gathered in Ormond Beach, completely rehung my work in my studio, taken down and rehung a show in our front gallery at Wild Ibis, applied to shows and competitions, done social media for myself and Wild Ibis daily, sent out newsletters and updated websites just to name a few things. That’s all before I attended 3 openings where I was fortunate to be included or created one thing. Somewhere in there, I did create a painting or two and managed to get them varnished and wired/framed for hanging. The reality of being an artist is I am constantly in motion whether painting or moving paintings around between locations to be seen by possible buyers. Following my dream to be an artist so late in life, I feel I cannot slow down. I must be the Energizer bunny each day to play a game of catch up. I am in process of learning how important it is to give myself space and down time to let the creativity flow. I absolutely LOVE what I do and I would not trade it for anything in the world. None of these things I have listed feel like work. They are just part of what must happen to be an artist. I do keep a schedule. I do work each day in an effort to forward my progress and my art career is treated like any 8-5 job. The painting to music and gliding across the floor are the bonus times-the joy, the gravy of the new job I love. It is the exception not the rule of my daily life. I hope this gives you a little insight into my daily world. Being an artist isn’t all ice cream cones and butterflies as some would think but I sure do like it!

Best until next time,

K