Studio or Factory?

There is an inherent dilemma that artists face if they become commercially successful (ie. they are selling consistent!). I know as I have prepared for this Christmas season in a retail environment I have been very aware of what has sold, what might sell, etc. Whenever we prepare for an event or a show it is the same. The question I face in the midst of all of that is "Am I motivated to paint this or that, not because I have successfully sold it, but because it comes from my heart?" You see, I learned my line of demarcation on that score years ago. Every artist who sells their work faces that question and must place that line in place. And every artist has a differing placement of that line. I certainly have pieces that are more product oriented like these little angels, but somehow, perhaps quite miraculously, they still come from a place in my heart. Perhaps that's why they touch others. It's a heart to heart connection. I like that...

Getting Started

I am often asked if I know what I'm going to paint when I begin a painting. There are times when I get my inspiration from a photo, but most often I paint what is in my heart, mind, and spirit whether it be a landscape or a non-objective abstract. Those are times when a blank canvas can be very intimidating. Where do I start? With a paint color or palette that inspires me at the moment. With that laid out, mixed with gel medium, palette knife in hand, I begin. At times I am amazed at what flows out onto the canvas. Easy at times, more concentrated at others, beginning is the most important thing. The vision comes as if the painting itself is showing me the direction to take.

Have you ever watched the Food Network show "Chopped"? Professional chefs are given a basket of very unrelated foods and asked (with a stop watch going!) to create a dish using all of the ingredients. I have watched as some chefs have a complete knowledge of what they are going to do from the get go while others don't have a clue. But what I have seen is that inevitably the ones who don't know, begin the process: they slice, carve, crush, etc. until the idea forms.

Same process, different expression. I wonder how often in life we just need the courage to begin and allow the vision to come to us in the midst of the process. Worth pondering while I paint today....

Between Here and There

I have pondered quite a bit lately on the business of art. The difference between owning a retail shop/gallery and being the artist behind most of the work in the gallery. The marketing of art seems to have a few standards that don't necessarily fit the retail model. But here's the thing I've come to. As an artist, I believe my job is to communicate what is in my heart and vision to the canvas and ultimately to the viewer/collector/customer. Getting the message out beyond the walls of the gallery has become my motivator and underlying mission to any business plan. We (my husband and I) are working to shift our paradigm and get out of the box when it comes to this business we are in. Stay tuned for new developments. For the first time ever I am offering my customers a drastic discount on art this weekend. We are working on a new program we call Artful Access. We are preparing to re-engineer the gallery. We aren't there yet, but we're on our way.

Kind of like the place that inspired this painting. It literally was in the midst of the mountains between the desert of Redding, CA and the coastal town of Trinidad, CA.

Pulling out all the Stops

My eyes are positively blurry from all of the computer work I have done this week. I am doing all I can to get my work out there (or should I say here?) on the internet. You can now go to my shop at www.deborahgallart.etsy.com, order prints on demand from www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/abide-studio.html, become a fan of Deborah Gall Art on facebook, or follow me on www.twitter.com/abidestudio. Soon there will bargains to be had on EBay. I'm exhausted just thinking about it! It has been challenging and fun, and I hope will help spread the word and the art. Sometimes ya just gotta try.....

Rejected, Selected, or Directed?

Being a professional artist is risky business I have come to understand. Being a professional artist with a retail setting even more so. Every time I submit a piece or pieces for an exhibit or show I am opening myself up for rejection. It's actually quite common, those rejections. I have recently decided however that I was not the object of rejection, my work was just not selected. That is a subtle yet all important difference. One is about me, my heart, my self-confidence, etc. The other is about the work and the juror; it is about the wrong fit, not bad work. The other day at the gallery a person (can't call him a customer or a gentleman really since he was neither) spoke out quite loudly against a painting I had on an easel just outside of the shop. Insensitive. Rude. Both describe the comment he made. Further consideration showed me Uninformed would be another valid word. Again, not a valid commentary on me or on the work, but in this case a reflection of the speaker.

So, I have decided that I will take these "bumps along the road" as direction. Protection not rejection. And along the way I'll pat myself on the back for once again risking it, trying something new, and putting myself out there. So I'll keep the faith, stay the course, and do it all over again.....

Interwoven

This morning was a monthly Christian business women's networking breakfast. I am not accustomed to getting anywhere by 7:30 am these days, but once a month it is absolutely worth it. On my drive up to Brentwood this morning I realized that although I have gotten business from this group there is something more important to me. It's just nice to know that I'm not walking this journey alone. My regular customers help me along the way as well as friends and family, but I have also discovered the benefit of being intentional about gathering with this group who all share the same basic business philosophy: to God be the glory! Made me think of this painting, one of Angles, Lines, and Curves collection. It's titled "Interwoven" and although the lines don't necessarily follow all way across the canvas, I find that interesting. Kind of like life's relationships: for a reason, for a season, or for a lifetime...

The Sky's the Limit

It has been a tough year in the art business. There is evidence of that all around me. I have decided however that I can concentrate on lack (of traffic, of sales, of interest, etc) OR I can focus on the future. With that the perspective I believe the sky really is the limit in terms of turn around and increase (of traffic, of sales, and of interest). And that is always true in terms of growth and increase of creativity. There is life to be enjoyed if we simply look and anticipate it. So my perspective of late has been, "What today?" Which painting do I work on? Who will I encounter? Where will i find a new lead or idea? What new technique would I like to explore? You get the point.
This piece is called "The Sky's the Limit" It is 30x40. $1350