Well I guess this is just a rant about how difficult at times it can be to be and artist and survive. I recently held a gallery showing in my home, outside of actually having to clean a house in which three guys live, two dogs, two cats and sometimes a turtle, with our assorted guests who drop by etc, it was a huge undertaking, not to mention that we live in an old drafty heritage home. So, OK it took me two days to get the downstairs looking like a place, that art should be hung and another full day to hang said art and than a whole day of me following around my house mates, to place their coats on the coat rack, dishes in the sink, pots in the sink, you get the idea.
The day of the show arrives and all is going great we have catered food, fine wine, and some beer for us beer doers, and well a fair expense has already gone into the show, with me flyering the town, making posts on facebook and tribe and dragging my butt out to various town events so as to personally invite those I knew would enjoy my works, and yes I even invited people I was not sure would enjoy my take on the world. The house got busy about sixty people walked through, a few small pieces sold, these all being under a hundred dollars, and of course the usual array of folks saying I want that, but I can't afford it at the moment could you hold it for me. Well it has been a month since the show, today I made a few calls to those who said they would buy, I have had one person come back twice to take a look again and try and decide which piece fits into their budget and which piece fits into their life. Well I am still waiting........lol, I know, mom I should of taken a deposit, one fellow promised he would be by with a cheque, for a particular piece that has gotten a lot of attention, the said piece I held for him no deposit, and well someone else offered cash for it but being an honest and caring guy, I would not sell it on the spot, I held on to said piece, well today I broke down and called the other guy the first one to place an item on hold, and wouldn't ya know, he has changed his mind, bought his partner and air hammer, hmmmmm I was pretty disappointed because I know his partner wants this piece, and I want him to have it, I even reduced the price a bit to make the sale, so to have it still hanging on my wall after all of this, and well with bills mounting, some from the show, some personal I was pretty crushed.
My question is why make the promise of a purchase from an artist than back out, this is our living, if we are honest and hold the piece in good faith, and than you back out after others have made an offer, should I proceed to take you at your word, or realize that because you receive a regular pay cheque, you have no idea that we live off of our art. I create because it is the choice I have made, to make sculptures, to challenge the way we see things, to make a statement, too amuse you. Now damn I have to pull out my credit card and hit the mall to buy my dad the gift he wants for his birthday and my parents anniversary, my plan had been to drop off the piece today, pick up the cheque and well get my dad the gift he wanted, now with limited funds I have to make a choice to send him something cheap in order that I have food for the next few weeks, till my next show.
So all I am asking you world is to be kind, if you see something you want and make an offer follow through, cause well we artist gotta eat too.
Gee now I feel better
cheers
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