COMMANDMENT #10: THY ARTIST, YOU MUST HAVE A SOLID SUPPORT SYSTEM!

So I have gone through the first nine commandments. The FINAL COMMANDMENT TRUMPS all others. This can make or break you. Whether you are a traveling, gallery, or café artist; if you do not have a solid support system it will not be to your advantage.

It doesn’t matter who is within your support system. It could be family, friends, work colleagues or other artists. When you get down to the core, these are the people that lift you up and keep you moving. They believe in you! I cannot emphasize this enough. All art is subjective. You will have good days, rainy days, hot days and days where you don’t even break even. There are so many factors that I even can’t begin to touch on. Without a strong support system, you will find yourself in the dirt, no pun intended.

In Conclusion

Believe it or not, I gave you the “Cliff Notes” version of a traveling artist and my commandments through my personal experience. Every show is different and I loved doing it! I haven’t been in show for a few years do to family obligations and my career. Point being, everything is cyclical. One thing leads to another, even if you don’t sell anything the connections you make are invaluable.

Small Successes

A mysterious woman came into my booth, she looked around and we talked a little. Then she disappeared into the streets woven with people.

About six months later, she contacted me. Come to find out, she was on a head committee for one of the biggest fundraisers for the Terre Haute Woman’s Club. It was an exclusive black tie event of art and wine. Only 10-12 artists get chosen to be in this fundraiser every year. Then, there is a 4-year period of rotation before they will consider your application or contact you again. I was honored!

My art was chosen for the silent auction, I received personal news publicity and it was for a good cause. It was based on the “Children’s Shoe Bus.” A percentage of the art sold went to buy shoes for children in community schools that do not have the money to buy them. In refection, yeah I made A LOT of money that night, but I was more focused on helping the children in the community due to my own child.

Putting it into perspective, Dawn (the mysterious lady) didn’t know me from Adam, but she liked my work. Being in a fundraising setting for a good cause made me more humble. If there are fundraising events I always apply.

Art is a tool. It is how you use it. I have chosen to use it to help people.

You never know what kind of worlds will open for you! Remember KEEP MOVING FORWARD!

My next Blog is going to be the Top 20 ways to combat creative block. I want to get everyone involved! I have ideas and so do others, like my Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/MRSDesign and add your thoughts! I want this to be a collaborative effort and make sure I source great ideas! I will also be adding great resource links I discussed in my blog!

Namaste,

Marie

I would like to dedicate this blog to Andrew and Kegan, my family, friends and co-workers that believed in me and helped me make it through all of the rough times. They kept me on track and moving forward. I love them all.