Comments on: When are you Ready?

By: Lisa Call

Lisa Call — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:40:51 +0000

Shelia - great comments, I like the analogy to composers, thanks for chiming in on the discussion.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:34:55 +0000

My mother used to tell me that if I waited until I was “ready” financially and in other ways before starting a family, I’d never have children. Well, I never had children, but for more reasons than just not being ready. ;-) Yet she had a very good point. Sometimes we just have to do things on faith, get started the best that we can and adjust as it goes along.

As for whether one’s work is good enough to market, I recently attended a concert that focused on the early work of three Romantic composers. These were compositions penned in their 20’s when they were starting out and still heavily influenced by the “famous” composers of their day. Yes, you could definitely tell that these pieces were not “mature” work, could readily hear the influence of their mentors, could hear some of the novice in them, yet they were still wonderful to listen to.

As Stacy said, growth is continual, and I suppose we will always look back on older work with fresh, more experienced eyes, noting its shortcomings, yet that is no reason to delay putting it out there. It certainly didn’t stop more famous artists than we…

By: Lisa Call

Lisa Call — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:58:44 +0000

Cheryl - I agree with all you said. First - I do not believe that every artist needs to sell their work. It’s not the only path to take. But if one does want to go that route then I think at some point you realize you don’t need other’s approval to do what you want - you have enough confidence on your own to do it. And yes - to build that confidence getting feedback is a wonderful tool..

Susie - Thank you for the encouragement!

Stacey - your move was part of what inspired me to take the leap myself. Life is too short to do something that isn’t my dream.

By: Stacey Peterson

Stacey Peterson — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:55:09 +0000

I’m glad that you’re taking the leap Lisa - I think your work is fantastic and different, and I think you have the drive to achieve success. We downsized our house last year so I could paint and Nate could quit his job, and I haven’t regretted it a moment since. Yes, our finances have changed, but we’re so much more satisfied doing what we love that it’s been okay to make some sacrifices along the way.

As for the initial question from Meagan, I think you’re ready to sell when you think you’re ready to sell and when you’re able to find buyers. I don’t think I’ll ever reach a point where I don’t cringe about paintings that sold previously. I’m already cringing right now about the quality of paintings I did for my solo show last November - only six months have gone by, but I’ve improved a ton. It’s a sign of growth, and that’s okay.

By: Susie Monday

Susie Monday — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:54:42 +0000

Wow! Lisa. I think you just slipped in that “I’m ready,” amid a lot of other information. I have been reading your blog regularly now for a couple of years — you were one of the first textile artists I found who blogged more than just a personal diary. I am so happy to hear you ready to make the leap. I know that no matter how many reasons you may have to NOT make to commitment to a move to supporting yourself and your family with “otherthanart”, and no matter even how satisfying some of the software work that you do may be, when someone is as talented and dedicated and passionate about her work as you are, I think other works is just simply short of your highest purpose on the planet.
Also, at 60 I am looking back over the past 10 years of developing my art and my business as an artist, and really wishing I had taken that leap sooner. I worry that I will run short of time or health or stamina and not get where I’d like to. The financial foundation is still not as deep and firm as I’d like it to be, but in all other ways my life is abundantly blessed. And, things just keep working out! Somehow, whether the bank account looks solvent or not, I find that I can do, go, be, explore and commit to just about anything I want to do, as long as I keep doing my part with the work.

By: Cheryl Collins

Cheryl Collins — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:54:14 +0000

Go for it Lisa! Although I take your point about not relying on the opinion of other people I just want to feed into the discussion that sometimes others have more confidence in your artwork than you do yourself. I’m still way behind Lisa on the journey and because my day job is a vocation too ( I’m a priest) may never seek to make a lving from my art. But I do take it seriously and am part of a monthly independent study group mentored by 2 textile artists here in the U.K ( Committed to cloth- see website). Last week at the group I put up my newest piece which I’m just starting to quilt and remarked that someone local to me had expressed a mild interest in buying such a piece, what kind of value should I put on it? Immediately my mentors responded with £450-500 ( which I guess at the nmoment is roughly $900-1000). Since it’s not that big a piece I was stunned but it did give me a huge dose of confidence in my work and in myself as an artist. And my fellow group members affirmed this throughout the day. So sometimes its worth discovering that other people see you as an artist even though you’re still fairly near the beginning of the journey.