Many congratulations on your accomplishments. It’s a process, and requires practice, but the more we do it, the easier it gets. I’m thrilled to know your sales are on an upswing. Rock on, lady.

Reading what you’ve written about passion I’m reminded of all the artist biographies I’ve read (de Kooning, Rothko etc) and how difficult some of their lives were because they believed in their art, themselves, and what they were trying to do. Even in the face of public rejection, poverty and illness, they soldiered on.

My life doesn’t compare to theirs but I have my own issues and you seem to find them in each of your posts. I’m guilty of all that you write about.

However, I’ve taken my promotional packages out again and will send a few to galleries. No risk of rejection if you don’t make the effort.

I’ve upped the prices of the big paintings considerably and they’re selling. Even better than before. Don’t know if it’s the work or reverse psychology. The pricier the work, the better certain people sometimes think it is. The little ones have seen a small increase, too. And I can barely keep these paintings around long enough to get them photographed. With the combination of encaustic and my bowls, I seem to have tapped into something that not only excites me but that please the marketplace as well.

Through all this mental re-organization, re-thinking and change in attitude, your wise words, both in person and on your blog, have been essential. Actually more than essential. Without you I probably would have continued on as I was. I still have a long way to go but I think I’m on the right road. I’ll miss your little voice (big, really) in my head pushing me on so, out of sheer selfishness, I hope you’re back in the fall. Thank you, Stacey.

Yes, I’m guilty of frequent underpricing, and I know it. I’m one of the higher-charging professionals in my field (calligraphy, ketubah art, invitation design) in my part of the world (SF Bay Area), and sometimes I actually get paid really well for a project. But I never know how.. ahem.. difficult a client will be, so it’s always a crap shoot. Plus it’s a generally low-priced field, populated primarily by women who tend to undervalue our work to begin with, a lot of whom don’t think of themselves as “real artists,” which pulls the value curve even further down. And since I price by the project, when I get a hard-to-please client I end up eating it, big time.

(Clearly I need to work on my pricing policies…)

Meanwhile, although the above is my bread-and-butter income, my *real* goal is to get out of the “exchanging time for money” game altogether, and find the Right People who want the creative stuff I have to offer (art, music, writing). Or at least to get to a point where I don’t need to be art-directed in order to pay my mortgage, and can charge the kind of dollars I think my time is really worth. I want to make the creative stuff I want to make, and find my audience, rather than making stuff to order. Still working on this one…

Whenever I complain of being underpaid, my mom (and others) keep reminding me “Well, with this economy you *can’t* charge higher rates!” I’m in enough of a fear state that I stay cowed, even though part of me also doubts it’s really true… :-\

Looking forward to reading more of your posts!

Melissa

People love my large canvas wraps but I’m
competing with the Ikea mindset.

My second trip to NS and Risser’s Beach too!
My sister in-law lives a few steps away from
the market on Lower Water Street! Loved it!

Risser’s Beach is lovely. I hope you get a chance to visit the farmers market when you’re in Halifax – it’s berry season. Nothing like it

Thanks for the comment, Marlene, and welcome. Hope to “see” you again soon.

I struggle with whether my photography is art, but when I’m taking photos I’m in the *zone* – that dimension of pure creativity. How can that be anything *but* art?

Happy summer.

p.s. I shall be visiting your region in less than a week. Halifax, then a cottage near Risser’s Beach. Can’t wait!

I hope you enjoy your summer, too.