paintings in february
Lately people have been asking me what I do, and I often gravitate towards some form of “I used to be a software engineer, but I quit my job to pursue art full-time.” I’m finding that despite this being the most accurate, it’s not quite right.
Although I am pursuing art “full-time,” it’s more that I’m pursuing “doing no one thing full-time.” I think back to when I was first starting painting, recognizing that I didn’t want to be a painter as my main career.
I’m trying to continue to iterate and find what blend of activities I might achieve as a profession. Sure, painting fits into this mix, but I know that it shouldn’t be the end-all-be-all for my career. I’d like to achieve a healthy mix.
I’m finding that it’s difficult to continue to run experiments and tinker with my lifestyle. As humans, we crave routine and become habituated to our daily lives. I've found it easy to get into a new form of a “rut,” where I’m waking up and doing the things that I enjoy (journaling, livestreaming painting, and so on), yet something feels off about them. I’m not certain that I’m using my time most effectively to achieve my goals. Still, we persist and we reflect.
As for the paintings, I’m still musing over one commission and I’ve finished another. I sourced one more commission that I’m excited to begin— a 24”x24” piece. I finished the red vases as a passion project and I’m quite pleased with how they ended up. I’m planning on hanging the piece above my bed.
Another thing on my mind: I’ve been going at most of this independent self-employment venture alone (outside of great advice by friends). In some ways, I fully subscribe to the concept of doing things in a “permissionless” way— I don’t have formal artistic training nor am I credentialed in the art world. I’ve been trying to gain my own money without having an intermediary. Some of this is driven from disdain for arbitrary rules which I think are pervasive in corporate America and naturally seep their way into other organizations. The latest run-in I had with such rules was at the Arizona Artists Guild—I brought in a piece for Artist of the Month, which would certainly have fit on their display, only to be told that it must be wired. I could literally point out how the painting would fit on their display without issue, but rules are rules.
In any case, I find that despite wanting to do everything alone, for myself and by myself, I should leverage my network and let people help me where I can. It’s tough to wade through a sea of random advice—the amount of times that I mention that I’m an artist and people tell me to do First Friday is growing by the month. Yet I want to take up every lead; the other day I was told to check out a brewery which hosts an art program, and I really ought to give that a go. I should trust that other people genuinely want to inform me of the opportunities which might be in my best interest.
I’m hoping to fill my time with some stone sculpting, more jiujitsu, and the like. Staying healthy and picking up sparse interests is always a plus. I’ve started with a Portuguese tutor just for the fun of it, and I’m always trying to continue reading.
Ultimately, I do feel that things are coming together. The commissions and Patreon routes are slow to begin but I can feel that they have momentum. I hope that once I release my painting course, I should get a sense of whether or not offering online products is feasible. I dropped off my Monet Dupe piece off at the FOUND:RE Hotel in Phoenix for their upcoming show, and I toured a really cool art studio this week. I have another piece which I think will fit into the AAG Spring Exhibition. Among these warmer leads, I have quite a few possibilities needing pursuit—a potential collaboration with a hotel, some “maybe” commissions, and the prospect of identifying a popup or gallery which has the highest chances of alignment with my style of art.
One of the things that I’m reminding myself is that progress can be slow. I’m in no rush to make money off of my art—I’m focused on living a lifestyle which brings me joy, and everything else is secondary. My hope is that in living this lifestyle, I’m able to find some way to offer value to others so that I’m able to make it sustainable!
