From May 2012, "Sweet Spot I," 8" square, a little portrait of my studio muse Mona Lisa which is still awaiting a home of it's own - she can be yours for $399. Inquiries may always come to me.
The glamorous part of my job is painting (it's even amazing to paint in my jammies, that's how marvelous painting is!). Painting is also the most fun bit of my work day. I am so very lucky to be able to support my family with my passion.
However, don't buy the misconception that artists sit in their studios and paint paint paint, our work sells itself, and we kick back to eat BonBons and watch the paint dry.
Here's a handful of just a few studio tasks I complete, in addition to painting:
Inventory management - of paintings and materials
Marketing strategies - development and implementation
Web design
Materials design
Client communication
Budgeting and paying bills/taxes/etc
Continuing education - ensuring my own personal growth
Teaching - mentoring, leading, and encouraging others in creative endeavors
Volunteering - with various groups, sharing my talent and helping others discover theirs
IT Dept - keeping my equipment in working order, updating software, researching and implementing new technology
Shipping - packing and sending purchases out into the world
Exhibitions and demos - planning and preparing for opportunities to share completed works and my painting process
Research - explore a variety of business practices, exhibition opportunities and educational options
Archivist - photograph and catalog all work
For those contemplating quitting day jobs to become artists, be prepared to spend 80-90% of your time doing the above tasks, and the remainder creating.
Otherwise hold onto that paycheck. You might get more painting time carved out of off hours!
Fondly,
Kim, who spent the majority of today on the majority of above tasks
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“Katie’s Moustache,” 6x12, pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $90. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . One glimpse of Katie’s face, and I was hooked. Not only did she fall into my beloved “black & white” category, but she came with a full moustache and doe-like eyes. I first covered the canvas with a variety of blues and purples, using a (mixed) light green and pink for the highlights. (Right now my palette has been expanded to include the following: pthalo blue red, azurite hue, cad red dark, alizarine crimson, cad yellow dark, and then for graying/hazing out I use light green yellow and ultramarine purple.) I lighten with titanium white and darken with one of the blues and a touch of one of the reds. As a side note, at this time last year I was really struggling with my limited palette (I went from about 60 pots of paint to 3), but I have lived the benefits – I am so much more familiar with what I can mix given just this handful of colors. My paintings are also m...
I just spent the better part of my day packing and shipping a big painting off to an exhibit. But I did have the opportunity to also paint! Yes, that's definitely the fun part.
ReplyDeleteI love your boneless, totally relaxed, stripey kitty cat.
Shirley - congrats on getting your piece off!! Kim
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