There’s a general implication I bump into all the time that selling your art somehow legitimizes it. I think artists such as myself, who don’t sell their work are often considered less serious, and even inferior to artists who pursue their art as a commercial enterprise. It’s something I struggle with all the time. It’s one of the issues that strangles my creative impulse.
I am very fortunate in that I don’t have to sell my work in order to keep creating. But I feel a constant pressure, that I really “should” be selling. This pressure is both external and internal. Some of my friends and extended family feel I should be selling my work because they like it. But underneath that assertion is the implication that I really ought to be selling because it would make my creative obsession more acceptable. It would be “okay” to spend a lot of time in my studio, money on supplies, time in classes etc. because in essence my art would be a job.
I end up second guessing myself, asking myself why I make beads and jewelry. When I am asked why I don’t sell my jewelry, I often jokingly answer that I am not cut out for production work. Actually, while I laugh it off, that’s very true for me. Routinely making more than one or two of a given item would suck all the joy out of it for me. I have enjoyed doing the occasional polymer clay swap, because I always learn something in the process of repeating a design a dozen times. But it also reminds me of how completely I dislike making the same thing again and again.
Sometimes I feel internal pressure to get into selling my work. For one thing, there’s the siren song of having people admire what I’ve made. The lure of showing off my work and talking about it. Then there’s a whispering inner voice that says I’m not really an artist because I don’t sell. I’m just a crafter, just a hobbyist, just a poseur. There’s also the aspect of build up. I have a fair amount of jewelry and beads I have made that just sit around. Selling my work (assuming it would sell) would help with the problem of build up.
Can you sense how this goes round and round in my brain?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Judy 04.30.07 at 7:29 am
I think your heart knows the truth. You do not have to sell your work to legitimize it……for heaven sakes, you have won awards and been in books. Sounds pretty legit to me! Your work is beautiful, and you make it because you have to. Not everyone can or should sell their work. It is hard work! And the last thing you want to do is start doing something that will take the joy out of what you are doing.
You will figure out where to go from here when the time is right. Perhaps you will teach or write. Who knows. Trust your inner voice. It will have the answer that is right for you. Right now, just enjoy reconnecting with the media, and have fun!
Lisa Clarke 04.30.07 at 10:04 am
I agree with Judy. And as far as the “build up” goes, if you ever feel you can part with any of it, I’ll bet there are charities who would love it. I seem to remember hearing of a group that uses donated business attire to dress up low-income women for job interviews. A nice pair of earrings or necklace would probably be a welcome addition to somebody’s interview wardrobe. Or guild auctions - guilds are always looking for nice things to auction off during their retreats.
Libby 04.30.07 at 10:17 am
LOL Thanks for the support. I admit that yesterday’s post was clearly a whiny moment. Moving on.
Lisa, I agree the donation idea is a good one. I do donate items to local charity auctions whenever asked. I should see if I can donate beads somewhere though.
Dee 04.30.07 at 11:36 am
Goes round and round in my brain all the time. It’s scary how similar our thought process is on this subject. I’m convinced that in some people production work kills the creative edge. Don’t try to fight it. And Lisa is right. Charity raffles and auctions are a wonderful way to solve the problem of build-up and of showing off your work (that’s how I came to own a piece of it!)
Jeanne 04.30.07 at 4:46 pm
Why do people think that when we make something we “have” to sell it to legitimize it? I enjoy the creative process and if I had to make the same bracelet or pair of earrings or whatever over and over I would absolutely never go near my studio! Keep creating and having fun, the repetition and the headaches of sales and taxes and shows aren’t needed for all artists!
Libby 04.30.07 at 5:18 pm
Dee & Jeanne, it’s nice to know I am not the only one who struggles with this.
Jael 05.04.07 at 8:38 pm
I think the decision to sell or not to sell is indeed a personal one. Selling something does not legitimize your work as art… if it did, then the people who managed to sell those “Jesus on toast” items would be considered legitimate something or others
I like selling my work, because it’s a way to share what I do with others and make a tiny bit of profit in the process (after fees and listing costs on ebay and similar sites, the profit margin is miniscule!). I list items on justbeads.com as charity auctions for the needy on a sporadic basis, and it makes me feel very good. You can do the same on ebay for causes listed on missionfish. In that way, the cause as well as your artwork gets some “press”.
You don’t have to do “production” work to be a seller. Being a seller drives me to do more work and get more practice. I have a lot of pieces that I won’t sell, but shoot - the ones I truly love often happen in the middle of a bunch of “ordinary” items I can sell online LOL
I struggle with wanting to share my items and be recognized and on the other hand wanting to disappear into the woodwork! We all have our demons!