Simple title, complex question. I have the chance of a lifetime. To open a Gallery. My dream come true! after years of trying to do what is right by my family, my friends and all the stuff life throws at you, surviving it or conquering it...the time is here, right now...
Do I go for it, or do I wait.
I have the chance of the right shop, in the right place and possibly it is even the right time, though I had sort of earmarked this time next year for this last aspect of my art journey.But I am filled with questions.
Is my art good enough is the first query. Can I really sell my work to the public, will I be able to sit at a cash desk and listen to people pondering wether they like or dislike a piece of work. Can my ego take the knocks that come with a critical appraisal of my work in my hearing, by people I don't know ? In the end I paint from the heart. I am not the most technically brilliant artists, actually I am very slap dash in some ways, but I do paint with passion and verve and I love the subjects I choose as inspiration. I even have a muse in that I only have to stare at the sea for a while and the images I want to paint present themselves as if by magic.
Of course I worry that no one would buy my work, after all thats the same fear anybody who produces anything has inside themselves be it music, paintings or simply a jumper Nana knitted for a beloved grandchild.
The question uppermost in the mind is' will they like it?'. naturally I have had time to get feed back from people and though I have asked questions from people in the cafe where my work is displayed and I am lucky to have been given commissions especially for my protraits...I still have those fears inside me.
The best feedback has come from FaceBook, there I have posted images of my work and people have been kind enough to comment, created a few thoughtful insights and one of them has born fruit in that I now have a small fan club of my work which has really made me feel very grateful.
I have three major collectors of my work and each one has encouraged me to continue. One has suggested I make posters of some of my work and it is all encouraging...but could I supply a gallery ? would my work be good enough for a general public and not just a chosen few of whom I understand their taste in art ?
Thats query one.
Query two is simple economics, its a gamble to pay out money for a shop that is going to be shut for at least 4 months of the year and will have a need for rotating stock all year long. I will have to open for specific seasons, make myself available as an artist for consultations and I will have to deal with the art fraternity. All of which costs that age old dominator ....money.
I am busy with figures, looking at cost effectiveness, time and energy needed to create, stock control and so much else and behind it all is the simple need to provide a service which in return will provide me with an income to live on.
I don't know any rich artists....so there is a BIG query over that.
Do I take the chance or don't I.......................................help
No comments:
Post a Comment