Filed under: session | Tags: Chris Lewis-Jones, creatures, earning, fine art, ideas, money, workshop
I enjoyed CHRIS LEWIS-JONES‘ visit today. Whilst a lot of what he talked about was not particularly relevant to my own practice, it was still entertaining and gave me the opportunity to re-kindle a few of the fine art ways of thinking that got left behind after foundation.
It was interesting to hear him speak about how he has narrowed down what he is prepared to undertake to keep the money coming in compared to before his ‘Connect’ experience. The change from taking on any project someone asked of him to projects that were only related to his own practice makes a lot of sense and got me thinking about the processes and methods I use and how these could be shared / used to earn me money.
The interpretation of objects workshop was eye-opening and fun. It makes me happy that I am not asking people to try and read any messages into my designs other than what they see - ‘Oh look, a smiling creature’ ‘What a funny looking teacosy’. I might be lucky enough to get a ‘It looks like an alien seashell’ – but I don’t mind if I don’t.
Filed under: session | Tags: aims, business plan, design, make, money, objectives, planning, practice, presentation, profile
Professional Practice, Planning & Presentation – this is the section that makes me panic inside. I don’t know what happened at the session today. Last week I had my goals up on the screen, felt clear and relatively confident about what I wanted. Today my mind went to mush with the enormity of the task before me – The Business Plan. Thankfully we are putting it together in chunks, part of which is to be handed in as our first assignment later in November.
Here’s the main rub: My Aims.
We indentified three main aims of why we want to go down the art-as-career route. To raise our profile, to make money and for self fulfillment (the love of creating work). So far, I have been designing and making for the love of creating. Sure recognition (without serious self promotion) has been nice, as has been the times when I get paid for something I make – but it really has been for the joy of learning new skills, experimenting with different materials and giving to other people.
I now have to find a way of telling my brain that this is not enough – unless I REALLY want to stay in the admin 9-5 job for the rest of my days (No.)
So the priorities (my new mantra) will go like this: I am going to raise my profile to sell my work and make money, I get an added benefit in that I love what I do
How lucky am I?!
But….the sneaky pre-Connect part of my brain says “But what if the money and the raising of your profile makes the designing and making a chore, no longer pleasureable…?” Well, I won’t know until I try and there are so many different ways of going about this that I can always change my plan.
Actions for the week – Research shows & exhibitions to attend :: Write artist’s statement :: Look further into what my options are for my objectives
