A month ago I had the opportunity to attend a really fabulous four hour seminar taught by a guy who has owned a gallery out West for nearly a decade. He was the child of an artist who supported his family with his art, so this guy genuinely had some authority and useful information for artist on working with galleries. I took copious notes and was incredibly engaged until about the last hour when the generally accepted terms of working with a gallery were revealed.
I come from a family of entrepreneurs, am married to one and have been one myself for a dozen plus years, thus I fully understood from the gallery owners perspective why the relationship is guided to be constructed as it is. Nonetheless, looking at it as an artist responsible for managing my own business, I found much of the "generally accepted terms," well, unacceptable.
Having said that, I do not mean that I would never work with a gallery to sell my artwork, assuming they would have me that is, BUT I would definitely insist on a few terms that I think are imperative in modern business to be included in our agreement.
What I did walk away from that workshop with was a solid belief that God had been telling me what I need to do for a long time, and I finally heard this loud and clear. It wasn't the first time I had been offered the message, but it all came together at this event. I needed to teach others to be comfortable with their computers to advance their careers.
Over and over I was meeting artist who had just a smidge too little instruction, and confidence, in their ability to use the computer to advance their marketing efforts. As I met the artist sitting near me at the seminar I heard comments like "I don't know how to get my own artwork on my business card," and "I could e-mail that to you but I don't know how," or "I have a website but it's old and my web manager charges me to update it and I need something new."
I do understand why this information is missing from many artists box of tools, but I don't accept that it should stay that way. I want to create a way for artists, or any anyone, to learn how to use their computer as intuitively as they drive a car, work in the kitchen, or mix the paint in their studio.
In doing research at the beginning of this endeavor I came across two rather obscure books I wanted to take a look at. One was a self-published and distributed computer "how-to" book a gal in Canada wrote for her parents. The other, a book written in 2001 (eons ago in computer time) for artist, was out of print. I ordered both of them, the latter from a private book reseller.
A month later, neither had been delivered. I was busy getting ready for an exhibit, building my own new website, and all the other things a multi-tasking wife and mother does, so I did not think about it too much.
In the mean time, after I submitted my mixed media piece to the exhibit coordinators, they called to ask about my process. Before my submission these lovely ladies weren't really aware of the opportunities to use painting emulation software to create completely original artwork on a blank canvas. After I explained it to them, they immediately asked if I would consider doing a demonstration at their
Thursday Things at Tannery Row Artist Colony. I'm scheduled for
March 11, 2010. I'm listening God.
I sent an email after a couple of weeks to the Canadian writer who let me know the book had been shipped. I suggested we wait another week or so as the weather in the U.S. had been quite volatile so I wanted to give the postal service time to make good on their delivery.
Over the weekend the Canadian writer popped me an e-mail asking if I had received the package and confirmed my address when I responded it was still absent.
Yesterday, I was delighted to find in my mail box not only the book I ordered but a second book as a gift in consideration of the delay in delivery. What an absolutely wonderful and unnecessary gesture! Then, when I sat down at my desk to check my email I had one from the seller of the used book letting me know that she was deeply sorry it had taken so long to respond she was shipping me the book free of charge in apology!
Oh my goodness! Who receives two unsolicited gifts, really out of the blue timing-wise, no strings attached? I did and I accept them with gratitude.
I also accept that this was God telling me to move forward with my plans to organize a way to teach or provide information to others that I have been curious enough to figure out.
PS I will continue painting too. I have to. It's what I do.
