What happened?
When did I stop making art for me?
Just for me?
The kind that made me twinkle inside and feel like a child?
The kind that made me throw off my shoes and eat spaghetti with a spoon?
When did it become more important to live off it than grow from it?
When did all my good ideas start costing something to someone?
And leaving me with nothing?
Well that’s it from me.
No more selling myself out, or short.
I’m wiping the diary clean, and starting again.
And this time it’s going to be so much fun
It will be a wild ride and I’m not holding on
Art for sale right here.
And the price is ‘free’
And that’s the way I like it
Just smile and I’ve made a profit
Paula Delley, 3 months ago
Sometimes people gotta live.
Adrian Carmody, 3 months ago
I’m being dictated to by a diary more and more now… I’m just making sure that nothing goes in there that I won’t get something out of. Not money, but through a great experience, great music, a fun day, or a sip of wine with a friend’s mother. If a great photo comes from any of it, it’s a bonus.
I just want to live the experiences more than simply observing them or being financed by them
Jessica Tremp, 3 months ago
amen!!!
Deborah Parkin, 3 months ago
couldn’t agree more Jo – i have food, warmth and love and security – the art side just nourishes the soul :)
Michael Alesich, 3 months ago
Smiling.
aglaia b, 3 months ago
yippee….ditto! :-)
Tony Elliott, 3 months ago
Hi Jo,
I’m such a virgin to selling art – with my first comissioned piece coming from someone looking at my portfolio on here and wanting an original rather than a bubble print. It has filled me with a champgne fizz inside… but will probably be the first and last.
I will bare the above in mind in case it is not a one off. I have been cautioned that the diary becomes a threat to the joy of doing and am thankful.
Best of luck with the spagetti.
MissT, 3 months ago
To me it all depends on if your art is your hobby or your profession.
If its a passionate hobby and your want to share the it with the world (not to mention being very good at it) then there is not that much need to sell.
But if you choose to take on photography as a career because it is your passion then your not selling out. Your merely making a living and covering all your costs.
berndt2, 3 months ago
Heh. It’s nice to dream of living off art : but I’m with you – I love the free/sharing aspect!
Boadicea, 2 months ago
Not that I have had the offer to sell out but I think that this would be what would stop me from becoming or attempting to become a professional. I love having the art to take me away from the daily grind of work.If art became the daily grind then what’s left to fill that gap, All power to you Jo, just hope you have something else that will keep your wine glass topped up.
Leith O'Malley, 2 months ago
Here Here Jo!
To thine own self be true..
By the way, your work is too good to be true
and too good to be free!
Melanie Dooley, 2 months ago
Well that’s what I do – make art I like and that feeds my soul.
My day job gives me the means to feed my tummy.
angelandspot, 2 months ago
I mostly take my photographs for myself but I love it when something I love actually does sale. One day when I am rich enough I would love to turn my hobby into a career but right now photography doesn’t even come close to paying the bills so it is my hobby and my dream for better photography equipment sometime.
SPlogos, 2 months ago
i can completly agree with that. i m a fist year uni student in a design course, and i am finding it challenging to find the balance of doing something just for me, and doing eveything else that is expected of me and more. if you have the answer, or a method, or anything, i would love to get in on the secret.