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Z Art Blog–Food for Artists

Z Art Blog–Food for Artists published on

Some artists use food for thought to create the next piece. Some artists create food for thought for those who observe their work. All artists need food for the body and few should ever have to starve. In the worst case scenario, the artist has only one skill or talent—his or her art. Does this mean the artist should mooch off of someone else for living space and food? If the artist is mooching off anyone for anything he or she may be better described as a con artist.

It is likely that most artists have more than one talent, one of which should generate enough income    to put food on a table for one. So, we shall assume for the purpose of this article that the artist we are referring to–you has/have more than one talent, has/have little time to con others because you are too busy creating a body of work, and is/are also likely wearing several hats in the process. Should you have to eat your hats? Maybe for awhile . . .

What kind of food for the body can an artist find that is economical, filling and nutritious? Why not start with the most obvious—bread? (Go for the 100% whole wheat whenever possible). Day-old-bread stores or factory outlet bread stores are great places to find a loaf of bread for a buck. It may be a day old but it may take at least two days to get through the loaf even if you eat bread for breakfast lunch and dinner. You may only have two meals a day during your lean years but again, it is going to take you at least two more days to get through that loaf of bread. Bread keeps very well in a refrigerator. You have room. You don’t have much else in your refrigerator. How many people can say they spent a dollar for three days eats? How many people can say they spent only $30 for food for the entire month?

What if you live in a small town and there are no day-old-bread stores? Even if you are paying three dollars for a loaf of bread, you are still only spending a dollar per day if you eat two slices per meal. Slather a little peanut butter, squeeze a little honey or slap on a slice of cheese. With a glass of milk this treat can’t be beat.

Ok. So, most people would get tired of bread after the first loaf. But you are an artist. You are accustomed to sacrificing steak and potatoes for your art. Potatoes? How about a nice fat russet every other day? Top it with margarine and a slice of cheese one day and salsa the next. That meal is still under a buck. Pasta is usually very inexpensive. Make enough for a few meals and just reheat the pasta when you are ready to top it with whatever—pasta sauce; oil, vinegar, honey and some olives, peppers and tomato. Use your creative imagination for other tasty and inexpensive toppings.

Rice is just as versatile as potatoes and pasta—just a bit trickier to fix. Brown rice is even healthier than white rice and is much less likely to turn out sticky. Someone is complaining that all foods mentioned here are carbohydrates or starches and are therefore high in calories. No one is suggesting you have a heaping helping of all of them every meal. As an artist a helping of one of them is your meal. Some fruits and vegetables are still fairly inexpensive if you want to add apple slices, carrot sticks and cucumber coins to the menu. Everything natural is nutritious as long as you don’t overdo it with one food type—except bread. Is it possible to eat too much bread?

Rice is too boring for you? Add beans. Beans are also very economical and nutritious adding color, texture and flavor, not to mention fiber to your diet. Skip the onions if you want to avoid the after effects of beans. It isn’t the beans. It’s the onions in the beans!

Some can live without starches but might go into withdrawal without a steady diet of vegetables. The problem is that many vegetables can be pricy and have a short shelf life. If you don’t eat them within a few days they spoil and become wasted money. Purchase only those that keep longer and try some substitutions. For example, if you love lettuce which doesn’t keep long at all, try a cabbage salad topped with the same items you use to top your lettuce salad. Cabbage is usually much less expensive than lettuce, keeps four times as long and is healthier than typical head lettuce.

What about meat you say? Tuna, sardines or mackerel are all perfect on crackers. Throw in a little (but not too much) cheese. You cannot do better than fish and cheese on crackers for flavor and nutrition. One can of fish might cost you a dollar (due to the cost of the packaging and/or advertising. Always consider off brands or store brands which are often of equal quality.) However, even with crackers and cheese you are still under two dollars for the meal. Try keeping it under two dollars at your favorite burger place. The soda alone (mostly ice) will cost you a dollar. Not to dis burger places. Everyone, even artists has/have to splurge once in awhile and go get a burger.

Just because you are an artist doesn’t mean you have fewer food choices. Your choices must be wiser and will usually prove to be healthier if you consider food straight from the ground or water source. Additional processing, packaging and of course advertising costs money that you don’t have right now. You will. Keep your nose to your guitar or easel. Your life will be fruitful and your health will be better than that of the average wealthy person or con artist.

Sine of the Times–January 2014

Sine of the Times–January 2014 published on

Pam Brandis–Family Lines

Certain kinds of talent are inherited, including talent in audio and visual art. Artists are very often influenced by their parents, and many well known artists had/have parents who led the way. Some artists are raised in affluent families who can afford the very best in fine arts training, and others are raised in a more down to earth situation eventually finding or seeking their own creative way.

Pam Brandis can be classified in the middle of these categories, being raised by parents who grew up in very small Nebraska towns. Her father’s father was a farmer from a long line of farmers originating in Germany. Her mother’s father, also of German decent made brooms for a living in the hometown factory for many years before signing on with the nearby railroad. Looking at the family lines on both sides we see a few interesting patterns.

Music

Unless there is some form of archival documentation, word-of-mouth history often gets lost at the generation of the great grandparents or the great-great grandparents. That is where this story begins. In the current family oral history, the earliest known occurrences of musicianship of a performance nature have been cited at the generation of Brandis’ great grandparents. Brandis’ mother’s father’s father played the fiddle in at least one band. Her mother’s mother’s mother played the organ in the church. Brandis’ mother was a member of a high school choral group which performed songs recorded by the McGuire Sisters who were radio popular at that time. Brandis’ parents met when they became members of the same Lutheran church choir after high school. They were married within a year of dating.

Some of Brandis’ earliest memories are of her parents singing to her or singing around the house before she was in school. Her father would put Brandis and her older sister to bed each night reading them a bible story and then singing them a bedtime prayer. Brandis loved sitting near her mother in church where she could best hear her mother’s voice and be taught how to sing harmony parts to some of the hymns. Her mother sang with the church’s adult choir and also led the children’s vacation bible school singing at this time.

Brandis’ mother often tuned into radio station KFAB AM while tending to her home and garden work. Young Brandis was always within earshot of the broadcast of various pop, Broadway and movie tunes to which her mother often hummed or sang along. Brandis remembers countless conversations with family members, neighbors or friends during which someone would utter an otherwise random word or phrase, inadvertently prompting her mother to break out into song with associated lyrics.

Other early musical memories involve Brandis’ father’s cornet and his childhood collection of 45s–mostly big band music–all of which Brandis found fascinating. A few of these records featured some very early (pre-rock and roll) electric guitar. During the 1960’s, TV variety shows were common, so the family often viewed live performances and also enjoyed annual season tickets to Aksarben to see live music, comedy and acrobatics on stage at the racetrack during the summers.

Brandis was often most mesmerized by the sounds and moves of Motown but also leaned toward country for awhile in her early years. She soon began her own collection of 45s which included the family bands/groups of the early 70’s. Pop music was broadened to include folk, country, rock and soul–all of which were played on the same AM stations prior to the onset of FM radio. One of Brandis’ favorite singles was Rare Earth’s I Just Want to Celebrate. She would listen to the song and try to figure out what was going on at the drums.

As the story goes, Brandis’ mother wanted to learn how to play the guitar, so her father bought her something basic at a nearby department store. Who couldn’t leave the guitar alone but young Brandis who quickly took to learning basic chords. Nine-year-old Brandis was also writing songs (at the suggestion of a neighborhood friend) and singing them to her sisters. A few lessons here and there could not convince Brandis to practice learning how to read music when she found it much easier and more rewarding to write and sing for family and friends.

Though both of her sisters picked up woodwind instruments and quickly learned to read note for note, Brandis preferred learning by listening to successions of rhythms and chords and strumming along with the radio, her records or various lyric sheets that were readily available at that time. Brandis had also discovered the trick of using two tape recorders to record herself in two and three part harmony. However, before jumping too far ahead in the Brandis musical biography we want to keep the reading balanced and mention some areas of visual art talent in the family.

Visual Art

Including crafts in this discussion, we can again see influences on both sides of the family. Brandis’ mother’s grandmother–the same woman who played the organ was also an expert seamstress, making dresses from home for “My Lady” dress shop during the 1920’s. Brandis’ grandmother, mother and sister also proved to be excellent at sewing and other work with fabrics. Brandis’ father’s parents were both handy with craft work. Together they cut and painted a life-sized plywood trio of choir boys which for many years stood complete with a spotlight in front of their house and later Brandis’ father’s house each Christmas season. This grandmother enjoyed making seasonal decorations and creating stuffed toys for her grandchildren. This grandfather could whittle and paint lifelike human forms. Brandis’ father trained as an industrial arts teacher specializing in woodworking with a remarkable visual talent in line drawing faces–like nothing she has seen elsewhere–very accurate lines without the use of a grid or an eraser. Brandis cannot recall ever seeing her father with an eraser.

Brandis was fortunate to grow up during a time when art and music were both part of the required curriculum during elementary and junior high school. During junior high, Brandis began to ponder becoming a photographer and has always considered good black and white photography and good black and white film true art forms. She and her sisters all realized their inherited talent in visual art during high school, but Brandis was still most strongly drawn to chords and writing songs. While realizing this visual talent, she was also invited to join a working variety band. Some of the artwork she produced at that time fused her visual talent with her musical interests and activities.

Because of her lifelong fear of the stage (the topic of an upcoming Sine of the Times article), Brandis has always felt more comfortable in the home studio setting, believing herself to be an audio (recording) artist–with the lyrics, notes, chords, instrumentation and effects as the paint on the recording equipment canvas. She often considers an eventual return to practicing her visual art skills in some form or another, but this venture will likely not take place for several years. Until then, Brandis plans to continue encouraging artists of all non-performance arts right here at Z Art Tones Dot Com.

 

Z Art Blog–Producers and Consumers

Z Art Blog–Producers and Consumers published on

This is the seventh in a series of articles about what it means to be a lifelong artist. This article is written for an audience ages 18 to 25.

As you begin to or continue to think about your priorities as related to your artwork, you will also realize that not only do you want your artwork to somehow supplement your income, ultimately you want your artwork to be so sought that you would even be able to quit your “day gig.” Not to shatter that illusion, however the percentage of non-performance artists who support(ed) themselves solely with revenues generated by the sale of their artwork and over an extended period of time is very small–probably less than 1%. So, if you haven’t yet reached that pinnacle of success, consider yourself typical. What’s wrong with being a typical artist? Nothing really, unless you want to raise a family on a typical artist’s income. That kind of thinking would require a serious reality check.

For you, the thought of having/raising your own family rarely if ever enters your mind, and you therefore do not need a reality check but rather an occasional mental carrot to keep your creative juices flowing. At this point in your journey, it may be of some consolation to think of yourself as a “producer.” Because you are an artist, you may never become as much a “consumer” as the average (American) person who is forever busy trying to keep up with or outdo the Jones family—and as a result in these times also goes into extreme debt.

Simply attempting to pay your way through college can also cause this problem, regardless of whether or not you “consume” much of anything else but food. As an artist, you know you can’t afford to go any further in the direction of debt than absolutely necessary, because you have learned you need to continue purchasing your supplies and equipment and spend a few additional dollars on promoting your artwork. In avoiding and ignoring the whole keeping up with the Jones family scenario, what are you missing anyway? Nothing but stress.

The only down side to resisting the temptation of economic competition (if you actually think of such as a temptation) is that the “status quo” may perceive you as being a bit odd at times. Not that this should bother you. Your family members and true friends are going to love you no matter what. Nevertheless, it may be helpful to anticipate certain situations that arise in conversation with not only your family members and friends but also with people who don’t know you very well. Don’t be surprised when it seems even your family members don’t know you very well, especially if you are the only practicing artist in the bunch. There are likely many creative people in your family (talent is hereditary), but most of them probably chose paths other than becoming a lifelong artist.

So, what do most people (non artists) do in their free time? A large majority of Americans go see or watch movies on a regular basis. Watching TV and movies is so common because it is so easy. It is easier than reading. Listening to music is also widespread but music is another matter. While listening to music, it is possible to add an activity such as cooking, cleaning or painting a wall or a picture. The only creative activity you might be able to accomplish while watching a movie is working on your guitar licks, (without an amp or headphones of course).

Imagine attempting to work on your brush strokes while watching a movie. It would take you twice the amount of time to complete the project and would probably look absolutely ridiculous. There you are, looking up from the canvas to glance at the TV, shifting your focus from the rhythm of your work, then returning your focus back to the canvas where you then have to reposition your brush, because while you are glancing at the TV, your glance becomes a gaze, then a stare . . . Your brush begins dropping from in front of the canvas to closer to your hip, and the paint soon dries on the brush. This may be a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea.

A movie is considered “popular,” because most of the general public goes to see it at the theater or has seen it on cable, etc. When most everyone sees the same movie, it becomes food for conversation, even years after the movie was made. As an artist however, you have likely spent much more time working on your artwork than watching TV, playing video games, going to movies and whatever your cohort deems “the thing to do”–You know, consumer style activities.

Frequently in everyday conversation, someone makes reference to a specific movie or a specific actor in a specific movie or a specific line in a specific movie and you have no idea what they are talking about because frankly, it doesn’t interest you. But of course, you don’t want to let on that it doesn’t interest you (or maybe you do).

The conversation goes something like, “Remember that scene from . . .” or “I just love that line from . . .” or “That reminds me of what Johnny Stardust said in ‘Big Screen Magic’ . . .” When the conversationalist pauses in his or her dialogue, noticing the blank expression on your face (wondering if you are even paying attention), he or she says something like, “You’ve never seen that movie? (What is wrong with you?)!!!” How can you answer this question politely? Just feign a patient and pleasant expression and shake your head ever so slightly. As you stare at each other, depending upon how well you know each other, the other person might experience an ah-ha moment and say, “Oh, that’s right . . . While everyone else was rushing out to see that movie, you were attempting to perfect the bar chord.”

Not that the conversation has to end there. It is just as entertaining (and usually less time consuming) to listen to someone’s retelling of a plot as it is to take the time to go rent and watch the movie yourself. Then at some point, the conversation might take a refreshing detour from the norm and involve a discussion about what artists do in their free time (not that anyone would get it), and at least one person in the crowd will chime in with, “I always wanted to learn how to play guitar (but watched movies instead).”

So, though you may feel a bit uncomfortable in some conversations (if not bored to tears), you will be comforted in remembering the difference between producers and consumers and in continuing to spend your free time the way you want to, not the way the general public thinks you should.

Z Art Blog–Fans or Gang Stalkers?

Z Art Blog–Fans or Gang Stalkers? published on

This is the sixth in a series of articles about what it means to be a lifelong artist and the myriad of situations you may encounter along the way.

For example, as you begin promoting your artwork and you begin attracting some attention or interest, you may notice a behavior common to what in the world of mainstream celebrities is referred to as the paparazzi. The difference is that in the world of independent artists or other creatives, these “curious” types are likely at a lower level of “professionalism.” They may be considered peeping Toms or just plain strange ones.

Rather than using expensive cameras to capture images worth thousands of dollars, they may use their cell phones for questionable purposes. Other clues that these persons are of the less professional type is that they seek work that requires the least amount of work. They either have few skills or would rather sit around or stand around than be productive.

Another characteristic of this type is that they often give themselves away very readily. They themselves want to be “known” by the person they are stalking. As a result, they may also suffer from the “poor timing syndrome,” the “poor judgment syndrome” or the “foot-in-the-mouth syndrome” so to speak. They may laugh too loud and too often thinking that everyone else who is laughing is laughing with them when in fact everyone else who is laughing, is laughing at them—a bumbling or bungling type.

These types often attract each other. So, if they are “working” in a group, they may also be categorized as “gang stalkers.” Gang stalking may or may not be a new phenomenon. What is clear is that less expensive technology has made their activity much easier. Before electronic locks, cell phones and laptops, much of the activity they engage in would have been near impossible.

Though there is currently little information available about gang stalkers, they can be analyzed and categorized psychologically. The goals of the gang may vary. One of the members may be attempting to “get to know you,” figure out how much money you have, thwart your promotional efforts or become your assistant. Someone may believe he or she has some score to settle with you.

Rather than become annoyed by the members of the gang, attempt to understand them so that you can easily spot them and point them out to others if necessary. They are likely “lost ones.” They may be the “black sheep” of their families for various reasons such as laziness or a personality disorder. Does the fact that there may be a disability mean you should befriend such a person? Not unless you truly have time to befriend him or her. You, as an artist who is attempting to maximize your creative time don’t have that kind of time. Befriending this type would not help your artistic efforts.

Befriending any member of a stalking gang would do just the opposite–avert your focus from your work onto them as “needy types,” starving for attention and/or purpose. You cannot feed that kind of void. It is never filled. It is a bottomless pit. Leave the “finding” and/or “saving” of the lost ones to the missionaries. In fact, missionary families and pastoral families have “lost ones” even among themselves. Any connections you make should be with persons who can increase your success as an artist.

Most of these types do not make the first effort to communicate verbally. They likely won’t say anything to you unless you say something to them. Don’t. That’s fine. If they say anything to you at all, it may be apparent that they have been given scripts. There is a reason your parents told you not to talk to strangers. These people see you as being the one with the strength. Any attention you give them will cause them to seek more. It is a vicious cycle you do not have time to get sucked into.

It is likely that many of these gang members struggle with addictions. You might notice a type of litter in your path that brings attention to their addictions—drug addictions, food addictions, even sexual addictions or sexual perversions. Addictions can stunt a person’s level of mental and emotional development. These people may continue to talk and act like teenagers (or even children) well into their adult years. You might overhear one of them say to another something that sounds goofy—not in the comical sense but in a strange, immature manner. This might explain why their families become frustrated to the point of disowning them—sheer public embarrassment.

These types may also have difficulty controlling their emotions. You might hear them tapping and pounding around their vehicles or in a shared apartment building. They may slam doors–anything to make you aware that they have “needs.” You are not a psychiatrist. You are an artist. Very few people overcome their addictions for life. Don’t think you have all the answers. If you feel so strongly about helping these persons give up your artwork, go to school and study to become a counselor.

Again, this is not your problem. These people want you to pity them, but what affect will your sympathy have? They will eat it up and want more. You will get sucked into their world of addiction. You need time for your own “addiction” in life—your artwork. The more time you spend with your art, your craft or your area of study, the more likely you will become a highly skilled, knowledgeable and well adjusted individual.

God is well aware of the lost persons and may even have sent one or two of them in your direction, because you are kinder and more patient than the average person. Depending upon how long the gang members have been “following you around,” anyone else would be yelling at them, throwing things at them, damaging their vehicles–possibly beating them or worse. Don’t stoop to that level. Think about it. If these persons have been rejected by their own family members, they are a sorry lot. Don’t be cruel to them but don’t befriend them either. Be aware of them and go about your business. Your mission is to impart whatever it is you are hoping to impart with your artwork. You may have an artistic calling from God. Let the mainstream continue to operate in the mainstream and the lost ones continue to seek someone who has time for them.

Finally, there are good cops and there are bad cops. Bad cops can be influenced by gang stalkers. They may even join the gangs, especially if they lose their jobs to errors in perception, judgment or decision making. If there is truly a score to settle, the most productive one will likely prevail. Idle persons usually wind up in the most trouble. Let God settle the score. Keep your thinking on a higher level and you will be A-OK.

Z Art Blog–The Artist’s Assistant

Z Art Blog–The Artist’s Assistant published on

This is the fifth article in a series about what it means to be an artist and the choices an artist makes throughout his or her years of creative work. This article applies to someone in his or her mid to late twenties who has already mastered a budget necessary to continue producing and promoting audible/audio or visual artwork.

Assuming you have mastered your budget and are also balancing your creative and promotion time, you may want to step up your promotion plan. Maybe you are ready to build your website or want to begin a campaign to promote to public libraries. Of course, expanding your promotion plan will naturally take more time and will consequently infringe upon your creative time. But rather than spending most of your time promoting your artwork, you want to continue spending most of your time creating your artwork. You are an artist. That’s what you do–create. Adding to the promotion plan always throws off the balance. This is the problem you hope to remedy.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a promotion assistant? Is there such a title? Maybe not. But wouldn’t it be nice? Making the decision to seek an assistant is the first step in finding one if finding one is possible.

After deciding you need an assistant, make family members and friends aware that you are seeking a promotion assistant. Being a member of a large and social family may work to your advantage unless you are the oddball in your family–no other artists and therefore no connections who understand your needs. Artists with active social lives may have an advantage in finding an assistant. They may have several acquaintances or several connections that may help in this endeavor.

Maybe you just need a runner/talker to visit or call managers at coffee shops, etc. You might know of someone who has good written communication, computer and/or office skills who could help you build your website or begin a promotion campaign to public libraries. The promotion methods are endless, but finding an assistant–the right kind of assistant who also meets your exact needs is the catch.

A large family and a large circle of acquaintances can help only so much if you live in a smaller community or a not-so-artsy community. Or your niche might be so unique that no one you know would be qualified to assist. Even with many family members who have many acquaintances, including a few artsy ones, it may be difficult to find anyone interested in or available to assist in your promotion efforts exactly when you need someone.

To increase the odds, make it clear from the get go that you would be paying this person for his or her time and effort in assisting you. State a pay rate when you mention your plan. Otherwise, family members, friends and acquaintances might lack interest in helping you, thinking they would not be compensated–the old, “Do me a favor out of obligation of our association” trick. Even after insisting that you would honor the agreement, some family members and/or friends might not believe you would follow through on payment, or they might feel obligated to refuse payment.

So, a few of your friends have helped spread the word for you. Now that the word is in motion, don’t assume that the first person who shows up is also the right person for your needs. It may not be a positive coincidence. Err on the side of caution. If the person is truly interested, trustworthy and qualified, it won’t hurt to proceed slowly. As a lifelong artist, you can afford to wait until the person has proven his/her track record before you invite him or her into your creative business.

Or, make certain you are looking for someone who has already proven to be a capable and productive person in his or her own right. If this is a new acquaintance, this proof may take several months to surface without you having to hire a private investigator to evaluate the individual. Having to go to that extreme is a clue you are on the wrong track.

As a young person, you may want to take others at face value and believe what they say, because you have always been honest and straight forward yourself. Know that not everyone is honest and straightforward. Hopefully, you will never have to learn this the hard way.

You may come into contact with people who say they can assist but then don’t or others who say they want to assist but have questionable motives. Don’t trust just anyone with your life’s work. There are always opportunists lurking in the mix. Opportunists (sometimes called “parasites”) have ways of making your work a game or a control match. (They may be part of a larger entity called gang stalkers which will be described in greater detail in an upcoming article.) Some of them give themselves away fairly quickly. Here are a few ways to recognize when a person is not on the level.

The receptor type seems genuine at first until you notice that every so often he or she says something that makes you think you heard it wrong—it doesn’t add up. Or, he or she may ask so many questions you become uncomfortable with the conversation. Actually, he or she may have “watched you” for some time before approaching you or making some kind of “play.” He or she may know far more about you than you would ever want to know about him or her.

The aggressor type may seem overly friendly or claim to have something (everything) in common with you. This person may also have “watched” you. He or she may claim some association with you that isn’t actually there. He or she may insist on spending more time with you than you want to spend with him or her. Then just as you are beginning to wonder whether or not to continue the association, he or she may try to play on your emotions, especially when you begin to “back away.”

The shifty or twisty type is the one who purposely misinterprets something you said or did to latch onto you in a way you didn’t intend or to invite him or herself to some of your “goods.” Some of them are also practiced at turning the assistance around on you. The old, “No I can’t help you but I need your help” trick. Imagine starting an acquaintance or association because you were seeking assistance, but you somehow wound up spending all your extra time helping that person. You don’t have time to fall for that unless you are ready to give up your art. (That’s a different article.)

Most necessary information about a person’s character is revealed in everyday conversation—real-time conversation over an extended period of time–more than a few days or a few weeks–more like several months. Even shifty people love to talk about themselves. Always weigh what a person says.

After you have become acquainted with someone, having had several long conversations with this person who seems credible, you might suggest a very small task for a very small amount of pay. If the person completes the task efficiently, assign a second small task. Build the association a step at a time just as you would create a piece of artwork. You still aren’t certain this is the person you want assisting you for the long haul? Don’t suggest it.

Never lose sight of the fact that it is your work. You are the only person with any right to call the shots about promoting your work or profiting from your work. If the “assistant” is not doing what you ask, this is not the right person for the job. If the person can prove some degree of expertise then you might consider what is being suggested. Otherwise, sever the association before the individual has time to make it appear that you are the problem. Again, it is your work–no one else’s.

Continue creating your artwork, researching promotion methods, putting a feeler out now and then, and doing the best you can at your own promotion work until a trustworthy and qualified person has proven fit. Until then, pat yourself on the back for sticking to your artwork!

 

 

Z Art Blog–The Artist’s Budget

Z Art Blog–The Artist’s Budget published on

This is the fourth in a series of articles about what it means to be an artist. You may still be contemplating whether or not you are an artist or you may be attempting to grasp how you will be able to continue on your journey as an artist on the typically meager artist’s budget.

By now you have realized that as an artist, creative time is just as valuable as is money. The challenge for every artist then is to find the most comfortable balance of the two. You were thinking you need time only to create your artwork, but are now considering the time (and money) it will take to promote and/or market your artwork?

Your method(s) for promoting your artwork will depend upon the type of artwork you create. Is it drawings, comic books, paintings, photography, pottery, music or something else? While you are creating new work, you will also want to be researching methods of promoting your particular type of artwork. Some of these methods may already be carved in stone so to speak. You might however be the first to attempt a new method of promotion. Keep your eye and mind open for new methods.

Here are several suggestions for keeping your time, energy and expenses in balance:

If you are going to be supporting yourself as an artist—paying your own economical rent and utilities; purchasing your own supplies and equipment; doing your own promotion work; feeding yourself; transporting yourself and possibly your artwork around in a basic, inexpensive vehicle; you will need a basic job. Why a basic job? Well, if you plan on climbing the ladder of success at work, applying for or accepting positions higher and higher up, you will also be adding to your level of responsibility, stress and likely your hours at work. There goes your creative and promotion time right out the window.

Since you need creative time, you won’t have any trouble refusing to purchase cable TV ($59 plus per month). When are you going to have time to watch TV anyway? Why pay for something you don’t use? A large screen TV? Don’t be ridiculous. You also won’t mind refusing to pay for internet access when you can use a computer at the library as needed ($850 plus for a laptop and $29 plus per month for internet service). Are you absolutely certain you need to keep up with the latest versions of phones? Think twice. (Save $100 for the new phone and another $29 plus per month for the service.) A basic phone with only the necessary plan features is fine for an artist who likes decent food.

Learn how to cook basic dishes with pasta, rice, beans and vegetables. Not that you would have to become a vegetarian but watch for the sales on meat. Avoid eating out. Even fast food is three times as expensive as is eating at home. Cutting back from eating fast food three times per week to only once per week could save you $12 per week and $48 per month. Every little bit helps when you are an artist!

These avoidances or choices just described could save you as much at $150 or more per month. You need that saved money for your artwork. With discipline, in a six month period you will have saved yourself near $1,000! In another six months you could justify purchasing that laptop as long as your other expenses remain at a minimum.

Does this mean you should never consider moving up at work? Of course not. If it makes sense and doesn’t create problems for you as an artist, it may be a sign that you aren’t a lifelong artist after all, you may be putting your artwork on temporary hold, or you just want a bit more income for the purchase of a computer (without having to do as much penny pinching elsewhere), so you can build that website to promote your artwork.

Ask yourself some questions. Is this position an actual promotion or a position that seems to be a revolving door with frequent turnover for some reason or another? If you have looked at the situation logically, asked enough questions of enough people who know your situation, haven’t jumped to any erroneous conclusions about the position and have a legitimate creative need for that extra income, you may be on the right track.

Assuming you have kept your basic job and are going to begin your own basic promotion, you may want to invest in a basic (getting tired of the word basic?) 3 in 1 printer. Without a computer? Yes, without a computer. You can make basic flyers and/or type basic letters at the library, save the work to a $10 flash drive, print one or two master(s) at the library, then scan/copy the flyer and/or letter at home as needed. Find a family member or close friend who can do a quick proof read of your promotion materials before you print, post and/or send them anywhere. You want to be seen as a professional.

These examples of staying in balance as an artist are only the most obvious if you are single. As mentioned in previous articles, changes in your situation can throw you off your intended course and onto an entirely different path–possibly a better one. For the sake of sanity, remain determined yet flexible.

 

Z Art Blog–Sitting on the Fence Post

Z Art Blog–Sitting on the Fence Post published on

This is the third in a series of articles about life as an artist written for an adolescent audience. Most of these articles will apply to the topics of visual and audio art.

Student, you may see this title, “Sitting on the Fence Post” as being a bit ridiculous, but don’t laugh just yet. Here are a few examples of how a situation may change for or time may get away from an artist or an artist wannabe. Which one are you?

Let’s assume you consider yourself an artist at least during your high school years. You have already spent quite an impressive amount of time perfecting your skills and talent. You are so organized that you even keep a time log. You can tell anyone exactly how much time you have spent on your artwork in the last year. Good for you! Now what?

Toward the end of your high school years, you decided that a social life and parties are more important than art. Good luck. Your competition (a future topic) may now have an advantage over you. You made a decision to start a family and therefore cannot afford to go to college, because you must now work to support your child. (Hopefully, you become employed sooner than later.) Not that a college degree is absolutely necessary for a career in art. However, if you are a young parent, don’t plan on having much if any free time for your artwork anytime soon. Your subconscious mind (or an older adult in your life) is (or should be) telling you that your chosen path is making it necessary for you to leave this website and start searching for articles about child development and parenting.

Ok. You in the front row. You’re not into parties. Are you attempting to pay your own way through college? In this case, you must work as many hours as possible to pay an unreasonable tuition rate that no one can justify. Continue to work hard on your school work and at your job (while somehow finding enough time for sleep), and you may be able to spend a little time on your artwork during holiday breaks, summer breaks and again when you have your degree.

Maybe you are receiving scholarship money because you play a sport or have another important role at college. You are fortunate. Even so, with your studies (mostly non-art related), your extracurricular responsibilities and a boyfriend or girlfriend, you may not have much if any time for your artwork. Are you hearing wedding bells? No? Don’t give up on your art just yet.

Other fortunate ones have some time on their hands, because their parents are able to help them with tuition. If this is you, what are your priorities? When there is no college near your parents, you may want to work part-time to pay for your dorm room, books and fees, so that you can start fresh without any debt when you graduate from college. In this situation, in order to keep art in the picture you must remain organized and determined–setting priorities and goals for yourself: schoolwork first, job second and artwork third.

Not to throw water on your fire. Even though you still enjoy the thought of becoming a lifelong artist, this is the most likely time a person begins wondering whether or not art is actually in the cards. Priorities and opportunities can change and/or disappear during the young adult years. You may be destined for marriage whether you had previously realized this or not. Someone you were not looking for or hoping for comes along and boom. This person becomes an instant priority—hopefully a worthy one. You are now realizing that even the best organizer all of a sudden may have no time to complete the most recent piece in progress.

Can you keep art on the back burner? Certainly. There may be some time now and then when you can continue to read topics related to art. Go online, check out books, etc. Keep the art options open if you can. You may have chosen a field of study that involves your art. Lucky again, as long as there is enough demand for your talents or you have done well enough in college to attract long-term employment when you graduate. If you land a job related to your specific field (of art), you have the best of both worlds if you choose to marry. Whether or not you can simultaneously play the roles of artist, spouse and parent without losing your mind is a topic for another series of articles found elsewhere.

What about you? College is not for you, college is not financially possible for you, or you just don’t want that kind of debt to worry about at such a young age. Keep your chin up. It sounds as though you are already wise beyond your years. If you have worked hard all through high school there is definitely hope for you. You have decided that you are an artist not only by choice but due to your current circumstances. How can you make the most of it? Keep it in focus just as you have been doing and begin to see not only the creative side of your art but also the business side of your art. Business? Yes, business.

So, you are the image that comes to mind when a person thinks of the word artist—working on your artwork during all of your free-time. Now you must realize that it is better to move forward with goals and plans than to move forward blindly. It certainly appears as though you are an artist. You have no trouble with productivity. Your body of work includes numerous pieces. But do you have any idea how you are going to make your artwork known? Artists dream that each piece of art will somehow miraculously attract its rightful owner. What a lovely thought. If only it were true. In most cases, pieces of art don’t have legs to walk around doing their own promoting without their artist’s or someone else’s assistance. Good luck finding assistance promoting your work. Guess what? You have just become an art promoter.

How do you proceed in promoting your art? That would be jumping a step ahead in our discussion. Your productivity has proven you know how to budget your time. Hopefully, you are just as good at budgeting your money–exactly the topic of the next article in this series. See you there . . .

Z Art Blog–Choices an Artist Makes

Z Art Blog–Choices an Artist Makes published on

This is article two in the Z Art Bog series about life as an artist, written for an adolescent audience.

So, you have an inkling that you are in fact an artist or at least hope to pursue life as an artist, but will you? Hopefully, your life will present you with a few choices.

What are some of the choices you are about to encounter if you haven’t already? For one, you may be able to decide for yourself how you spend your free time. This assumes you have free time. Actually, even though you believe yourself to be an artist, you may have competing responsibilities or interests. For example, you may be the oldest of several children and are expected to care for your younger siblings when a parent is at work. In this case, your free time may be non-existent depending upon the work hours of your parent. Without free time, when will you be creating artwork?

Even with responsibilities, you absolutely must make time for both your school work and at least eight hours of sleep (seven minimum) each night. Enough sleep is physically necessary for persons of any age. Sacrificing your school work (or sleep) for your artwork may cause you to later regret not having achieved a higher grade point average.

Are you struggling with a particular subject? Learn to be a good self-advocate by asking for teacher assistance when you need that second explanation. Are you too embarrassed to ask during class time? Hopefully, you can arrive a little early or stay a little late to find your teacher before or after school and arrange for some one-on-one or small group time with the lessons. Most teachers are truly there to help you succeed in school and in life. If the teacher is unavailable, find a study buddy or go online. There are some great websites for homework help. Look for them, take notes and make certain to study for all of your quizzes and tests.

Do the best you can in all of your subjects. The higher your grade point average the better you look to prospective employers, prospective trade schools or colleges and the more you will respect yourself for putting forth the most effort you can. You are going to need that strong work ethic to become successful at anything, art included. Employers who are looking for talent or solid help can spot those who live their lives by putting forth the least amount of effort possible. Realize that you may be competing with many others for the same job. Learn to put forth effort, thereby making yourself worthy of the best opportunities. Then when given an opportunity, make people aware you appreciate the opportunity. There is nothing more annoying than someone who puts forth the least amount of effort while expecting the best results in life.

If you worked hard during junior high and high school but for whatever reason you do not attend college, you may still need or want to use some of that good high school knowledge as an adult. Also, knowing a little about many subjects will make you a well rounded person. Have we strayed from the topic of the choices you may make to become a lifelong artist? Not at all. The point here is that no matter what path you choose, effort is more likely to be rewarded than is lack of effort.

What if the amount of time and effort you are putting into your studies is keeping you from your artwork? Even as a lifelong artist, there may be periods of several months or even several years during which your artwork must be put on hold. If you are in fact a lifelong artist, you will pick it up when you can. Maybe not until after college or after your children are raised and living successfully on their own, but it is never too late to resume your artwork. Are we looking too far ahead? Not really, but the main focus of this article is those choices you may be making during your teenage years and into your early twenties.

Another situation you may encounter is having more than one area of talent and wanting to experience both or all of them. There is nothing wrong with this if you can actually make time for all of them (and enough sleep). You may be an athlete and an artist. Your athletic skill may be at a high enough level to attract scholarship money. If not, depending upon the sport(s) you play, you may be gaining valuable experience in working as a member of a team. Knowing how to work as a member of a team is always useful in life. The job(s) you have may require you to work as a member of a team. Who doesn’t appreciate someone who is helpful and humble? No one wants to work with a slacker.

What about peer pressure? What about it? If you are an artist you are likely less affected by peer pressure than the average person—then again maybe not. Is your priority to do what everyone else does because everyone else does? Are you afraid to be a positive leader? If so, do what everyone else does and you may or may not be happy you did. On the other hand, you might prefer to focus on building yourself up with knowledge and skill for your own future benefit and the benefit of your offspring if you plan to do the best you can to support their well being.

The choices you make as a young person, will likely affect you for the rest of your life. Depending upon your situation, you may have one or two choices about how you spend your time. On the other hand, you may feel as though you have few or no choices at all. The aspiring artist who has familial (childcare) obligations during junior high and/or high school or who spends more time studying than does the average student may just have to wait for that “free time” to free up.

Look for the next article in this series, “Sitting on the Fencepost” about when and how your priorities may change.