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Taking it personal or not?
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| Work in progress. |
I was talking to a friend the other day that is very business savvy and It hit me. I'm never going to be rich, and that's fine. Let me explain: She was telling me that I should take my business as a business and not as something personal because I told her that I still felt all excited if I made something and it gets sold right away not much because of the money, but because that means that someone out there loved it so much that was willing to spend money on something I made and was actually waiting for me to post it for sale. That could only mean love. The same thing happened if something I made didn't sell. I get sad. These last 8 years have been a roller coaster of emotions because I get the same feeling EVERY SINGLE TIME. She told me that I should stop feeling that way, the what I made was not who I was, just something I made. Although she's right in a way, I just can't help it. Take for example my dolls. When I finish them I usually sit them together, while they wait to be picked and go live in a new home. I can't see them as products. When I make 5 and one of them doesn't sell (for some estrange reason It's usually the yellow one), I look at them and they seem to change their face for a sad one. And I feel bad for them because they didn't get the chance to go travel the world and find a forever home (they're welcome to stay with me but they weren't made for that). And I start doubting myself. Is it that I'm not good enough? Doesn't people don't like what I do anymore? Weren't they as cute as they should be? Did I miss something? And the list goes on and on. I can get very irrational with this. It never occurs to me, for example, that people is out, busy and they didn't see them when I post them in my Instagram account. Or that people is already sleeping like a normal person and it's not working and checking their Facebook or Instagram while I post my work in progress at the insanely time of 2:00 am in the morning. Nope. That doesn't cross my mind until Mr. Danita kindly reminds me that they're not all crazy like me and stay up until 3:00 am working when they could be resting.
Am I wrong? Is it wrong to feel that way about what you do? After all, art is very personal. I can't see it just as a product that you make and let it go. I could just sit and paint a lot of stuff that I know for sure will sell but that wouldn't have soul. I don't release as many original paintings as before because I want each of them to be special. Every single thing that I make I make because I love it. And I would hang it in my house, and I would wear it, and I would play with it. And when I make something a little piece of my heart and soul goes straight to that creation, and if you love it or hate it, then you love a bit of me (or hate it). And as much as I'd like to not take it personal I don't think I would be able to do that. And when I do, I think I will stop making art.
Comments
Maybe others aren't able to buy your beautiful work right now. It could be them and not you. I love your work and only own one piece, a bracelet. I wear it a lot and get so many compliments on it.
I understand and I don't think you're taking it personal. It's how you feel.
If you aren't an Artist, it's hard to understand. I used to create paintings and make one of a kind little dolls for my nieces. They were always so thrilled and would spend forever looking them over and loving them. I enjoyed every moment of the creation process. Then people kept bugging me to sell my work and I've just started trying. I recently spent hours and hours on a commissioned dog painting and the person loved it so much that she cried. Then she paid me $25.00. I felt crushed. I couldn't speak. I hate creating to sell. I can't make a living this way! People so many times do not appreciate the time and love that went into a piece. I really question if this is what I want to do. To take what I love and have people not appreciate it. I'm rambling, but... I understand and I want you to know that you create Art that is obviously made with Love and made from the Heart and there are people who appreciate it and thankful that you released it out into the world.
xoxo
I am clothes designers , te entiendo, siento lo mismo, es algo que compartimos varias
fuerza
Ciao!
K
As it should be! If you start looking at your art as just business, then I really think it won't be nearly as beautiful or special!
Keep it up!
Erica :)
For a salesperson is ofcourse the merchandise not personal. Then they would never be succesfull in selling enough to make a living. Often their goal is selling as much as possible. Your goal is making good art and give people an emotional experience with it. It is a pitty you experience a lot of unpleasent emotions with it as well. But no one ever experiences only joy about there work. And yes, I think you can protect yourself a bit against negative thoughts. If you focus on what you don't sell, you might forget how many people appreciate your work. I think it makes you human and beautiful to share your uncertainties with us. But I love even more that you share your art with us.
Your art is warm and beautiful and the fact you put your heart into it is part of what makes it so special.
But this nebulous audience doesnt deserve to judge you or make you doubt yourself - with our purchases or otherwise. Your work is beautiful regardless.
An ex of mine once said to me "have you heard of the stoned prophets?" Many people and things of importance have gone unrecognised in their lifetimes. Doesnt mean they weren't important or right or perfect.
x
Your art is warm and beautiful and the fact you put your heart into it is part of what makes it so special.
But this nebulous audience doesnt deserve to judge you or make you doubt yourself - with our purchases or otherwise. Your work is beautiful regardless.
An ex of mine once said to me "have you heard of the stoned prophets?" Many people and things of importance have gone unrecognised in their lifetimes. Doesnt mean they weren't important or right or perfect.
x
I don't believe that artists can just switch off & put a business head on, in the same way as someone selling food for example.
If something doesn't sell of mine I just decide that the right person hasn't come along yet- after all if I love it then someone else out there will too- don't you think? The problem is that person hasn't found it yet & maybe never will. But as long as I like it & it makes me happy- then that's OK :)
You're perfectly normal Danita! I don't think any artist out there has ever not had the same emotions as you at some point!
xx
I don't believe that artists can just switch off & put a business head on, in the same way as someone selling food for example.
If something doesn't sell of mine I just decide that the right person hasn't come along yet- after all if I love it then someone else out there will too- don't you think? The problem is that person hasn't found it yet & maybe never will. But as long as I like it & it makes me happy- then that's OK :)
You're perfectly normal Danita! I don't think any artist out there has ever not had the same emotions as you at some point!
xx
i think your work shows how dedicated and how much you love to do what you do : )
take care~
Don't lose hope. Hope is often all we have. And never, ever stop "taking it personal" for it is then that you will cease to be the artist that you are. Hugs. Blessings. :D
Whatever happens, your art should always make you feel good, you're sooo good, so keep going and don't doubt about yourself!
Hay mucha gente como yo, en lugares escondidos del mundo que admiramos tu trabajo, pero no tenemos el poder adquisitivo algunas veces para comprarlo, quizás no porque sea caro, pero tenemos otras responsabilidades, tal cuál como tu lo dices... pero no es porque no sea lo suficientemente bueno... es increÃble!!.
disculpa por ecribir en español, pero me es más fácil :P
bsos y mucho éxito.
Isabel.
My written English is not very good, so I'll write in Spanish.
Taking it personal or not? Me imagino que es una lucha siempre para ti no tomarlo personal. Como persona sensible que soy te digo que si tomarlo personal te hace sufrir el doble, no lo tomes personal, es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo pero se puede engañar a la mente por decirlo de alguna manera metiendo información positiva en vez de negativa a tu mente cuando no vendes algo que has creado con todo tu amor. Si supieras lo que tu arte significa para los que lo observamos y los que lo compran, la inspiración que proporcionas con el sólo hecho de compartir una fotografÃa de lo que has creado, Danita, si pudieras leer nuestras mentes y corazón, no tendrÃas ni una mÃnima duda de tu talento. Cada pieza tuya es única y especial. No sufras el doble con los pensamientos negativos que van y vienen...disfruta lo que se queda en tu casa o en tus manos porque un dÃa esa pieza de arte será un tesoro para tus hijos. Pensamientos positivos se pueden convertir en el alivio para un momento y un hábito para toda la vida, es lo que pienso yo, alguien que a veces sufre el doble, he tenido que aprender que no todo se debe tomar personal, nos llaman sensibles. Asà que para mà funcionan los pensamientos positivos, pueden haber pocas o muchas razones porque las que vendes o no vendes y no tiene que ver con que tu arte no es suficientemente bueno. Grábalo en tu cabecita.
By the way...mi color favorito de niña es el amarillo, aunque de adulta no lo es, siempre busco cosas con el color amarillo porque me recuerda la niña que llevo por dentro. Si tienes alguna pieza de arte que hayas creado y que tenga mucho amarillo me gustarÃa traerla a mi casa...
Love,
Liliana
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