What we've been learning lately, is that: Art itself, and how others perceive OUR ART.. is completely and utterly relative! No two people will feel the same or have the same perspective as the artist or as the next person who sees your work. Along these same lines, personal taste is ALSO relative. Not everyone is going to love what you do, or envision it hanging in their home or landscape. Most reactions are unexpected.
What you CAN expect, is that EVERYONE will have an opinion. Get yourself enough exposure online and in your community - at the very least you will get opinions.. Positive or negative, it's important to keep these close. Keep them in mind, away from your heart. Go ahead and save them in your bag of secrets for inspiration or tweaking when you need it. Turn it from a negative moment in time into constructive feedback that flows through your art and helps evolve the operations of selling your work.
..Just Saying :)
N.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Growing Pains Become Inspiration..
[Blog originally posted on December 6, 2010]
As an artist just starting out, it's easy to feel unsure as to whether the general public will appreciate your artwork, let alone buy it. One tends to feel exceptionally vulnerable - especially because your moods, feelings, experiences and inspirations are out there for ALL TO SEE in tangible form without your own personal narrative as to why you went in a particular direction. The viewer is able to draw their own conclusions - about you & about your artwork. We won't be the first to say: This is an emotional roller coaster.
One trick we have learned is to look at others in the same medium as ourselves, METAL. Others in the market doing the same kind of quality handmade metal decor or functional metal - and are in essence, our competition. If they are selling than we can sell too. If they are inspired and filling client needs with their own artwork, than we can do so too. We gain strength from this and therefore bypass that vulnerability. We do not manage our competitor analysis in a negative or jealous way. We look to established artists and handmade sellers as indirect mentors to our own art business.
We respect others' creative ideas, and review their business operations for ideas to move toward the exposure and growth we desire. There is enough room for all of us, because as mentioned - Art is relative. Art is derived from inspiration. Art evolves and experiences growth. Just like we as artists and business owners must. Design, business, sales, marketing and know how all comes through these growing pains. It's all about how you frame it, interpret it and use it for your own steps forward.. it's inspiring!
Nadine @JBweldz
As an artist just starting out, it's easy to feel unsure as to whether the general public will appreciate your artwork, let alone buy it. One tends to feel exceptionally vulnerable - especially because your moods, feelings, experiences and inspirations are out there for ALL TO SEE in tangible form without your own personal narrative as to why you went in a particular direction. The viewer is able to draw their own conclusions - about you & about your artwork. We won't be the first to say: This is an emotional roller coaster.
One trick we have learned is to look at others in the same medium as ourselves, METAL. Others in the market doing the same kind of quality handmade metal decor or functional metal - and are in essence, our competition. If they are selling than we can sell too. If they are inspired and filling client needs with their own artwork, than we can do so too. We gain strength from this and therefore bypass that vulnerability. We do not manage our competitor analysis in a negative or jealous way. We look to established artists and handmade sellers as indirect mentors to our own art business.
We respect others' creative ideas, and review their business operations for ideas to move toward the exposure and growth we desire. There is enough room for all of us, because as mentioned - Art is relative. Art is derived from inspiration. Art evolves and experiences growth. Just like we as artists and business owners must. Design, business, sales, marketing and know how all comes through these growing pains. It's all about how you frame it, interpret it and use it for your own steps forward.. it's inspiring!
Nadine @JBweldz
The Machine Dilemma - Is it still ART if you AUTOMATE??
[Blog Entry Originally posted: November 1, 2010]
Biggest question facing JBweldz right now surrounds the theme of EXPANSION. At present JB cuts all of our artwork by hand from flat steel ~ we both believed this maintains the integrity of our work as: UNIQUE ART. Both of us are very fond of the outcome of JBs creative talents. With business running smoothly, we are already generating interest from places as far away as Florida, USA from our little place near Lake Erie, Ontario. We know we are on to something that will turn talent and hobby into extra dollars and ALSO create satisfying artwork for our distinguished clients.
The big elephant in the room is: what happens - when as a business owner, you want to grow and expand into channels of distribution that are bigger than current internet sales? We need more output. We need more elbow grease. We need automated MACHINERY.. BUT does this change the nature of our ART? Does non-handmade, consistent output and precision cutting take away from the artistic attributes that we know, love and PROMOTE in our metal artwork?
Aside from the obvious health concerns I have about JB constantly leaning over and breathing in welding materials ~ that would be nonexistent if we automate.. I will continue to ponder this decision for sometime. Do metal artists still produce real art when using automated, computerized systems.. or would we (and the others who do the same) become just another home decor shop? hmm..
till next time, Nadine (VP Life Satisfation, JBweldz)
Biggest question facing JBweldz right now surrounds the theme of EXPANSION. At present JB cuts all of our artwork by hand from flat steel ~ we both believed this maintains the integrity of our work as: UNIQUE ART. Both of us are very fond of the outcome of JBs creative talents. With business running smoothly, we are already generating interest from places as far away as Florida, USA from our little place near Lake Erie, Ontario. We know we are on to something that will turn talent and hobby into extra dollars and ALSO create satisfying artwork for our distinguished clients.
The big elephant in the room is: what happens - when as a business owner, you want to grow and expand into channels of distribution that are bigger than current internet sales? We need more output. We need more elbow grease. We need automated MACHINERY.. BUT does this change the nature of our ART? Does non-handmade, consistent output and precision cutting take away from the artistic attributes that we know, love and PROMOTE in our metal artwork?
Aside from the obvious health concerns I have about JB constantly leaning over and breathing in welding materials ~ that would be nonexistent if we automate.. I will continue to ponder this decision for sometime. Do metal artists still produce real art when using automated, computerized systems.. or would we (and the others who do the same) become just another home decor shop? hmm..
till next time, Nadine (VP Life Satisfation, JBweldz)
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