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"Song of the Sirens(SOLD)" by Lisa Rough
On the quietest of days, I struggle to maintain a balance between paintbrushes and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You see, I am a self-representing artist and a stay-at-home-mom, and believe me… these two roles don’t merge together easily. Much like when my son finger-paints~ the colors are each beautiful in their own rite, but eventually when they are all mixed together, they transform into a glorious mud-like mess, which is beautiful too, but it admittedly takes a little more work to appreciate it.
Having two small children, I present my own work to the world somewhat out of necessity. There are times when the demands of being a mom far outweigh the demands of being an artist, and I have to be able to let go of the craving to create or throw that energy into a scribble on the magnadoodle for my daughter. Fortunately, representing myself allows me the flexibility to go at my own pace and do what I need to do when I need to do it. The challenge for me is making my art equally as or more important as throwing in a load of laundry and finding value within my work that has nothing to do with dollar signs and everything to do with making my mark on the world.
While I really don’t yearn to be a millionaire or a Picasso, I do wish to make an impact on the crazy, unpredictable world we live in, and I believe that creative vigor is one way to do that. Self-representation offers me the creative freedom to explore ways to touch those who take a peek at my art, to experiment with different mediums, and to somehow honor the serendipitous direction that my work takes… all without having to worry about the expectations of others who may or may not have my best interest in mind. It has also helped me to figure out where I fit in the “art world” without sacrificing my own goal of creating purely and spontaneously from my heart. I’ve made lots of discoveries in that regard… for instance, I can’t bring myself to make prints or copies of my work, not only because it may compromise the inherent texture of my medium, but also because I’m just too stubborn (or naïve) to let go of the magic of a one-of-a-kind piece, no matter how fruitful multiple editions may prove to be. The beauty is that by representing myself, the control freak that I am can rejoice in making choices such as these, and because of that, I am able to take myself a little more seriously.
Of course, we all would love to find a way to make money doing that which feeds our souls, and being a self-representing artist doesn’t exactly generate a steady income. While I am merely a beginner in that regard, I have discovered that the more I expose my work to the greater community, the more I am apt to make a sale. Contests and shows not only offer me that type of exposure, but they also quite often give me the inspiration to create something I wouldn’t have otherwise, and provide the challenge to stretch my abilities and skills a little more each time. Therefore, I enter as many as I can muster, even if there is no reward. Many of these have led to sales and future commissions, as does simply having an international internet presence through a personal website and sites like EBSQ. Only recently has my work been seen locally, requiring me to step out of my shell a bit and get accustomed to being face to face with potential clients, and I’m learning an awful lot from that type of exposure as it unfolds.
It has taken me some time to define who I am as an artist, and of course I’m not done. There’s always more to figure out, more bumps in the road, more unexpected insights that make us change directions and sometimes fall over, topsy turvy from the momentum of our own experience. These are all things that help us evolve as artists and as people. I’m certainly no expert, but if I had one piece of advice to give those who are beginning the journey of becoming a self-representing artist, whether or not you’re juggling other jobs or roles alongside your creative endeavor, I would say treat it as if it were a grand adventure and honor the process. Experiment with different ways of getting yourself out there, find the path that suits you, and trust that it will get you where you need to be, even on those days when it feels as though you’re driving through the flatlands of Kansas. I truly believe that if you want others to see value in your work, you must first discover the riches woven within it for yourself. So be present with what challenges and inspires you and take a leap of faith with whatever nourishes your spirit. It’s a lot of work, but I have no doubt that your work will reflect the beautiful and profound risk it took for you to empower yourself in such a courageous way.
Look for other articles on being a self-representing artist throughout the month of September in our blog!
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