Why bother?
I have not had an entry in quite some time, so this hasn't turned out to be much of a "daily" blog, and I offer my apologies to anyone actually reading these. The major reason for this is that I've been doing some major inner re-assessing, and for the past few weeks have had to explore parts of me that have needed attention. In so doing, my focus has been less on my art work and business.
Despite that, I have remained productive if a bit less than inspired to be creating the best possible art I can. Of course, I have vowed to do the latter, but I fall short as there are plenty of times that good craft will suffice and thus give me some income. It is quite important for me to have steady income, no matter how I go about it.
I did complete a major job for my long-standing client, a very involved and funny piece commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love. Actually, the art comes in 3 parts: the cover is a satire of the Fillmore posters of the 60s and 70s, the inside section, a panoramic scene of a "Woodstock-type" stage and crowd, and the back , a small psychedelic styled credit based on an album cover by the "13th Floor Elevators" and who could forget their big hit, uh.....hmmmm...oh, well. It's a fine piece of commercial art with many jokes, most of which have as their underlying theme the aging and disolution of yesterday's hippie movement, now swallowed up by apathy and corporate greed. Underlying themes are often not so funny, are they?
Other than that, I am working on smaller scale jobs that are very nice, although the budgets fall short of the Marin style of living I have grown accustomed to. I do need to find some corporate work, where I will feel well-paid. I nearly got a good one yesterday, but it fell through at the last moment, after I had gotten pretty pumped up and prepared to do it in a rush. So it goes.
Why bother doing art? Is it simply because one can, one happens to have the talent? Is it to connect with people, to touch them on some level? Is it to use as a tool in one's self-exploration? I'm still trying to answer that question after being a full time artist for 24 years now. I know I don't wish to be doing anything else, but why do I persue this career? It is not an easy path, but then, what is? Every profession has its dificulties, and I won't use excuses. I am defnitely trying to market on a steadier basis, and I believe this will pay off for me. Beyond the work, income, and ego-gratification must come more, something deeper. When I find out, I'll share it with you.
Despite that, I have remained productive if a bit less than inspired to be creating the best possible art I can. Of course, I have vowed to do the latter, but I fall short as there are plenty of times that good craft will suffice and thus give me some income. It is quite important for me to have steady income, no matter how I go about it.
I did complete a major job for my long-standing client, a very involved and funny piece commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love. Actually, the art comes in 3 parts: the cover is a satire of the Fillmore posters of the 60s and 70s, the inside section, a panoramic scene of a "Woodstock-type" stage and crowd, and the back , a small psychedelic styled credit based on an album cover by the "13th Floor Elevators" and who could forget their big hit, uh.....hmmmm...oh, well. It's a fine piece of commercial art with many jokes, most of which have as their underlying theme the aging and disolution of yesterday's hippie movement, now swallowed up by apathy and corporate greed. Underlying themes are often not so funny, are they?
Other than that, I am working on smaller scale jobs that are very nice, although the budgets fall short of the Marin style of living I have grown accustomed to. I do need to find some corporate work, where I will feel well-paid. I nearly got a good one yesterday, but it fell through at the last moment, after I had gotten pretty pumped up and prepared to do it in a rush. So it goes.
Why bother doing art? Is it simply because one can, one happens to have the talent? Is it to connect with people, to touch them on some level? Is it to use as a tool in one's self-exploration? I'm still trying to answer that question after being a full time artist for 24 years now. I know I don't wish to be doing anything else, but why do I persue this career? It is not an easy path, but then, what is? Every profession has its dificulties, and I won't use excuses. I am defnitely trying to market on a steadier basis, and I believe this will pay off for me. Beyond the work, income, and ego-gratification must come more, something deeper. When I find out, I'll share it with you.
posted by Rich Sigberman at
9:15 AM
