June 25, 2023
What does it mean for you to PRACTICE?
I am an artist. This implies much more than the fact that I received a BFA in painting and drawing or that I am currently enrolled in an MFA program. It is more than the suggestion that I am found frequently painting or drawing in my studio. When I say that I am an artist, it means that I view life from a particular set of lenses that affects the way I perceive my surroundings. This perception feeds a constant hunger to see the beauty found in tensions and synergies that exist between the extents of oppositions that exist all around us. When I come to understand the complexities of any opposition, I have a strong desire to share that insight with the world visually through my art. I believe that by so doing, I can uncover a hidden truth, that can bring viewers both joy and clarity. This work can bring in income but not necessarily.
What changes when you imagine a professional practice?
Professional, means by profession, or line of work that pays. Professional practice is a phrase that means the work that is created within both the physical and intellectual confines of an artist’s work is intended to meet a need that another individual or company has need of and is willing to pay for those services rendered. At times, my time work as an artist has simple, to create artwork for enjoyment or other personal need. At other times my practice has been in the service of others, to create commissioned works that meet established criteria with an agreement for payment. These contractual agreements defined my work as a professional practice.
Does this have meaning in the present form of your own practice?
Sometimes I feel like I am wearing two hats. One hat is work when I desire to create work that is of interest to me. I do it in hopes that upon viewing the completed pieces or series, potential buyers will make a connection with the pieces and have a desire to purchase. This is a gamble. Certainly, the hope is to sell the works I create but I am aware, even at the onset of creation, that there was a possibility I am creating a piece for my own home or for storage. When, however, I am wearing the other hat and creating commissioned works, I am executing work through my professional practice. Of course, the certainty of payment that comes when I am professionally practicing is satisfying but many times the desired goals of the client do not align with my own. This is why I continue to practice without the promise of compensation. I receive satisfaction in the process of making art that expresses my perspective and the things in life that matter to me. Certainly, the best option is to adjust my own preferences of what I want to create more in line with the desires of buyers so I don’t have to juggle the two.
Art has continued in this time of crisis. Does the pressing of this world-wide reset button allow space for any innovative ways to enact your practice professionally?
Certainly! The pandemic, for example, created the the need for buyers to look for purchasing online. Because sales are being made more through the internet, adjustments need to be made by artists that enable potential buyers to find their work, see that work in a digital format, and buy without hassle. Having an online presence is necessary to achieve this goal. This presence should be both found in social media and websites. Usually, frequent posts and updates make people aware of art and artists they like. Once the buyer finds an artist, a brief relationship of trust needs to be developed. Often artists try to post info about themselves because data shows that buyers aren’t interested in the art alone but the story of the artist they are investing in. Lastly, the art must be presented in a way that is clear so the buyer feels confident what they will receive in the post meets their expectations. I am aware that I lack in these areas. There are many changes I need to make to create a better connection with my potential buyers, to build trust with them, showcase the work effectively, and have webtools set up for purchasing.
Is professional a word that has any meaning to your work?
I have enjoyed the privilege of creating works for many buyers. Whenever I am engaged in this work I am acting as a professional, in a business, completing a transaction. It is a fulfilling part of my work. Though I am not always making the art I would like to make, I am still creating. Additionally, I feel gratitude and pride that a buyer chooses me and my work to hang on their wall to inspire and bring them joy.
Should the phrase professional practice be reconsidered?
I believe this phrase expresses precisely what it is. No one engages in any profession without pay because the moment it does the profession moves into the category of being a hobby. It is fair, however, to claim that practice and hobby can be used interchangeably.