Success Part I

I was reading this article about how if you heard the names of some big time sellers in the 1800’s you wouldn’t even know any of the them but we all know Vincent Van Gogh and he only sold like 1 or 2 paintings when he was alive. It went on to talk about how some artists make art that’s sellable and other artists look down on them and how some artists follow their hearts but never sell anything and are proud to have people not want or understand their work.

Its got me thinking about my art and about what I’m doing. I feel like I’m following my heart. I feel like drawing a circle is my calling - I was put on this earth to draw circles. That part is a gimme, everyone who looks at my art can tell pretty fast that I was given a gift and I’m putting it to good use. Also I draw many of the subjects cuz of the beauty of them or the plain and simple truth that I like them.

I draw flowers and bugs, plants and birds cuz my mom loves to work in her garden. My most fondest memories of me being little was coming home after a nice early morning skate to find my mom working in the garden and I would sit there and she would tell me about all the stuff she had growing. Her eyes would light up and you could tell she really cared about what she was doing. Even today she has the most beautiful roses I have ever seen and cuz of her I pay attention to all things that grow, even if I don’t know much about them.

The other things I tend to draw are animals, women and day of the dead stuff Everything I draw, I truly and whole heartily love them all. I feel some artists out there look down on what I draw cuz its sellable and I sell quite a bit of it too. Its not my fault I have good taste is it? Is it my fault that I enjoy such simple and beautiful things?

One of my most favorite things to draw, which happens to be my biggest sellers, are high heel shoes. But I don’t draw them cuz they sell well, I don’t draw them cuz I have bills to pay and I really don’t draw them cuz every women that comes to see me loves them. Nope. I draw them cuz I love to look at them. When I’m walking downtown, at events, malls, everywhere, I am checking out the girls in the heels. I even go as far to tell the young ladies I’m an artist and would love to take a picture of them to use in my art. A little freaky? Yup. Should they be scared? Nah. I usually hand them a business card to show them my work and they become ok with the idea that I want to photograph their feet.

Does it make me a bad artist to draw such things that not only make me happy but make the world happy as well? I say do what you love and do it well and maybe you’ll get lucky………