"Always be willing to give up what you are for who you can be. "
Some background info:
Things have slowed a bit these past couple months at my steadily fluctuating paycheck job, along with art sales. I love having the flexibility that this job affords me and it helps to be surrounded by art, art curators, and interesting people. I do have some commissioned orders due in the Spring. However, this increasingly reversal trend of my income is unsettling. So I started looking and applying for additional part-time work that will still provide the flexibility to create and market my art.
A hiring opportunity presented itself last week which I was excited about until I heard my hours were all Fri-Mon PM hours. I am an AM working person and AM/PM creative. I love painting at night. Combine those hours with my already existing schedule and that would leave me with little time to create, DO EVERYTHING I need to do to grow, or even have a modicum of a social life. But it is $$-not much but it's still welcome $$.
Something just doesn't feel right. I can continue doing MORE of WHAT I am doing, which I don't want to, or REALLY REALLY RISK WHO I CAN BE, which is a seriously committed and successful artist. With a third job, I would be procrastinating my goals even further. What it really boils down to is money and playing it safe or going for it with more faith and conviction. There is ABSOLUTELY no right or wrong. Just gut and intuitive instinct.
Enter the Risk Instigators:
Instigator #1: One of my co-workers is a fantastic jewelry artist, who like me, is reinventing her professional direction. She is weaning her artistic talent to study and pursue her new passion in urban planning as I delve more into art. We talk and share. Neither one of us is doing exactly WHAT we want full time but it works and we are grateful to have it. She is responsible for igniting the first phase of this particular risk thought process. She sent the Mark Twain quote that appears at the top of this post. Yeah Robin!!
Mark Twain
No sooner do I write about about risk taking and I'm tested. The instigators: a quote, a 15 minute rule, and a supplemental job opportunity.
Some background info:
Things have slowed a bit these past couple months at my steadily fluctuating paycheck job, along with art sales. I love having the flexibility that this job affords me and it helps to be surrounded by art, art curators, and interesting people. I do have some commissioned orders due in the Spring. However, this increasingly reversal trend of my income is unsettling. So I started looking and applying for additional part-time work that will still provide the flexibility to create and market my art.
A hiring opportunity presented itself last week which I was excited about until I heard my hours were all Fri-Mon PM hours. I am an AM working person and AM/PM creative. I love painting at night. Combine those hours with my already existing schedule and that would leave me with little time to create, DO EVERYTHING I need to do to grow, or even have a modicum of a social life. But it is $$-not much but it's still welcome $$.
Something just doesn't feel right. I can continue doing MORE of WHAT I am doing, which I don't want to, or REALLY REALLY RISK WHO I CAN BE, which is a seriously committed and successful artist. With a third job, I would be procrastinating my goals even further. What it really boils down to is money and playing it safe or going for it with more faith and conviction. There is ABSOLUTELY no right or wrong. Just gut and intuitive instinct.
Enter the Risk Instigators:
A small section of my "as yet to be titled" acrylic painting
Instigator #1: One of my co-workers is a fantastic jewelry artist, who like me, is reinventing her professional direction. She is weaning her artistic talent to study and pursue her new passion in urban planning as I delve more into art. We talk and share. Neither one of us is doing exactly WHAT we want full time but it works and we are grateful to have it. She is responsible for igniting the first phase of this particular risk thought process. She sent the Mark Twain quote that appears at the top of this post. Yeah Robin!!
Instigator #2 : Alyson Stanfield's Art Marketing Action newsletter/blog discussed devoting at least 15 minutes a day to stay connected to your art in some way. "If you don't, you are telling yourself and everyone in your life that making art is your lowest priority." Oh no. That is what I am saying, doing and feeling and that isn't right. To fully appreciate and put in context, please click on this link to read the wonderful blog in its entirety.
I didn't want my bluff to be called. I took the risk test. I summoned my left brain. I evaluated and re-evaluated EVERYTHING. I declined the third job. The hours of the third job made me realize HOW much I really want to create art and NEED IT. I even thanked the prospective employer for that.
I didn't want my bluff to be called. I took the risk test. I summoned my left brain. I evaluated and re-evaluated EVERYTHING. I declined the third job. The hours of the third job made me realize HOW much I really want to create art and NEED IT. I even thanked the prospective employer for that.
The result: I feel more motivated, excited, and determined.
Balance4"x4" Yin/Yang acrylic painting
Yup..... worth the risk! Follow your intuition. I always believe that things have a way of working themselves out!! You ARE balanced!!
ReplyDeleteMarilyn: I wish you the best. You CAN do it! But I do want to be clear that I stress well-being above everything. This includes financial well being. When artists can't pay the bills, they can't do their work. It sounds like you will be fine with your decision and I'm glad that you have the other jobs to back you up. Consistency is your aim.
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