All around me are familiar faces
Art journal pages created with gouache & chalk paint
I hope I don’t give you an ear worm because of the title I chose today. I have no idea why the song Mad World popped into my head just now, but I’m going with it.
Can you believe it’s been over 20 years since the song was released? 20 years??!! Crazzzzy. Time is so weird. Sometimes it feels like the clock is standing still, and yet, it moves so incredibly fast. Oy!
Speaking of time, I couldn’t help but nod my head when I read this post on Blsky from The Other Happy Place
Being an artist is like "when i finish this art project i am going to reward myself for working so hard by making this new art project" Over and over until you die.
Ain’t that the truth? I had to laugh because that’s exactly what artists do. I don’t think I realized it until I read that post, but I pushed through the continuous line series I was doing last month, so I could reward myself with starting a new series for May.
What I’m watching: Why Society Hates Artists (And Always Has)
If you’re an artist you might find yourself screaming at the screen while watching this. If not, read the comments below it.
Quick story: A few years ago I was approached about creating a cover for a collage text book. I was pretty excited about it until I asked how much I’d be paid. The author told me that the publisher said there was no money in the budget for art, so I wouldn’t/couldn’t be paid for my work. However, they would have to approve of the artwork once I was finished. The artwork had to be up to their standards, which meant I might have to spend time revising the painting or completely start over from scratch once it was finished, if they didn’t like it. There was a fast approaching deadline to meet, on top of it. I’d have to drop everything I was already working on, which were commissions that I had already received a down payment on, and start the book project immediately - for zero compensation. Mind you, this book was going to be sold for $700 to $900 a pop to collage students.
The author said he wasn’t making much money from writing the book, but HE wanted to pay me & he would buy the painting from me when it was finished. While his offer was pretty decent, and under different circumstances I would have taken it, I politely refused to pick up a brush. I told him that it was generous & kind of him to offer payment, but he shouldn’t have to do that. Publishers will never stop degrading & mistreating artists if we continue to agree to work for free. And, even though the author agreed to pay me, the publishers didn’t. They would still be getting my work at no cost to them. I didn’t want any part of it, so I walked away. I still think I did the right thing. No regrets.
My work is available on Daily Paintworks, and eBay.
You can also find me on pinksky & blsky.
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