Work in progress
You can see me painting this oil portrait painting here

Misconception No 1: Art isn’t a “real” job.

I’ve been in the studio since 5:30 this morning. The day started out with me taking over 500 photos of my paintings for Etsy listings. I’ve been sorting them, editing, and working in Photoshop all day. Some of the photos aren’t up to  par, (I don’t think I was fully awake yet when I started) so I have to spend time retaking them, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. It’s now 8:56PM, and I was about to go relax and watch something on Netflix (which really translates to “lie down, and fall asleep” because I’m beat), but I just realized I haven’t blogged all week, so I’m writing this post for tomorrow. I’ll edit it in the morning. 

If this ain’t real, and this ain’t work, I don’t know what is. My eyeballs are ready to pop out from staring at the screen for so long.

If you’re going to your studio everyday, working your tail off, then it’s a real job. If you’re paying taxes on your art income, which every artist should be doing if they make enough to qualify, then it certainly is a real job. Don’t let anyone try to tell you otherwise. 

Misconception No 2: Artists are born with a gift.  

Some people think that if you weren’t born with “the gift”, you’re not an artist, and never will be one. I used to believe this myth myself, so I can see why they’re confused. I didn’t realize how much work it takes to be an artist. I thought drawing, painting, sculpting, photography all came naturally or you simply weren’t an artist. Did I ever have a ton to learn. 

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has said to me, “I wish I could paint, but I wasn’t born with the gift.”

Trust me, being an artist has nothing to do with some gift handed to us because we’re special, and you’re not. One look at my earlier work will convince anyone that I wasn’t born knowing how to paint..

She has no nose because I didn’t know how to paint one.

They say love is blind, and I’m thankful for that because had I known how truly ugly these paintings were at the time, I would have quit immediately. 

Throwback Thursday on a Wednesday
You can see more work from this old art journal here

Misconception No 3: Artists are extremely moody and only paint their emotions/feelings. 

Angry Rabbit
sold
Prints are available here

I painted my husband’s mood once when I painted Angry Rabbit, but I don’t make a habit of painting my own emotions. I’m sure some of my emotions seep into my work because I paint nearly every day. I’d have to be a robot or machine not to let that happen. However, I like to keep a safe distance between me and my artwork.

The part I get hung up on? I can’t imagine selling raw, personal work after I paint it. To know you wore your heart out on your sleeve, and now it’s going out the door. This is it. You will never, ever see it again. Nope, it’s not for me. I know artists who can do that, and it’s admirable. For me, if it’s personal, I want to hold it close, and never let it go. You can’t be a working artist if you do that, and I’d rather be working than hoarding all my work. Imagine the storage problems I’d run into. 😉