Who says that I need to produce new art work launch every art convention that I applied?
I am going to reflect on how much I used to put pressure on myself that I need to launch n big and new product every time I apply/get accepted to each art convention. That, I had to send new merchandise every time to the printing vendor after I get acceptance letter from the art convention.
I've done this in the past and as a result, I burned out way faster than ever. I keep seeing this online how some artist circle/people keep applying to new convention and attending one, and it's as if I was just 'lagging behind'
That is not the case, and here's why: I have talked to artists I know who have done multiple conventions in short amount a time.
And of course this is not to shame anybody, it's more of a reflection of my side and basically pointing it out to my inner critic.
Most of the time, they would plan ahead, months ahead even. For new product launch, they do not do it at once - it is more of an acumulation. So it's not always an instant decision every new convention people get accepted to, at least for the ones who have been doing art market quite consistently for years
While deadline makes people and I finish more, but to imagine and constantly applying to conventions and just making the deadline as a "fear factor" usually keeps me feeling burned out way faster.
That's why I do have a day job as a buffer, and yes my day-to-day at work varied, but it gives me a short break even from having to always creating artwork. I can always create art out of love, because it does not depend on my monthly income. I create more meaningful work without having to rush, and I feel much better if I just decide to put off my creative work the next day, because I want to trust myself I'll come back!
Also, I create new art nowadays out of my love for the craft, not purely from obligation. I have much better relationship with my creative work, and I'm getting good at protecting my own creative day.
I do have to be honest when it feels like everyone is on board with the convention-hopping lifestyle, there are probably teams, planning-ahead, and strategy underneath it. This is also true when those people have been doing it for years. So it's not like I am lagging behind, they are consisted of teams, not individual. And also, it's not making them less of an artist; they are doing it strategically.
When I think about "small business" it really is about "what I can do within my capacity", less about the scale. The scale comes later with my lifestyle. And I think it's good to remind myself of that, I'm just doing okay.
Thank you for reading through this more hodgepodge bearblog, and I'll see you on the next one!