Dear Lucius,<br>
You said, "I have always loved crafting things with my hands, but I find that when I make something, I usually give it away or sell it for some paltry amount to my friends and family, because I get more out of the smiles on their faces and their happiness than I do out of their money.I'm afraid I could never go into buisness for myself, because I'd make a poor buisnessman! I'd go broke trying to help people, and anyway, I'm terrified of trying to make my art into "work", because I'm afraid I would burn out and it would no longer be fun for me. You know what I mean? "<br>
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WOW can I ever relate to THAT! It's a long story of how I finally came to allow myself to get paid for that which I love to do, as I love to help people also. It is why I became a shamanic practitioner/herbalist 10 years ago. Go to my Ancient Ways Webpage at:
geocities.com/bast1959/index.html<br>
Click just below the hand where it says "About Ancient Healing Techniques".<br>
<br>
I have found however, that rather than feeling as though doing my art as work becoming a drudgery, it is as though work has become fun! It is a job that I love, and thus, my chosen profession, but never a drudgery, even though as you well know, long hours often go into the work. I even enjoy the waitress job that I do nights to "fill in the gaps", as it is in a great restaurant where the food is really good,I enjoy the clientelle and the owners not only appreciate me and treat me well-they've given me generous shelf space to sell my work without taking a cut for themselves.<br>
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I have 2 degrees, a BA in Fine Arts and an Associates in Graphic Design. Long and loud were my lamentations that I couldn't find a job in my field-and nobody wanted to hire a 43 year old at an entry level graphics position (which was how old I was when I got my graphics degree).And here I am still paying off student loans for both! I finally got to the point in my life that I was either going to look at my artistic ability as a gift or a curse, and either use it, or die spiritually from letting the gift rot. In our society, being an artist is a mixed blessing. But I believe like you do that our Creator gave us this gift for a reason, that it is meant to be shared, and that in fact, its energy can be converted into whatever is needed to "stay alive" so to speak.<br>
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So, with lots of support from wonderful friends,my mother, good honest employers and a loving husband who saw me through the really bad times, I held a vision in my mind of someday finding the right "audience" in order to have my work appreciated, and to sell it. Let's face it-the general public's taste is in their hind end. I had to findother like-minded folks like yourselves to succeed in fulfilling my dream.<br>
Sad to say that I make more money as a waitress than I would have in an entry level graphics position, where all they care about is speed, and couldn't care less about quality, which is why that it is true for me that capitalism and true art do not mix. I'm happy that now, I don't have to sacrifice quality and thus compromise myself.<br>
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As for making lots of $$-NO. The trick for me is to keep my own needs to a minimum and to live as frugally as possible so that whatever I do earn counts. I am learning that the less "things" I require, the more I have. That way, I can keep my prices down, sell quality work, and yes, definitely make people happy, which to me, is very important-although I do realize that there are some folks that you just can't please, no matter what you do, as they're basically just miserable! I do this work because it is my passion, and has been my whole life. And I KNOW that you understand where I'm coming from on that. Thanks for allowing me to share...<br>
venetiancat.com <p>Pax et Lux,<br>
Julia<br>
"As you change your thoughts, so you change your world..."<br>
</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=iuliacassiavegetia>Iulia Cassia Vegetia</A> at: 10/1/04 10:58 am<br></i>
