Winter of my discontent

Well thank heavens that it’s finally 2023. Last year was a pretty intense year in my art journey. I had my first solo show, joined a couple of new galleries that I was determined to work with, and I saw my work fly off all over the world. However, I also had three car accidents that left me having to reject work and opt out of a couple of shows/ exhibitions that I would have loved to participate in. A head injury, a burst up hand and a broken shoulder were just a few of the injuries that prevented me from closing the year with a good Christmas season. Throw in the economic crisis and my art journey practically ground to a halt.

So as 2023 begins, It’s a big dilemma to decide to keep going with my painting or not. Having a full time job leaves me with little free time anyway, and so anything I do with that time has to have a payoff, either financially or practically. I can continue to paint because it makes me money, or because I’m honing my skills in order to perhaps turn painting into my new career. But without the sales I normally get, painting is effectively an expensive hobby. Materials, marketing and framing all cost money. With no return on that investment it’s a difficult thing to justify. I believe that I will continue to improve as a painter if I continue to work at it, but effectively I’m gambling on my future, using money I am not recouping. The question is, how long do you continue to back yourself if it’s not paying off? It is hopefully an investment, but the evidence at the moment is that it’s not a good one! I could use my time doing private tuition and guaranteeing an income instead. Sensible, and financially necessary. But how many other artists have given up their own dreams in order to be practical? I walk a path that many artists have walked before me. Should my self belief make me continue to set goals about working with more galleries, and doing new exhibitions? Or should my pocket dictate the my time is better spent elsewhere taking on private tutees? It’s not easy to give up on yourself, but hard times dictate your choices sometimes. And I suspect there will be more hard times ahead…