Waitlisted…

It has finally sunk in that I may be in my first national art show. Gulp! This is a huge step for me, my art and my art career. I wanted to share a couple of thoughts as I begin to prepare for the possibility of being in the show.

Show Details: American Craft Council National Show in Atlanta, GA – March 11-13, 2011 – Cobb Galleria Center

I am #1 on the waitlist for artists in my category. That means that when (I’m saying when) someone does not elect to participate in the show, I am the first one they will offer that space to on the waiting list. I could know soon, or I could know days/weeks before the actual show. That means I need to prepare as if I am already in the show, so WHEN they call I am ready. Produce, produce , produce…inventory, that’s the name of the game!

For me, this is a huge shift in where I always placed my art in my life. It has been a hobby and gift I have shared with a select group of people for many years (over twenty!). To make it something that I now share with the general public is new and exciting. YES, that transition started when we opened the gallery, now it will move into an entirely new arena. Gulp! Having strangers view, review, comment on and most of all purchase my art is exciting and daunting at the same time. This is a big commitment and a realm that needs to be treated with respect and discipline. It will make me change the positioning of my art in my life and reserve more time to create, develop and complete different artworks…another gulp!

For my art, it means taking it out of the private, safe world I can control and throwing it into the public domain. Yipes! People of all sizes, shapes and colors will now be able to view what I have created. It means treating it as a business and money-making venture, not just a hobby to do for friends, relatives and at the holidays. It also means setting side time, when I am alone in the studio, to create. (Art requires solitude – we best create when we are at peace!) which means putting other things aside…television, activities, events, even time with the people I love and adore…in order to do my best work. Another commitment in order to adapt and grow with this new opportunity. It means storing and tracking the supplies I need to create what is in my head. It means improving my skills in order to be able to make my hands complete the ideas floating around n my head. It means developing multiple ideas at the same time and working on them all to the point of completion. Wow! That’s a lot!

For my art career, it means a quantum leap into a bigger reality. No longer being obscure and safe, it means competition, criticism, collaboration and currency! It means taking my art and putting it next to the creations of other creative people from across the country and making a statement. It means setting sales goals, inventory thresholds, and time commitments for creating, showing and selling my art. This hobby moves from the studio into a real career…and a career that now needs to find its place in each 24 hour day. And how do I manage this change along with the other portions of my life – work, school, charitable works, family, home, etc.? It becomes more than a nice to do, t becomes an area of focus.

Whew! I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a lot! I will keep you posted as I progress along this path. As soon as I hear anything, I will let you know. So stay tuned!