REMEMBER TO KEEP GETTING UP

Starting out in the artistic world is a very slow process; at least it has been for me, which makes it very hard to keep moving forward.  I think that is why I like this quote from Mr. Elliot.  It is easier to ‘stay the course’ with short term goal setting than long term ones.  Even when you miss your target in the race, you can ‘brush yourself off’ and be ready for the next one.  Remember, you still need to make sure your overall direction is not veering off course and stays true to the end game.  I need to plan out my upcoming ‘short races’ to keep persevering.  

Creative Corner is my 2013 experiment to see where it will go.  When you are paying out monthly to be in a co-op you need to make sure it makes sense with your direction.  Sales have been very small (not covering the monthly fees so far this year) so by the end of the year I need to evaluate if this is the right fit for my art as well as overall growth.  In fairness to Creative Corner, my glass art might be too highly priced for their market.  There are 2 parts to these decisions for me; the obvious being whether the sales cover the rent and the second being exposure.  Did this shop help me grow my art business?  Because of Creative Corner exposure, I received a call from a new shop in South Haven, Stokes HomesteadFarm Market.  It is a farm market and local handmade gift shop.  I stopped out there Tuesday and dropped off 2 wind chimes and a few Christmas ornaments.  You can see the products on the 2dogsglass website.  They are only open until October 31, so it will be a short exposure for this year.  After visiting the shop, it might be another store where I have the highest priced art pieces.  I really need to find more galleries where my art is priced in the mid-range, much like Glass House Designs in Lowell.  I am hopeful that spring will be a better fit for some of my outdoor glass art ideas for 2014, which hopefully will be in a better price point.  This new shop does not have a monthly fee, so it will be good to see if it gets enough traffic and my pieces sell or again, provide more exposure for my art.  I will not know that until next year, making it my 2014 experiment.  

How is my perseverance holding out?  That is a good question.  As I mentioned, I have not had a lot of sales so far, so the ‘challenges’ continue.  Looking at it in a positive light, I am learning and there continues to be room for “learning adjustments”.  The key is to continue to pick myself up and move forward.  It is time to put on my “project management hat” and plan out the balance of 2013.  The broad areas where I am focusing the “short races” are Christmas ornaments, stands for my glass art for next year, etsy advertising and teaching.  I have a few ideas to dig into these areas further.  Good thing there is a nice long weekend coming up to get a good start on that plan.  So yes, it has been slow, but I am ‘still moving forward’, albeit slowly.

I have put together a few more paper crafting classes and may have found a new location this week to teach them and possibly jewelry classes as well.  I spoke to a local art shop that might be interested in having me teach a few classes.  It is a start down that path anyway.

As you plan your artistic path, remember to persevere.  It is a KEY ingredient in staying the course to see where the road will take you.  Don’t cut your trip short and remember with each bump in the road we get smarter and stronger.  At least that is what I keep telling myself and I want to believe I am not the only one on this crazy road!