Can You Find Your Artistic Voice Even When No One Is Listening?

   I've always been a fan of those pseudo philosophical questions like "If a tree fell in the forest and no one heard it, did it really happen?"  What is reality, if not our sensory perceptions, which goes hand in hand with what is art.  But that isn't what this post is about.

Within the past year, I have twice had to take back paintings from traditional galleries who decided to close their doors.  I've listened to those gallery directors reinforce their decisions with long litanies of others who had also closed...more than ever, many artists will be wondering if there's anybody out there willing to listen to their artistic voice.

As uncomfortable as the economic slowdown might be on a personal level, forward thinking artists should embrace it as an opportunity to stretch.  To breathe deeply, open those arms, and ask the universe "what's next?"

I'm not a futurist.  I don't claim to have any prescient talent, even -- especially! --when I'm painting.  But I do know that I don't want to continue careening frantically around trying to find that Rags-to-Riches pathway to artistic success. 

So what does that mean to the Ancient Artist? 

It definitely does not mean that I throw in the towel.  It means that I have been given the opportunity to do with my "art career" what I do with my "art work."  To savor the moment, wander around the spaces and reconnect with being present in the moment. To reclaim the joie de vivre of being an artist.

First, I have been taking the time to discover what I am not going to be.

I am not going to be a commercial print artist. I don't have the temperament and my artistic strengths are better expressed in a different direction.  I will credit two books for helping me discover this insight: Barney Davey's "How To Profit from the Art Print Market" and Alyson B. Stanfield's "I'd rather be in the studio!" -- both of which are invaluable resources for any art professional.  Discovering clearly what you want and do not want out of your experiences is empowering.  It allows you to respect yourself and your art, and it defines the pathway you, alone, will take.

Secondly, I have been imagining how society will value art differently in the future instead of constantly looking for ideas from the past.  Technology will not go away, it is far too convenient to pay my bills on line and find what I'm looking for on the big mega sites.  But I believe that in response to the expanding access that technology brings into our culture, there will be a response back toward small, community oriented, face-to-face human contact between the farmer and the cook, the artist and the home owner.   Art will become personal again, a hands on, in the studio, smelling the wet oil paint  while arguing with the artist kind of thing. It will be the total experience that people crave in response to the isolation of sitting for hours in front of computer screens.   My job as the artist is to discover how best to facilitate this concept .

Here are some of the other useful tools that I've discovered which have helped me push through the fear and give strength to my artistic voice.

Blogging, used as a forum to share and exchange ideas, experiences, to recognize the beautiful work of others, and to
connect to a wider artist audience.  (Notice I said "artist" and not "artistic," because "artistic" means "commercialism" to me and if I am constantly thinking  and speaking from a "selling" perspective I can't be open enough to receive the unexpected breakthroughs available to me.)

The Newsletter.  This is very appropriate as the commercial vehicle, and should be sent widely to the mailing list I am still steadily building. That is, if I had a newsletter, which I don't. Not yet..  But it's on my Ta-Dah list, along with developing my Squidoo lens -- also very useful for the "selling" aspect of life.  I visualize the newsletter as the vehicle used to distinguish my work from others, helping to maintain that human-to-human contact, especially if a hand-written note is added to the printed text.

Journaling - I know we've all heard this one, too.  But if you have Alyson's book, you will find some excellent questions to ask yourself.  (And if you don't have it, go to her website and order it.)

Historically, the artists, writers, poets, musicians have fulfilled the role of "agitator," in that they present well-considered challenges to the prevailing ideology, offering alternative ideas to what should be valued in a "good life."  What do you value? 

That is your artistic voice.

This is the newest in the Mesa Series.  It's not quite finished -- but then, are they ever finished?

40 x 60, oil on canvas

Mesa Series: Lament

@ 2008 Sue Favinger Smith

What I learned from Alyson:  I am inspired by the concept that begins to emerge after the initial pours, looking for the random happenings and then developing them, painting a place I've never been but discovering it bit by bit as it reveals itself to me.  I am exploring, taking risks the way the first humans dared to venture to places beyond the horizon, a place -- an experience --never to be repeated.

Ta-Dah list update - January and February efforts

Accepted:  Oil Painters of America

Declined: Greenhouse Gallery Salon International 2008 (But it was one of the most empowering "Decline" letters I've ever received)

Pending: Artful Home Portfolio Competition (yeah, I know, print art)

              City of Gresham Art Exhibit

Comments

[Serena Barton]

This is the third time I've tried to post a comment regarding this post, so I'll keep trying.

Thank you, Sue, for reminding me to savor the joy and gift of being an artist, right now, in the moment. It's so easy to get caught up in all the marketing we need to do and sometimes I forget to listen to and honor my artistic voice.

I find "Lament" breathtaking. I can't tell you in words how much it speaks to me!

We out here are "listening" to your voice!

[Katherine]

I can't recall whether or not I've commented yet to say 'Great post' (aha - the preview tells me 'not'!).

I've linked to you today on my who's made a mark this week? post.

[Casey Klahn]

Hey, Sue. Nice to meet you.

As a 49 year-old artist, who began my professional art career @ 10 years ago, I relate to your "Ancient artist" moniker.

One thing I've discovered as an older artist is that it is important for me to start "at the top". I am not a school kid, after all!

Also, I do remember that I am a member of the Baby Boom, and therefore my population demographic has been an advantage that others may not enjoy.

Right now (thankfully) I am not experiencing a negative downturn in sales, in spite of the news reports.

I'll be checking in.

[Bonnie Luria]

Sue,
You very accurately describe the inevitable transformations and cycles that affect everyone of us. And when times become challenging because of change, is when artists ( creative thinkers, all ) thing of sideways approaches to things. The more I read on the specific blogs I choose because of their savvy, the more it seems that galleries are subject to their own vulnerabilities and alternate venues become the pathway.
Pro-active, clever use of space that isnt being used, co-hosting with non art related offerings, and direct invitations are substituting for what used to be the " Gallery " experience. This is the same metamorphosis I've witnessed in retail stores that used to be individual, unique and sought after. We've become generic and de-evolved as a culture.
Becoming creative in our own marketing is another extension of an artists' life.
You'll prevail. And keep painting because it's what you do.