In response to those of you requesting a "book club" atmosphere around Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist, I've just finished a fun new lens on Squidoo called Ancient Artist Resources for Artists - Study Group Guide for Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist.
There's new content, discussions, and my favorite feature - the Dueling Debate Modules, where you can agree or disagree. Why not get your artist friends together in a cafe or a studio and have an old-fashioned Salon?
Here is a sampling:
INTRODUCTION, EXCERPT:
Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist is about your art - why you create art, and the choices you must make in order to create art. It is partly a discussion on the practical aspects of the art business, as well as an exploration into your own private understanding of what it means to be successful as an artist.
Just buying a book and reading it isn't always enough. The experiences of artists differ. The motives for creating differ, as well as the sources of satisfaction. While Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist is written from personal experience, as well as the experiences of others, it raises questions that are not easily answered.
This lens is an additional resource as you begin to identify your own questions.
This lens is about taking risks.
It's about finding your voice.
It's about art.
DISCUSSION EXCERPT
Creating commerce through our art work
...and the difference between the two
Art and commerce have always had a partnership: throughout most of world history, art was a commodity - a decoration, a fetish, forms of identification, or a means of story telling to an illiterate society. Artists worked for patrons and created on demand. Very few signed their work, and only within the last century has the idea taken root of the Artist creating Artwork as a means of personal experience - performance art, earth works art, environmental experience art. While expressive freedom has indeed opened the doors of opportunity for many artists, for others, the reasons behind the "why" of creating art have become far more nebulous.
Creative people struggle to find meaning and purpose as a daily experience. Without a "patron" we find ourselves on our own. And we ask: Who will buy our art? Who will help us sell our art? How can we justify the long hours of hard work with so little financial reward? Where will we find the funds needed to replenish our supplies, pay our mortgages, and contribute to our families while still maintaining our creative purpose without having to give up?
In Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist, the section on How to Mentor Yourself focuses upon how we can identify sources of inner emotional support, obtain practical knowledge, discover methods to improve our craft, and build resources to help maintain emotional balance. Discuss your response to these questions:
Do we create as a form of self expression? And if so, then when our "expression" is not appreciated why do we begin to doubt ourselves?
Do we create to sell in the marketplace? What does this mean in terms of the decisions we make regarding what we produce? How does this affect our interest in the work - whether the work sells, or does not sell?
What ideas did you respond to in the essay by Shannon E Myrick, Ph.D, titled "Motivation and Art: Does getting paid for your work lower its quality?" How does this theme of intrinsic verses extrinsic motivation work it's way through Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist?
Depending on the type of art you create (photography, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, clothing, painting) how have you integrated your personal expression into your work?
How do you think you are honoring your creative vision and why do you find this important?
What are your best methods for maintaining a balance between what seem like competing concerns?
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I hope you will hop on over to Squidoo and see what's there - it's too much to recreate on this blog.
Best to all of you - thank you so much for supporting Amcient Wisdom Emerging Artist, and wishing all of you a happy, creative life every day.
Book - Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist: the business plan (not just) for the mature artist
Kindle US Store - Ancient Wisdom Emerging Artist: the business plan (not just) for the mature artist
Kindle UK Store - Ancient Wisdom Emerging ARtist: the business plan (not just) for the mature artist
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