Passion for art

Kimberly Dow · 07-11-2003, 02:54 AM

Hi folks, this is my first post after my introduction, so be easy on me please.

I just finished reading the thread on artists being different. I was going to post there, but re-thought it.

I have never known a social worker, mechanic, contractor, lawyer, etc., who does not wish for an extra day off. They look forward to vacations, weekends and the possibility of winning the lottery. I do not know many other artists personally, but it seems like it would be an impossible career if you did not love it. So many people hate their chosen jobs. I cannot imagine hating painting and still being able to do it.

I speak only for myself, but maybe some of you are the same? To my shame, I hate family vacations because I usually cannot paint. If I go more than a couple of days without painting I do not feel emotionally stable, (crabby mommy). If I was fabulously rich I would still paint. I cannot sit and enjoy a movie without trying to decide how I would mix that color I just saw. Everything I see I mentally picture on a canvas. When I get my alone time to paint, whether I suceed on the canvas or not, I come home a happy and fufilled wife & mother. If I haven't been able to paint for some family reason or other I will usually lug the supplies home from the studio and sit at the coffee table painting and spending time with the family. Or when they are complaining that I have gotten obsessive.

So, what may be obsessive to my commercial contractor husband just because he can sit back and immerse himself in a movie and I cannot - I think is just passion. Could anyone do this job without loving it? Many careers for people are just to make money - is it possible for someone to do that with art? I would like to know if there has been a sucessful artist known to have despised their chosen career.

Peter Jochems · 07-11-2003, 09:31 AM

Hi Kimberly, welcome to the forum, I especially like the snow landscapes on your website.

Quote:

I would like to know if there has been a sucessful artist known to have despised their chosen career.

Michelangelo

Greetings,
Peter

Kimberly Dow · 07-11-2003, 03:33 PM

Peter,

Thank you. I just checked out your portraits, they are very moody. I especially like the fellow in the glasses, nice light.

Thanks for the answer.

Mike Dodson · 07-11-2003, 03:55 PM

Kim,

Welcome to the forum!

You're also a person after my own heart! I understand how you feel totally. Every year at vacation time my wife and I engage in a lengthy discussion over my wanting to bring my french easel with me to the beach. She doesn't buy the fact that my reason for bringing it is because it is attached to my umbrella.

I do have to take a moment from time to time to remind myself of what's realy important in life. I have found myself over the past few years spending less time with friends because "I could spend the time painting". I think maybe it's a little more difficult for those of us who are not in the business full time and are working diligently to get there. Not only about being in it full time but producing quality work also, which is really what get's us there anyway (now I'm sounding repetitive).

Again, welcome.

Michele Rushworth · 07-11-2003, 04:22 PM

I, too, would rather paint than do almost anything else, including going on most vacations or sitting around on the beach. (Vacations that involve lengthy visits to Parisian art museums, or Venice would be okay, of course!)

Since I've been "pro" for almost two years now, I can easily convince my family that I need to spend time painting. However it's still not easy to convince anyone that I "need" to work on paintings that are not commissioned portraits. They don't seem to get the fact that doing landscapes or still lifes for "fun" is necessary to keep my commissioned work fresh.

Timothy C. Tyler · 07-11-2003, 04:32 PM

Kim, you already know I like your work.

Tim

Marvin Mattelson · 07-11-2003, 04:49 PM

I love teaching because it gives me a break from the easel plus I get to socialize with like minded folks that are passionate about art. To me a workshop is the best vacation I could imagine and I get to make so many wonderful new friends.

Kimberly Dow · 07-12-2003, 01:16 AM

Thanks for the welcome Mike. I am glad to see I am not alone in this obsessive nature. See, we are different, but in a good way.

Michele, speaking of not wanting to hang at the beach; we have a pool and 3 children. The youngest needs supervision and so I will set up an easel out there and try to paint when they guilt me into it and I've been at the studio a lot. I have a very interesting abstract that occurred from my oldest one's impressive belly flop.

Thank you again Tim.

I have to say - I am really glad to be here. Other artists, all different levels, so much information, not to mention encouragement. It is a very, very good thing.