tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post433641850819484766..comments2023-10-20T08:52:24.875-07:00Comments on this artist's life:: reinforcing the dreamWhitney Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-2723567241023985382009-03-28T01:03:00.000-07:002009-03-28T01:03:00.000-07:00Your post spoke to me so clearly. Thank you for yo...Your post spoke to me so clearly. Thank you for your honestly and willingness to say what you feel in a public forum.<BR/><BR/>I was so sad earlier this evening when someone close to me told me that they thought my blog needed to filter out the overly personal part of me that I was including in my writing. The part the let the reader in to see me as a Mom making art in her freezing cold garage amongst the bikes, scooters and rakes - racing to the bus stop to pick up the kids in the middle of it all.<BR/><BR/>He said it took away from the image of what people want to think of when they think of an artist. Wha?!!? Talk about taking the wind out of my sails. I struggle so much with that anyway - balancing my life as a mother of three young kids with my desire to create in clay. Struggling with what people really see as a legitimate job and how they view what I do. Just because I don't go to an "office", wear dress clothes or get a bi-weekly paycheck, doesn't mean I don't have a "job". <BR/><BR/>So why do people see it that way? Why should being a Mom even matter when it comes to what people think about my work?<BR/><BR/>I decided to read other ceramic artist's blogs that I follow because I wanted to see how personal other people were getting and how it made me feel. Then I read your blog and found your honesty to be really refreshing. It's easy to find a generic blog. I want to read the honest ones. <BR/><BR/>I guess I have my answer. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for helping me see it more clearly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-62369747527881322152009-03-27T00:49:00.000-07:002009-03-27T00:49:00.000-07:00thank you for this post! i'm a fellow potter that ...thank you for this post! i'm a fellow potter that really needs to be encouraged by brave souls like yourself that are willing to express things like you've written. the light in me (and the little devil too) bows to you!Rickyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13089589770446102550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-3988129367053588192009-03-20T09:50:00.000-07:002009-03-20T09:50:00.000-07:00Saw your "story" Buyers Market marketing piece in ...Saw your "story" Buyers Market marketing piece in Clay Times- you go girl!Dferghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06630003184712918172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-52790396625996211912009-03-19T12:21:00.000-07:002009-03-19T12:21:00.000-07:00Whitney, this post reverberated with me. Thank yo...Whitney, this post reverberated with me. Thank you. I have more to say, but not the time at the moment, but I felt compelled to say that I felt your writing deeply.Peggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102739979561017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-73179214312379923702009-03-12T21:12:00.000-07:002009-03-12T21:12:00.000-07:00Well said Whitney!! Many including myself have dea...Well said Whitney!! Many including myself have dealt with this struggle to be an artist full time and pay the bills. <BR/><BR/>It is wonderful to read about your highs and lows in this journey.jen jeglinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17973339906755277047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-74214800663256439502009-03-11T14:47:00.000-07:002009-03-11T14:47:00.000-07:00SING IT, SISTAH !SING IT, SISTAH !rae dunn.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12320993091302012853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-63544829558432555642009-03-11T09:41:00.000-07:002009-03-11T09:41:00.000-07:00Interesting, the notion that you even have to be "...Interesting, the notion that you even have to be "good" to follow the artist path... as if all doctors, lawyers, teachers, construction workers, secretaries, etc, are "good" at what they do. No one tells a CEO to have a back up plan in case the gig doesn't work out. Hey, have passion and follow your heart. If you're "good" enough to make a success of it- a success by YOUR measure, then dammit, you're "good".Michelle Engel Bencskohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16219482020450093441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-78320833705853190822009-03-11T07:07:00.000-07:002009-03-11T07:07:00.000-07:00I'm pretty sure you just put in to words what ever...I'm pretty sure you just put in to words what every artist has experienced at one time or another, and put it quite well might I add. It is incredibly irksome dealing with the condecending looks and patronizing comments when I talk to people about being a potter. Of course that is just until I tell them that I am planning to get my masters degree and would like to teach college. Then they get this look of, "oh, so you do plan to do something with your life." <BR/>And sadly the most bothersome can be my wife who supports what I do, but at the same time says that I can try to be a full time potter when I can make money at it. Until then I should have another job. And on that note, now I have to go apply for a job as a librarian.-Rob, Simple Circle Studioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870433162485160315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-7521071266617348722009-03-10T21:38:00.000-07:002009-03-10T21:38:00.000-07:00Great post!Great post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112347934232298502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-32300293359759565742009-03-10T10:32:00.000-07:002009-03-10T10:32:00.000-07:00The patronizing look of "how sweet she paints pict...The patronizing look of "how sweet she paints pictures" as if I am some sort of drop out, possibly incapable of doing anything but paint pictures... annoying. If they use the word "arteeest" that really sends me over the edge.<BR/><BR/>I often hear people say "I wish I could do that...you are so lucky" And it's said in the same way that someone would say, "I wish I could live on a tropical island". I do feel lucky, actually not LUCKY but very blessed and happy to be doing what I do! But it's not all sunshine and roses (especially here in Seattle) I work my ass off as do many of the other working artists I know. <BR/><BR/>But like "undaunted" said, often it's other artists that perpetuate this notion of the starving artist as if it should be enough to just be doing your art. To expect more is somehow indulgent or greedy or unrealistic. It's true I would make art even if I wasn't being paid for it. But this is my business and I intend to be successful at it!<BR/><BR/>Sometimes people congratulate me on selling my work or having a show or even having a website and they say things like, "wow you are really organized" or "this is really like a real business!" and I have to tell them think to myself "It IS a fucking business! what did you expect?"<BR/><BR/>Ok back to work...<BR/>ps I love your blog--thanks for taking the time to share your words with us. Great inspiration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-69711017212950450312009-03-10T10:26:00.000-07:002009-03-10T10:26:00.000-07:00I'm always happy to come upon one of your posts, e...I'm always happy to come upon one of your posts, especially since I make my living as an artist. <BR/><BR/>Last week I had a featured article on etsy, Quit Your Day Job, and endured a number of snarky comments in my in box about how that couldn't be possible.<BR/><BR/>It's laugh out loud funny since etsy is truly only a part of my growing "living"<BR/>xo SherrySherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425809129458460775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-92670318735060912009-03-10T08:29:00.000-07:002009-03-10T08:29:00.000-07:00A very lucrative graphic design career/business fi...A very lucrative graphic design career/business financially fueled our family for years -and completely BURNED ME OUT. I now enjoy a much less lucrative career as a metal and clay sculptor but my life is WONDERFUL and my family LOVES me again. <BR/><BR/>BTW -the honesty of your Blog is one of the primary reasons I am a loyal reader, as I'm not yet brave enough to post the realities of being a full time artist on my Blog... thanks.cindy shakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01353820195984269329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-38058813837045811622009-03-10T01:13:00.000-07:002009-03-10T01:13:00.000-07:00Oh, I know what you mean! In my area, even artist...Oh, I know what you mean! In my area, even artists say you can't make a living in art, and they have day jobs to support themselves. I'm not saying having a day job is wrong, but they are so negative about their own passion! So thank you for reinforcing the dream!Undauntedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11600222853782999884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-14222382128598452662009-03-09T20:23:00.000-07:002009-03-09T20:23:00.000-07:00BRAVA!!!!!Keep telling it like it is. michele d.BRAVA!!!!!<BR/><BR/>Keep telling it like it is. <BR/><BR/>michele d.Michele D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10897458220757979769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-51844291767598343662009-03-09T17:07:00.000-07:002009-03-09T17:07:00.000-07:00I hear ya! I've just started following your blog i...I hear ya! I've just started following your blog in the past week or so...sharing all those horrible show experiences in the past, wow! what perseverance! I love to hear about the ups and downs of an artists' process, so thanks for sharing!Candied Fabricshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959758829749783921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-43583056516037969202009-03-09T16:10:00.000-07:002009-03-09T16:10:00.000-07:00hear hear!I always laugh when people assume I'm po...hear hear!<BR/>I always laugh when people assume I'm poor or that my husband supports me!I know the work you put in and how legimate what you (we) do is, so shout it lady!!! I think I will too!Linda Johnson Studiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03351361991765922880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-14240507700691109872009-03-09T14:06:00.000-07:002009-03-09T14:06:00.000-07:00Shout that message from the hill tops Whitney! I ...Shout that message from the hill tops Whitney! I forwarded it to my daughter who is currently an apprentice tattoo artist and hears lots of "oh"s when she tells people what she's doing. Thanks for the reminder.Sue Pariseau Potteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10714855341699465370noreply@blogger.com