Ed, I am someone who has been where you are. Your professors
are trying to brainwash you into thinking you'll never have to
"lower yourself" to doing any repair work and make anything
other than what you design.
Wendy,
I realize that less than ten percent of the artists that sell
there work through gallerys make enough to support themselves.
Know one has ever suggested I do this or that it is very likely
that I would succeed. But that won’t stop me from trying. My
professors have all done repair, production or commissions at
some level, they would be the first one’s to admit that they
could not make a living off of there jewelry alone.
I appreciate your real world view point, and luckily I have
marketable skills(I do tech support and work in Information
Services in the computer industry). So if I need to make some
money while trying to realize my dream, no problem.
Like you have done, I will probably end up apprenticing with a
gold smith. I’ve spent most of my life fixing things, so it’s a
logical progression.
Ed Colbeth wanderer@sprynet.com
Student, Metalsmith
Fairhaven, Ma
I realize that less than ten percent of the artists that sell
there work through gallerys make enough to support themselves.
Know one has ever suggested I do this or that it is very likely
that I would succeed.
Wow Ed, I just don’t believe that, some kind of odd anti-selling
ethos told to you there. You can do whatever you want to do,
without compromise, just find the audience to suit it and market
to it. You don’t have to pander or second guess-do what is right
for you and then logically, smartly, with research construct a
path to get there. If andy Goldsworthy can make a stupendous
living off making nature art pieces that only exist for a few
hours (and beautiful they are and fully documented they are-he
sells the docmentation-books) then you can make a living doing
exaclty what you want to do-you just have to approach it like a
business-and remember-no compromise. Being an artist is work and
smarts and thinking and problem solving. Thats the fun of it and
you really truly can eat from exactly whatever it is you want to
do.
Charles
Brain Press
Box 1624, Ste M, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2L7, Canada
Tel: 403-263-3955 Fax: 403-283-9053 Email: @Charles_Lewton-Brain
Metals info download web site: Learning Center - Ganoksin Jewelry Making Community
Product descriptions: http://www.ganoksin.com/kosana/brain/brain.htm
Links list hosted at the Metal Web News:
http://tbr.state.tn.us/~wgray/jewelry/jewelry-link.html
Thank You Charles…
I really needed you pep talk…even though it wasn’t addressed
to me it definitely brightened up my day…Ava