My art is now represented by a gallery

Yippie. Another dream of mine has now come to pass. I am a painter and am now represented by a very well known gallery in this area. I'm now a professional painter!

Hot damn Jo, those are good. I do more impressionistic stuff though realistic. I dont have the attention span for photo realism.This is a gallery where you Must come up with one new work every month. It's almost like writing a book a month (hopeful that it wont take all my time.) I was totally amazed that the owner (and artist) liked me and thought my work was different enough to let in. (It is official by the way, I am "in"). One thing gallerys do not like are 2 artists who do the same thing. I am not allowed to paint "buccholic horses in a field" for the gallery. I am allowed only to paint horse racing or equestrienne (jumping and so on). The owner sort of "tells" you what to paint-- what is expected. I got "horse racing, boats, and golf courses," and she also said "events" so I can throw in a hot air balloon or a ferris wheel. Neat-o. Actually it is a boffo job. I would much rather do it than work at T-a-c-o Bell. It does mean work. As a race track artist, I actually have to learn everything (I know a lot already) and go see the races, take photos, do sketches, and as a boat painter, I have to go to the lakes and look for half submerged boats in pond scum (yummy) and get pictures and sketches. It's a lot like publishing-- a lot of chances to be taken advantage of-- I have gotten to the first tier.

One thing that has changed is my relatonship with the work. It began almost immedietly-- it would be similar if I had been published. Art is now a job, not a hobby.

agfleenor said:

Wow, congratulations! Are you finding it hard to balance this job and writing?

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For a while I will need to get a few paintings ahead. It not only means painting, it also means finding the subject and going there usually with note book, cameras and other tools-- then coming back to the "studio" and painting. I have about 5 oils that I need to finish. They take about 6 months before they are chemically set and can be sold.

The writing will need to wait maybe a month. I think that it helps because now i have a new aspect of my life.

I still need to work, you know. Unless I can sell 2 thousand doller painitings, the sales will not support me. I would be lucky to make 600 dollars a month.

I am going to try to make it on a part time job, finish the books and paint for a living. I still need health care and a steady income. I will not get that sitting in a back room painting (or writing).