Artist Guide 04 - Pricing

Nothing I make is intended for sale at the time of creation and only becomes so in the fullness of time. 

Pricing is one of the hardest tasks for so many artists in their creative process, numbers and money is a ‘right brained’ process after all, or is it! 

Pricing works is and always has been a bit of a breeze for my works have a value  related not only to the emotional input during creation but also long afterwards, a sentimental value if you like.  I like to live with my work after creation, either hung on the wall or placed around my studio and home as if in a gallery setting, they bring me joy, happiness, contemplation, consideration of attributes and let downs, it is only when I have tired of any one piece that I consider it to have any monetary value, a value which is based entirely on the length of time I have enjoyed it, moreso,  how much I would accept to part with it; time on construction, creation, size or complexity really plays no part at all in my considerations.

As I come toward a show or a point of sale everything does become very relaxing as I finalise my prices, some rise and some fall though each with a value that is related, not only to the emotional value but also in relation to other works of similarity; by the time I get to the point of providing a price I know in my heart of hearts that it is realistic, honest and true value for money with hope only that the buyer will gain as much from their purchase as I lose in its loss.

You have to be realistic when it comes to pricing not only of the intrinsic value of the work but also what you have given your art over the span of your lifetime and career, what have you sacrificed to bring a piece of work to the material world .

Commissions work is an entirely different concept and is usually based upon so many different variables that it would be far too much to consider in a single blog post, the subject matter, the materials, the work, the time, the complexity and even the person is a consideration, only good consultation with the client will bring a mutually acceptable agreement.

As a matter of experience abilities increase and tasks become easier, works are produced more fluidly and maturity to a point where the making of art does become easier, it is for this reason that you must reflect upon what has gone before more than simply what effort has gone into a single piece.

Happy Creating and enjoy your works.

Artist Guide 03 - Burn-out

There are two things that I hear most about in this creative world, the first is ''How do I price my work'' and the second is ''I just cant function at the moment'', along with the latter and particularly with fledgling creatives comes the worry that ''I have lost it [The ability to create]
I will cover pricing in the next blog post so for this one it is that dreaded period of 'BURN-OUT'

It is inconceivable that for most the ability to maintain a constant 24/7 focus on work is simply not possible, perhaps for short bursts and usually at the time when the joy of creativity is at its peak we can, or have, the belief in that moment, when everything comes together, when life is balanced and harmonious and everything flows, energy and immagination in a veritable flurry of creative discovery, the higher one goes however the greater the drop when it all suddenly falls apart.
Out of the blue and seemingly All of a sudden, this creative streak has gone, the mind is tired, immagination is dried up, a blank piece of paper either stays blank or hits the pile of scribbled-on paper in the bin, unfinished macquettes sit on the work top and tools lie untouched, in essence the creatives depression sets in and everything simply does not work.
I can tell you now that THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT STATE!  Nor has it appeared out of the blue moreso at the end of a series of steps unnoticed. so, how do we deal with this loss of our lifes sustinence.
Accepting that we are in a place where nothing is going to work is the first step, instead we should view this as a period of R & R, of Rest and Recovery, walk away, do nothing connected with art or whatever it is that you are unable to do, we have not lost our ability for the rest of our lives though it may seem so at the moment, the ability to create is a natural human condition and resides within all of us throughout our lives and will never leave us, when we find ourselves in this place of inability to create take stock of how this has happened for there will be markers that you can use in the future to identify this road map to burn-out.
For this reason alone we should have another interest aside art, something else to turn to, even if it is not a hobby, after all our work as creatives is just that, work, and all workers need a break at sometime even the most prolific of  'holics'.

Look around you, how is your life outside of art, is your studio a mess, how is your family, your friends, take time out for a 'meet and greet' fellow creatives, go visit them or even if only on-line do some networking, take a walk or three, relax and put your feet up and languish in what it is that you have created, no matter what you find to do enjoy it and make the most of this rest period that comes at the end of any intense period of creativity.

It matters not how long this R & R period is for your body and mind will lead you and allow you to return when you are wholly ready, I can assure you that when you do return it will be in one of two ways and usually related the very same way that you found yourself dysfunctional, either slowly leading you back into it with achievable goals and passive ideas or, as the result of a sincere decision based reasoning, learn about yourself and how you function in this return to work, over time, (in much the same way that you learn to understand the steps that lead to a period of  R & R) you will learn your cues for your return to work, these cues are specific to you and your lifestyle and rarely change if they do it will be in response to your positive change as a growing creative.

Once the modes of your personal transition are learned you will find that in the long term your creative life, your general health and well-being will all become far more enjoyable as you seamlessly slide from work to rest and back again, this can be a time for evaluation, a change in direction or discipline even  either way, when you do return I guarentee it will be with a fresh outlook and renewed energy both of which can only grow and enhance you as an artist and your creative practice.

next month I will be addressing the creatives dilemma that is 'Pricing Works', until then,  have a wonderful and artful creative time.

Andrew is a full time artist and founder member of the Biomorphism Arts Movement, with more than 5 decades of creative life there are few disciplines that he has not engaged with to some level of success, 17 of these years have been fully dedicated to his creative practice and currently he works as a sculptor. 

Artist Guide 02 ..... Flexibility

I am fortunate to have lived a life of change, inconvenient and seemingly uneccessary though some were the lesson for me was to go with the flow and to find my own path in that forward motion.
Now, as an artist, the lessons learned are the rockbed and foundations of my working practice.
It is said that people are in our lives for a Reason, a Season or a Lifetime and I equate to this in my take on art and creativity, there must be a reason to create there must be a Season to work in and all must lead toward a lifetimes work.  Emphasis for me is on the Season, a project, a research period, an inspiring thought or purpose, a period of physical work, these all have shut off periods, a shelf life if you wish.
During this seasonal time work and experience grow and with it the elements of imagination and ability and not  until the end near is it that the next step can be seen, the next step can be either to continue along this path and expand to another level or, which is often the case, to take what is learned and move in a different direction, it has been this constant ebb and flow of change which has brought me a particular style which embraces all that I have learned and been added to, a collaborative mission of past and present.
Both as people and as artists we grow when change takes place, the trick is understanding the implications and knock on effects, the hurdles that may come and the things we have to put into place to combat difficulties and hurdles that lie ahead, Newton was more philosopher than scientist when he penned his theories of motion and stated that for everything there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Work will always show the way forward, it is not something that we have to consider in great detail we are just responsible for making that change happen, it can be as dramatic as a studio refit to accomodate sculpture and 3D work from that of a painting studio or, as slight as finding a particular colour shape or form that you react to and feel that need to progress further, if it feels good keep it, be flexible to change and ever move forward!

Artist Guide 01 ......Get Scary!

01 - Commit to Something Scary

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A lot has happened in my life over the past few months, but I'm used to being busy so on the surface my day-to-day activities didn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary. 

But, I had noticed changes. I'd been spending fewer hours working each day, fewer days each week.

Initially, I attributed the shift in my work schedule to trying to live a more balanced life. But, after some honest analysis, I realized that many of the things on my "to do" list where things that required me to go outside my comfort zone. 

There were phone calls and follow ups that I was putting off. I needed to contact and get in touch with some people I didn't know well, and speak with others who work in areas of the art world I'm less familiar with.

Furthermore, many of the "to dos" I'd been avoiding revolved around making decisions and commitments about events or activities that will take place 6 or 10 months even years from now.

As crazy as it sounds, I found I was avoiding, worrying about, or putting off the things I should be doing because I was afraid, or unsure if I would be up to the task.

What a waste of energy! Fortunately it's a problem with an easy solution - commitment followed by action. 

Are there things in your art practice you could be doing to move your business forward? Well, here's the easy solution, rest assured, if you do nothing, it is guaranteed that nothing will happen and your dreams will simply remain as dreams.

Just do it. Commit to something big, something new or even scary, something you might not be ready for, and get ready and bear in mind the words of Herman Melville, (August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance period. “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation”

It doesn't matter what the commitment is but boils down to one thing, to take a step outside of your comfort zone:

• to approach 3 new galleries over the next month,
• to book a stand at an art fair or open your studio an extra weekend this year,
• to start a blog or newsletter,
• to start  a new series of work, or focus on a new style or technique,
• to teach a new class, give a talk or write an article

It doesn't matter what you commit to, just that you commit - and take action toward making it happen.

• Write down your decision and tell others about it.
• Schedule time in your diary to research galleries, fairs or events, then chose one and apply.
• Register a Blog and start familiarizing yourself with the format,
• Layout a newsletter or start writing content,
• Outline a workshop or topic you are interested in speaking or writing about.

You don't need to know all the details, or even what the end result will look like, just commit and get started.

Everything else will take care of itself.

Twixt Twa

I posted 2 images this morning, taken through the windows of where I live, one looking coastwards, a matter of 4 miles to the West and one Eastward toward the Western Edge of the Lower Fells, the contrast was not so much one of landscape but of the sky.  To the West of me illuminated gunmetal blue indicative of a seasonal thunder and lightening storm and to the East, blue and clear sky through the broken cloud painted by the sun, there is but 8 miles between the two and here I sit, equidistant between the two or, as is the local dialect, 'twixt twa'.

This has not always been the case for me, I have always been a warm weather person and often escaped the English winters for sunnier climate, my argument and basis for a life of exploration and discovery, Spain, Tenerife, Saudi Arabia, India, Greece et al how, I wonder, did I ever find retirement living in this sometimes cold and unforgiving environment.

Should I choose to ponder this question I would for sure spend too much time searching for some credible answer and time is too valuable to idle away on questions that are simply not relevant, life is like that, a series of ideas, dreams, plans and decisions all requiring questions and answers.

Though Life is good at the moment to remain so requires constant housekeeping and questions of health, finances and of work, without which there can be no progress, time, energy and, for the best result, a whole brained attitude is needed, finances aside even composition is a left brained activity.

I have now abandoned wax and the Polycaprolactone, I asked and expected much from these materials and though both were interesting in their own right it is a case of horses for courses and despite the fun of experimentation both proved to be unsuitable for the kind of work that I needed it to do, nothing was wasted and much learned.

The studio continues to evolve in preparation for the Polymer Clay work as does the Biomorphics Group which continues to grow, in 3 weeks I launch the contributors Galleries, 300+ albums of biomorphic art in a variety of medium and design from artists around the globe, these are my immediate plans for the future, until then I return to Chicken Wire, T-bags and polish, my tried and tested work of which it is always good to return to between changes of practice and direction, not unlike the weather I sit in the middle, 'twixt twa' and simply enjoy what is.

walk for walks sake

''Can I have a return ticket please'', ''Where to Sir?''.... ''Um, back to here !" we have heard it before but, sometimes a journey can be for no other reason than simply to go out of the door to seek out the long route home, as an artist and sculptor my trips out are all important to keep the shape of nature in my mind for not only is it my influence and teacher it also keeps me grounded. Today was one of those days, too long indoors but today the sun was shining and thewind had dropped, short sleeves, camera in hand and an empty mind ready to be topped-up again. A more colorful day than others, now, with all the wild flowers in bloom, it was the undergrowth that was inspiring, more lush than my last venture off the beaten track it has flourished, within two weeks the undergrowth and hedgerows no longer resembled dividing borders moreso a thick and impenetrable wall of bushes that defied any attempt to get through, certainly not without a machette. 

It was not just the plant life that was thriving, mouse, rabbit, rat and squirrel were all out and about enjoying the shady areas, while I was more than willing to sit and watch I just forgot about my camera preferring instead to simply enjoy the moment, I did find some geese, cows, horses and sheep that were all more than willing to just stand, or sit, while I took their portrait instead. Throughout the entire walk the birdsong around me was as vibrant and as varied as any dawn chorus and how glad I was for the absence of people and noisy children to scare it all away, it truly was a pleasant and real time.

Social Media Links and creative update

It is more than one and a half years since I last used this blog, where does the time go, R & D, work, social Media, studio relocation, the host of reasons is wasted words, it is all retrospective and long gone, fortunately the BLOG remains in the void of webspace, the livevideofeed from the studio is currently inactive following the closure of the service provider.

A recent virus caused my to visit all of my social media changing passwords as I go, surprisingly I found online sites that although previously of importance had not been visited for a long while, first stop was this BLOG will be reactivated, my facebook is becoming so over-used as to be counterproductive as far as being a personal record and as a source of  reference, this BLOG will fill the gap and make the facebook page more productive..

Now having a larger online presence than realised it seems a good time to revamp and clarify where and what is happening for me.

Facebook Personal Page - generally my own personal page for contact with friends and close family, nonetheless other pages link this to visitors from other pages, a little inconvenient but such is the way with facebook algorithm.

Facebook  Arts Page -  It is here where I post my arts related stuff, more than my own practice I post regularly videos and images about the process of creation, particularly art forms I am not familiar with or find interesting.

Facebook  Biomorphics Art - As the founder I manage this group with several admins, it serves as a resource for biomorphic arts and artisans, not only to bring artists of this limited form together as a cohesive group but also as a constant source of inspiration.

Twitter - Twitter was set up in 2008 to provide links from all of my social media links, it is not so necessary now as these have been thinned out somewhat, it remains active for those still using Twitter.

U-Tube - This resource I have totally underused, in 2011 a combination of my own inexperience and U-Tube changing its format caused me to lose track of a lot of footage, for this reason I stopped using it, now both I and U-Tube have settled and not unlike this BLOG, it can be reinstated, this link will be live once I have finished sorting the page out.

Website = studio8live.co.uk  was discontinued in April 2016, currently a new website is being built and will be published when completed.

creative update  -  3 years ago I abandoned paint having reached a point where I was no longer able to achieve what I wanted, it was a huge pleasure in life which turned into hard work with no foreseeable future or aim, I turned the clock back a little and returned to sculpture, along with the change came a host of knowledge and information that I had accumulated over the years and I truly did not know what I knew until I freed my head from paint..
I have used this past three years in pursuit of my own style in the biomorphic form and though interesting and forward moving I found that I struggled for a long time in dissatisfaction, mostly with the final veneer, the part that is visible, the foundations and inner workings are important only to me and the life-span of the work but nonetheless have been published in photographic form over the years.
I came close to a final veneer with the discovery of Polycaprolactone, a low heat melting plastic although it delivered it was only to a specific point which was well below what I was looking for, the search continues.
Currently I am focussing on Polymer Clay, a plasticised compound that can be fired at a much lower temperature than traditional clays, after much research and multiple viewings of U=Tube video tutorials it would seem at the moment that this material could prove more than adequate for my sculptures.
I set out now to create a space dedicated to the practice and trial of Polymer Clay in particular, the art of caning to create tiles to skin my sculptures.