Like vs Gotta Have

WIP-Mixed Media 16 x 16 on canvas

An "in flux" painting--a warm up.

I've taken a longer hiatus than anticipated,

but that's for another post...

~~~

This week I had a commission fall through.

Nope, I didn't have a contract or a deposit.

My bad.

But I realized something significant.

The person didn't love it.

While they liked it, they didn't love it.

big. difference.

Quite a number of years ago when I did a lot of art fairs,

there were several different types of people that wandered into my booth.

The "breeze in-breeze out" no eye contact-barely replied to my hello,

the "why is this so expensive?, I could get this at JCPenney's-framed for $30",

the person who would engage in conversation about my work,

the gem of all gems, the drunk person asking for a discount,(buh-bye now)

then out of the blue....

the person who sees your work from across the way, 

marches in, takes it off the wall and proclaims-

"I have to have this!"

If you truly love something, make a connection with it,

you'll make it happen-you'll buy it.

The reason I make art isn't just to sell art.

Absolutely, sales are fantastic, 

but the reason I make art is because even though I question myself all-the-time,

I have something to say.

When someone connects with that, 

it affirms why I make art.

I sold my Dad's house, the couple that bought it, 

looked at it, fell in love with it and wrote an offer on the spot.

That's the same reaction I desire for my art.

Someone makes a connection-be it emotional, spiritual--whatever

and. buys. it.

In the future,

Contract-Deposit.