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Lindy and I had planned to take a trip to France this year to attend a painting workshop at a stunning little villa. Unfortunately, things didn’t open up like we had hoped and those plans will have to remain in my dreams for a while. Instead, we decided to create our own painting adventure in Lindy’s brand new beautiful art studio.
One of the most difficult things I, and many artists struggle with, especially in the beginning is how to price artwork. Value is a pretty nebulous idea. Webster defines it, in part, as “the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.” I certainly value the time I spend learning and creating but placing a monetary figure on a finished piece? Where does one begin?
I have done craft fairs, craft booths, holiday bazaars, etc., for as long as I can remember. They were never my favorite part of the creative process, but hey, we have to support our addiction somehow, right?
Having a designated place to create is necessary, but it also might be impractical. If you’re living in an apartment, if you’re sharing your home with kids and pets, if it’s just too small or you don’t have the money, I get it. Up until exactly two weeks ago, I can say that I’ve spent 59 years on the planet without a designated place to create art.
And here is where I become completely overwhelmed. Now what? My husband asks, “do you feel pressure to create great art now?” No, that wasn’t it. I don’t feel any particular pressure in that regard. I realize, quite clearly, that the Holiday House means that I have value to my husband, but also that he values my art. It’s not “just” a hobby, he knows it matters. I began to reflect how my art never held as much value as it did when I moved into the Holiday House.
A 12x12 outbuilding on our property had been used for years for storage and my husband offered to turn it into an art studio for me. This might have been due to the fact my scrip scraps of paper were pouring out of our shared office and he was getting tired of my paintbrushes in the sink. Or that he just happens to be the best husband ever (more on that later). Once we decided to clean out the shed, things start to get real. How in the world does one begin to “have an art studio”?