Whince the fortitude?

When Abrasha put fingers to keys it was 12/21/06 11:30 PM...

Carl wrote:
Did you finish the series?

Nope. Got stuck at #30, due to lack of interest of the buying public.

Everybody loves the series and idea behind it.

In the video, _you_ sounded excited about the series.
Because you thought it would sell? Just for the Art of it?
It did look like a lot of work to be doing 'on spec'.


As I have said before in this forum, because of lack of response from
the public for my work, I have lost my passion for designing and making
jewelry. ...

I have begun to pursue other avenues of income. Some very exciting,
interesting and potentially very lucrative. If I had known then what I
know now, I would never have made a piece of jewelry.

Ouch.

This touches on a question I've had for a while:

What is it that convinces an artist that _this_ idea is worth the bother
to make into a physical reality?

Many months ago the MFA in Boston had an Art Deco exhibit. Everything
from printed work to furniture to architecture. And a bunch of jewelry.
I looked pretty closely at most of it. A lot of it was pretty goofy,
neat and fun and I liked it, but a bit goofy anyway and a fair bit of
work to execute. And I kept wondering, "What happened to inspire the
maker to do _this_ particular piece? What gave them the fortitude to go
ahead and make it?"

When I let them, ideas fly through my head one after another. But none
of them jump out and say, "ME! I'm the one! Make me, and there will be
an improvement in the world, and it'll be worth the work." Nor do they
convincingly say, "Make me, and there _will_ be someone who thinks I'm
cool and pay you enough to make me worth your while."

I feel like it's a lack of confidence in or commitment to my ideas
coupled with a desire for a steady supply of food and shelter.
Am I being too practical?
Too tentative?
Too realistic?
Too scared?

I can't be alone in this. Can I?

- CW

Carl wrote:
When Abrasha put fingers to keys it was 12/21/06 11:30 PM...

Carl wrote:
Did you finish the series?
Nope. Got stuck at #30, due to lack of interest of the buying public.

Everybody loves the series and idea behind it.

In the video, _you_ sounded excited about the series.

I was; the video was shot in 1991. I had started the series in 1989.
In 1991 I was up to #23. Now it is 2006, and I am at #30.

Life for me was very different then. For one, I had no children and no
mortgage. Obviously, my financial needs were different too.


Because you thought it would sell?

No, I didn't. I had no pressing need to make as many sales back then as
I do now.

Just for the Art of it?

Yes.

It did look like a lot of work to be doing 'on spec'.

That was fine at the time.

--
Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com