The CEO and Maintenance Man

The other day someone asked what is a professional artist. I like to think that I am. I have made my living from my art for 55 years. I also think knowing my business helps makes me a professional.

Why do I think of myself as a professional Fine Artist? I very seldom take commissions. I do not have a boss to report to or deadlines to meet. If I want, I can sleep in for a day or two - or even a week, though sometimes doing so makes it rough paying the bills. So I am in the studio every day painting or preparing canvas and panels. I keep my studio full of the materials I need, or may need ,to work. That means ordering paints, canvas, stretcher bars and all the things that go into creating paintings. Several bars of lava soap, Dawn dish soap, and paper towels are there for cleaning up at the end of each day. I am the CEO, the finance officer, maintenance man, and business advisor.

The other day I found myself explaining the relationship I have with my galleries to someone I know in the corporate world. I had to explain the different laws there are in different states dealing with galleries and artists.

I have to know about galleries, who their clientele are, and what types of art they can sell. Who are the other artists they represent? Should another artist's work fall apart, it reflects on the others being represented in that gallery.

On the creative side, I think about how I want my works to look. What size canvas the subject needs to be on? How much detail do I want? With the creative part of my work I am only interested in pleasing myself. It is only when I put the brush down, that I put on those other hats of being CEO and advisor and what not. When painting I am pulling out feelings and memories and the likes to express myself. Being a professional artist is unlike other professions.

Bagel Shop Meet-ups

The coffee is good, the bagels great, and the people most welcoming. It is what makes Jake's so special. Old friends, neighbors sharing tables, and the possibility of new friends are what draws people to Jake's. It’s also an ideal place for artists to meet and share ideas and experiences. Jake's is where George and I shaped our friendship. It is a great place to sketch people on the sly, and also where I developed my skills of sneakiness…

Meeting there three times a week, we discussed art and the business of art. It wasn't long before Joe, the owner, invited us to hang our art at Jake's. From there it became a meeting place for local artists. At first, one or two artists would join us. I think our gray hair led other artists to believe we had the answer to questions they might have.

Before long we had a scheduled day for artists to meet and share thoughts on each other's works. Though George and I were supposed to be the masters with the answers, we found we were learning as much as those coming with the questions. Other patrons were soon pausing to listen to what our group of artists had to say. I remember one girl, about seven, joining our tables to see and hear better. Seven to ten artists came every Saturday to have their work critiqued. Once, 21 artists showed up for advice. There were times those who came blew us away with their art. There were times we were lectured too, once by an artist from Iraq who had done a painting of her homeland being bombed. What she had to say had nothing to do with the art but rather politics. Art can express so much .