I attended an arts forum last night.

Selling yourself: Simple Marketing Techniques for Artists.

Although I came away with quite a few things to think about, I believe the forum would have been more appropriately titled:

Selling your soul:  How to masquerade as an Artist.

One of the speakers focused on the idea of Artist as "brand". She even used Richard Branson (who doesn't happen to be an artist- funny that) as an example of how to build your brand around your personality. Well, what happens if you are a person, not a brand? What do you do if you are a little anxious and a little shy but still passionate about your work? What if "networking" is not your forte because you run out of things to say after greetings?

Another speaker went on to say something along the line of "dress like an artist". What the f**k! I dress how I dress and whether or not that fits into some sort of stereotype shouldn't effect how my work is viewed. How does one dress as an artist anyway?

As I said before I did leave with some ideas and that is probably the point of attending any seminar. I'm sure that I'm being a tad cynical, most of the other artists at forum left smiling and nodding. I may have just missed the boat. Is it possible to be an artist and not a business? Can I ever expect that a gallery or dealer will pick me up and do the business side for me? Isn't that how it is supposed to work, some people can sell and others create?

I'm not sure if I am capable of viewing my work as a "product". I want people to look at what I do, I want them to think about what they're looking at. I hope they can read some of the multiple narratives I hide within my work and yes, I want them to buy it. I want someone to be touched enough by what I have made to desire to take it home (hopefully not because it matches their carpet or couch, but I can live with that too).

I really don't care if I have to work in a hotel for the rest of my life to support my real job.

I left the forum and the "networking opportunity" afterwards with a heavy heart.

There must be another way. Until I have completed the series I'm currently working on and have a body of work to show and it seems peddle, I will try not to worry.

LB