I've accidentally ended up at an online business networking today. Never felt more "fish out of water" in my life. I tried to attend those meetings in the past because, well, being an artist is being a business person, right? I even did a very expensive online art business course. I hear repeatedly that original art is a luxury and I should aim at super rich. The problem is I never befriended one in this life. I don't know if I like them.
I am not anti profit or anything like that. But I am not your usual "here to milk my ideal customer" networking apparition. If anyone has seen "Stalker" by Tarkovsky, that's, for me, about a true artist. He takes people to an otherworld or even an underworld dowsing a path between unknown and unthinkable. It's a very risky, messy and personal business.
Alas, I know people who like what I am doing but they are not the ones who buy luxury goods. I don't want to price my artworks too cheap (so people care for them), but if they don't have enough money, maybe some kind of partial barter will work? For example, they may produce, make, grow something I may want, or have a spare room /cottage to stay at for a few days, or they are able to take me somewhere I cannot go by public transport, or give me some lessons like crafts, languages, cooking, dowsing, driving, etc. Or just tell me a story... Experiences are the most valuable in life. Personal connection is what matters.
What do you think? Could this potentially work?
#art #business #artist #artistlife