being prepared – Jeri's Office

Tip for Artists: Respect Your Art

A couple of words of wisdom to all artists out there – things I learned the hard way:

1) USE TOP-NOTCH MATERIALS. When I was starting out, including when I was studying Fine Arts in university, I used the cheapest materials I could find. In fact, in art classes I was actually told to use large sheets of newsprint for my assignments.

Now, this isn’t a bad idea in a way, especially if you are in the early stages and aren’t turning out a lot of work that you feel is good enough to keep. If you’re going to wind up filing away (or throwing away) a lot of early attempts at drawing/painting/pastels/whatever, you don’t want to waste a lot of money on materials.

Illustration: drawing on yellowing paper. — New Sprouts

On the other hand, when you get to the point that you are starting to turn out works that are a respectable quality, you will truly regret not using good materials. Because cheap materials turn yellow or degrade in other ways – along with your work.

I’m speaking from experience here. I have a number of drawings I did fairly early in my art career that were really good drawings – but done on cheap paper. I still have the drawings, but they are no longer good enough to exhibit because the ground has yellowed badly.

(Note: for smaller works, there is a work-around: if it’s small enough to scan into your computer, you can use photo editing software like Corel Paintbrush Pro to correct the discolouring and fading, at least for digital prints.)

So, once you’re really starting to bloom, invest in good materials – and that means archive-quality materials.

Resource: What Does “Archival” Mean? (Utrecht Art Supplies)

Resource: How Important Is It To Use Archival Materials? (Jean Pederson)

While you’re at it, be sure you’ve made provision for archival-quality STORAGE of your materials and your finished works as well.

Video: How To Store Your Art And Protect Your Drawings (The Virtual Instructor)

2) PLAN AHEAD. I have always had a very bad habit of just starting in on a drawing – only to find that the finished work was too close to the edge of the paper to properly mat and frame – or even to finish. (Another thing that you can work around if the item is small enough to scan into the computer).

I’ve learned to start my drawings by penciling in a margin around the page – at least 1/2″ in from all edges. That way, even if I get close to the margins, there’s still enough room for matting and framing. Even if you’re just doing casual sketches in a sketchbook, you want to be prepared in case you turn out something really stunning!

I’ve also learned to do a quick, very rough, very light pencil sketch of the entire image to begin with. With close attention to relative distances and proportions, this gets you off to a MUCH better start. (Note that both of these apply whether you’re working in pencil, pen, oil paint, acrylic paint, or pastel – start with a light rough first.)

In other words, have enough respect for yourself and your art that you EXPECT to turn out works that are good enough to display, to cherish, and even to sell!

Keeping on Going: Dealing With Life’s Challenges

How does a small-business owner cope with business in the face of the unexpected challenges of life?

First step: do what must be done. Be sure those clients are being taken care of – although it is legitimate to ask for a bit of slack where possible. Get those basic bookkeeping chores done. Be sure the bills are paid. If necessary and possible, get a “business buddy” to step in and help out.

Second step: postpone what you can. This is a time when those plans you had to further your business education, upgrade your skills, or investigate new advertising venues can be put on hold.

Third step: take care of yourself. Don’t neglect your own healthy eating. Keep finding ways to get a bit of mild exercise (which will do a lot to elevate your mood, too). If you are a person of faith, don’t neglect prayer and worship – not only to put everything into proper perspective, but to get yourself some effectual help. And don’t be afraid to ask other people for help when you need it.

Fourth step: take an occasional “vacation“. Even a couple of hours relaxing with a good book, or having tea with a friend, can help.

This too, shall pass. Keep calm and carry on.

Sick Time? What’s That?

“I won’t be in to work today – I’m sick”.

Most people with a day job have made a call like that at least once. If you happened to have a job with benefits, you could even rest easy in the assurance that you would still get paid (as long as you hadn’t used up your allowance of “sick days”).

Then there’s us – the self-employed.

Now, there are certain advantages to being self-employed, at least if you run your business out of your home. The famous “go to work in your pajamas” idea is one (although, frankly, that one doesn’t work out so well in practice!)

One advantage is that, even if you’re sick, you can still get some work done (assuming you can get out of bed, or are not in the hospital). Of course, that’s one of the disadvantages, too!

What does the home-business owner do when too sick to get out of bed – or so sick they have to go to the hospital? Do you have a contingency plan for this kind of emergency?

Of course, there is the advantage of cell phones. Even if sick in bed, you can possibly rouse yourself enough to phone a client and let them know that you won’t be able to make that meeting, or you will be a bit delayed in getting their project completed.

If you are too sick for that, do you have a fall-back? Here’s where it helps to have an arrangement with a family member, friend, or business associate – someone who would, in the normal course of events, be aware of your being indisposed. Set up an agreement with this person where, in the case of your being unable to handle work, they will contact whoever you may tell them to contact and let them know. (Having a “script” ready for such an occasion can be a big help to the caller.)

Here’s where good record-keeping can come into play, too. You may not want your “agent” to call every single one of your customers to tell them you are sick. You may simply want notice given to anyone who is expecting something from you at that particular time – and if you keep an accurate, up-to-date planner or calendar with work schedules and meetings noted, your “agent” can easily figure out who to contact for you.

If you are suffering from a long-term indisposition – anything from a serious operation to having two broken arms – you might want to be able to post a notice on your website, as well. If you have a webmaster caring for your site, you need only arrange for the webmaster to be one of the people contacted. If you manage your own website, it would be a very good idea to have someone you trust as a secondary manager, with the access permissions and the know-how to access your website and post a simple announcement.

Being sick is never any fun. Being self-employed and sick adds certain complications. The time to make plans is before you are sick!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll take my flu and go back to bed…