The delicate balance of art and business.
September 08, 2010
So I’m going to be on T.V. this Monday morning. I know, pretty crazy. I would normally be really shy and nervous, but I get to speak about a topic that I am super passionate about and one that I hope other women and mother’s tuning in will benefit from. I’m going to be on my local news station with 2 other women discussing the realities of starting a business from home, as well as tips to get started. I’ve been wondering what I’m going to say, and I have some ideas…but I’m looking for more.
Starting my business nearly 3 years ago was a really scary thing. But I was so gung-ho and so driven, those fears never really crept in. I was possibly too naive to know what I was getting into, and maybe that was a good thing! But it’s interesting, because when you are a business, you have to start thinking of business-y type things. Things like: “Will people even buy this stuff?” ” How am I going to market myself?” ” How am I going to pay for it all?” And pretty soon, all those creative ideas start to get mixed in with very non-creative realities that very often yank those creative juices and throw them to the ground. Thoughts like, “You can’t do that! No one has done anything like that before, and it’ll get run over.” Or, “That would be too costly or take too much time.” Or, “Sure you think it’s a good idea, but it has to appeal to lots more people than just you!”
Do any of these voice sound familiar? It’s interesting: the banter that goes back and forth in my head now that my art isn’t just a creative hobby any more. It’s my work! And I don’t like to call it that, because I really do love it, and it’s better to think of it as play, or I get stressed about it. But let’s face it. You love to create! You love getting your hands dirty and just making it is what you do best. And to have a business from that? Heaven. But there is the reality that you are a business…you are ultimately in this to be successful, and you must be concerned about outcome. That is the nature of being self-employed! And if I have learned anything, thinking about outcome always inhibits by ability to create good art. Always. Hands down. But how to purely create without letting the natural worries of being a business creep in, is an art in and of itself. Allowing yourself to truly express without worry or thought is a lot harder to do when there are people on the other side of the table. But, I also have learned, that it can be incredibly motivating and can help you open up to that truly creative place.
My answer is Love. Love (the opposite of fear) will wipe away all those business-y concerns that we all have to think about. Love will create your best art. Love will inspire you to create from that genius place. Love will keep you going when times are hard and your aren’t having the successes you need. Love will bring other people to you who will love what you do too.
Love, Love, Love. I hear a song coming:)
But isn’t it true? We must “lose the fear of being wrong” and only then will we be truly successful because our work will be wonderful and beautiful and real.
So, I would love to know your thoughts. I am going to be giving some advice about starting an at-home business and also the realities of life as a stay-at-home-mom business owner. I hope to be taking the spin of how to keep that creative spirit alive when you are juggling all the aspects of starting a business.
What advice do you have about balancing the creative side and the business side of things? Does having a business interfere with your natural instinct to just create and not care what other people think? And if you don’t have a hobby based business, what questions do you have about how to get started or what to be aware of when you do get started?
Thanks you guys! I can’t wait to hear your responses. I have a feeling there is a lot to be said on this topic.
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September 13th, 2010 on 5:36 pm[...] spotted this on Sarah Jane Studio’s blog and totally hearted it. It really sums up all the mixed emotions that go into setting up a [...]
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Congrats to you on your upcoming television debut! You know my biggest piece of advice to those who are thinking of trying to make a living with their creativity is this: Just Be Yourself. I think that especially now that everything is so easily accessible through the internet, a lot of people see that something works for one person so they set out to do pretty much the same thing. I’m sure this probably works for awhile, but I feel like if your heart isn’t in it, if it isn’t truly you, then the profits will eventually fizzle out and you’ll end up just as unhappy as you were in any day job you’ve had in the past. On the flipside, if you grow a business from something that you truly love, from something that is truly you, then your business is sure to flourish too!
I agree with the above reader. I also think that scheduling times for the business side of things could potentially help (I am looking at starting this myself). For example, nothing cramps my style more than bookkeeping, but it MUST be done. I would much rather create, so I have decided to schedule this area so that I can stay on track and also not allow “the business” to inhibit my creativity. Like you said, the creating part is easy, but is clouded so easily with the “work” side of the business. I am hoping that my breaking things down into “work” and “play” will help me balance this delicate act. Best wishes on your t.v. debut and thanks for your inspiration!
No advice here but I love what you’ve already said, so go with that! Can’t wait to see you on TV! Whoo hoo!
Thanks you guys! I look up to you all!
Wow, Sarah! That’s amazing, congratulations!!!!
I wish I could watch it…. If there is a link to it please let me know!
hugs from Brazil
Yay…congrats on your upcoming TV debut! You are a wonderful inspiration to me. Thank you!
Hi Sarah, congrats on being on tv and being able to share with and inspire other women in business. I was so happy to read this post because this morning I woke up thinkin about these very things and issues. I am still quiet new to this place of creating as my work and I do find it hard to switch gears between ‘business’ and ‘creating’. I haven’t found my perfect balance as yet but what helps me is thinking of my work, of being creative as something that is co-created with God/Creator and that I am not alone in my efforts – there is a guiding force and I am not alone, so what helps me in essence is faith, trust and being persisitent and consistent – showing up each day to do the work even if I don’t know what the outcome will be.
Hope this helps,
Dyan
Wow. We must have the same voice in our heads! I’m still working hard to turn my art into a legit business but I have to share that when I’m feeling the most uncreative or most uninspired or even too “mom”ish I force myself to drop everything else and sit down with my sons to just draw. My favorite art has come out of those moments (quite a few revisions later of course
Sarah – what a timely post! My husband and I were just talking about this last night and I always get so frustrated with the “business” conversation”. I was so excited to show him some of my new wares and he breaks into the “what are you goals? and what kind of sales are you projecting next month” conversation. ahhhhhh! I can’t wait to read more of your advice because I for one would rather just sit back and create. What happened to the field of dreams “if we build it, they will come”? I’m thinking that’s not how business and marketing really work huh? Congrats on the tv appearance!! Can you post a link to the video?
Ahhhhhh… the voices. Sometimes I get in my art studio with what I think is THE idea which will change the world. I create and my heart is literally pounding at the thought of my awesome idea. Then… half-way through the project or when it is complete, a voice will pop in my head saying, “That is the stupidest idea… ever. No one would ever buy that! What were you thinking?” My answer is usually, “Well… I think it is incredible and I like it… even if no one else does.” I think a lot of artists get stuck in this place… with a studio full of wonderful things loved only by the creator. And we wonder how we can ever get it to the ‘others’ who are like us and will love it, too.
Best wishes with being on TV!
Man oh man…. good luck. Now I have the jitters for you!
Sarah, Congrats on your TV appearance- how very exciting
Would you be able to post a link to it for us living in Canada? Your post really reasonated with me. From reading the other comments, it is comforting and encouraging to see that those crazy fears and worries are universal to all of the creative mommies out there who have a dream to start up a home-based art/illustration business. Taking the steps to put it out there and get started is nerve-wrecking. I guess it is sometimes scary and hard to block out those little thoughts of self-doubt and be brave and just go for it! You are an inspiration, thank-you! It is so helpful to see how you and the others who commented tackle the creative vs. business balancing act.
Thanks!
I really want to start up my own business designing quilt patterns but the questions that keep on popping into my head are: would anyone want to buy what I design? and secondly is it too much like someone elses designs?
There are always going to be trends, especially in the use of colour and fabric ranges, but I have seen some quilt patterns using traditional blocks and have thought the blocks must have been published before even if the blocks have been resized and a border added.
Thanks for the post.
Congrats Sarah! hope I can watch your TV appearance. Is there any way to watch it online?
As a mom of a 14 months old baby boy, and a graphic designer who is just starting my own studio from home I can say you are a very big source of inspiration and I would love to hear what you have to say. Thank you for this beautiful blog and your great work.
Thinking of you and hope it all goes well!
[...] spotted this on Sarah Jane Studio’s blog and totally hearted it. It really sums up all the mixed emotions that go into setting up a [...]
As an artist and business owner it is sometimes hard to separate ourselves. Our days our filled with marketing, networking, selling, drawing, washing clothes etc. Don’t really need to go on. It can be a distraction.
The most distracting though can be fear.This can put a stop to all designing and being creative. What is an artist to do!
Take it all one day at a time. Find the people you can to help you in areas you don’t excel at. Don’t even try to do it all alone. That is a recipe for failure. If you can’t afford to hire people, trade services.
I love Sarah Jane Studios blog. Great ideas, great work. Thank you for saying out loud what most of us are thinking,(and can’t get out of our heads). Great article!