Balancing Creativity vs Business

Green, © by Jerry Hardesty, Acrylic & Cement,

10x10 on panel

Okay, I have "creativity" covered.  I spend time each day in the studio...  painting.  When I'm not painting, I'm thinking about it...  thinking about the next canvas, or in my studio that would be several canvases at once.  Thinking about experimenting with a different technique, material, or different tool to create texture... my latest material being cement (see image "Green"), and my favorite tool a trowel used by tilers.

For me, I find the business side of art to be difficult and challenging.  Ironic, isn't it...  I spent over 25 years in the business world of corporate America.  Now, I'm going back to Business 101 (never actually previously had that course), but you're already ahead of me.  I've read several books, among them Alyson B. Stanfield's I'd rather be in the studio.  Guess what?  I would.  Oh wait, I haven't left...  my computer is in my studio.  But I'm not painting, I'm blogging.  Oh well.  I've created a business plan and both short and long-term goals (at my age, they cannot be too long-term... just kidding).  Weekly, I create a task list which I transfer to my calendar so I can see on any given date what I need to do that day.  I've got spreadsheets!  Spreadsheets, gee, now that is definitely the business side of making art!  The bottom line, I am getting more organized.  I'm juggling my priorities and tipping the scales to create balance. 

"Resonance" at House Gallery

"Wrapped," Mixed Media - Cement, Wire Mesh, Twine, Acrylic, Canvas Strip, 10x10 on Panel

I have created a series of 10x10's for my show "Resonance" to run from April 3 through April 28 at House Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah.  I adopted the use of cement from an artist on Facebook.  I thought long and hard as to how the use of cement could complement my other works for the show.  "Wrapped" is just a teaser - come see the rest of the show.  These 10x10's are my smallest pieces.  The largest is 36x48.

Lest I forget, the Artist Reception is from 6 to 9 pm, on Friday, April 20.  See you there!