Some Facts and Figures

I've been a professional artist for over decade now. I've taught myself as much about the business end of art as I could over these past ten years. I probably know more about marketing and promotion than ninety percent of the population, and I continue to educate myself every day. I have developed a theory as I have gone through life. I call it the "One Percent Theory". This theory states that in any given population sample one percent of the people will like my artwork and have the money to buy it. According to my theory, my current city of Paducah Ky has 257 people that fit this criteria. Our county has 658 of these discriminating art lovers. If you move up to the entire state of Kentucky this number grows to 40,417. The entire United States is home to 3,070,065 people wealthy enough to send me a few dollars for a painting. Supposing that my Internet presence has put my name out there like I planned for it to, there are 6,890,124 people that could, and would, buy at least one painting. Seems like I should have it made. However, it's right about here that my problem arises. I'm not really sure how to get my artwork in front of these people. If I could figure out a way to do that my life would be so much easier. In fact, if I could crack that nut, I could sell the info to other artists. Naw, if I had that information I would give it away. Based on my figures I'd have well over three hundred million dollars in art sales (based on a low end value of my paintings). With a bank account like that there's no need to be greedy.

Another Year Older...

As my birthday approaches (this Friday) and 2010 comes to an end I thought I might put some of my random thoughts on the internet for posterity's sake. You might view these as the rantings of a lunatic, and maybe I can't argue, but I hope they'll give you something to think about and maybe a few laughs.

• I don't see how anyone who has kids can get anything done. Kids are great and all, but they sure do take a lot of time and effort to raise them right.
• I can't see how anyone who lives in a 'unique fixer upper' can stay on top of the house repairs. And if you happen to have children too, well, you probably have about fifteen minutes a week for yourself.
• The bigger the government agency, the more likely they are to be pain in the ass.
• Cable and satellite television are great, but they are often more trouble than they're worth.
• The only thing you can control is your attitude, unless you're a pilot, then you can also control your altitude.
• You should concentrate on your strengths and try to get someone else to take care of your weaknesses, preferably for free.
• If you can wait tables and tend bar you will always be able to find work. If you can also cook then you're in better demand.
• An artist who uses a lot of big fancy words when discussing his work probably isn't much of an artist.
• People will buy anything if they think it will make them cool.
• Don't look back, something might be gaining on you.
• Do not play, don't give the game away.
• Have fun everyday.
• Enjoy the company of your friends and family, they won't be around forever and neither will you. Enjoy alone time too.
• Almost everyone has a blog, but I'll wager ninety percent of them haven't been updated in the past six months.
• I like country music, but most of what passes for country these days isn't what I'd call country. It sounds a lot like '70's pop music.
• I also enjoy pro wrestling, but what they call wrestling now is more like a soap opera than wrestling. I wish it were like it was back in the days of the territories

I could probably go on for a while longer, but I really need to get busy. I'm a dad who lives in a fixer-upper, I don't have time to rant and rave all day. Now, when I was a kid...

Random Thoughts

I've been at this a while now. Seems every time I make some progress I get knocked back . There's not much I can do about it, other than to keep going. I've heard others talk about giving up but it's not in my nature to quit on things. I know I was put here to make art and to help other artists so it's not like I'm going down the wrong road. Mostly it's my impatience that makes life tough for me. I have a really hard time letting things fall as they should. I feel that things should happen when I want them to. I know down inside that things will only happen to us when we're ready for them. I do appreciate all my friends who've been so supportive to me and especially to my wife who is at ground zero for all my frustrated meltdowns. I thought I'd post this to get back in the habit of writing on here, but now I'm off to put paint to canvas.
AKO ANG HARI

Oh My

I'm working a shift at the co-op gallery today. It gives me a chance to get caught up on my blog and to get some painting done. I've been trying to get blogging software installed on my home computer, but it hasn't worked out well. I try to get the software set up to post and it seems to be okay. I then spend ten or fifteen minutes writing an awesome blog (you'll just have to take my word for it) and then try to post it, only to find it doesn't post. Oh, and I forgot to copy my blog in case something like this happened. Massive frustration, causing me to give up for two or three days. I go back later and repeat the process, only this time I make a backup of my blog. This time when it doesn't post I got to retrieve the back up, so I can try again, only to find that the backup won't open. I repeated this process (more or less) with three blogging applications only to meet with the same end result...no new blog posted. I should just go about it the old fashioned way but I have so much stuff I need to do with the business end of my art career that I'm trying to streamline as much as I can. On the bright side, the frustration that builds results in some really good artwork.

Back To School

It's that time of year when the kids go back to school, usually freeing up some time. I'm home schooling my daughter this year, so I have to really plan my time (not my strong suit). I am using it as an opportunity to teach her about art, the business of and the making of. I still find time to get in my studio in the evenings. I'm not sure if I mentioned that I have a new studio now. It has plenty of room and an actual door that closes. I think it's been about fifteen years since I've been able to close a door and paint on an easel. It's funny how the little things stick out for me now.

Rethinking My Position

I realized the other day that most of my blogs were focusing on the things that hadn't been going right lately. A lot of my Twitter and Facebook posts too. I've decided to post the things that I really like about my life as an artist. Of all the things I've tried in my life, nothing improved my mood like getting in the studio and being creative. I don't care how depressed, angry, or just plain blah I feel, losing myself in a new piece of artwork makes all the bad melt away. I'm not sure I can explain it so a non-creative person can understand, but there's something really awesome about putting your heart and soul into a new creation. Nothing else matters. There are no bills that need to be taken care of, no problems to stew over, whether they be major or minor. Time passes in the blink of an eye. I go into my studio and put on some good music and there's nothing you can do to me to make me feel less than perfect. If, by chance, the painting turns out to be something really good, something that really captures what I was going for, it's the best feeling of pride an artist can ever have.
Of course there are some other things I like about my life. I've always liked the way people look at me when I whip out a quick sketch or a five minute watercolor. I couldn't mystify them more if I did real magic. Then there's the look people get when I tell them I'm an artist. It makes me seem almost mythical, as most of them have no frame of reference for being a full time creative person. These are just a few of the things that keep me going, keep me getting out of bed every morning [or afternoon sometimes, jealous? ;) ] It can be a struggle sometimes being an artist, but more often that not it's really cool

Looking At Better Days

I've had some setbacks lately, but things are improving rapidly. I've had lots of free time to paint and create and I'm selling quite a bit of artwork lately. I joined a new co-op that looks to be really promising. I have over seventy of my paintings on display in five venues in three cities over two states. Another big step towards my goal of world domination. ;)

My Latest Struggle

I've noticed that my free time, and my art making time, have shortened up considerably since I've gone back to work. Apparently the stress of working has affected my health too. I've left work twice to go to the emergency room with chest pains. At first they said it was muscle pains, then they had me take a stress test which was abnormal. The next time I went to the ER they checked me in to the hospital and did a heart cath to relieve the blockage. The only problem was that there was no blockage ( a good problem to have!). They did more tests and discovered I had ulcers, which they said were the cause of my chest pains. Now they've checked my gall bladder and they discovered it's not working up to par. Guess what? They think that is the cause of my chest pain. I'm not so sure they're even trying any more. The good side to all this is that I've had time to paint and draw, also time to get back to promoting myself. I still feel overwhelmed by all that I need to do. I could really use an assistant.

Now It's My Health

I had to leave my job as a waiter a few days back. I had a stabbing pain in my chest and thought I should have it checked out at the hospital. They sure don't fool around at the ER when you mention chest pain. I was pushed into a wheel chair and rolled back to the chest pain center before the ink was dry on my paperwork. Three nurses came into my room and hooked me up to all sorts of machinery. They ran test after test and then told me it was a pulled muscle inside my chest cavity, and that it would probably keep giving me problems. I was then given an appointment for a stress test, which I knew I could pass since every part of my life has become stressful. I went in and had a very uncomfortable test after being injected with radioactive dye. I was hoping for some super powers, but so far none have shown up. They called my wife with the results and now I have to go back to the hospital next Thursday to possibly have a stent put in. This is supposed to make me feel better and give me more energy, but it's really just adding to my stress. Now any time I feel a pain in my chest, I wonder if it's due to the blockage in there and not the pulled muscle. I have trouble sleeping, well, more trouble sleeping, and I have very little motivation to create. I'm hoping this will change soon. I get a week off from my waiter job, at least, and I hope to get some things done then. Who knows, I may just lay around all week and do nothing, but I really need to make the most of it.

The Grind

I recently had to pick up a job waiting tables to get some of my bills paid. I've had virtually no time to do anything art related since then. I've built up a following on Facebook and Twitter, but I can't keep posting like I had in the past. I've not done any artwork since I started working either, and that makes me sad and depressed. I'm hoping things will settle down soon, or something big will happen. I need time to create and I'm not getting it.

A Whole New Chapter

I've just been hired as a waiter at the local Red Lobster (in Paducah KY, come see me) so I'lll have less free time than I have been used to. At first it seemed like a bad thing, but I think it will be good. It's the opportunity to meet hundreds of people who aren't familiar with my artwork, to be inspired by a whole new world of people and things, plus I think it will help me to focus on my art since I won't have an unlimited time to work on it. I'll have to plan my creating around my life and my job schedule. Some of my friends have been suggesting this to me for years, but I really didn't want to do it. It's a good thing for me right now, plus I'm working in the busiest restaurant in the area, so I plan on making lots of cash. I also plan on rising to the top of the waitstaff, which is just another step in my goal of world domination.

Hand Signed Prints For Sale

I have prints of my acrylic painting for sale in my 1000 Markets shop. All prints are hand signed by me and I've got them for sale at rock bottom prices. the more you buy, the better deal I can give you. Check them out at link I'm hoping to sell enough of these to get some of my bills paid. If I don't I'm probably gonna have to get a real job, something I haven't had to do in a long time. I don't mind having to work, but I'd rather keep putting all my efforts into promoting myself and my art career. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Of course, I may be able to tell you about my progress as I'm cooking your food at IHOP.

The New Year

Happy New Year everyone. It's been a good year so far, but then again it's not even a day old yet. I don't make New Year's resolutions anymore, but I am determined to make this the year that I break through in the art market. I've done well getting my name out there and getting my work seen. I have 475 people following my work on my Facebook fan site (http://bit.ly/3CKyyf) and 66 people following me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/dougbaltz) so over 500 people are instantly aware when I post new work. I've had over three thousand hits to my DeviantArt account in the past six months, so I'm getting plenty of exposure there. I think it's time to go to the next level. That's my goal for 2010.