It's Killing Me

  I had high hopes for this week in my studio. I've done some of the 'need to' things, but I'm having trouble getting motivated to paint. The temperature has dropped and it's a bit too cold in here, even for me. I have lined up three potential sales and I'm putting the finishing touches on the offers. I hope to get at least two of them to commit. I've also finished a large painting I've been layering paint on for almost a month. I just haven't got a clue as to what my next move should be as far as applying paint to something. I switched out computers for my music, so I've got about another half hour to transfer all my tunes to the new one. I'm hoping some feel good music will help my shake this blah feeling.

   "Thoughts of You"    

Random Thoughts

  I've accomplished a lot this week. I fixed my car, replacing the thermostat. (By the way, whoever designed the engine on the PT Cruisers needs to be punched in the nose. It took longer than it should have to do and took the help of my loving wife Malinda for me to get the job finished). I closed my Etsy shop and opened a new one in my name, rather than the name of my studio. I've also posted new paintings online and upgraded my backup computer. In between doing that I replaced the door knob on our front door. It no longer falls off in my hand and I don't feel like Oliver Douglas any more. This is also my second blog post this week. A whole lot more done that I usually do in my three days a week of being a full time artist. I just didn't get to paint as much as I would have liked to. Of course, I say that every week. I could paint morning, noon, and night for seven days and still feel like I needed to express myself more that week. I guess that's a good thing, that I never tire of putting paint on canvas (or board, or whatever I can find). That I'm always pushing the limits of my talent, growing as an artist. I look back on some of the paintings I did years ago, paintings I thought were the best I'd ever produce, and marvel at how much better I am now. I can only wonder what I'll be creating in another year or two.
   I've also been thinking a lot lately about marketing. When I started creating my online presence I bulled ahead and learned as I went. I put all  my online selling entities in the name Darkwater Studios, which is the name of my studio. I realized, too late in some cases, that the brand I needed to be promoting was Doug Baltz. I've corrected most of those, but my eBay store still has my studio name. I don't feel it's in my best interest to start that one over after building up my selling history. This is the reason I started over on Etsy. That was a no brainer since I never sold anything on there. I tried for a while and gave up. Hopefully this time it will be better, although it couldn't be any worse. I sometimes think about how different things would be if I could start my professional career over knowing what I know now. It may have been better, but the learning process has been fun for me ( in between bouts of frustration). It's probably helped mold me into the artist I am now. And I wouldn't want to change that at all.

"The Soul Within"

A Very Catchy Title

   Things are going quite well as of late. I'm selling an average of one painting a week. Work has been a lot less stressful. My wife takes good care of me and makes me laugh a lot. I have had car troubles for the past week. My radiator needs to be drained and cleaned and I need a new thermostat. Unfortunately I let a let a lot of people convince me I could do it myself. Right now my car is sitting in my driveway, jacked up, the old thermostat off, the new one sitting in the drivers seat (since I can't get to where it needs to be placed thanks the the idiots that designed the engine for the PT Cruiser), I'm missing a bolt, and I'm not really sure where the radiator cap is. But I'm not gonna think about all that right now. I'm in my studio, music playing, paint drying on several canvases, enjoying my day. Once again, it's my creative flow that keeps my head from exploding.

"Not Quite An Angel"

If Only

  I just shipped another painting that I sold. I've also painted two more paintings today. If only I could sell art as fast as I produce it. If only I enjoyed the business end of the business as much as I do the creative end. If only I had a patron. I feel pretty good about my life. I enjoy being an artist. I get a thrill every time I put brush to canvas (or brush to paper, or pen to paper, or pencil to paper; in fact every time I create something I get a thrill). I really can't complain about things, but every now and then I stop and wonder, "If only..."

"Afraid To Face Defeat"

50% Of Being An Artist Is 100% Mental

  I've decided this is going to be my year, the year I strike it big as an artist. The year I start to realize all my dreams. I want to be artistically self sufficient. I want a nice studio. I want a gallery. I want to be able to help other creative types realize their potential. I want to be able to hire my friends to run my empire. I think it's all within reason. It's not like I want to have the first art gallery on the moon. I'd just like to be able to live my life the way I want to, to not have to punch the clock making money for someone else. I want to look back on my life and not have any regrets. I've sold two paintings this week and possibly a handful more in the next few days. I just need to look at every decision I make from now on and see how it affects my artist's bottom line. I need to be an artist first. I need to be an artist all the time.

                                   He Takes No Reprimand