What happens next? The question that was on everyone’s lips at my last artists’ Zoom meeting at Art NXT Level Academy this week. All over the world we are all stuck in our home studios, and not engaging with our public in person. All the artists talked about how hard it is to not have the face to face conversations about our own work and the works of other artists, that we generally see in galleries and museums.
When I meet my artist friends we usually do so at an art preview or a museum exhibition. Then off to one of our places for studio visit. The conversation isn’t only about art, exhibiting and selling, it’s also about personal lives and problems. A rounded discussion with another person who lives a very similar life of dedication to their practice and love of visual aesthetics, culture, nature and interest in the human condition. For most of my women artist friends, their families are small and in general they don’t have children. Love of family and interest in what they are up to is also part of the conversation.
These are the people I meet in person. Now I have a new group at the Academy online. We follow each other on social media and reach out through comments about new work shared or milestones reached. The odd sale or media piece happens through the methods we are learning to market ourselves in the virtual space. But they are no substitute for meeting clients in person and the face to face conversations that add up to a living income for an artist.
Everyone is in the same position. As we gradually come out of lockdown and government support stops how do we make a living.
Yesterday I attended a local council zoom meeting that is attempting to shine the light on culture, art and artists in my area. Sadly it was revealed during the meeting that it is expected that the local economy will take 3 - 5 years to recover to 2019 figures. So if I can only be half available to potential customers, and the economy is so damaged how will I be able to sell work. Well…
One of the artists in my Zoom group asked if anyone had participated in outdoor art fairs. I had never heard of such events in Australia or in the UK. Well, I knew of one in Canberra but it was more craft and amateurs than professional artists. A bit like the Art CarBoot Fair that happens in Margate in a multi story carpark undercover. Not my line is how I would describe the work, more graffiti or tattoo based art work. The price for works is so low that editions aren’t limited.
The concept did get me thinking though about how I can engage with new clients outdoors from 12th April, when retail stores can open again. Our first phase out of lockdown in England. From May 17, I can open my studio to the public with timed appointments and restricted numbers. That is too far away for me, my savings won’t last that long. It’s been 4 months since my last art sale. I was even contemplating hiring a van on weekends and setting up next to the food vans outside my local castle on the beach.
Then it dawned on me that I have a gate in my courtyard that gives access to a public pathway. I don’t use the gate so had forgotten about it’s existence. I can invite the public to view my paintings and do demonstrations in my backyard. The space is barely 3 x 3m so they don’t even need to come in. People can view from the gateway and at last I can talk to an art interested public about my work in person. The thought of having this kind of engagement again created a proliferation of watercolours in the studio yesterday.
Once again I’m excited about painting. I’ve had my own gallery, hosted my work and other artists at art fairs and exhibitions for the past two decades. I love talking to the public about art, mine and other artists. I miss it and I’m so glad that through discussions with other artists and the local council I have found a way to re-engage with the public in person in the not too distant future. Having my first vaccination this weekend is a great help as well, so that I can see and talk to many people with confidence about my own and their safety.
View my website at Stephanie Fuller Artist