Ask Aunt Annie: Self-Confidence and Art
Are you looking for insight on tough matters in life? It's not always easy to share your deepest concerns (the ones that truly need tending to). Our Untameable Wolf Alpha Mars is here to provide answers to your deepest, anonymous, concerns in this installment of our newsletter: "Ask Aunt Annie.”
This week, Alpha Mars attempts to answer qualms specifically relating to art and self-confidence.
---
Dear Aunt Annie:
I have been making art now for about a year, and although I find it easy to feel inspired, I'm concerned I need to find a distinct style to be taken seriously as an artist. How do I go about finding my personal art style?
Love,
Third Eye, Audrey Paquette
CraftyButLost
Dear CraftyButLost,
Congratulations on creating art for over a year! That is a feat worth celebrating. It's no surprise to me that at this phase of your artistic career, you are looking for what stands out as distinctly you. That's the thing about personal style: it takes time! It's hard to know what you like and are good at unless you've spent a good amount of time creating in the first place, so take heart in knowing that you are on the right track.
Although many artists go on to have successful careers without developing styles that are instantly recognizable, there is no denying that having a distinguishable look to your art is a big help when it comes to being known and selling your work.
So let's get down to it: what is art and style? To me, art is taking the same material all humans have access to (a scenery of a meadow for example) and interpreting it through various perspectives. Several artists might paint the same meadow, but it is the differences in what stands out about that meadow, the various textures, the tones used, that creates personal style.
I have always found it very helpful to look to other artists I cherish. Start by picking a few artists that really speak to you in your field of media, be it music, sculpting, painting, etc. On a paper write down and answer the following questions: What draws me to these artists and their interpretations? What emotions are evoked when I look at their art? What do these artists have in common with each other? What do I have in common with these artists in terms of my work?
I almost always use the template of existing work when I create art myself. Is it plagiarism? Of course not! I lend my unique skills and abilities to ideas that move me. We all have access to the same ideas, to the same meadow, but no two meadows will ever be identical.
Keep on creating,
Aunt Annie
---
Dear Aunt Annie,
My boyfriend is in a band and I spend a lot of my time watching him rehearse. He’s really good, don’t get me wrong, but I long to be included somehow. I know I’m not a musician but I’m definitely creative; he just hasn’t invited me to join in since we started dating. I feel like maybe I’m not good enough to be a part of the creative crew. What should I do?
Sincerely,
LonelyInLove
Dear LonelyInLove,
I'm so happy to hear you want to push your creativity further and start creating with a team! Having a tribe of like-minded artists is not only emotionally rewarding, but a good way to gain more visibility, as we know there is strength in numbers. You could, of course, approach your partner with these same concerns and see for yourself if there is room for your vision and skill in his band, but, what might promise to be more rewarding is to start your own “band.” You are no doubt not alone in your quest for an artistic family. As women especially, we have been encouraged over the years to watch from the bleachers and cheer on our men. How rewarding it might be for you to have a project that is uniquely yours, where you might find your man cheering you on from the bleachers for once. Approach your friends and family and see if there are other artists longing for community and you will find that there are many! The hard part is having the guts to lead the parade. Remember that your voice is as unique and important as your boyfriend’s, and that the messages you bear are gifts to the world, and to other women everywhere looking for their voice.
Show the world what you can do,
Aunt Annie
---
Dear Aunt Annie
I've been creating art recreationally for some time now, and it seems I now have the opportunity to sell my art at a local market. Although I'm excited, I've never sold my work before and am nervous about how to price it. Please help!
Love,
HungryForMoney
Dear HungryForMoney,
Three cheers for you and this big milestone in your art ventures!! You are the real deal.
Pricing your own work can be uncomfortable and might leave you feeling uneasy. Many artists find themselves feeling modest and afraid to price too high. My first piece of advice here is: Do not underprice your work. If you sell your art for cheap, your audience will see your art as cheap as well. Know that art is unique and expensive, and that your audience is purchasing perfectly manifested parts of your person!
An easy way to feel guided in this process is to look to your environment. Find other artists in your field that have been in the selling game about as long as you have (if you are brand new, look at other emerging artists who have been selling for less than a year). What kind of rates are they selling their work for? Pick artists that have similar “bells and whistles” as you (for example if you are a singer-songwriter acoustic artist, don't compare your rates to a rock band using pyrotechnics and stage gimmicks. If you are an acrylic painter, do not compare yourself to an oil-paint artist).
Next, make sure you price based on size: if you are a painter, use the square inch measurements of your work, if you are a musician use the length of your set, if you are a sculptor, use the mass of your piece. It is easier for your audience to know what to expect over time if your pricing is consistent.
Lastly, be patient. Art is hard to sell. When emerging in your career, it will be tempting to lower your prices in order to land more sales. Remember that your buyers will come with time. Once you sell a few pieces and get the wheels turning, more curious buyers will come. Hold strong in knowing your work is worth every penny and keep honing your craft. The value of your art does not rest in the number of pieces sold.
Know your worth,
Aunt Annie
---
Have questions or concerns you would like Aunt Annie to address?
Send us your woes at wolflabmtl@gmail.com