ARE TIMES BAD?
ARE TIMES BAD? [T-H-I-N-K]
Every so often someone lets me know that times are bad for artists. I’ve been receiving this message for years. The carriers of the bad news warn me of the next recession coming and that I should be ready to not sell any more art. I had another notice yesterday.
Maybe it’s always a bad time for artists. But why do some of us see a half-full glass — while others see it half-empty?
On a personal note, my art business weathered the Great Recession of 2008, as well as the Pandemic of 2020. No one promised me a rose garden when I left my day job to be a full-time artist. Even in years that don’t make the headlines, the path as an artist is rarely easy.
The only thing I can do is what I’ve always done (no matter what the papers say): I’ve chosen a well to drink from that is always deep and full. That well is painting and boy, am I going to continue drinking from it!
“I always had a few people who liked what I did, and that was enough.” ~Etel Adnan
P.S. If you're an artist reading this and feeling uncertain—you're not alone. Keep showing up to the work. That’s the real currency.
Mercury [k-n-o-w]
Mercury retrograde is like painting with your non-dominant hand: everything’s just a little off. It stirs up old conversations, delays what felt certain, and invites a strange kind of creative reflection. If your rhythm feels off, it’s not just you! Expect delays, mix-ups, and a few moments that feel like your palette flipped face-down.
The good news is that this cycle is almost over: Mercury turns direct on April 7th.
[g-r-o-w]
The mind is a garden. What we water, grows.
The physiological sigh that reduces stress quickly