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| RipGrip |
 Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:15 am |
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Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 302
Location: Armpit of America
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So just as things looked like they were gonna start taking off for me I get pulled back to reality.
Somehow over the last couple years I found the time to finish 7 or 8 skateboard sculptures in between my usual paying gigs. I started to get some press and got a lot of attention on my blog etc... Heck I even landed a magazine cover. I struck a tentative deal with Hackett to reproduce the sculpture I did of him. Things are looking good. But by the end of 2010 my paying work had started to slow down and the jobs I was doing weren't paying as well. (I'm sure a lot of you can relate.)
By February '11 I was working like 10-11 hours a day just to pay my bills and make ends meet. Then I get nailed with the big fed tax bill in March. Lovely. So basically I haven't touched my skateboard sculptures in 3 months.
My frustration with this is compounded by a cool article that SBC just released about my art in their May issue. It got me really pumped. I like the way they made me sound nerdy and cool at the same time. But in the end it just serves as a reminder that I'm unable to sculpt what I want at the moment.
Anyway, I guess I'm just blowing off steam. I haven't given up but when you start thinking about moving back in with your parents at the age of 32 you know things aren't stellar. I'm sure many of my fellow artists are in the same boat. Argh.
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| Destructive13 |
| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:02 am |
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Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 1013
Location: Hysteria, Ca
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I feel you man.
I put a lot of time and money into my little Destructive project and even sold my stuff for not much more than cost of materials just to get my stuff out there.
In the end I only sold a handful of boards and now I am out of materials and money to keep it going but whats the point of keeping something going if its not bringing in the money to pay for itself.
Your sculpts are soo sick and I hope to someday have one of them in my collection. |
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| Goon |
| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:38 pm |
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Joined: 12 Jan 2009
Posts: 1222
Location: Santa Cruz ca
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| Oh man have I been there. You are really talented for 32 and it will come. Have faith. You will get to sculpt what you want for money at some point. You love what you do and will do it better than others and people will want to live vicariously through you by supporting your art (if your not a total kook!) Life will rip out your soul and make you do things you hate. I remember being younger, living freelance, telling people to fuck off if I didn't like the work or felt disrespected. Boy, get married and have a kid......."yes sir! right away sir!" Like a good american you trade freedom for security and end up deserving neither. Shoot me..............Oh yeah,you........Hang in there buddy. Keep it going. It may go slow but it's gonna happen. Be open to the opportunities that become available to you. You may have to compromise some things but you'll know whats acceptable and what feels right. |
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| PAWN |
| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 2:22 pm |
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Joined: 06 Jul 2005
Posts: 4175
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| i find it ashame that you are having a rough go at it, because your level of talent should be rewarded well. I'm sure you'll hit a stride at some point doing what you love to do and make a healthy living at it. |
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| professor_pintossible |
| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 2:31 pm |
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ORDER OF THE SKULL
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 6274
Location: bklyn
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congrats on the article  |
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| slob-air |
| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:05 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 27 Oct 2001
Posts: 63528
Location: S&B HQ
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| Welcome to the club. But when it all conspires to let you do what you dig, its so worth it. |
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| obi |
| Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:21 pm |
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Joined: 19 Sep 2008
Posts: 1008
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32 for an artist is young. a friend who got me interested in taking painting seriously used to tell me things didn't really smooth out (it terms of finances) for most artist until later in life - not everyone can be the next big thing at 20 or 30 something. i used to think he was full of excuses because he was in his mid 40's at the time and just starting to make a name for himself. now he's 62 and a full time painter and making some decent bank with his work in major collections...
along with the drive, ability, and natural talent (things you possess) - also there's life lessons and uncertainty that make a person.
most important thing is to keep making your work and eventually it will pan out. even if it doesn't you'll be a 75 year old with a room full of incredible sculptures that people will want to see.
maybe it's time to get crazy and make one life size! it would be way more interesting than this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ray_(artist) **** |
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| Skate Fink |
| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 6:39 am |
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ORDER OF THE SKULL
Joined: 18 Mar 2006
Posts: 1598
Location: Abingdon, MD
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I've talked with Kray at length several times about this situation. It's been a long time goal of mine to hit the lottery. Not as much for personal wealth, more to be able to do things I have always wanted to do (yeah, who doesn't want to do that?)
I would LOVE to have the money to establish an artist's collective. Have the funds to fund a group of you "starving artists." Several years ago, I became friends with Johnny Ace & Kali Vera. They had worked for Ed "Big Daddy" Roth for over twenty years. THEY produced a LOT of the Rat Fink art that came out of his studio. I bought art from them and was actually ashamed to pay their price! (same with Kray) I love art and KNOW the value of the time and talent it takes to produce it.
If I had the funds, I would be able to provide "my" artists with living expenses and health care and allow them to focus on their craft. In return, I could help promote their work and hopefully, in time, allow them to become self sufficient. Then, bring in new talent.
I guess this is sort of like the old days when an artist would hope for a wealthy "patron" except it wouldn't be my intention to exploit them.....
Sorry about the ramble. I am just so in awe of your talent, it is truly painful to hear of your struggles....... |
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| toilettowncom |
| Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 6:19 pm |
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Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 823
Location: brooklyn, ny
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thats how it goes unfortunately.
ive had my art in a bunch of skate mags like Thrasher, i've illustrated over 100 board graphics...
but i work a full time job, on food stamps, rent a room in a basement with no kitchen. made like $5,000 total last year. |
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| RipGrip |
| Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 10:56 pm |
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Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 302
Location: Armpit of America
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toilettowncom wrote: thats how it goes unfortunately.
ive had my art in a bunch of skate mags like Thrasher, i've illustrated over 100 board graphics...
but i work a full time job, on food stamps, rent a room in a basement with no kitchen. made like $5,000 total last year.
The glamorous life of artists. I can't say I wasn't warned though. That whole 'starving artist' cliche got beaten in to my head from day one. ...and my parents are both artists. Haha |
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