Artist’s Quandary

When Extreme Gratitude and Frustration Meet

Any professional artist is familiar with the artist’s quandary. But for those of you who are perhaps new to the game, let me explain what the artist’s quandary is.

It’s really quite simple. The artist’s quandary is that we are always grateful for the work we get. It is our passion after all. We live to create in whatever our art form happens to be. The problem lies in when our own personal projects get put on the back-burner in order to crank out the work that pays. Don’t get me wrong…it’s a good problem to have.

Still, our projects sit there in the back corner just staring at us. We promise to get back to them as soon as possible. As soon as possible turns into some day. And hopefully that someday doesn’t turn into never. Trust me, it happens. Generally, we start off personal projects with excitement. As time goes on, that excitement can wane and then disappear altogether.

Yet another project sits on the back burner waiting to be completed.

I have a tiger on my desk that has been staring at me forlornly with half of its face done and just a small corner to go. I’m still determined to finish it. But I feel the unfinished lion which got tucked away for safe keeping. It’s only half done and yes, I lost the drive to finish it. But perhaps someday down the line, I’ll find that excitement again. It is a big cat and if you know me at all by now, you know that they’re my favorite. So, hopefully…

Would you opt for a definite payoff or a maybe?

And that brings us back to work. We artists are human. And us humans (the vast majority of us, anyway) like having a roof over our heads and food on the table. So we do our best to hustle and advertise that we’re available for hire. Our table fills up with work and our calendars with due dates. Your latest personal project, if your intent is to eventually sell it, may or may not get sold. The money in your pocket is just a maybe. The customer who comes to you with a job they want you to do is money in your pocket. When it comes right down to it, I think most of us would opt for the definite pay off, the money in hand.

And so the struggle continues…