Ha ha, excelent! I knew I'd get through to you with programming speak. ;-)
I do intend to write an article on the very subject you just asked about. How to make the leap. In fact, it was on my todo list for this weekend, however, I have given higher priority to artwork. I have a new drawing on the go.
The article will take me hours to write. So if I engage a cost analysis, creating a new artwork is more profitable than a Steemit article. However, the Steemit article is a long term investment in written material that I can repurpose at a later date. eg. book or workshop.
So you see the way of my thinking. My art is my business. I am a sole proprietor. Being an independent artist, is no different to being a freelance programmer, except, I have product I have created to my own specs and can reproduce as merchandise.
Half or more of my time is taken up with tasks that are not art creation. Correspondence, newsletters, social media, packaging the artwork for shipping, after sales followup, growing the mailing list, studying the works of other artistst, living and dead to learn and improve my work...
I've drawn inspiration from other creatives, as I tried to unravel the mystery of artistic success. Most of this career inspiration comes from musicians. The two things that finally stood out were consistency and persistence.
Stick around, now that you have asked about it, and as it was on my todo list, I will write the article up soon and publish it in the next couple of days. I have to finish of my Van Gogh portrait first. =)
There is something very interesting here "creating a new artwork is more profitable than", I never thought like this (ok it's probably because it's not the case for me ahah), does this way to see your art came when you switched to a full time job as artist or has it here before?
And I look forward for your article (and your Van Gogh portrait ahah).
It's a pleasure to talk with you and to see that experienced people are enough open to share their experiences :)
Well, when you are living from the sales of your artwork, then such thoughts certainly come to the fore. It is just a necessity. Sales translate into being able to pay the rent, the power, buy new materials, feed the artist (you) to keep art production going. It is simply a question of sustainability. Otherwise, you're back to taking other jobs to cover costs and the artwork becomes secondary again.
Most happy to converse with you @apolette. =)
Everything, but from letter to letter you said is what I'm thinking for a long time. Found myself questioning about - time-steemit-painting relation. And yes, we have product, and we are doing all the job. And that job is so complex, and need to be done. So if not painting but doing posting or some other work related to art is also doing art in a way.
Yes, the other tasks are part of the job, but we do have to keep an eye on the balance. This is something I personally have to be constantly mindful of. Do you easily find that balance yourself @junwatercolor?
Not easily, I admit, still learning.. And believe it will last whole life :) Like learning about art, it's somehow conected. As we learn of art, we learn of ourselves and at the same time all thing that are conected.
The School of Life.