I’ve been working on a commission this morning. It is one of my ‘house portraits’. I started it en plein air but spent an hour or so working on it in the studio. The house is white with black trim and it has great landscaping. I’m trying to capture the warmth and feel of the house. You can tell whoever lives there cares about it and spends time investing in it - financially, physically, and emotionally. I hope, in the end, they’re happy with it.
Last night I realized I have five commissions going at once. Monday I had none. What a difference a day makes. Monday I met with a client, Tuesday, before I’d met with my second client, two people contacted me about commissions. And yesterday I heard from a friend that the undeveloped area across the street from her is finally being mowed. I have been planning on a ‘house portrait’ for her but the only place for me to set up was across the street and the weeds were up to my waist.
So now I have five commissions. This is crazy. I love it, but man it’s crazy.
For months now I’ve been painting and writing, believing that things would work out. This is my biggest leap of faith. Working full-time as a writer and painter has been a dream of mine for years. It took me a long time to realize it, but I’ve always wanted to be creative professionally. So when my grandmother died and I decided to go for it I wasn’t sure if it was going to work out. I’ve had a lot of stress attacks and panic attacks over the past ten months wondering if I’d made a huge mistake, but last night I realized that it might just work.
I know five commissions doesn’t suddenly mean I will have a steady income from here on out, but it did open my eyes to the fact that this could work. If I can get regular commissions, perhaps gallery representation, along with my Etsy shop, I may have a chance of generating a livable wage. I’m used to surviving rather than thriving, but I now think thriving is possible too. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get one of these books I’ve written published too.
A few weeks ago I started to just act as if. I write every morning for an hour before my actual work day starts. My workday begins with painting. Afterwards I blog about painting, and in the afternoons I either draw or practice color mixing. I am not only putting paint on canvas but regularly practicing the skills that help improve painting. I decided that although the income wasn’t coming in I would just settle down and live my life as if I’m a professional artist and novelist. I figured, if I act as if then it has to be. Eventually, I will be a professional, earning a living and thriving. It must be.