Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Beats Selling Eggs

Of the Sun, 4.5 x 6.5"

Fun day in the studio, now that I have let myself in.  I have been gathering ideas the last couple of days and today they all started pouring out.  My mission was to complete something today.  Anything.  And here it is.  It's small, it's cute (as cute as I get anyways), and it's going to be affordable.

I'll tell you why.

My daughter just finished watching the American Girl Movie Kit Kittredge.  A great movie for young girls!  Anyway, the movie is set during the Great Depression.  Families all over the country are broken up as fathers go to cities in search of work.  The rest of the families do what they can to keep their homes.  Kitt's family, as most of the families in their neighborhood that manage to retain their homes, takes on boarders, sells eggs, and makes clothing from feed sacks.  Life for them ain't easy. 

My family has been fairly lucky during this recession.  The hubby still has employment, and I have not been forced to give up my art to be a Walmart greeter or coal miner. However, I do miss the income I have enjoyed for the last several years.  I use my income for home furnishings, clothing, vacations, books, and ART SUPPLIES.  Darn those things are expensive.

I want to keep on doing as I have been doing.  I like making larger pieces of art.  But they are not selling at this time.  My idea of large is probably not the same as somebody else's idea of large, but regardless, cheaper is selling better at this point.  I think this fellow here will cost $26.00 and $4.00 for shipping.

I'm not sure I want to get into selling prints or doing notecards.  Textiles just look so much better in person.  The idea of my art is to touch it myself, and when I'm done touching it, I want it to go out in the world to be touched by someone else.  So, for now, until I'm forced to sell eggs, I'm sticking with creating originals.  Smaller originals.  With content that I think people will like.

Selling out?!?  I don't think so.  Meshing my interests with the interests of the marketplace?  I think that is how I can best put it.  Birds are hot!  I like birds.  I have put birds into my art for years now, and I'm not about to stop.  So . . . more birds!  Text?  So far, I have not used text in my work.  Possibly because so many others have used it in their work.  But I love text.  I love a letter.  I love a word.  I love a phrase.  And so on.  I have collected a handful of "antique" books for the collages I used to do in the dark ages.  Although, I could never convince myself to cut them up.  I pulled a couple of books out this morning and started ripping and cutting.

One small slip of paper that has been in my idea folder for, uh, 10 years (wow), has finally come out of the dark.  It says, "words for wings."  So now my birds will have words for wings.

So, let me know what you think.  Really.  Whether you like it or not.  Whether you think I'm selling out or not.    Be honest.


9 comments:

Jean Baardsen said...

Kim,
I think this is great! You've managed to make something small that still has the character and feel of your work. No way is this selling out! I love birds too. And I like the words for wings idea. One advantage to small pieces is that you get to try out lots of different ideas, without being committed to a major piece of work. I'm very impressed!

Rita Vindedzis said...

You're not selling out at all. It still has your signature style, just smaller and more affordable. Great minds think alike! I also listed a smaller bird inspired painting yesterday.

Chris said...

Oh, this selling out thing! Such a quandry. I think selling out is when you start to make hair scrunchies. But the thing is, this is actually a source of income for you. I think you should do what you need to do. As long as YOU still like it.

Ellen said...

I LOVE the strong story telling aspect of this piece. Make more! I know one has to be in my future. It's all about price points, isn't it? Various sized works at various prices. And remember small work collectors often become big work collectors. Selling out? No way.

p said...

its not selling out
its called being adaptable
i just sent you an email about etsy yartsale promo thing started yesterday thru sunday
good opportunity for us
ps
i like the piece :)

Kim Hambric said...

Thank you all for your support. I feel much better about the whole thing. Looking forward to really getting into these pieces. Leaving town. Will have to wait until next week. But then, school is out. Will probably have to wait until the following week. Sigh.

jason said...

"words for wings" sound genius to me!

Elizabeth said...

It's really really nice! I think that as long as you're happy making it it's not selling out.

Also, I went to see Kit Kitteridge with my mother and my daughter and we all cried! Such a good movie.

Caterina Giglio said...

"Words for Wings", how beautiful! Whenever I have an art show, I always include small pieces for those collectors that feel that they cannot afford larger pieces. Your work is just fabulous! Selling out? absolutely not!