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Artist
Insight into the working day of an artist.
Qualifications/ Experience needed:
Experiencing life is probably the most valuable qualification. I also have an art degree but I'm not yet sure if it's an absolute necessity. A need to explore thoughts and feelings through using different mediums i.e. paint.
My Typical Day:
My day would consist of going to work in a cute wee cafe and making coffee and serving very rich business people. I'm lucky at the moment that the people I serve and work with are nice and the cafe is appealing in the fact that it displays and sells paintings for me. I go home in the early evening or afternoon and madly try to paint. Its a wee bit tricky sometimes surrounded by domestic stuff to do as well. But in saying that I love painting and try to do it anywhere I can.
What I love about my job:
I love painting, I love the opening night of a show. I love it when people see different things in my paintings or they talk about them and get a feeling from them. I love making things beautiful. I love it when people buy a work and I can imagine it being in a home or an office and how new people would see the painting and their emotional state might change a little, for example they might feel more relaxed.
I love expressing myself. I love the meditate state of painting. I love a blank canvas and a finished painting.
What I hate:
I hate having to do shitty jobs to make some money. I hate it when you are completely broke and you can't seem to sell any work. I hate kissing ass. I hate writing proposals for a gallery and artist statements and naming art works. I hate huge commissions. I hate it when you have no creativity. I hate cleaning up after myself (which is constant if you are messy).
How does a young person get started in art?
Just get in to it, start creating and try to meet people who can help you. You could go on a course too: it opens up your understanding.
Qualities you need:
You need to be determined, have a thick skin and pure dedication. You need to love it and have some sort of artistic qualities.
Advice for Wannabes:
Be true to yourself, never copy anyone's work. And it’s not as easy as it looks.
