Dilemma of a Part-Time Artist

Kuching Waterfront (14" x 20") painted in April 2006

When friends found out that I paint and especially after they have seen my paintings, always asked why I'm still working my day job.

"You can earn thousands and millions of dollars selling your artworks!" is the usual remark I get from people who seems to assume that anyone, after seeing my paintings, would be willing to part with their money for my watercolours. Well, it isn't as easy as that.

It doesn't help when art buyers tend to buy paintings not because they value or appreciate the painting itself, but because "it looks good with our red sofa" or "it matches the colour of the living room wall".

I do sell some of my works from time to time, but the last gallery that represented me has gone out of business... I tested water with eBay.com, participated in local and international art shows, and add my presence in art related webpages, like Wetcanvas.com. but, this is never enough especially when I'm a young unknown artist, although I'm slowly and surely making my name known at least in Singapore and hopefully, soon in my home country Malaysia. There are more to the art of marketing art (excuse the pun) then simply paint and hope customers will walk in and buy that landscape off your easel.

I lost my job in 2003 and for more than half a year, I knocked on gallery's doors, tried to start a children art class, and even talked to a pet shop to do customized paintings of their clients' pets. None of them materialized except for a gallery who agreed to sell my paintings but the sales were poor (averages one painting sold in 3 months). I also managed to get a commission work to paint mural in a fashion boutique shop so that bought me some more time but my savings soon started to dry up. So, I decided to go back to work and found a job towards the end of that year.

Therefore, unless I win several international awards and become a world-famous watercolourist overnight (and i know success doesn't come overnight), I have to earn my living doing 9-to-5 job with the convenience of a pay cheque at the end of each month. With new addition to the family coming real soon, I just can't take the risk of having no salary and a stack of unsold paintings, can I?