Day 55 - Chapter 4 - Art Thinking

The focus of chapter 4 begins with a directive question from Whitaker, with a recall of one being in the weeds in the early stages of creative work focusing on the “how" one moves from the fear of risk to creating the possible.  She offers two tools - “portfolio thinking" and "ownership stakes.”  Portfolio is use of developing strategies to do what one can to keep a roof over one’s head.  In ownership, it's the risk of putting one’s self out in the business of art.  She gives two examples show the difference in one’s focus within of these strategies.  Finding tools that work for each person to meet these goals can become overwhelming, especially with self-investing.  She returns to reader to keep a wide angle view when projects become difficult.  Here, she uses the analogy of building a boat.  Imaging the economy is a vast amount of water, and how to stay afloat with projects, depends up the boat one builds.  The business side of a creative career is sustained through well planned strategies to provide the appropriate income.  One can experiment with different ways to find a stable, income producing, art career.  She gives several examples such as investing, finding patrons, working several jobs, selling one type of work in order to make another, etc., all the while building one’s portfolio.  Just as any other business needs to evolve with the economy, so much a creative career. 

I encourage you to buy a copy of Art Thinking for a better understanding of your own creative process.  Whether you're a master artist or beginning artist, this is an excellent book.

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