One burning question…question of the year:

How does an artist go from being a part time artist to being a full time artist?

How does one even answer that question?  What kinds of data do I need?  Here are some potential survey questions:

1.  How many hours per week do you spend engaged in the creative process?

2.  How many hours do you spend on administrative and marketing activities?

3.  What is your primary source of income? Actual paintings? Prints? Other? (some percentages would be nice)

4. What is your outgoing versus incoming cash flow look like?

5.  How many shows do you do per year?

6.  What was the precipitating factor that allowed you to make the transition from part time artist to full time artist?

I’m sitting here in my office, trying desperately to prepare to teach class, and my heart just isn’t in it.  I want to be in my studio.  In the light.  With my hands and my clothes covered in paint.  I need a mentor.  A SUCCESSFUL mentor.  Someone who has managed to do what I want to do.  Not an artist who is supported by his or her family, and not one whose spouse provides the support.  Can I do this? Is it possible?

Am I really just at the point where I need to take the leap?  And what ever happened to that saying that “when the student is ready, the teacher appears?”  Where the hell is my teacher?