The dialogue of art is personal

This is an ever present question to an artist, like myself,  who wants to create genuine work while being able to sell to collectors who respond to the work.  How does an artist maintain a sense of self and inspiration without being too influenced by the bottom line?

My belief is I must create what inspires me and consider the response while not letting it down out my intent or inspiration. This is very difficult to do when you hear folks around you say, ” you should paint mote flowers or more of those, those sell better”. 

It goes back to the very reason an artist creates, I cannot change the reason I need to create, I just must to fulfill my life and purpose.  There is something that connects me to this line, object, concept, or dream. So much that I must explore it and discover it in new ways until I feel I have come to know it and can move on.  So although I like flowers and I can paint them, I am necessarily inspired at the present to paint them over and over. 

Once a body of work is created around an inspiration, then it can be examined and a venue to show it and sell it can occur.  The artist must be ready to part with part of themselves when they sell a work.  It is very rewarding to sell a piece of my artwork and always an honor to someone.  I become connected to that collector in a way, essentially they have a part of me in their home, which is very extremely rewarding and fulfilling on a personal level. 

Art is personal, personal for the artist who created it and personal for the viewer who connects with and falls in love with it that they purchase it and display it in their home or office.  I am blessed to be in a profession where I share my dreams, perspective, ideas, and interpretations of the world with others in a manner which allows others to experience something I created in a new way.  There is a dialogue between the viewer and I, even though a word may never be spoken.