Comments on: Move On to Something New

By: Jean M. Judd

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:45:38 +0000

What a timely post, Alyson! I’ve been thinking the same thoughts the last couple of months and made the following decisions myself:
I’ve been “in” several different worlds the last few years and I need to get them pared down a bit and really focus more. I’ve been cleaning up my emails and subscriptions to places that I don’t read (i.e. if the email is in my In Box and I don’t even open up the emails to read them, time to unsubscribe!).
There is only so much time in the day and I can’t be everything to everyone. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed for a bit also and that is going away as I’ve been decluttering and getting out of the herd and finding my own direction.
Continued Success!

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By: Miriam Hughes

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:26:04 +0000

I saw your post today after lamenting all week about not having time for my art and realized I am on the right track. I am moving on and it is taking a lot of work, killing my budget (I am giving up some profitable aspects of my other non-art related work), selling my house and moving so that I can have a simpler lifestyle that will allow me to thrive as an artist in whatever capacity that means. I am excited and frustrated as there is a ton of shifting that has to happen and I cannot control the timing. Now the house is on the market, my new location chosen and I am slowly getting back to my art (as months of doing very little work has left me a bit timid and uncertain if I am any good anymore, BAN that thought!!!

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By: jennifer ressmann

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 04:06:14 +0000

Hi Alyson – I bet it feels good to shed what isn’t working anymore. We, each, are only one person and I still haven’t found a way to stop sleeping, eating, grocery shopping, cleaning (heaven forbid!)… so other stuff has to drop off. Sometimes, just feeling ok about it can be the challenge. There are so many wonderful things to do in life! We know whatever you put out there we are going to love – looking forward to it! Thank you!

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By: Jennifer Hawkes

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:58:43 +0000

Alyson
What a great topic !! It is all coming together to read this and be taking your class.. I wanted to respond because I feel very challenged right now as I build my art career and questioned yesterday whether this was normal- whether the low sales these days was a sign that I was in over my head or was being told by the universe to just give up..so this topic really resonated with me this AM and helped turn my head around.. but more importantly – I now understand the value it is to have people engaged in what you are putting out there. So I was moved to write and let you know my thoughts as it helps you grow too… so thank you thank you for practicing what you preach and bringing your readers into your world.
My next blog entry might build on your questions.. see you in class

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By: What I’ve Learned about Producing Audio and Podcasts — Art Biz Blog

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:01:07 +0000

[…] I announced the end of the Art Marketing Action podcast. While it was time to move on, I learned plenty of lessons from trying something […]

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By: Molly Hargarten

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:39:43 +0000

I especially like the question…Is this feeding me? Good going Alyson…you are a fabulous role model and business person.

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By: Cathy Johnson (Kate)

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:24:02 +0000

In reply to Wendy Edsall-Kerwin.

Things DO change, and I guess I have to accept that, but the one art association I’m part of sometimes seems to exist only as an “anti-“–a reaction rather than action. Bitch sessions rather than accomplishing something.
I tried to steer us into at least making art together, sketching eachother, plein air, something…but so far, nada. Moving on sounds good…

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By: Cathy Johnson (Kate)

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:21:46 +0000

Thanks, Alyson, this is what I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and making changes. Your post is a confirmation!
Do you need to move on to something new?
“Are you a member or leader of an organization that is no longer serving you?”
Check, and mostly out of it…
“Are you showing at the same venues over and over again?”
um..Check
“Is your teaching no longer a challenge?”
Check-ish (it’s always a challenge but EXHAUSTING. I do 6-week online classes…)
“If you’re doing something that you think might not be working, ask yourself:
· Is it fun?
· Is it a challenge?
· Am I learning anything?
Am I working too hard and not smart enough?”
Yep. And so cutting back, and not taking so many students but at a rate that lets me be competitive with other online teachers who have been around a while, moving my classes to a simpler site, and not trying to have a Flickr site for them, too (with all the attendant confusion of multiple IDs…)
And thinking of offering a series of non-interactive mini-classes that can cost a lot less…as you say, it’s fun coming up with new ideas! I just put up a poll to give me an idea of what people are interested in…with somewhat surprising results. This will be fun!

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:35:49 +0000

In reply to Wendy Edsall-Kerwin.

Wendy: It’s too bad when organizations get off of mission. It often happens when a lot of people have their hands in the pot. So glad you have your boundaries.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:34:51 +0000

In reply to Gloria King.

Whoa. Sounds like you’re on the road to something new and big, Gloria.

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