I sit in my living room on a sunny November afternoon recalling the last seven months of my career. It's been since May that I left my serving job out of sheer contempt of dealing with the general public. Up until about a month ago I spent two days a week working with special needs men, but as that job has also come to an end I have leaned fully into art.
Days, weeks, months it seems, have gone by where I have been sitting on a metal folding chair for nearly ten hours a day painting and working and crafting. And yet it seems there are endless tasks to get done. But it's not like a day job where you clock out and forget about the day's work. I never clock out. The gears of my brain never stop turning as I adjust to my new full time self-employed life.
So what does the life of a full time artist look like in this modern world? I'm sure it looks a little different for us all, but after conversing with many other artists I can say that many of us share commonalities. Artists love to create, but the selling is usually the challenge. Until the past few years I was functioning mainly online via Instagram. This is where I would post my finished pieces and sell majority of my art. But with the influx of AI generated images and content creation, many of us artists have been filtered out of home screens, swallowed up by the "algorithm" everyone loves to complain about. So now we must acknowledge that a shift away from online marketing is crucial as well.
And honestly, being a fully online artist feels wrong. I struggle with social media as a means for artistic expression because it does not give the viewer the proper tools to engage and absorb art. Art is meant to be seen in person so one can observe textures, colors, etc. I mean how can we really expect a 2x3 inch photo on a screen to emote anything at all other than a short burst of appreciation followed by doom-scrolling. So, this year, I have vowed to move more and more towards in-person events where I can display some of my paintings and merch for humans to pick up, hold, and really see. Online posting is perfect to display new pieces and works in progress as well as updates on the shop. But I think we all can agree that a painting deserves to be appreciated in physicality.
My current schedule requires a few specific things from me;
1. I must always be creating.
2. I must always be marketing.
3. I need to be available and flexible.
Monday through Wednesday I usually have a crisis about finances and convince myself I need to get a "real" job as soon as possible. This causes me to scour the internet for casting calls, gigs, any kind of artist grants or opportunities, etc. Something I do not often vocalize is the tiny voice in my head telling me I am essentially being a bum and that "artist" isn't a real career. I believe that voice is not my own, but the voice of "society" that has told me all artists are starving artists. Especially without an art degree, I often get down on myself that I am not doing enough and must be working more and more to be happy and seen as successful. After this beginning-of-week crisis comes Thursday into the weekend when I pack my schedule with performance gigs, vending opportunities, and any other side jobs possible. Usually by Sunday I am feeling not only somewhat financially abundant, but also artistically abundant! So how does this reflect the schedule requirements I have learned I need? Well, monday through thursday I spend my time creating, creating, creating. From paintings, to designing clothing, to merch for my vending table, to creating new acts for shows, I am ALWAYS juggling many projects. During these days I also use social media to connect with other local artists and business owners for new opportunities. I have to essentially make every gig happen for myself, so it is crucial I am connecting with producers, studio owners, gallery curators, venues, and other artists. I use my weekends to market myself and meet new community members while I'm at shows and events. Being an artist is all about who you know and having a wide net of supporters. It's almost crucial to be a socialite, especially without an art school degree that would propel you to that "professional" status. And this brings me to the final bullet point- I must be available and flexible. My schedule unfolds before my eyes, so I must have lots of open time. I also need to be flexible for those stopping by to pick up art, dropping stuff at the post office, making prints, all of the sorts. This is why three days at the beginning of the week must remain open. Even though it almost feels lazy to me, I pack these days with so much!
So what's next for Ragdoll? I spent the last 7 months fretting over finding a job and interviewing for very mediocre positions, meanwhile my art has been doing better than ever. I have some very exciting things in the works for 2025. Here's what I'm working on...
My first dance workshops will be in January and February. I will be hosting a masculine burlesque and intro to drag king workshop for the first time. I've been dreaming of making this a reality for nearly a year, and I can't wait to start sharing my skill set to the community.
January 26 I am working my first runway show!! I am currently designing a line specifically for the Sustainable Couture Fashion Show hosted by Avante-Garde in Denver. This show is all about recycled fashion, and I can't wait for Ragdoll Clothing Co. to finally show off some finished head to toe looks. Save the date!
I'm still performing and vending as much as possible. December 6th will be an incredible burlesque show with Lainie Lynx. I will be debuting a new Fallen Angel act as the headliner of the show. January 4th I will be vending in Boulder for a burlesque and pole revue with Kylie Wagons.
Stay up to date on my instagram accounts and website for more
! (@r_a_g_d_o_l_l_ for art and @morningstardarkling for drag)
Thanks for reading! Maybe I'll do another "Life of an Artist" check-in by next June to see how far I've come.
Cheers! XO
~ x RAGDOLL x
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