[Groop] (off topic)

Mon Nov 10 11:04:35 PST 2008

Hey Jason!

Don't feel bad about yourself.  You chose a tough, tough business to try
and make a self-sufficient career out of.  Stan Sakai's and Scott Shaw's
wives work full time jobs, so even successful artists often need
supplemental incomes.  There is no shame in, at least temporarily,
putting aside your dream.  The shame would be in pursuing it at the
expense of the what's best for your family.  So do what you have to do
and revel in the joys of having a great wife and three wonderful kids.  

Hang in there and take care,

Gary G.  (Whose dream was not to be a tax geek for 30 years, with 6-8
years to go, but who has done a whole lot of reveling in the joys of
having a great wife and three wonderful kids!)    

________________________________

From: groop-bounces at groo.com [mailto:groop-bounces at groo.com] On Behalf
Of Larry Steller
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 8:47 AM
To: groop at groo.com
Subject: Re: [Groop] (off topic)

Best to ya, Jason! You're one of my favorite pests, heee heeee!

If I wasn't also making life decisions having to do with what I can
afford to eat, I'd be a bigger patron of artists like yourself. 

I think one logical path for an artist would be finding a commercial
outlet that will allow you to utilize your talent, such as advertising
or marketing, as opposed to trying to solicit individual sales and
commissions. It seems to me selling your individual works are better
served by trying to interest galleries, malls, etc. in displaying your
works, but that i think is seldom lucrative enough to rely upon by
itself.

Take care!

-Larry

-Larry "mrgrooism" Steller, Master Mendicant 

"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity." Edgar Allan
Poe 

Favorite Links: 
YANKEE STADIUM TOURS:
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/ballpark/stadium_tours.jsp 
FORGOTTEN NEW YORK: http://www.forgotten-ny.com 
LIBRARYTHING: http://www.librarything.com 
NEWS FROM ME: http://www.newsfromme.com 
POVONLINE: http://www.povonline.com 
THE FAB FAUX: http://www.thefabfaux.com/index.html 
PENGUIN PERSPECTIVES: http://janetharriett.blogspot.com 
DEFECTIVE YETI: http://www.defectiveyeti.com

--- On Sat, 11/8/08, jason nuttall <jasonnuttall at yahoo.com> wrote:

	From: jason nuttall <jasonnuttall at yahoo.com>
	Subject: [Groop] (off topic)
	To: sammyredrockertalk at groups.msn.com, "groop" <groop at groo.com>
	Date: Saturday, November 8, 2008, 1:33 PM

I wanted to let possible interested parties know that due to the lack of
interest and finances, if I do not get more business between now and
December 6, I will no longer be working as an artist.  I have
obligations through December 5th that require I continue working,
including the X-Cape Con 2 comic and sci-fi convention in Flint,
Michigan November 22&23 where I'll be a guest.  But in my efforts in the
last ten years to advertise, solicit and basically aggravate to get
interest in my services as a professional artist, I have become
something I've never wanted to be, and that is a pest.  But now I am
forced to be a quitter, which is what I have fought for ten years to
avoid.  I always told myself that I would not be one of those artists
who turns their back on their abilities because there's no money in it.
But I now have three children ages 2,4 and 6 and a wife whose already
given up on herself as an artist and has become one of the people most
aggravated by my "career", or lack thereof.  
  I had a turning point last year when I met my lifelong heroes, Sergio
Aragones and Stan Sakai.  They were enthusiastic when viewing my artwork
and made me feel like I was somebody important.  My life had come full
circle, as I met the man who inspired me to draw as a kid and shared
thoughts and work.  
 Another turning point came this past summer, when my wife and I got
free tickets into a Sammy Hagar concert in Lansing.  He has been another
great inspiration to me in my life, and have done countless pieces of
artwork for him and his band.  I've met them a few times over the years.
Anyway, during the concert (and this was after I quit my miserable job
and was looking for work and doubting my path) Sammy, ever the
storyteller, spoke of his song "Dreams" and the meaning behind it.  If
you feel passionate about what you do and are good at what you do,don't
give up, just keep your head up.  Keep reaching for that goal that seems
so far away.  He went on, getting into greater detail, but for the first
time in my life, I choked up at a concert as he spoke and went into
"Dreams" acoustically.  I know it sounds cliche, but it was like he was
speaking to me.  Everything he said and sang was ver batum how I've
always felt about pursuing my art career.  But these are also words
coming from a man who has been very successful for over half his life.
He doesn't ever have to choose between buying a $5 canvas or a box of
diapers.  And I have also come to realize that Sammy Hagar and his band
and management are on the list of people I have come to aggravate over
the years.  I feel like a dog nipping at the heel of anyone who gives me
the slightest bit of attention, and am now probably an e-mail address
that is blocked or spammed.  
   I have come to realize that even though there is a select few who do
support my path, on a day to day basis I find more roadblocks and
uninterested parties.  High praise and "good luck" pats on the back
don't pay bills, and when I put my artwork out there with a price tag
that's 1/3 of what it's worth, spending gas money I don't have to
display work that people admire but don't purchase, I get the
disappointed and "why do you bother" look from my wife as I walk through
the door, that I also see when I look in the mirror. 
  If you want to take advantage of my services, do it soon.  Otherwise,
I won't be bothering this group with my shameless plugs and links to my
sites after December 6.  I will make comments where I feel like
commenting, or if there's Sammy Hagar or Groo related topic I will post.
Jason Nuttall
www.nuttallart.blogspot.com <http://www.nuttallart.blogspot.com/> 
www.myspace.com/nuttallart

PS This is not an attempt at getting business.  This is not a pity
thing.  I'm not looking for people to feel bad and hire me or buy
something.  

Check me out! <http://www.myspace.com/nuttallart> 
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