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MY DREAM IS DYING

I understand the dilemma. Really I do. Purchasing anything online is a trust issue for some. Purchasing art online is taking a chance-a big chance. (But no bigger chance than purchasing electronics, movies, games, CD's, DVD's and such.) Should you trust this artist? Will the art be true to the online rendition? What if I get ripped off?

I freely admit that there's nothing comparable to browsing through a well-kept, interesting art gallery in a real building with real walls and other people admiring the arts. In my opinion, it is an inspiring, warming, uplifting experience. I love to see what new, unique art works are being created and I thoroughly enjoy gaining knowledge on various mediums, touching the textures, and getting to know other artists.

You see, I am an artist. I sell my work online; or at least, I make my work available online. Sales are few and far between. When I started this venture in 2001, after suffering a job loss through "downsizing", I had high hopes! I thought all I needed was the time to create the art, the computer to upload pics of the art, the payment method and shopping cart set up, and I'd be ALL SET! My life-long dream of working as a full-time artist was about to be realized and I was flying high on cloud 9! No more rat-race, 9-5 prison! No more hateful, tyrant bosses! No more making money for someone else! I was finally going to live out my dream! Wooohoooo! I had (and still have) the complete support of my husband. He knew (and knows) I have my own unique talents and he lives among the many results of my creativity.

I stocked my studio full of supplies for all the various mediums I work in, donned my smock, and I got to work.....Painting, creating collage' works, sculpting, designing pyrographic furniture....it wasn't long until my limited storage space was packed. I even had art stacked two feet high on the dining room table and floor! I spent weeks designing my website, taking pics of completed artworks, coding shopping cart buttons, etc....the work was long and hard, yet I had never been so happy and fulfilled. I was going to sell my art and make a living working for myself!

Wow....I was so naive'.

Nothing of the kind has happened. Oh, I sell a little something now and then; usually something VERY low priced and usually only one item per sale. After figuring in the cost of art supplies, website costs, shipping costs, etc....there is no profit from these small sales. I can't even buy a burger.

The disappointment and looming failure grows each and every day. Depression threatens to take over. Is it the trust issue I mentioned earlier? Is it a lack of clarity or visible detail of the pictures of my work? Is it the shopping cart I have set up through PAYPAL? I ponder these questions time and again.

Should I shut it all down? My dream is dying a sad, slow death. I have so much to offer. Are there no takers?

http://redladyart.com

IF I do let it go, I know I will die inside, along with the dream. Yet, I am working day in and day out with no compensation. I have the same bills to pay as anyone else. When will someone take a chance on me, on my design ideas, on my honesty and virtue? You can tell what kind of person I am, simply by browsing through my website and reading my artist's statement. I am no ripoff con artist. I am no thief. I'm simply an artist trying to make my dreams a reality.......online.

There are many more like me.........

Learn more about this author, Sharon K. Shubert.
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