Black Widow, hand and slab built ceramic wall sculpture with crystal and mixed media, approx. 24" tall, by Tammy Vitale

I realized, shortly after finally figuring out and completing the dreamcatcher spider webbing that I should have put swarovskis on the strands.  Maybe I’ll go back and do that later.  Maybe not.  The bottom part of this piece was supposed to be red – new glaze, untested – but it came out white.  Go figure.

This past week I have spent some time doing the real arithmetic of art – figuring out what I have to make and sell to have an income of $55,000 year.  Minimum (hear that Universe?).  I have an undergrad in Business Administration – one would think I would have done this before.  Maybe I did and got daunted and just put it aside for a while.  No time like the present to drag it out and have a look.  Art Biz Coach offers a plan – I haven’t tried it but if you aren’t familiar with business plans, she’s a really good place to start; also subscribe to her eletters.

Here’s what it looks like:

Commissions:  1 large ($10K), 2 small ($4K) 14,000

Classes:  4 with 8 students each @$45, fish and tiles, $1440

Torsos:  52 (1/wk) @$400 less 40% commission  $12,480

Ugly Fish:  52 @$37 less 40% commission $1,154

Shows:  3 at $1K each $3000

Wylde Women:  52 @ $46 less 40% commission $1,435

Totems:  52 @ $100 less 40% commission $3120

That gets me to $36,629.  With a gift from the Universe I get to $56,000.

This is what I learn:  Torsos, shows and totems bring in the most money.  If I want to go that way, I need more shops for the torsos and totems and more information on good shows. 

Wylde Women and Ugly Fish are fun – and ultimately would get boring to make enough to help out (at least 8 a week of each).  But for the time being I’ll make them and people can collect them until I’m done.

I didn’t include masks or furniture because in the past neither has been a quick seller, although masks are starting to pick up.  I love making masks.  I think they may be my favorite thing after torsos.

At any rate, I have a bottom line and know that I need to do some more work on income generation.  I am thinking:  art agent (I know nothing about agents, but I could then put torsos in galleries only and charge enough to cover the agent, the gallery and still make my own money – and keep the smaller more retail stuff for me).  I’ve thought about hiring a local student to get my records organized and keep them that way and help with mailings. 

I would love suggestions from others out there.  How do you do it?  What are your ideas for making it work for you?  Let’s have a brainstorm session!

thought for the day:  "You are like Rilke’s Swan in her awkward waddling across the ground; the swan doesn’t cure her awkwardness by beating herself on the back, by moving faster, or by trying to organize herself better.  She does it by moving toward the elemental water, where she belongs.  it is the simple contact with the water that gives her grace and presence.  You only have to touch the elemental waters in your own life and it will transform everything.  But you have to let yourself down into those waters from the ground on which you stand, and that can be hard.  Particularly if you think you might drown. [paraphrased]  David Whyte, Crossing the Unknown Sea:  Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity