Crystal James Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory member provides some fascinating insights into her practice and experience as figurative painter, as she responds to the questions below:
- What are your goals as an artist?
- What do you struggle most with as an artist?
- What was the most helpful feedback you ever received?
- How do you approach the challenge of staying relevant and current in the rapidly changing world of contemporary art?
What are your goals as an artist?
My 2025 New Years Resolution is to say yes to as many opportunities that present themselves. I am applying to all open calls that are available. I try to reply to emails promptly. I am monitoring my deadlines closely. I am trying to be organized. I knew this resolution would require a lot of sacrifice: sleep, vacations and social life.
I am writing this at the end of September, so I can give some partial feedback on how my goals are going. I have shown in multiple galleries now. I have sold several pieces. I have created lots of work that fill me with pride. I am tired, but I am in a different place from where I started in January. I also am aware that the busiest months are still approaching. That means more sleepless nights and checklists are on the horizon.
What do you struggle most with as an artist?
Commissions are a struggle for me. Ninety percent of inquiries are scams. I was naive because I fell for one. A man told me he wanted a portrait of his deceased horse Scout. I believed that he really loved his horse. Then he sent me a scam PayPal email saying he paid me 5k but needed me to send him 3k back. It was a hard lesson, but a lesson learned. Also, I am not good at pricing my work. I know that I should increase my price but I am not confident in that way. I unfortunately don’t feel I make my best results from commissions either.
What was the most helpful feedback you ever received?
“The only advantage to an unpainted edge is there’s less worry about damaging the art as it’s slid into the warehouse. Unsold.” So paint those edges! If you haven’t considered how the work will be viewed, then the work isn’t done. They also added, “It doesn’t have to look great. But it does need to look not bad.” And they are right. Gallery wrap, decorative edges, solid painted edges always looks better than nothing. I try and view it as part of the process and have fun with it.
How do you approach the challenge of staying relevant and current in the rapidly changing world of contemporary art?
I no longer think of creating relevant work. Instead, I think about creating relatable work. I am currently working on a series that I call “Mermaids at Work”. I am taking the normally majestic, mythic, magic {mermaid and putting her into relatable situations. One is sitting, waiting because she has been stood up on her date. Others are on break from their job at a food cart, or running a drive thru, or slinging Ink at a tattoo shop, or commuting on the subway, or waiting at the laundromat.
It could be seen as a commentary on what one might normally perceive as glamorous… is not so once you take a closer look. Or maybe I am trying to make the everyday more magical. As long as it’s relatable, people will enjoy it.
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