As a child Art was the one subject that I really excelled in, I was told at the age of 12 that if admitted for my GCSE exam I'd get an A*! My parents were thrilled and urged me to keep up the good work. My parents split when I was 13 and my priorities seemed to change, I was no longer living the dream. I did Art as a GCSE option, but I came out of it with a poor D grade which stuck out like a sore thumb in between the B's and C's. This was probably because my Dad kept telling me, 'Sadie, you only ever make money in art when you're dead, so there's really no point doing anything with it other than having it as a hobby.'
I didn't really revisit the subject again until I was 26, I bought some art materials and set to work trying to regain some of my old skills. A few years prior I had joined a pottery class, the biggest problem I had was:
a) Hating my work
b) Not being able to recreate the picture in my head
I knew my Civil Engineering contract was due to run out in August 2011, I knew that I needed to think about where I wanted to go. I enjoyed the work I was doing, but my health was bad and my attendance wasn't that grand due to some pretty major surgery that I'd had. The jobs that were available didn't really do anything for me.
I looked at the prospectus for the local college and saw 'Level 3 Art and Design' after much thought I sent in the application form. I had an interview a few months later, the lecturer said I could start at Level 3, but it was probably better to start at Level 2 so I could dust off my skills and pick up new ones.
It really was the best thing I could have ever done, my attitude as a perfectionist changed quickly, I know if I wanted to create the perfect piece I could do so if I did a lot of planning and a lot of practise. This was a new thing for me, if at first you fail, try and try and try and try and try and try again. A great example was a painting session where I had a friend to come and help look after me due to my ill health, copying a painting from L. S. Lowry which just wasn't happening. I painted the picture about 10 times till I became comfortable and proud at what I had managed to create. Working through the pain barrier was difficult, but looking at the finished product really made it all worthwhile.
One winters evening in December I was chatting to a friend, they were exclaiming how they couldn't be arsed with something. A strange thought popped into my head, 'It Can't Be Art' I blurted, 'Wouldn't that be a great name for a company?' This was the first time that I had thought about creating a company whilst doing my studies. Being bipolar things tend to move really quick, when you're slightly manic you go with the flow, running away with ideas. I purchased the websites I wanted for my company, I had purchased one a while back to showcase my work, but I needed something with my brand name on.
I played around with ideas that I had, writing down everything I wanted to achieve. I don't have visions of it being the biggest company in the world, but the main emphasis is on me being able to do something from home, at my own pace, utilising existing skills and most importantly doing something that I am really passionate about.
I think we'll be in the ideas phase until the end of December, I think its important that things are planned properly to make sure that I don't rush headlong into something that will waste time, energy and resources.
I've spoke to the Princes Trust, the lady was totally lovely, I'm lucky that being 27 I am eligible to get help and support creating a new business. It is totally amazing to be able to have the guidance from someone else who can coach me from turning something that my Nan exclaims is a pipe dream, into reality.
Whilst I am working on fine tuning my skills, whilst I am finding my niche, why not focus on crafts, card making, jewellery, trinkets etc. I know there's a company out there that do goods relatively cheap, much cheaper than I could ever wish to reproduce them at. So maybe its worth investing in some stock and having a stall at local fetes in the area. This would be a fantastic way of making people aware of It Cant Be Art, with the aim that they'll follow me on my journey, or just visit my website to see the different work I have available.
Researching artists that create portraits out of conte, I saw that some quote large amounts to do portraits for others. I really want to create my own work focussing on different themes, but it would be fantastic to create work that is bespoke for other people. I don't need to charge the earth, because for me its about practise, for me its about letting people know who I am, what I am and most importantly what I aim to achieve.
