Let’s talk 'HATS'

Here are the hats that I wear
Or in other words the many roles I have as a practicing artist.

HATS. Showy ones, glamourous ones and if you count a crown as a hat of sorts then quite an showstopper one.

My hats don’t fall into any of these categories they are uber practical. What can say, it is, to coin a phrase, ‘COLD UP NORTH’.
Here I describe the many hats I wear, but only metaphorically speaking, my daily life hats or better known as the roles that I undertake in my everyday art practise and beyond.

THESE ARE MY ARTIST HATS

If only art were as simple as donning as beret and whipping out a paint brush and voila you are an artist that makes a living just by creating.
Nope that’s not the case, so here’s my breakdown of what been an artist is in case you were interested.

Upfront is a big role and really it is the boss of most of the other roles, overseeing all -

THE PRODUCT MANGER.
The production manager must ultimately oversee most of the other roles a bit like a line manager, to make sure they all get done and set timings for them all. Deadlines are set and a critical is path made (better known as diary or calendar for some) to ensure that the work is carried by trying your utmost to follow this time plan. This plan should cover all outsourcing, marketing and delivery details too. The product manager makes sure all other roles in the business get things done.
Honest moment - I try and too often fail here but it does sound grand.

The First Employee type role is the -

THE INNOVATOR
The thinker and innovator, without which nothing much would happen. The innovator’s mind (in this case mine) is often a buzz with ideas, what to do next, how to do it, what if I tried this, or perhaps this. Therefore, this role is perhaps the most important one and cannot be under played because quite simply it means as an artist we very rarely switch off. If I was to carry out a fraction of the ideas that pop into my head, I would need several of me.

So, to add to the innovator role it must come with the role of -  

THE MODERATOR.

Deciding what to take forward and what not, this role needs to liaise a lot with the Product Manager. So hard to do as quite honestly you often want to do it all.

Up next -

THE RESEARCHER.
You have your idea but how do you get there. Where do you need to gather information from. Where do you need to go to get visual inspiration. If you need to learn something new where and who can you learn this from? And once you have completed the work how do you get it out to the world, more research needed for galleries and potential customers.
In my case I go out for walks to gain my visual information, preferably with family, a friend or my dogs it gives me better connection to the landscape for inspiration for new work. To find galleries the best way is to visit them, then you know if they are a good fit for your work and once you’ve found your gallery you hope your marketing manager will contact them and pitch your work to them then if successful help to send customers their way.
And of course, thank goodness for GOOGLE.

Then - 

THE BUYER
All materials needed are dealt with by the official buyer – still me. This role involves not just buying the materials needed to make my art but also the mountboards and frames, organising and buying prints and cards. Also required is buying the relevant courses and group memberships the researcher has flagged up as needed and the website space the marketing manger needs too.

Next - 

THE DESIGNER
Drawing out a plan/ design to follow/ inspire the final item, or in my case the piece of art – ( not all creatives use a designer, some work solely using intuition) In my case this role is super important as this is where I draught out my ideas through drawing. Laying out my ideas visually using line and composition skills to create the drawings from which to work from.

Drumroll for the - 

CREATOR or ARTIST
The good part, the artist part. The part it's all about really. Where all the hard work to date gets used to make ART. For me this includes several mini roles – the design role as above, painting, collaging, machine embroidery and hand stitching. A list of creative endeavours to create individual works of art. Ah JOY!

And another - 

THE PHOTOGRAPHER
The photographer plays a role throughout the creating process, capturing the work as it develops as well as taking images of the finished work.

More- 

THE FRAMER
Once the frames have arrived, the ones the buyer bought, I then take on the role of framer. Mounting up my work and stitching it in place on the board then placing in the relevant frame, labelling, stringing the frame with cord and packing safely.

Importantly - 

THE MARKETING MANAGER
This role has been mentioned several times before and is a key role to selling my artwork. I don this ‘hat’ to get my art out into the wider world. I do this is several ways. I pitch to galleries to show my work there. I use social media to connect with people in order that I can find people who are genuinely interested in my work I have also been known to give a radio interview and artist talks. And of course I write this news letter to you, thank you again for been here.

Closely aligned to the - 

THE WEBSITE DESIGNER
The website designer works closely with both the marketing manager and the sales person. Creating an online destination to both showcase and sell the finished art.
 
 And the - 
 
SALES PERSON
Ultimately my art is for sale and so I must don the hat of salesperson too. Not the most comfortable of hats to wear for me as it would be lovely if my art just sold itself but a necessary role none the less.

Not to forget- 

THE DELIVERY DRIVER
And of course, there has to be a delivery driver to get the art to the galleries and customers. That’s me too.

SO THAT’S MY ARTIST HATS ( I think) BUT WAIT!

I then have the other hats of life too. Don’t worry I’ll keep this short.
First up are my 2 part time jobs, one I do to get out of my own space to see real people, the other to support my husband (the vet).
Customer Service Assistant in the local library / leisure centre (that’s the person at the desk)
Out of Hours Receptionist for the local Vets. Yep, that’s me that answers the phone.

And then the really important roles of been a mother and wife. I am sure most of you know these roles so we’ll keep this simple – Cook, Counsellor, Cleaner, Gardener Taxi Driver – I know it could go on but I wont.
And finally, the very important role of chief dog walker. Where would I be without them.

With a cleaner house for a start, I think!