So When Is It Considered Work?
Recently I was talking with Louise Shimon about my post regarding taking days off from work. And it got me to thinking about a blog post of Ulla Hennig’s a few weeks back about defining what work is. I am very fuzzy on what qualifies as work since what I do for fun is also my business.
I consider a day off as not coming into the gallery and just doing what I want at home. This is extremely rare for much of the year. Technically, I often have Sundays off (unless I’m working an event) but I still go into the gallery pretty much as any other day. (which makes it feel like it’s any other day.) My Sundays are usually reserved for artwork only but often I will blog as well. So is the act of creating art, work?
Or for that matter is blogging considered work? I mean I started this blog with the intention of helping direct traffic to my website. Well that and hoping all this daily writing would improve my word-smithing abilities when writing for my Apples ‘n Oats column. Though, I think if anything my conversational style of writing has influenced my professional writing. Not the other way around.
So when I force myself to sit down and “work” on a painting that I am not “feeling” at that moment, would that then be considered work?
But then, is it “not work” when I sit down to do something that I’m all inspired and excited to do.
When I apply the parameters of “Would I still do this activity regardless of whether my financial stability was attached to it?” It helps me to get closer to defining work vs. play. I mean I have always drawn and created (for fun) long before the thought of selling entered into it. And if I became a millionaire tomorrow I would still create. But truthfully, I would spend far less time doing it. And I would spend more time doing things that I consider play, like riding horse and traveling.
I would have to say that I probably would never have started a blog if not for my art business. But for the most part blogging doesn’t feel that much like work, despite being surprisingly time consuming.
Oddly enough taking reference photos, though done exclusively for my art business, has never (not once that I can think of) felt like it was work. Totally fun.
It’s confusing for me because I have bundled my way of earning a living with my fun pastime (my art) suddenly everything can be classified as work even when at times it’s play. And the flip side of that is, that something I used to do exclusively for enjoyment alone, has now become my job.
Anyone got any opinions they’d like to share about how they define work in regards to their art versus play, please comment. Actually I would love to hear from anyone who is doing something they enjoy as part of their financial support.
Tags: business
Hmm… that is a tough one. I mean, who says work can’t be something enjoyable? But then, when I think of an entertainer, they must love what they do, but they won’t deny it’s hard work. And they probably don’t always feel like doing it either.
For me, I love creating, but I do find it tiring. But since I haven’t sold anything, does that mean it’s not work? And if I do sell something, does it then suddenly become work?
Are we merely selling off the produce of our hobby, or working to make something marketable?
What is the purpose of creating? To make something that can be sold? Or because we enjoy the process, the challenge, and seeing the results? For me, it’s the latter. I suspect it is for you too.
I would say that standing around all day at art fairs is work though, and probably the printing side of things too? Apart from that you’re a lazy self indulgent bum!
Oooh very good thoughts Undaunted. Makes me want to do an update on the post. I hadn’t really pondered the whole concept of whether creating art is work, when no monetary attachments are present. (I’m kinda one track minded. I really do love my electricity and food.) I think it all comes down to whether it “feels” like work.
As to being a bum . . . truer words were never spoken.
A thought provoking post, Mona. And quite a thought-provoking as well as amusing response, Undaunted!
I sort of lean towards the “trying to make money at it” — but then again, I find cleaning the stalls or stacking hay (stacking hay especially, almost getting beyond my capabilities) work, though this work does suport the hobby of owning horses. I think the discipline of doing art everyday/when one doesn’t feel like it can fall into the category of work. Simply put, I guess work is “doing what is difficult consistently” and play is, well, “doing what is fun, and not doing it if it isn’t”. My blog lays somewhere between work and fun — sometimes I post with discipline and consistently and sometimes only when it is fun. Because I think I should post more consistently and find this difficult (too judgemental about what I have to say I think) then it will fall into “work” when I make it an out loud goal to post more often/regularly then I do.
“Play is, well, “doing what is fun, and not doing it if it isn’t””
That’s a good point Angela. And I suppose having the choice to be able to stop doing something that isn’t fun. If I drew portraits all the time I would feel more inclined to call it work. I’ve drawn a few, and it was fun, but not as much fun (for me) as creating with clay. I still haven’t finished my portrait of Scott when he was a child and the thought of finishing it feels like a chore. I’m not often in the mood for drawing.