Twenty years ago today was my first day of self-employment.
It was a huge leap of faith, I didn’t have any commissions, I hadn’t even been accepted into any art fairs yet. In other words I was totally unprepared for what I was about to do. It was April Fools Day, and I had no idea how appropriate that was.
If I had known about rejections from art fairs, or how hard it is to be on the street in a tent on a 90 degree day or during a gale force wind. The long hours of driving to and from shows, the bad food, port-a-pots and uncaring promoters. If I had known, I might not have reached for my dream.
If I hadn’t made that leap, I would have missed out on the last twenty years of hearing the “happy gasp” clients make when I unwrap their new furniture for them.
I would have missed out on the opportunity I’ve had to make friends from all over the country.
I would have missed out on the fun of promoting the work of all my WAAC peeps and working with my daughter for several years.
There wouldn’t have been the Sunday Mojitos. (You know who you are, and so do all of your friends.)
The Earth Wood and Fire Artist Tour might never have been.
I never would have received an award for anything.
I would not have had the pleasure of seeing so much great art, or have so much of it in my home and be able to say, “My friend did that”.
I would have missed seeing artists dancing in the street at 8 o’clock on a Sunday morning, no reason, just a spontaneous dance party when a fun song came on during set up.
I wouldn’t have had the fun of making over 1000 pieces of furniture.
I never would have become Sandhill Bill and that would have been sad, because just plain Bill would know deep down inside he didn’t try.
Thanks Wendy for taking that leap of faith too, for giving pep talks when times were down and for all the uncounted hours of work you’ve done. I couldn’t have done it without you.
