Why create at all?

If someone came up to you on the street today and asked you why you do what you do for a living — what would your response be?
I've had a few clients ask me how I ever got into art in the first place, since it seems to be an unlikely career pursuit. Was it to get attention? A way to excel where others were not so gifted? Well that's a hard question to answer because it's been a while since I thought like a five year old *wink." I do however remember being in awe of my cousin who could draw Disney princesses and I vowed that if I worked hard enough on my drawing skills, one day I could be as good as she was. I suppose that was the start of honing in on my craft. Since then it's been a bit more of a complicated path to follow. Do I paint for myself? Or do I paint for my audience?

I think it becomes apparent when an artist starts to paint exclusively for the audience — and in turn, for the end profit; something in the artwork becomes lost. Call it soul or artistic passion, but I can always tell when my heart isn't in a piece. Which is why I was so delighted to get a commission job for a painting that involved water! (pictures to be posted on my facebook page after Christmas).

So the question has become — how can I successfully paint for myself and for my audience? I'm still learning how to marry the two. Perhaps the answer lies in getting a Rep? More on that later.