A student at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia reached out to me with a few interview questions for an assignment. I thought they were good questions so I will share my answers for this month’s blog post. I tried to be honest about selling artwork, the hidden challenges, and what I enjoy most…
When did your mask making practice begin? Was there a catalyst or did this interest slowly accumulate?
I've always been interested in masks and collecting them. Masks would show up in my drawings and paintings but it wasn't until a few years ago that I decided to try to make my own. The first attempts did not go very well, but I was interested in learning and trying something different. It was also a reaction against screen based art, meaning I was tired of editing, videos and photography. I wanted to do something using my hands. I enjoyed the craftsmanship and coming up with my own process and ideas.
Your practice is heavily focused on masks that communicate an original and unknown culture. What drew you to creating these forms specifically? Are there any personal reasons?
I'm interested in narrative storytelling and I really like old myths and fables. I see my masks and photographs as a window into those worlds. Some of them connect to myths that already exist or maybe folk traditions. But I also like to come up with my own stories. I'm in the process of writing some short stories that will connect to my creations.
How much has your art education shaped your current practice and mindset today? Do you think you would be where you are now without it?
I am a professor at a small university, and I do believe that teaching and interacting with students has influenced my own work. I find that whatever I'm instructing sort of informs my interest at the time. So if I'm teaching acrylic painting, then that process will work its way into my own creations. And I have taught mask making as a course, which is a lot of fun but challenging.
What is your process for selling your masks? How do you advertise your works to buyers?
Most of my sales come through social media. I also will have in person art shows, but for whatever reason I do not make as many sales with exhibitions. I'm OK with that because I just want people to be able to interact with the physical objects and not just see them on screens. I don't do any specific marketing other than modeling the masks on sites like TikTok and Instagram. That's far more effective than this than just studio walls for photos.
Did you ever go through a period of thinking your work was not good enough to sell? How did you find people who were interested in purchasing your works?
My original idea was to sell the photographs and not the masks themselves. So I was surprised when people would ask me if the mask was available for purchase. At first, I did not think they were good enough to sell because the construction was pretty bad. But overtime my technique got a little bit better. And I did things like make the construction more sturdy and durable. But I was definitely motivated to make them more professional looking because of the sales part of the process.
Have you sold your works through commercial galleries? How does this differ from selling them through your website?
There are pros and cons to selling with commercial galleries or through my website. The gallery will generally take 40 to 50% of the sale profit. selling through my website (I use square space) allows me to keep the profit, but then the shipping part is more difficult. Especially with very large masks the shipping can be expensive and you're also nervous about the art being damaged.
What was your motivation for creating the False Face Instagram?
The false face Instagram was such a big surprise because I did not expect it to take off. I literally just started it to entertain myself and also keep up with things that influenced me. So the growth of the account was very organic. I think the randomness of my feed helps keep it going. It's unpredictable both for me and the followers.
What has been your experience exhibiting with other artists versus solo exhibitions? Do you prefer one over the other? Why?
I've had more group shows than solo shows. I don't know if I have a preference. Solo shows allow me to fill up an entire space which is fun. But I've gotten to know a lot of other artists from group shows. So there's a positive to both processes
How do you determine what opportunities are worth investing your time and art making in?
I have to admit I've gotten more picky overtime. I almost never turn down an art show because I like those, and it gives me an excuse to travel. However, I have mostly stopped doing commissions. I would rather have the freedom to create my own pieces and then people can buy it if they want. That way I'm not constrained with other people's expectations. Sometimes buyers who want commissions are not always great at articulating what they want. And then I don't enjoy being stuck on a timeframe. But if I was just starting out, I would still do commissions. It's just not something I generally enjoy doing anymore.
Do you have a non-art job to support your practice? How do you balance your art and non-art life?
I teach at a small liberal arts university in Georgia in the United States. I'm not great at balancing art and non-art lives. I tend to work a lot, even when the projects aren't going very well. I need to do better about giving myself time away from the practice.
Do you think it is possible to support an artistic practice solely through art making? What methods should artists use to promote and sell their work?
A lot of my income comes from teaching so I don't know if I'm super qualified to answer the first question. I think it is possible, but then you have to think about things like having health insurance (at least in the U.S.) and of course, the art market fluctuates with the economy. I think finding a unique niche is a good technique for promoting and selling. Don't try to do everything and please everyone. Find a market that works for you and build a community… Either in person or through online forums and social media.
Do you surround yourself with an art community? What kind of role do they play for you and your practice?
I'll be honest most of my art community is through social media and online. The town I live in doesn't have a big art community. but I do travel a good bit and make an effort to make connections in places like California or larger cities. I really like that art can connect you to all sorts of different people and places.
What currently motivates you and your work? How do you stay motivated and avoid burnout?
I'm really motivated by the world building aspect of creation. Being in my studio or working at home is like going into a different zone. I avoid burnout by changing up what I'm doing… So for my process, I have to do several steps. Thumbnail sketches, building the pieces with heavy papers and a glue gun, wrapping the whole piece in papier-mâché, painting acrylic paint in India ink, and then finally adding ornamentation like bells and beads. If I get tired of working on building pieces, I switch to painting a different one. It's sort of a slow motion assembly line process. I've also been getting more into writing, which is a completely different creative act. All of these things help me avoid burnout.
Lastly, What advice do you have for young artists entering the art world today?
Maybe it's a cliché to say this, but I believe social media can be both your worst enemy or your best friend. Mostly because it can bring you a wide audience never before accessible in human history. But at the same time you end up chasing algorithms and it's easy to fall into the trap of trying to please people or follow trends. So use social media as one tool, but don't become too anchored to it. I would also just say trust your own instincts. If you're creating something and it makes you happy it will probably find an audience. If it feels like a chore or work, I think an audience will respond in a similar way. Before I got into mask and costume making I did a lot of video work… Music videos and short films… It always felt frustrating and I got tired of the screen time. Therefore it just didn't work for me and I'm happy that I pivoted in a different direction. So find something that you like, regardless of how it's perceived.