Directions

I set out my work at cons all the time. I have generally noticed a trend. I show people my new fantasy painting and they smile at me, pat my head and say 'Very nice, Diana - Hey, wait.... lookit the cute kitties!'. Much like the old adage; start with a joke - I find cute sells.

Most of what I sell is the cute stuff.

Most of what I like to paint is the fantasy pieces .

Yet I am competing in a big arena. There are a lot of people out there doing gorgeous work. Some of it seems too slick, or too edgy for my tastes - but I assume that is what sells (since I see it all over the place).

I have my own voice. Every artist does. I have been taught to nurture and treasure my own tone of art. I also notice there aren't a lot of ladies out there doing the sort of art I would like to see. Something with Romance, something that touches my own life's dreams - instead of 1/2 naked ladies with wings. Not that I should complain, some of my favorite characters are busty ladies.

So, this rambling comes down to a series of choices.

What direction am I heading in?

Am I in the industry just to make money, or to satisfy my soul?

Can I do what I want and add a cute element to it? And is it telling that I say 'what I want' when what I mean is Fantasy?

I think it's good to look at what I am doing once in a while. It keeps me moving in some direction rather than just repeating. Thinking.