Should I do fine art for a gallery, or Illustrate?
I painted this thinking I wanted to do Gallery work
Oh the glamour and prestige of being a fine artist
This was a painting I did when I thought it would be fun, exciting, Okay glamorous, to sell fine art in a gallery… Don’t we all just want to just paint for fun and hang our stuff in galleries all over the world and just kick back and sign autographs and check the mail box for money every day.
Now accepting offers from galleries for my art- Lol
So I had this south western idea and my own little style. I was creating my niche. Don’t poke fun of the perspective, “I did that on purpose”. (art speak) I painted this and really enjoyed doing it. No deadline, no art director, just me and the paint, and my dog Poochy bugging my to scratch her neck and go for a walk.
Here’s Poochy, and me, in the boardroom.
Then I realized that finding a gallery that wanted my work was going to be a stretch… and I would have to frame everything on my dime… and then there’s shipping… and wearing an earring… and a black turtleneck sweater… and growing a ponytail… and pretending to be be tortured … and I would have to smoke peyote… and go vegan… and lose weight… plus I couldn’t think of anything else I really wanted to paint… then I was glad I had an illustration career… and I scratched Poochy’s neck and took a walk.
Life is wonderful 
I love this post! It parallels the struggle authors feel when writing. How long do I hold out for a traditional gig until I decide to publish my book independently? Should I let my manuscripts grow old and dusty on my computer while waiting for a traditional publisher or should I get them out into the world where they can make me money? I have always opted to give the traditional publishers a few months to purchase my hard work, then if they chose not to, I do it myself. I’m happy working and creating, and my books are happy making me money.