When I first decided I was going to try to working in a series, I had big plans - I wanted to do a series of Cubs, and then a series of things around Wrigley, then a series of this and that…I honestly thought that working in a series was the way forward for me forever. I had so much enthusiasm at the start, and I wanted to really explore the idea of creating pieces that related to one another. I wanted to make a cohesive body of work and challenge myself to stay focused.
So, now that I have officially retired my first true art series - now that “8-7 in 10” has wrapped up and headed to the archives, I want to share with you what I learned in working with a series. What worked, what didn’t, and what would I change if I ever decided to do this again? Did this go how I had expected? Spoiler: it did not.
I have always been someone who thrives on variety and exploring new topics and methods, so sticking with a single theme for an extended period of time was truly a challenge for me. There were moments (specifically at the beginning) where I felt energized and other times where I really struggled to keep the motivation going (like as we neared the end).This series took much longer than I had expected, so I definitely found myself losing steam near the end. It was a CHALLENGE to keep my focus, and I had to work hard to get myself to the finish line with this project.
Along the way, I did learn a few things in the struggle. For one, deadlines are great, but they need to be realistic. They need to take into consideration not only how long the actual creation of art will take, but also factor in time for burnout, for those days where nothing goes right, for color mixing, for restarting pieces that go sideways, etc. Deadlines are wonderful for me and for keeping things going, but I definitely set too ambitious of a deadline this first go round.
Something else I didn’t consider - and still don’t have a solution for - is what to do with unsold paintings! Not only now that the series is retired and some paintings did not go to a new home, but also while I’m working on them! While paintings are drying, while the varnish is setting, or just while they’re waiting for the big reveal and release, storing artwork is tough. It takes up a lot of space, and I did NOT think about that before I started. I still have a corner in my studio full of unsold, finished paintings, and I don’t know where to put them.
On the plus side, I did learn a lot about the rhythm of my work, learned that mixing paint in large batches is huge for series work, learned a ton about marketing and promoting a series (I did not do it right this time!) and learned a lot of technical skills through the experimentation process. So while I will say that “8-7 in 10” did not go how I had hoped…it wasn’t all bad!
So…would I ever consider working in a series again? The answer is “maybe.” I would consider the idea of working in something resembling a series, but maybe not in the same way. Instead of a strict series, I would probably consider working in something like “themes.” Pieces that are related, but not necessarily meant to be one single topic. My seasonal art drops are a modification on that idea, and it’s kind of how I’m experimenting with future “series” ideas.
But if I do decide to work in a series again - a true “series” like “8-7 in 10,” I would definitely approach things differently. For one, I’m giving myself a longer runway for completion - no tight deadlines! I’d also work smaller, both in piece size and subject load. Smaller pieces are easier to store, and much easier to ship. And a smaller number of pieces in a series mean the stress…is less. If I decide to continue to work with bigger pieces, I will definitely need to look into outside storage space.
However, most importantly, if I decide to look into series work again, I will absolutely look to a mentor for marketing, sales and promotional help. While I learned a LOT, I also realize that this is one of my biggest struggles. So if you’ve done series work before, or you know someone who has (and does it successfully) I’d love to hear from you!
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. My series work is something I’m incredibly proud of, but it has taught me a LOT about who I am, how I work, what I enjoy creating and how my pieces flow day to day. It was a struggle, but one I am proud to have conquered. If you’ve followed along with me and my series work - or you’re just joining in now - I’d love to hear: What kind of series would you want to see if I attempted this again?