What is an Art Administrator?

I’m not sure what an art administrator is, but that is what I seem to be about once a week, or sometimes once every two weeks. Look at this list of tasks:

1. Package up a painting to send, find the receipt book, see if a deposit was made, update the receipt, make a self-addressed stamped envelope, write a note, unseal the package, add the paper work, reseal the package.
2. Do it all over again for another customer, then remember that the package can’t be sent until the replacement calendars arrive.
3. Email someone who has wanted to get together to look over an old drawing for several months but is too busy. . . how about this week?
4. Send a thank you note to a customer who provided a generous discount when I bought new tires from him recently.
5. Change an invoice to a statement for a customer who overpaid me and then chose a painting rather than keep a large credit on file; write a thank you note to go with it.
6. Contact the great guy who will be letting the Kaweah Artisans use his empty building for our annual Perfect Gift Boutique, coming soon on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.
7. Gather the photos and prep a canvas for a new oil painting commission.
8. Sort out a bank deposit – sold things using the Square, so how much was oil paintings, other merchandise, tax and Square’s fee; how much came in cash and how much of that was oil paintings, other merchandise, tax and drawing lessons; go through the same breakdown for any checks; find a check still in an envelope in another stack of stuff; redo the deposit slip.
9. Add 3 new notecard designs to website.
10. Dig deep into a box of orphaned cards to find any of a drawing I did in 1992, and then write a note and send the cards (YIPPEE SKIPPEE, I FOUND SOME!) to the nice lady who asked about the drawing.
11. Go to the Post Office to learn the best way to package all the calendars that have to be resent.

What’s going on here?? I just want to be an artist!

Sorry, Toots. This is called the Business of Art, and today you are an administrator.

Oh yeah? Does this mean I can paint tomorrow? Promise?

No promises. You might be returning phone calls, scheduling things, prepping for the Perfect Gift Boutique, or responding to new inquiries via email.

Life as an artist certainly isn’t boring. . . always something to do, necessary, but not necessarily glamorous.

P.S. There might still be time for oil painting or pencil drawing commissions before Christmas, if they aren’t too big or too complicated! Use the Contact button or email me at cabinart at cabinart dot net.