Danielle Calabro

I will warn you now, this blog entry has nothing to do with art what so ever.  Today on my drive home from work I was almost side swiped 3 times in a matter of 15 minutes (absolutely no exaggeration, actually it was probably less time), and what was going on?? Nope I didn't have a giant magnet on the side of my car, I was driving by a couple of jerks texting and driving. What pisses me off the most is that twice it was the same lady with a child in the car. She was so focused on her phone she didn't even noticed I honked the first time, I had to lay on my horn to make her pay attention. After getting past her little bug I looked back in my rearview mirror and she was literally in between two lanes. What is so important that people have to put everyones life in danger? Why can they not wait until the next traffic light? I am not the perfect driver, but I will not put my life or my families life in danger to answer some stupid text. I even had a new radio installed i...

I read something tonight that kind of got under my skin. I would like to know what others think about this comment... "If your not making money from your art, it's a hobby not a career." Here is my thought......does a career not start somewhere? As I said before I have that regular 9-5 job, not a career. I did not wake up one day and say "I want to work in customer service for the rest of my life." There are things I need to learn before I can truly make a living from my art, more then learning techniques. I take that comment as an insult to anyone who is working through this process. Why is it that people who have no idea seem to think they have all the right advice and right answers? I still need to learn the marketing aspects of being an artist and that is out of my comfort zone, again something I have to work through. So for someone to say my art is just a hobby  because I have only sold one painting really pisses me off. I work hard at my job so ...

Nothing is worse then having a job that just doesn't make you happy and knowing it is going to take a lot more time to do what you love.  I have been in customer service type jobs since I started to work when I turned 16. What makes it worse is that I have a goal (to make a living from my art) and I am  pursing it but I am not a patient person,  all you have to do is ask my kids :). I know this is going to take time, probably years and I can honestly see why some artist fail. It gets so depressing when you create something and it just collects dust, while your wallet is empty from buying the art supplies (which is not cheap for better materials). What I know is, I need to market myself, create more and step out of my comfort zone. I am a shy person, I am always afraid of what someone will say. I remember that great saying "Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one" and that is the problem. REJECTION, another scary word for me. Finding time to paint or draw seems almo...