Art Shows & Fine Tuning

This is one of those things that's maybe so conceptual, it's hard to explain, and it's not my first attempt to do so.  My dearest friends want the best for me and look out for me in all aspects of life.  Their love and support truly mean the world to me.  They also urge me to put my art more out there, including getting it into galleries and shows.  While I do question how some people have become famous with their style of art, I am not looking to have my work in a museum - ever.  I am also not interested in creating works specifically for a show or festival because by doing that I am only doing a job.  The passion and inspiration is in not in it. 

The beer fish are things that I make not minding just turning a profit.  They didn't start out that way, but that's what they've become.  And if I did a festival, I would most likely make a ton of them to sell.  They are somewhat of a novelty, though, so getting recognized for that is fine.  When I'm really feeling inspired, I paint, pull out my printmaking supplies - do more time consuming and in-depth projects.  Another example, is that I will never sell my pottery.  For one, I use it and two, I made it just for myself.  The reason I sell my lithographs is because I had six of each print.  There's an edition of each in my personal collection, but I sell the rest because I didn't need six of each one. 

I do most art for myself.  It is my hobby, and my passion.  While I obviously want to make some kind of profit from it (hello, Etsy), I feel that if it would take off and become wildly successful, the passion and enjoyment I get from it will disappear.  Making art is personally satisfying for me so I don't want to lose that by having to mass produce pieces for clients, galleries, festivals, shows, etc.  There's a delicate balance I want to achieve by putting my work out there on my website (which I swear is slowly but surely coming along), selling it on Etsy, or blogging and Tweeting about it; although, I can not say specifically what it is other than a feeling or inner comfort meter. 

Hopefully, all of this makes sense.  I take it as a compliment when people introduce me as an artist, and I do consider myself one, but I'm more than likely not the kind you think of physically or metaphorically.