When I first began painting a few years ago, my neighbor stopped by and said, “You should sell your paintings!” She explained how her friend worked to get her paintings into a local gallery and was able to make a few hundred bucks from each sale.
I responded that there was no way I was selling my paintings. If someone liked a particular painting, I’d give it to them. But I have absolutely no interest in trying to turn my hobby into a revenue generator.
By removing money from the picture, I can fully enjoy the process of painting – from learning, to making mistakes, to developing a style and taste that pleases me. Three years later, my walls are filled with hundreds of my paintings. I enjoy making them and looking at them.
There’s not a chance I’d run any brain cycles on trying to make money from this.
I’ve taken the same approach with my blog. You’ll notice that I have no ads, no sponsors, no courses to sell and no subscriptions. I don’t even have a “Contact” page. I’m not looking to monetize this blog.
In the past few months, I focused on learning Urban Sketching and watercolors. I’m pleased with my progress so far. I have one of a lighthouse I will give to a friend. The rest will sit on my walls and shelves, probably until I pack them away in boxes or die.
Lately, I’ve turned my focus to cartooning. Since I’m not funny, my cartoons are sardonic, wry accompaniments to my essays. They might not amuse anyone else, but they amuse me.
If I was trying to make a living from any of these endeavors, it would be much less fun. I’d have to focus on the business side of things – marketing, SEO, pitching to galleries, trying to get publicity, creating projects that appeal to the broadest audience etc.
No thanks.
I don’t need the money so I won’t make the sacrifices or give up the freedom I have today.
In some ways, I’m like a wealthy multimillionaire. Both of us have freedom to do what we want to do, without thinking about the money involved.
The difference is, I didn’t have to make millions to find freedom. I’m already rich.