Ethics

Recently, I had somebody ask me to do a commissioned set of pegs. However, the client didn't ask me to do just any of my designs, they asked me to do original Aboriginal Dot Art. 

I said no.

You see, I'm not Aboriginal, nor do I have any ancestors who are Aboriginal. So, I have no right to produce this kind of artwork and no legal right to sell it to anyone.

Yes, I was taught by an Aboriginal artist - Nevil MacKenzie - to do Aboriginal Dot Painting. He taught a class of us here in Logan City and he also taught us how to read their paintings. It was a great experience... I'll never forget it and have never forgotten my lessons. 

I made lovely work for my family, and they love it all. However, I have never painted anything in the Aboriginal Dot Painting style and sold it because I have no rights to.

I tried to tell this to my client and asked them to pick another design and I'd do it for them. But they explained they wanted a set of the Original Crafty Pegs in the Aboriginal Dot Artwork for her friend in Finland. I still said no and ethically it was wrong for me to do anything like that... and legally I could get in some serious shit for selling it to her. I could lose my business for doing it.

She didn't seem to care less if I got into any shit, so long her friend got the pegs. 

I said maybe, see what I can do.

Maybe doesn't mean yes.. it means no.

If I said no to start with and am pushed by somebody and I turn around and say maybe, it means no.


So, when doing your work - if you've picked up your style from another indigenous style and adapted it to your own - and somebody asks you to do some original works for them (because they don't care about your ethics) and you've said no... don't cave to them, keep to your standards.

Until my next post, keep creating.

New Little Ideas Coming To Light

I have had one idea after another over the past few weeks. However getting them to work quickly is frustratingly slow.

It's not that I haven't tried - it's money that's the issue. I have little of the money I need and a lot of the ideas which are pouring out of my head and I can't seem to keep up with.

I love that I am having these ideas, but it's the time I don't have to make them work... well, I was hoping to get some of the ideas working by next month, and see how they go. But it seems I have to wait on a few things and see how it all happens while I work on other projects I still have on hand.

There's a commission I am working on - which is taking its sweet time to get going as my brain just isn't switched on into is, because it's from my old work from years ago and I don't do the style I've been asked to do anymore. The customer asked me to do Aboriginal dot and in the colours and I told her I legally can't; but she pushed me about it. I'll have to see what I can do. Deep down, I really don't want to do them because I have my ethics and know I'm not allowed to make that kind of art and sell it. I'm not an Aboriginal and it wouldn't be right.

So, I've made the decision and will not do the pegs the customer asked me to do; and I will have to explain again why. Yes, I'm an artist, but no I can't do those types of designs due to the laws and that I'm not indigenous; and I'm not permitted to sell Aboriginal artwork.

Other ideas are going well, yet slowly - as usual - and I've got around seven coat hangers all in some way either in the beginning, middle or ending stages of being painted. Then, there's the picture frames... oh do I have picture frames! I have new ones from yesterday and then there's other ones from a week or two ago and then there's one I'm donating to Old School Tattoo and Barber Shop for their raffle - the big black one with gold and silver flowers I can't sell at the markets. I can't wait to get into that venture with them. 

So, what have you been up to? Now you know why I haven't been here for a bit. Until my next post, keep creating.

Mama Mia Craft Markets For August

Yesterday, I had a market in a new location at Bulimba. This was good because it had more foot traffic and bad because the last time I tried to find it - via the GPS - it took me over an hour to get my butt home.  That stupid GPS took me all over Brisbane before getting me back on the highway.

Damned thing!

Anyway, I digress.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day for the markets and I'm happy we had such great weather for what we did. The outdoor stalls had plenty of room to spread out, there was shade as well from the trees and we had more adults coming than children - which is always a plus.

However, parking was a real hassle. I had to park far away; which didn't bother me during the day, but when the market finished at 6pm, it was dark and I had to walk to my car in that darkness. At 5pm, the police came out and booked anyone parked even an inch onto the yellow lines around the place (which thankfully wasn't me) and they didn't wait for you to move your car, they just did it quickly. One of the retailers said he'd never seen a cop pounce so fast in all his life!

But we did have a good time networking and talking - even if we didn't sell many goods; due to being in a new location. A lot of the locals did say that it was about time a craft market came to the area; and some of them wondered if it was going to stick around. I hope we get to that place as a regular thing; as the locals hope too.

We did have some teething problems with setting up - as you always do in a new place - but they were cleared up by the organiser. Her friend, and helper, there came up and handled my gear without clearing with me first; shoving things against the wall and pushing my back table (where I put my cashbook, calculator and hide my water and food away from people normally) into the dressing room, saying I didn't need it, when I did - otherwise I wouldn't have brought it with me.  Of course I defended myself and the organiser came to see what was going on and backed me, advising her helper not to just grab a retailer's belongings without asking first; especially when they've begun setting up. 

So, after all those hours, we all networked, chatted and lived through that earthquake - which had no affect on any of us - and then we packed up and went home.  It was a very exhausting day and I took a little under $20... oh well, next time will be better. Until my next post, keep creating.