Facing COVID-19 as a Self Employed Artist

No doubt about it, these times are tough for everyone. When it first began, I was in denial like the rest of the world, thinking there was no way I would personally be affected. While serious to be sure, it just seemed so far away. Things shifted in just a few short weeks and here we are, with most of the world in some form of lockdown.

As a self employed artist, it has not been easy. In my case, much of my work happens offline. I was always planning to create more of an online presence but suddenly, it felt like I was out of time. Shops are closing, classes are being suspended, and workshops must wait till this passes. It’s been a hard pill to swallow and admittedly, I was floundering for the first few days as the fear of lost income consumed my thoughts. Even when reason tells me this will all pass and I am 100% NOT alone in this predicament, it was hard to take comfort in that.

But there is a bright side. After a brief moment of wallowing, I began to see that there is opportunity to grow and expand my work as an artist in these times. Suddenly I have time to work on personal projects and build out all my ideas and plans. Now more than ever I have a chance to help others create, but also to build my business (sounds soulless but a girl’s gotta eat and a puppy’s gotta have treats).

I’ve been binge-watching Lord of the Rings and it feels like a metaphor for our strange times. We’re on a journey and we’re in the thick of it now. There are moments when all seems dark and the news is all consuming. Yet, people are coming together and making sacrifices to see our world through.

This quote from the film version of The Two Tower really struck a chord. As I listened, the magic of the film melted away and I could only think of his words in relation to our current state…

“I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.”