The Courtyard Studio – Changes

As I have hinted at previously the working connection between myself and the ‘other artist’ (OA) have been strained for a long time. Yesterday I advanced my new plans by writing a handwritten letter to the OA and included a cheque to cover the sales I had taken for them from 1 to 15 of month minus sales they had taken for me (I had taken 95% of my Sales and 24 x more sales for them in £s). I hand delivered this and dropped it off saying this is for you.

It was still on the counter today and it wasn’t clear whether it had been fully opened or not but the cheque was still in the envelope. I have put it somewhere safer out of sight for them along with the sales sheets for them,

Essentially through a number of factors that include:

– imbalance of sales for the other person by OA, yet a topic that if I raise I receive no reply and refusal to discuss

– communication only if OA feels like it, at this point normally a complaint about me or accusation. Other points raised by me are not responded to.

– OA claims that they feel uncomfortable meeting me on their own and wishes I understood why – I have asked why – no reply

– OA has told others which has come back to me that I am a bully – my response that I have disagreed with them, which isn’t bullying.

– OA’s parents have previously turned up on own or with OA and then berated me about my actions and I should do what OA wants

…

This has been going on since month 3 of 50:50 tenancy ( now in month 19) – I have had enough. I felt that as communication was only if OA felt it necessary that I had two choices

1) give up my part in the shop pre tenancy completion in November 2022

2) stand my ground but just focus on myself.

Yes, I have chosen option (2). I will only sell my work on my days in the shop. I will make this clear to customers through signs and / or explanation of points made on sign and no more detail. My work will only be on sale on my shifts. Both artists work to remain on display as we have paid for half of shop so not right to cover the others work. Essentially it will be an artists shop or in my case working studio and shop while the artist on duty. They will sell their own work.

I am set to potentially lose at least 12% of my sales (average since shop opened by OA). I can live with that. I have stated I will do this until the end of the tenancy in 2022.

So today I put up new signs which I had laminated first. I also added to my drawings on a Pip Hare themed wooden box. I sold some wooden boxes at coat price to a friend. I sold some cards to a couple visiting and we had a good discussion. Later I prepared some new prints – hand signed, numbered and put in mounts ready for sale. Best news of the day was a new commission of another wooden box with swanage scenes. I also had good feedback from clients of my last commission which I was unsure if they liked and had offered a full refund as they are important friends. Also the recipient of a hand drawn hat commission popped by to thank me for the detail and references made to the instruments and props of his favourite bands on his hat. Most of the day I sat outside to draw.

I was concerned that OA’s parent(s) might turn up in their aggressive mode – I have no time for their points anymore as my tenancy contract is not with them and their approach to me has been a major part of the issue. They didn’t so it may happen one day but not today.

Overall, a good day and mentally I was much stronger than Saturday when I found my mood spiralling down.

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