The Question: Dearest Artslut,
Any advice on long distance geographically challenged relationships when attraction, lust and and basic human compatibility ie; food, common interest and sex, seem all to be in a great place??

Thanks,
Somewhere out there.

  The Answer: Hey, Out There!

 Thanks for the question. You really didn’t give me much to go on like: how did you meet? How much time did you get to spend together? Is this a committed relationship? There’s a big difference in the advice I would give to a couple that’s been together for years, versus people who met on vacation, for example.

However, in regards to relationships, I really believe that what’s meant to be will just happen naturally & no amount of pushing, trying, or anything else will matter. So, just be yourself & see how it unfolds. Know what I mean?

 Now that that’s said, if you’re looking for fun, silly things to do, I got the answers: How ’bout taking pictures of yourself in drag, in weird places & sending them, glued to a postcard. You could also set up a Wordpress blog (their often free & easy to use), to keep a running journal of your voyages. You can send area specific, specialty foods, & btw: jewelry is never a bad idea… These are just a few random thoughts, but you can find a lot more info like this in my book (available right here, on this site!). So, check it out!

Happy trails, Babs

 The Question: Hello darling, I have to start by saying I love the work you are doing and Im planning to build a monumnet to you.
I have been working feverishly non stop for the last 10 years on paintings and sculpture, its all I do, had a few shows, and keep busy with comissions coming in from all over the world.. lots of press too(see my website) Sales from my studio are enough to live comfortably on, but its basicaly word of mouth.
Im living and working here in Bali where I built a 10,000 sq ft studio by the sea years ago, and being so out of the scene there doesnt help.
I have been to all the top galleries and its impossible to get anyone to even just look at the work. Ive gone thru the channels they reccomend, and sent out a lot of submissions and nobody has gotten back to me. Its not that Im starving, Its just the hotels that seem to keep comissioning me only want expensive looking decorations and dont have the balls to show my real stuff.
I guess Im lucky to be living well from it but the commerical work and the fine art are miles apart.
Its time to kick it up a notch and try and move into
the market that appreciates it (and pays its real value…) This step is where IM stuck. Selling work for 5gran that is resold for 20 in NY doesnt make me feel real good!
My family live in Florida and I usually go and see them around Christmas, I will drop by Key west looking for you guys whenever I get down that way. In the meantime if you are planning to come to Bali you are welcome as a guest. Im on a small estate loaded with sculpture and paintings and theres a lot of studio space here.

The Answer: Okay, let me start by saying, ‘Dangit! I can’t get the pic resizer to work.’ That’s why we have sucha big pitcher here… I just wanted to show more pics of the grand opening party. Holy Stars!! It was amazing!

 Anyhoo, Gosh, thanks for the compliment & you’ll be the first one I call, when I hit Bali, for sure!

To answer your question. I think the answer lies within you. I mean, consider why you do what you do. Maybe you do it for money, social accolades… there is no right or wrong answer. In my world, they are all equally valid - except the ones that are lies. What I mean is, when somebody says they do it ’cause they have to & they don’t care if anyone likes it, they’re full of crap, unless they’re keeping it in their garage, their looking for a response - monetary or otherwise. Get it? On the other hand, if they truly ‘don’t care if it sells’ they should also leave it at home, ’cause galleries do care.

Sounds to me (& I saw on your site, that you are a very talented creator & that is lovely. I would be very grateful that the hotels want what you do & you can afford such an amazing studio in a beautiful place - fantastic! At the same time, I do understand, that the human condition is to strive for more & perhaps you’e looking for a bit of recognition, ego strokes, self expression… It sounds like you are on the right path, doing a ‘line’ if you will, for commercial works & another for self expression. I guess, I’m just saying you should consider what you want out of each. At the end of the day, if you’re selling works outright & not on consignment, they have the right to sell them for whatever they can get - in fact, it’s their job & there are tons of hidden costs involved, like shipping mammoth pieces internationally, insurance, the risk of them not selling or the time they take to do so. So, that doesn’t bug me out too much. On the other hand, if $5k isn’t enough for you, or you’re willing to wait it out & consign like most artists, that’s a different story.

 As for your more personal work, do you need to sell it at all? You’ve clearly prooven your technical prowess & ability to make a living. I’d like to know what it is that you are truly searching for, in order to be of more & more specific assistance. I do hope you’ll write back. Thanks Hon! Oh yeah, I forgot to ask you: send us some of your work at the Art Bar! It’s so friggin’ beautiful here, I can’t stand it - except I’m so tired, I really can’t stand it. Talk soon,

Barbarella