Turning My Art Dream into Reality: Life, Art, and Ralph my rescue Dog
As I step into a new phase of my art journey, with only having Angel and Demon on the side hustle of dog walking—I can’t help but reflect on what truly matters and what I’m doing to make my dream of a full-time art career a reality. People often ask if I'm a full-time artist because of my productivity, speed at which I create and dedication, and while I’m not there yet, I certainly work as if I were. Chronic fatigue has taught me to play to my strengths, embracing bursts of hyper-focus when they come and accepting the less-than-perfect aspects of life (like the dishes piling up...)and the crash after hyper focus , which unfortunately I can’t turn on or off but have to go with when it arrives and make most of .
Emerging as a full-time artist is a journey, and I’m learning as I go. I want to create art that resonates, that people feel drawn to buy, to lighten up their homes and lives—not by force but out of genuine love for my work, and connection for what I am about. I want to live in creative flow, letting my art and story speak for itself and build momentum naturally. I’m even considering ways I could help others, perhaps with a workshop on loosening up in art—letting go of perfectionism, throwing paint on a canvas, and just expressing. Could I give back to the art community? The idea excites me, though I need to break past my skepticism about people en masse (like George Carlin said: “I hate people in groups, but love them individually”).
I am grateful for the people who support me individually: artists like Rafi and Klee, whom I’ve Zoomed with but have yet to meet, and Maria, whom I met after having her on my podcast. There’s Epic Kate on YouTub also haven’t met yet, who’s been a huge inspiration, and Guglielmo from The Art Bus. And though I sometimes fear reaching a broader audience, I find common ground with others through art, walks with my dog Ralph, and just connecting over shared passions.
https://rafiandklee.com rogue artists awesome humans
more awesome humans
https://circularartspace.co.uk Guglielmo Circular art space bus and meta virtual space
Katie Bjärgvide. https://clearingthecreative.com
A Day in My Life with Ralph
Autumn days are short, and they’ve brought changes to my routine, autumn was when I first adopted Ralph, however the transition from long days to short was challenging and starting ADHD medication my mornings are easier though still takes me a while to get going. Here’s what a typical day during Autumn and Winter looks like for me:
8:00 AM: I get up and have breakfast with Ralph. I used to make porridge, but it kept burning due to my distraction, so now it’s cereal or bread, not as healthy. Ralph has his kibble—scattered on a silicone mat because that’s the only way he’ll eat it consistently despite trying him with many better quality wet and raw foods, this suits him.
10:00-11:00 AM: Ralph’s walk. We drive to a park, as he can be reactive in close quarters. It’s not glamorous; I’m usually sweaty and disheveled by the time we’re done.
12:30-2:00 PM: After errands, I settle down to administrative tasks—blogging, promoting my art, applying for shows and fairs. Although some days its a duvet struggle and gaming day. This part keeps me grounded in my goals and is a new venture as of this week to have it become part of the routine.
2:00-4:00 PM: Rest. I’ll watch a film or just stare into the void with a coffee or other hot drink to recharge.
4:00-5:00 PM: The last walk of the day before it gets dark. Our shared garden isn’t an option after dark and rarely uses it in the day even, after dark outside is no go because Ralph goes wild with the scent of urban foxes. One of which frequents next doors garden, they’ve met face to face and starred it out a few times before pulling my arm on the lead violently.
6:00-8:00 PM: Time to paint if have the energy for it. I try to make the most of this focused time to get creative or very least sketch in sketchbook, decide dont have the concentration and hope to the next day.
8:30-10:00 PM: Winding down, maybe sketching or filming TikToks, or just watching something to relax.
Autumn is tough on my energy, breaking up the momentum I build each day. In summer, our routine shifts with the daylight, and I love that flexibility. Oddly, spring has become my favorite season because the days are long for longer, but not as hot as summer, which Ralph struggles with. As much as I love the colours of autumn, the darker days can make everything feel like an uphill battle.
Making a Full-Time Art Career Happen
So, how am I making strides as an artist? Every autumn, I remind myself not to get discouraged by the slower pace. I’ve applied to the Bath Contemporary Art Fair which I will begin in April and am waiting for news on if successful. If accepted, I’ll attend regularly and use the weeks between to paint new work if others sold. I’ve also signed up for Art Battle events in November and January, waiting to see if I am painting. Then, in February, I’ll be holding my solo show from the 7th to the 12th, with flyers to be finalised later this month. To spread the word, I’m planning to display posters locally and send invites to galleries. Plus press releases.
Marketing is a constant challenge, but I’m doing what I can within my budget. I recently ordered 100 postcards to hand out, and I’m working on getting my website here, cjshopland.com, more visibility. I’ve also ordered a banner with my art and logo to display at events, hoping it’ll help people connect my work to my name easier. Half the price of the others I looked at so hoping quality be good enough. if not I may have to use it as a template to paint the image but fingers crossed. Small things like business cards on mini easels and postcards with my art on them sat on my wall allow people to take something tangible home. Which I hope is legal, I havent felt comfortable to showcase my art outside, would need a license but freebie like business card might be ok.
Building a sustainable income is a balancing act. To be off disability benefits due to my fatigue and mental health, I’d need to make around £45,000 gross annually—close to £1,000 a week. For now, I’m aiming to cover expenses and gradually build up, even if that means working in shorter bursts. Painting detailed commissions can take up to 20 hours and are exhausting, while more abstract/looser pieces might take just 3-5 hours, some under an hour. Each piece has its demands, but it’s all part of the journey. I would love to earn without it being a reflection of how unwell or mentally or energy struggles I am experiencing, but on my own merit for my art.
Sharing My Art and Finding Community
Social media is part of the plan, but I’m not relying solely on it. I’m also expanding my reach through local cafés. Right now, I have a piece up at The Crafty Egg on Church Road, and I’m hoping to approach more places. The Crafty Egg selected my piece—a faceless, fishnet-stenciled figure that explores empowerment through sensuality, and how lot of models run their own businesses now, taking out the need for a photographer, and either self portrait or choose their own photographers to work with—and it’s inspiring to think it’s on display in such a vibrant spot, in a cafe whose vibe, coffees and food I love. Plus dog friendly.
Ink figure being shown at North Street Gallery when I was there September 2024. Then onto crafty egg which I will take a photo of two put here
Events like flea markets are valuable too. I’ll be at m32 flea market again on November 30th, displaying everything from original pieces priced between £10 and £1,500 (most sell a single item for is £50 usually) to art mugs I’ve designed in Procreate and Affinity Photo. My goal is to make art accessible, whether through prints, greeting cards, or functional items like mugs, so everyone can take home something meaningful. If can’t afford an original, a print, if not a print a t-shirt, if not a t-shirt, a mug, if not a mug a sticker etc
I’ve also been exploring ways to reach people beyond local shows—perhaps press releases, “what’s on” calendars, and even the idea of radio or TV, reaching further parameters of the city, and making my art known, again not to sell to those but for them to spread the word. I’m still figuring it all out, but the more I explore, the more ideas surface.
I found an inventive way to shown my work at the flea market when I didnt get the best spot. Two sold, one for £50 and one for £10, can you guess which?
What Keeps Me Going
There’s often a misconception that artists overcharge, yet we don’t question the markups in supermarkets. Art pricing reflects years of skill-building, creative struggle, and the countless hours we invest in honing our craft. If art were as simple as fun, no one would value it and everyone would be an artist for a living. But creating is work—it’s passion and dedication, all poured into each piece. Some are more episodic in nature, where others are a whole season spanning over months, sometimes years. Each a part of me whether 1 hour or 100 hours of work. Price reflects this according, as fair as I can be. I also create more affordable items of my larger time consuming work I feel should keep a higher price tag.
For now, I’ll keep juggling Ralph, art, and the business side of things. I may not be a “traditional” worker clocked per hour, but with every piece I create, each I put out there and creative ways to showcase my art, I’m one step closer to making my art a full-time career. And though Ralph might keep me busy, his companionship is part of the journey—a reminder that art, like life, is best enjoyed one moment at a time. I also was not going to wait any longer, I have always wanted a dog and while the reality of caring for a dog is more than I thought, I love this robustious chap and I don’t think of him like a dog, our bond now is like no other, sure I had a few nips trying to care for him in the beginning but now he just groans a bit and gives me a big smile progress!
So here’s to following the fun, connecting with others, and creating art that resonates, celebrating the world by painting it, celebrating moments by creating observation comedy art, and enjoying the individual humans that remind us of our humanity.
Now lunch before painting this evening.
This is me (Artist Chris Shopland) posing sat with my art on the Circular art space refurbished bus turned Art gallery. One of the portraits sold for £45 can you guess which, the flea market is a clue with one of those selling at flea market weekend after this exhibition closed.
