a CSA for artists?

I have been thinking a lot about Kickstarter and its relevance for artists trying to make a living through their artwork.  I posted these thoughts on my Kickstarter page, where I’m running a campaign to promote the collection of paintings and prints that I will be making while in Iceland.

Kickstarter for visual artists: A direct and fair Studio-to-Wall exchange

In a CSA, people who want to eat quality, local produce join together to buoy the farmer through the long seasons of preparation and cultivation, until a bounty is produced, and everyone gets to share in it.  The CSA is never misconstrued as a kind of charity.  Participants share risk and reward with the farmer, but they are also sophisticated consumers who want to support the Farm-to-Table ethos and eat yummy food.

A KS backer does the same for the Artist.  My backers know what they like, and they know how to measure risk in order to acquire quality artwork. KS backers are sophisticated and confident consumers of art, and they also enjoy being a part of the creative community by backing a project they believe in.  They buy directly from the artist who made it, in a direct Studio-to-Wall exchange.

That said, Kickstarter is much more than a business transaction.  I already know what it’s like to have the trust, confidence, and enthusiasm of friends and strangers alike, standing behind me as I work.  That was an unexpected benefit of being a Kickstarter backed artist, and I am fortunate to experience it again with my new project.  I hope you’ll join me!

Click this image for a link to my 2014 Kickstarter page “A winter residency in North Iceland”