Building an art business is a lot like a climb up Mount Everest. You plan your route, gather supplies and assemble a team. You run into boulders and crevices where you least expect them. But that's par for the course. You celebrate when you make it to base camp. Then you plan the next stage of the ascent.
A group of exceptional artists is on their own quest to scale the art world. They took my challenge to answer three simple questions about their aspirations in 36 words. These artists are already at the foot of the mountain. Some are scaling the first peaks. You can see a distinct pattern of footholds in the themes of their answers:
What are you trying to make happen? - To make more art that excites me and moves viewers
- To create more exposure and opportunities to exhibit
- To make a living from making art
Don't you find it interesting that each goal naturally leads to the next step?
If your art excites you, you will make more of it. You will want to share your excitement through exhibits. You will transmit your excitement to anyone who sees your art. When you excite more people about your work, there is a greater the possibility that they will buy it or tell others about it. That translates into a better life as an artist.
How will you measure success?- A large body of quality work that satisfies me and resonates with viewers, buyers and art dealers
- New connections and invitations to exhibit in galleries
- Making more art to keep up with shows, sales and commissions
Can you see the obvious route from making your best art to getting collectors and making sales?
What's the first thing you need to do to get started?- Get better at what I already make
- Find new viewers, reconnect with collectors
- Contact promising venues and art dealers about exhibits
Sounds like a simple description for a working artist, doesn't it? Straightforward - if you know the steps and how to grab the next handhold. Simple isn't always easy. Straightforward doesn't always seem obvious.
If you need a boost to scale your own mountain of goals, try these simple exercises to build your stamina:
- Make art for an average of at least 15 minutes a day. This will remind you why you are doing all those pesky business tasks. It also allows you to easily create enough work to do better than break even.
- Start your week visualizing what you want to accomplish. Use all of your senses so it seems like a rehearsal for a movie. You will be more confident when you do each scene.
- Review your progress at the end of the week. Write down what you accomplished, why you feel good about the results, and what you need to do next week to make more progress. You will be ready for your next actions.
What are you waiting for? ACT now.
Aletta de Wal, Artist AdvisorAuthor of the Forthcoming Book:"My Real Job is Being an Artist: How to Make a Living Making Art" P.S. The artists who responded will be my guests at
"The Next 7 Steps to Taking Action on Your Art Goals" on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 to get ready for their ascent to peak success. Those artventurers who want to go past base camp are also now honorary A.C.T. community members and can have their own
personal guide at preferred rates. As one of the winning artists said:
"It's been a long time. It's been quite a time for me in the last couple of years. A long story that is culminating into me being on the verge of a whole new life. A life where my art is my living. No more excuses."
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