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Artist Career Training helps you make a better living making art. www.artistcareertraining.com
Vol. #112 - November 2009
How to Get an "A" Grade in Art Business

Gal in Library ImageI was an "egghead" in elementary school. I loved to read. Back then, you could only borrow three books at a time from the library so I chose very carefully.  As long as I was interested in the subject, I would happily devour a book in the cool basement while the neighborhood kids played tag in the hot sun. (I now own so many books that I listed them all here.)

I was thorough and into series - a habit that has stayed with me in art making. The standouts were fables from all over the world and biographies of classical music masters. I started at the beginning of the shelf and worked my way through the alphabet.

I still remember the exact shade of the cover of the Chopin book - it was May green - perfect for his music. (I still have "perfect pitch" when it comes to color. Ironically I was not the best in Grade 4 art class because the teacher told me I was drawing trees the wrong way. But that's another story.)

Not everything was easy for me to learn. I got a "C" in Economics 101. It was a required course for the Masters in Industrial Relations program. There were lots of complex theories, formulas and graphs. None of them related to my daily life. I cracked the books every evening and for 12 hours every Sunday. It was mind numbing.  I could have been reading novels. I saw the light and switched to a Masters Program in Adult Education. I studied what inspired me instead of slaving at something that was making me perspire.

I tell you all this because these lessons apply to your art business. Here are five ways to be an "A" student in the business of art and master your profession:


Digital Arts Studio#1. ART: Make art that inspires you to continue making more.
This is the fun part. You need a signature style and a body of work ready to show at a moment's notice. Get into the studio and develop "product."  Show and sell only your best work. Discard, or burn any work you consider below standard. It all starts and ends with making art.

#2. AUDIENCE: Build your art market one person at a time.
Build relationships with people who enjoy and express an interest in your work. Do this right and they will become your informal reps by telling others about you and your art. If you are an introverted artist, develop better social skills. If you are an extrovert, learn to contain your enthusiasm long enough to hear what the viewer wants to know. 

#3. ACCOUNTING: Track your investments of time, toil and art supplies.
The business side of art is a numbers game. You need to make lots of art in different sizes, have at least 5 shows a year and meet your audience in many venues. That takes time, money and energy. You have to keep track of all this so yo
u know what it will take to break-even or make a profit. (If you need help on this, Pat Fiorello and Alexandria Levin make it painless.)

#4. ATTENTION: Show your work often and everywhere.
Attention spans are getting shorter. You have to cut through the clutter of broadcast messages. You are not selling soap but you are trying to get mindshare. You need a simple, memorable way of arousing and retaining interest in your work over time. When people see your work in person, in magazines and on the Internet, they see you everywhere. That is the goal.

#5. AMBITION: Motivate yourself to get fame, fortune or followers.
Without ambition, you wouldn't get much done. Some artists still sneer at marketing their art. They claim that they are only in it for the joy of creating, and that great work will attract purchasers. Nothing wrong with that if you don't need money to feed your art habit and pay the bills. Choose a "can do" attitude and you are 80% of the way there. Decide what you want from your art. Add good work habits to get past the things that don't thrill you. Build it, promote it, and they will come.

Digital Arts StudioI learned to cultivate my interests and to share what I discovered so others could grow. The result is that I love what I do for a living. Because I love working with artists, I am motivated to keep on learning and exploring. That makes it more interesting for all of us.

What are you doing to raise the grade on your life as a working artist?

Digital Arts Studio

Aletta de Wal, Artist Advisor
Author of the Forthcoming Book:  "My Real Job is Being an Artist:  How to Make a living Making Art"

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Contact:

Digital Arts Studio Aletta de Wal
Author of the Forthcoming Book:
"My Real Job is Being an Artist: How to Make a Living Making Art"
Artist Advisor
Artist Career Training
www.ArtistCareerTraining.com
www.ArtBusinessLibrary.com
(650) 917-1225 Pacific Time
[email protected]
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