Nearly any artist would envy my friend’s art business. His large kinetic sculptures, inspired by his first encounters with Alexander Calder, are in private collections and corporate offices all over the world. Those pieces often sell for well into the five-figure range. His network of relationships with art consultants keeps him busy for most of the year.
In addition to his original pieces, my friend has a growing retail business. Small versions of his originals, manufactured in his shop, sell in museum shops all over the USA and France. They don’t do any business with art galleries.
This business supports his wife and children. They live a quiet, unassuming life in a large downtown apartment in a mid-size city. You would never guess that he is so successful. In fact, someone once tried to donate children’s shoes to his family because his daughter insisted on wearing her old, beat up shoes to church.
But their family is doing quite well. They own their large apartment and take vacations a few times per year. Their children are in a great charter school.
Many artists probably couldn’t even imagine having that level of success. Even if they could imagine it, they can’t figure out what to do or where to start. These two issues are the core problems that keep most artists distracted and off the path to where they want to be.
The real challenge of being a professional artist is not that it’s impossible to make it as an artist. It’s possible, and it’s even more probable than most of fine art world makes it out to be. Bitter college professors, ignorant (but loving) parents, and skeptical art business folks like to push the idea that making a living as an artist is too hard, or that it doesn’t pay.
Meanwhile, over the last six years, I’ve had extended conversations with dozens of artists who are doing what everyone says they can’t do. They’re making a living making art. Some of them are making a really great living.
The reason that The Abundant Artist exists is that there are thousands of would-be professional artists who are trying to figure out how to make it work. They hope it’s possible, but they don’t know what to do.
The challenge is filtering out the noise. Between the negative talk, the thousands of art-world hangers-on with an agenda, and the plain poseurs, it’s hard to hear the words of those who have actually been there.
Of course, part of the reason it’s so hard to hear the words of those who’ve been there is that many of the artists who are making a living doing what they do are not speaking all that loudly, if at all. The artists who have “made it” are busy working in their studios, talking with collectors, and living their lives. Most of them don’t have any interest in teaching up and coming artists, which is a real shame.
The few that do teach younger artists usually only take on an apprentice or two, or perhaps teach the occasional master class. Many of the artists who teach art-making regularly make their living that way, so they don’t have the depth of experience in the making and selling trenches.
And art schools aren’t doing anyone any favors in this regard. The few art schools that have entrepreneurship or business training treat it like the ugly stepchild of the school. The programs are underfunded, and stigmatized by faculty and other students.
It’s tough out there for an artist who wants to learn how to make a living. But it doesn’t have to be.
Over the years, I’ve interviewed dozens of artists for podcasts, blog posts, and courses. I’ve done the best to distill that info and impart what I can to readers like you.
A few weeks ago I sat down to try to write up a comprehensive overview of how it all works together.
One of the things that I discovered is that even I can’t fully illuminate the path. I can show you some common trail markers, but every artist must navigate the path by themselves.
Over the next few blog posts, I am going to outline the structure that I use when I’m coaching artists. I call it Seeking the Hidden Path for Art Business Success.
This structure includes:
Finding the Hidden Path – this includes getting the training that you need to be a competent artist, and showing your work to people outside your immediate social circles. It also includes figuring out which of the 5 Artist Business Models is right for you.
Avoiding False Paths – there are a lot of people who want your money, time, and attention as an artist. Some of them, like family, friends and artist organizations, mean well. Others, like predatory galleries, juried shows, and contests, just want your money and don’t care about whether or not you do well.
Walking the Path – what got you started on the path won’t necessarily get you where you want to be. You must learn enough business skills to sell your work and to avoid being taken advantage of by unscrupulous art world predators.
Finding Friends to Walk With – the path gets lonely and hard. This is a joyous time in an artist’s career because your fan base begins to support you and propel you along. Smart artists learn to surf this momentum down the path. In addition to fans, there are companies that you can partner with to help you keep that momentum going. You might even take on some employees.
Blazing Your Own Trail – because each artist’s career is slightly different, at some point you have to learn to pull away from all of the advice and imagine your world as you want it to be – then blaze your own trail to get there. This is where your art business goes from good enough to absolutely amazing.
I’m looking forward to sharing these with you and hearing your feedback on this process. What questions do you have or what does this make you think?
Well written and thought out…
Your content is always so sound and valuable, that is why “The Abundant Artist” made it through a recent purge of email subscriptions and artist newsletters.
Thanks for being so diligent, Cory!
Glad we made the purge! *whew*
I’m a hand-cut paper artist. You can see a few of my pieces (12) on Etsy at StonemanDesign if your interested. I know my art is good and it can sell. I just don’t know how or who my target market is. Are my prices too high or too low? I value my art and the time that is put into each piece and I don’t want to “cheapen”it by pricing too low, and then again, too high that people can’t afford it. I would love to do this full time. I think about Designs to cut when I wake up, until I fall asleep at night. I feel like I’m wasting time at work and not working on my cutouts. I appreciate your time and the time you put into your resources that you have compiled and I pray they can work for me. Thanks Cory
Hi Cory! Thankyou for validating me! All those ignorant comments from people who aren’t even artists has been my life story. My blazing trail for now is to create several finished pieces.
I want to do knife paintings of fantasy images. I’m even considering taking some acting workshops to learn how to really become a fantasy character. Thank you for your awesome support for all of us artists!
This is 100% accurate, great blog. It is dependent upon who goes with the flow only because I’ve experienced it a couple of times. In the years of doing different kinds of art I rely within, separating myself from the rest so I could achieve the goal of doing something different. I created a small company called Gildn’ Tile. It has caused alienation from the social scene, friends, you can name it. I NEVER could believe that with this kind of sacrifice, that it would amount to seventy two dollars annually. I had a web site, but at the money they want guaranteed to them it wasn’t really an option. I’ve tried other sites and with no luck. I learned how to create my own web site and because I didn’t have my own server it still came at a monthly cost more than what my annual cost is. What I charge an hour, is the exact same rate I’ve charged since 2002 for any of my services.
I’m very sorry to hear about others to who are suffering, going through their own difficulties so I feel like l should share mine. I hope that all of our problems, with time, can be worked out. Hope is all I have left.
Thank You for this necessary knowledge. All artisans should read this!
Cory I always enjoy your blog posts. They’re some of the best out there. They bring me inspiration and motivation all the time when I read them. I’m always sharing it with people I know. A lot of advice and knowledge I’ve taken to heart and I’m seeing improvement in the areas I was seeking it. Keep it up and take care! Looking forward to these future posts. -Chuck
Thanks Chuck! Looking forward to releasing your podcast. 😉
I’ve got a little time to took into this at present. So far I’ve made nothing off of my art. So, whatever I’m doing isn’t working. However, I lack the gene for conformity, selling out, or not being true to myself and using art as a tool for exploration and discovery (kinda’ like science). Will check out the upcoming posts.
Thanks Eric – it’s not about conformity or selling out. It’s about being true to your artistic vision and finding the tribe that responds to your vision. Looking forward to how you respond to the next few blog posts.
Cory, Thanks I enjoyed reading your Blog, I am also an artist struggling to make a breakthrough and I will work on this. Any advice and support from you will be welcomed.
Regards,
Manohar
One of your best blogs this year! I’m interested in working on this in January but until then I’m too busy. My art sales dropped this year for the first time in several years. I’d sure like to figure out ways to create a larger net.
Thanks Leslie. I totally want to help you create that larger net!
Thank you so much for yout support and all the inspiration I get from you, Cory. My art business is getting more and more successful but I still have a lot to learn. I’m looking forward reading more.
Thank you, Cory. I certainly appreciate what you are doing. I started the Abundant Artist program a couple of months ago and then got totally swamped with other commitments. Need to get back to it, for sure!
I too have had to put my recent art career aside to take care of my brother in another state battling cancer. But I’m trying to get my son into art as a lifestyle. I did make a living doing art but that was many many years ago. I believe in doing what your passionate about but it’s a big step. I’m glad I found your site. Thank you
Yes – very nicely written Cory. And I think these days there are so many more choices involved in being an artist, (compared to when I left school and should have gone into art but didn’t!) four decades ago. With the choices comes overwhelm. What sort of artist am I? (Which business model to concentrate on?). Which of the gazillion online stores to use…which artist business course to do….whether to use print on demand…which social media to focus on….which printers to use for repro….endless choices and paths to take….
Did you look at the next blog post Gill? I think you might respond to it well. https://theabundantartist.com/finding-the-hidden-path/
Love this! I’m excited to see what’s coming. My artistic pursuits have been slowed since the birth of my daughter a year and a half ago, but she’s getting old enough now where I can really start digging in. I just found a local art show with very low entrance fees ($15!), and I’m gearing up for my first show next Friday! I’ve been trying to figure out my path because I think I do art that is half-crafty and half-high-end, but I don’t really fit into either category. I’m also confused about the basics of building a business, the taxes, the legal stuff. But I’m ready to learn!
Hi I’ve sold a lot more paintings this year but it’s gone quite now nothing’s sold over the last 3 weeks. I think I should Lowe my prices a little bit I don’t want to do it for nothing as its takes time to create a good painting
Dave,
Don’t lower your prices! Find more collectors!
Hi Cory, I think you’re right on target. I’ve been following you’re blogs and have had some one-on-one Skype time with you around my website, and am building my email list. I am starting to have sales (so far three prints of my original oil paintings) and I feel like the emails that I’ve been sending out are effective, because I get a lot of positive responses. I’ll have my first solo show in January and I’m setting up my business-at-home so that I can sell paintings and prints from my house, and participate in the Art Trails/Open Studios for Sonoma County (an artist friend of mine does very well during Open Studios.) At the same time, I am also taking a class from an artist to improve my skills. Over the past year your blogs and podcasts have opened my eyes and made me focus on what it is that I truly want to be (do I still want to be a professional artist? YES!!) but it is a step-by-step process that really doesn’t have any shortcuts-anything worth doing takes time and planning, and patience. Your advice and interviews keep bouncing around inside my head and every time I hear an artist say “there’s no money in it” I just laugh inside, because I know better. Pretty soon I will be able to say back to them, “Yes, there is, I’m making a good living-do you want to know how to make it happen?” and I will refer them to you!
That’s the goal! Keep it up Cyndi!
Hi Cory,
Thank you for this post, I look forward to reading the next ones! This article made me think that I may need to do some training, go to school or so some small art classes. I’m a self taught artist, and have sold paintings and continue to, but i feel like I would be more confident in my work and be able to charge more for my art if I had some formal training behind me.
Thanks again for your help and inspiration!
Cassie, as someone who taught in a University Art Department at an Ivy League school for 30 years I can say that getting more schooling will probably make you feel more confident but it may not enable you to sell more work at higher prices. That often happens naturally as artists start to sell their work and as the amount of sales picks up they can then raise their prices. I know of artists who regularly raise prices about 5% a year. But on the other side of the coin is that artists need to become more adept at marketing, such as improving how they talk about their art, expand their mailing list and contact of potential buyers, cultivate collectors, and find shows that work for them for both sales and exposure. And I ran across an artist the other day who claims he spends 80% of his time on marketing and 20% making art and says he earns a six figure income…. if you are willing to believe it.
I would rather those figures were reversed. What artist wants to spend 80% of their time marketing and only 20% making art?
Shouldn’t we work smarter, rather than harder? Sure, you have to work hard at marketing but if you’re only creating 20% of the time (which is the thing you love to do), then get a high paying day job and create in your spare time.
It looks to me that this person perhaps sees the marketing end of his art as the end rather than the means.
Nearly every artist I know who makes a living from their work (and we’ve interviewed dozens here on the blog & podcast, I’d encourage you to listen to some of those interviews) says the same thing – at least 50% of your time needs to go toward marketing your art. At some point you make enough to hire a team, and then it gets better, but getting to 80% – 90% of your time making art is a fantasy that almost nobody achieves.
Certainly you can get a job and make art on the side – but then you wouldn’t be selling your art at all.
It all comes down to choices. Do you want to sell your art? Put in the time.
Hi Cory,
Thank you sooo much for this article. I’ve been on the fence regarding getting coaching help with my biz for a while now…I think I’ve contacted you twice now:).
Usually what holds me back is not being able to truly put into words where I am and where I need help…because as an independent entrepreneur you have to wear so many hats. And navigating down so many unchartered waters by myself has become super overwhelming. I’ve taken so many classes over the past few years, that now I want someone to review with me where I am and brainstorm with me where I need to put more attention, point out distractions and help me become the savvy business person I want to be at the same as being an artist.
Your words couldn’t ring more true for me…I look forward to reading more of your blog posts and hopefully working together very soon. Thank you!
Interesting article, makes sense, I’m still mushing through Content Marketing, as an amatuer/hobby artist, wow, I got a lot to learn, TAA is a very enlightening resource.
I think I need to start with small steps to avoid getting overwhelmed. The big thing is balancing time between creating and time for learning all there is to learn about marketing oneself successfully. I think a good place to start us with is show us what are the first and foremost things to focus on for those just starting out and have not yet become a business. In Canada one does not have to register yet as business until one earns over $10 000 Canadian. Until then, one only needs to claim earnings on personal income taxes. I think things like partnering with other companies and licensing one’s work, to me would be a longer term goal. Maybe after getting momentum with sales and a fan base after about a year maybe. Just trying to figure out the best web sites and hosts is what takes up my time right now. Such as, good places to get good customizable wordpress themes for artists. I found this: http://www.elegantthemes.com/gallery/category/responsive/…. but it isn’t free. Yes it certainly feels like a labyrinth to navigate. A road map with where to start from the ground floor up. Even a visual map of what it should look like. at least an example. Just some thoughts…
About that visual map…stay tuned. We have something planned. 😉
Paying $70 a year for membership seems pricey when there are so many good free themes available, many on the WordPress site.
Free themes are a great start, but premium themes often have great features that make building and managing the site easier. I never recommend that artists start with free themes. They require a great deal more work to make a site look professional.
Great post Cory! I would love to figure out which path is right for me. Especially living abroad creates more challenges. And i plan to relocate to Europe next year. Italy, Spain or Portugal. Not sure yet. I’m working on building a stronger portfolio now.
Hi Cory
I agree with Janine – need some help re starting out. Atm I have to spend time on work for primary income & time to draw & build my business is limited. The end goal is clear but the steps to get to that are blurry. I need a list of steps to follow as a guide e.g. draw a portfolio first, then do this, do that etc. When time & energy are short then I’d rather not waste my time, & money, when I can learn from experienced people.
I look forward to your Visual Map :).
Thank you for your work – have followed you for a while now & I learn a lot.
Kind regards
Laurie Mills
Thanks Cory, the article was more focused on the young artist starting out, and that’s cool, and yet some of your post is applicable to those of us who have been around the art business for awhile. The blogs also lead nicely into each other. I followed this one up with the post on ‘The benefits of a series’ and at the end of it all I have cemented a loose concept into a formal plan that will give me a range of five different subjects to work on, as well as use drawings and paintings from each of these ‘portfolios’ to contribute to a central series theme.
Hopefully all the attention it will bring will make my business even more profitable.
Anyway I’m definitely on that pathway and I have a road map.
Thanks.
Lew
Thanks Cory! Such a great way of framing and focusing on the issues. I heard someone say this week that simplicity is on the other side of complexity. Being able to get to the core and pare back the non essentials is the key.
Enjoyed this article tremendously. Thanks. My biggest issue is balance. I’m much happier just painting, but then the marketing doesn’t get done. So…. I tend to paint, paint, paint, then take some time off to market, market, market. As you can imagine, that doesn’t work very well. I live in a very rural area of the country and really depend on my own marketing for sales.
I love that you state a few times that everyone’s path is different, so true! I feel many get stuck on the ‘one and only’ structure of things. That’s not true for everyone but you can incorporate tips and ideas, like you give all of the time, in your journey. Looking forward to more posts 🙂
I think everything you’ve written here is true for anyone in any type of business, not just art business! Great stuff, Cory.
TANKS CORY! I AM A GREAT ARTIST BUT HAVE NO COMPUTER SKILLS . ALL SO I AM 67 YEARS OLD.I AM SELLING A FEW PAINTING AND PAINTING ON SITE AT FARMER MARKET AND AT WEDDINGS .EVERY ONE HEAR YOU ARE VERY TALENT AND GREAT.I AM LOOK FOR HELPT TO GREAT AND WILL KNOWN.I KNOW YOU CAN.
Awesome! I am looking forward to learning more from you. I am very passionate about art AND business – I think the business side is fun and it’s own form of creativity, too!
Hello Cory,
I am a self taught artist.
Your blogs are precise and extremely helpful for new comers like me!
Thanks a lot 🙂
Regards,
Geeta Balu
I’ve been working and living with my art for almost a year, Following Cory’s advise and experimenting by my self. A few downs during the year but working with great effort, sales are going slowly of what I expected for this time of year I’ve raise my prices a little bit but still sells.
Hopefully I’LL find a new path to promoted and sell my art. My goal is to work entirely from my studio and less shows a month.
Is a bit exhausting traveling and moving around.
Cory , Thanks for the continuous support.
This is what I have been searching for. I’ve been reading since the beginning of 2014 every article and book I can find on art business. Your website and podcasts have been so insightful and helpful in cultivating my career. Still just at the beginning of making a living in the arts I’m at the point that I want to know how artists earn a living. How do they get all the opportunities, find places to sell work, and avoid the main stream gallery approach or not do gallery shows as heavily. Everytime i read an article or interview I want to know how an artist got to where they are but seldom find that information. I look forward to reading this hidden path.
Hi Cory,
In reading your blog, I can really identify with the part about Filtering out the Noise. With so many creative ideas, it’s easy to be ‘all over the board’ with executing, showing, and selling.
I’m catching up (finally) with your emails, and ready to ‘zoom in’ on focusing on
what’s important for my business.
Thanks for your thoughts, wisdom, and the opportunity (for those of us who do make a living with our artwork) to gain inspirational knowledge.
Best Regards,
Joan
Thanks for the kind words Joan. Any thoughts on what else we should cover for artists like yourself?
You ask the question what did your blog make me think. It made me think that I really don’t have an art business, and no real plan to develop one. I have been producing paintings and selling paintings for about 40 years, but I only focused on making paintings not selling paintings. Always had the benefit of another career and strong income. At this stage of my life, however, I am looking to develop an income from this passion I have, for producing watercolors but as you articulated so clearly, having a difficult time finding the path. I feel I have a good product to offer, but not finding the market where to sell it, or how to sell it.
I know I don’t usually leave comments but I do enjoy and learn a lot from you. I just need to put it into practice.
Cory:
You and I have corresponded a bit in the past. I own my own businesses. The primary source of income is in the restoration of leather furniture and goods. My second business is fine art: it does not generate much income. I would like to start a third business as well (!) and, God willing, teach some young artisan the leather business (and have them pay me to do so). The challenge has always been how to devote the requisite amount of time necessary to feed the art business. So, I need to be very very focused with the time I do have. There are priorities which are higher on the list than work, so it makes for a busy life. I’m very thankful.
And, I’m interested in this next step for you. I keep up with Ann Rea, also Alyson Stanfield. One gradually begins to realize most of the advice is essentially the same…which is a good thing. That means we’re not all that far off-track. I look forward to your blogs. Regards, Daniel Grove
Yes, yes, and yes. You hit so many nails on the head. There are so many talking heads out there and lots of false prophets- it’s both hopeful and difficult weeding through them all. In the 4 years that I’ve been developing my art business I’ve encountered both forward growth and tumbles backward in navigating “the system”. It’s been a humbling experience. But the times I have moved forward have taught me how joyful and rewarding becoming a self-sustaining artist can be. I want to experience more of that joy and find resources and people that build me up, not use me. Thanks for giving us the tools to recognize those false prophets and navigate this system better. Thank you, also, for the hope and positive outlook you’ve given us struggling artists who wish to finish the race.
Your post has my mind churning! Time is of essence for me. Making mosaics takes time and sometimes one big commission is all I can do for three months. So how to use old work to generate new contacts, or generate income, or get new commissions!
I really appreciate the clarity you bring to this, Cory. My intuition was hinting at some of these truths, but I can’t always pin my thoughts down.
Last spring I bought the self-taught version of your class and was enjoying the process of doing the work~then my dad died. It has been a challenging time since then, taking care of the estate. Today (!) his house will hopefully be sold and I can get back to it. Thank you for what you do. Your blog posts and other materials are the most powerful tools I have found anywhere.
Thank you for this. Looking forward to it. I am just feeling on the verge of another breakthrough to a new level as an artist as I have recently hit a few goals I had set for myself. I want to be ready for what comes next.
I am a talented artist but I don’t make much money at it and I am not a natural born marketer. Right now, I am trying to change that problem. Due to various circumstances,I have had severe financial set backs the last 10 years and things are getting better, but am limited in what I can do to promote myself as an artist. Everyone wants money to be able to promote you–and it is usually money that I can’t afford to part with. I do some freelance art work and I do some teaching of art workshops. I have to work part-time to be able to pay the bills. My dream is to be able to make a FULL living as an artist, but I need some help with this. I am currently being represented by Art Consultants, hoping that will get me some exposure and some business. Any help you can give me that doesn’t require a lot of money would be most appreciated.
Great article Cory. I’m on your mailing list, but this last year or so I haven’t had the chance to read much of your stuff. Just getting back into it now, thanks so much for all the great advice.
Cory, I am an Artist Representative for an artist who has been creating art part time and now full time for twenty years. He has an impressive resume and is now finally beginning to have his work accepted into a couple of reputable galleries. But part of the reason they were willing to even look at his artwork was because of the excellent juried shows he has been in over the years and the many awards he has won. So we are now wondering whether to back off on some of those shows and exhibitions and put more focus on creating work for these galleries while I continue to look for additional gallery opportunities. The artist I represent also does commission portraits which help pay some bills in between sales of originals. Thanks for the great article. Your site is extremely helpful.
Thanks Cory for working so passionately at what so many of us consider to be a dirty word – marketing! At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about – putting your mission/work/passion, whatever it might be – in front of eyeballs, eardrums and potential goosebumps. If making truthful art is step 1, putting that truthful art in front of the world in a way that serves the artist is step 2, and the former really is nothing without the latter. You end up with the book or screen play stuck in your computer, the canvasses gathering dust in the garage, the photos stuck on reams of film or in your photos folder in the laptop…. whatever ones art, its the same. Art without an audience, in a sense, doesn’t exist. I would love to get to that point, of not only having my creations seen, but also appreciated AND remunerated! I will keep studying this frustrating but oh so necessary topic – marketing! Thanks Cory.
Hi Cory,
I am starting to sell on line this year, I have join ArtPal as they make digital print and it seems I’m not getting any sale. I ask earlier on what is the best website I should join, hopefully trying to get the most viewers looking for art piece.
I am starting this year more painting and brought a 50.6 megapixels 5Ds Canon, I’m ready to take very high end photo for the internet. The old painting I took is not in good qaulity except the “Effect”
Please lead me to the best web money can buy with tones of viewer looking for art work.
Barry Ông Thê’ Huy
(Visual Artist. Born S.Vietnam city of saigon now call Ho Chi Ming City. Born 1954)
WhatsApp: 92390986
Your emails have been invaluable to me. I’ve had to take some of my focus off art to care for my grandson. He’s in kindergarten now and I’m pulling myself together. Reading this email is helpful. I’ve had enough experience that I know what you say is true. It’s hard when you are up against a world that not only misunderstand or doesn’t know, but has actions that actually create more obstacles for you. I can’t summarize what your emails have done over the years. I’ve worked and accomplished things, the money aspect is harder for me. I have wordpress website up because of you. I’ve not quit, in part, because of you. My wavering relationship with online activities is stableized by you. At the moment, I am thinking of putting art on Pixels.com. I was checking to see if there was any mention of them from you in the past. Don’t stop what you are doing …I’m only just beginning.
HI!. I am starting my life as an artist all over again. As a matter of a fact, I am starting my life over again. I have always been an artist, and was quite prolific, and well known. I absolutely loved what I did, and could not ever think of doing anything else. I went through a long term tragic life event, which destroyed all of my work, my studio, everything- Nothing exists that shows that I worked all of my life as an artist. I read your article on late bloomers last week, and bought the kindle book, which I am now reading. I have to reach out and start my portfolio over- I have to figure out where I fit in as an artist now- and I appreciate all of your materials that you post. I now have to balance my creativity, my thinking and my planning of future work and sales.
I read your post and was overwhelmed with emotion at your story, which hints at catastrophe. I can’t even imagine how traumatic this experience must have been. You have great courage and spirit to start again. I think that who we are never changes and it is the one thing that cannot be taken away. Best of luck. DR
I have a web site or maybe I should say postings on splintal mania I am caucusing for Bernie sanders and the 2 eight foot by four foot vertical paintings on plywood are of the senator he is holding an orb like Charles atlas holding the world with Hillary and bush on it the next panel he is throwing the orb with the two political candidates falling off it and the capitalists jumping off the orb with gold bricks on their feet I have met the senator twice and he has a copy of the print of the painting with three d glasses I am figuring out how to donate it to the campaign and also teaching the new art form in Fulton ill in a simplified non linguistic way since this new art form has a vast language
Thanks for this post. I trust what you say because it rings true and I’m very aware of the dangers of trying every “opportunity” without assessing its real value (e.g. “galleries” that want you to pay to show your work – no, thanks).
Every time I show offline, in a gallery or other venue, I’ve sold work. But I have yet to crack the code for selling online. So I’m reaching a point where frustration could set in… but I’ll delve into the articles here and get some clarity. I’m here for the duration, I believe in my work and I’m not going to give up. Every problem can be solved with the right information.
Cheers
David
hey i want work but i dont know how..
Hi, Thank you for your offerings! I stumbled on your blog, but not by accident. I think it is right on time, given where I am in my life and career. It is time for me to expand, and I am open to assistance. I am not in a position to purchase private lessons at this time, though I would love to in the hopefully near future. In the meantime, your blog looks rich with content for me to absorb.
I will admit that I am a bit overwhelmed.
I am a painter. I have been painting for over 20 years, and love it. I am also a yoga teacher, which not only provides my steadier income, it completely feeds my painting, and is every bit a part of my creative process.
For a year, I have been “wanting” and with a few false starts, attempted to venture into building a website.
Both my painting and yoga teaching are of equal importance to me as a person, and in BOTH I am called towards expansion. It is time for me to show and sell my work more, and to broaden my teaching.
I initially thought that a website including both my art and my yoga was the way to go, as I see them both as equal in importance in what I offer and in the level of creativity they require.
A lot of my yoga students have purchased my art over the years. I was also represented by a gallery for several years, though the gallery closed, and I have not tried to hard to get into another one. To be honest, I am not really mean on the Memphis galleries, and I would rather show outside this city. Also my past experience with the last gallery was underwhelming.
I am still going back and forth on the idea of the website that includes my art and my yoga. I am not really keen on paying for two websites, as money is a factor.
I would like to blog about both things and I can tie ideas and musings about both, interchangeably. One of my favorite now painters to watch currently is Brian Rutenberg. On his website, he does videos on his process, his philosophy, art history, and whatever else that relates to his work. The videos are very generous. I noticed that as I was watching and listening, what he would say, I may say something similar in a yoga class. It reminded me, how when I was in art school, and post art school, as I modeled for drawing classes, of my favorite teacher. He, without trying to be, shared deeply spiritual ideas that are inherently present in the art process. I consider that drawing teacher, to be my first yoga teacher.
Here is my dilemma. Maybe it is not a dilemma, but it has me feeling stuck.
I definitely would like to make more money with both my teaching yoga and my paintings.
Do you think it is wise to combine the two, or do you think it is going to be necessary to have two sites? I have thought about having two and linking both, but as I mentioned, I would rather not pay for two sites.
After reading some of your ideas, I gather, that it is not a good idea to go with “free” options.
Also the website building process that left me very frustrated and confused, emphasized and I mean strongly emphasized brainstorming, before you begin building, and only after you have a minimum of 300 key words. Then when I went to build the site, it was uber difficult to put together. So guess what. I dropped the ball, and that is after I purchased three private sessions for help. that was awesome. Now I have been looking at the free options, that offer upgrades.
Do you have any ideas, based on this pretty long post? I appreciate your assistance and I will continue to read you. Arline
Hi Cory, Thank you for the well thought out, easy to understand article. It makes me feel hopeful. I’m a self taught artist, newly retired from my day job and looking to learn how to promote my art. I’ve painted for many years and sold some to friends and friends of friends, but the marketing piece has always been something that I don’t feel comfortable with, so I’ve avoided it. Now, that I have more time, I am making myself learn the promoting side of my art, rather than just keep painting and storing the art in my closet. I look forward to the future posts. Mary Ellen
HI, this looks really interesting, at the moment I am thinking of doing digital art using GIMP. At present I am learning about all the features on GIMP and have done some I suppose you’d call more ‘abstract’ stuff, but am planning to do that plus line drawings, and country scenes, such as villages, old pubs, that sort of thing. I plan to be diverse.
Thanks for this post. As a new artist I would like to know more about buyers’ interests and how find the target group? Thanks again for reaching out.
Finally a place to get good reliable information. I’ve been an “artist” all my life and have never made a living from it. As I get older, I find I want to get back and try again. Your articles are geared mostly towards those that do physical pieces. These are actual pieces that you can touch. My work as of late is done on the computer so there is no original. How does one go about selling these? I’ve got my work on a couple of POD’s and make a few sales. I hope down the road, you cover this. I don’t have the money to make prints, have them framed and then take them to art shows. I’m looking forward to the next article.
I know this is a duplicate post, but this page is critical. Feel free to delete one or the other or both, as long as you get the message.
Registered for your site a week or so ago and you need to know, even when logged in, all of the links on THIS page go to an empty page marked “private.” My “day job” is as a programmer/web dev of 18 years (to me, just another canvas with logic for a palette, but that is another story.)
So I can say without reservation this is devastating you to as a site owner. Here I am, willing participant ready to convert this passion supported by a day job into a career, and I don’t get to say “here, take my money,” just a single word, “Private.”
This is where trust and networking come in. As mentioned, I am a web developer and can help. Private dialogue time. 🙂
Thank you Cory. I’m an artist who has gone down a wrong (& expensive) path and is now trying to claw my way back up again. The need to take control of things myself really resonates with me and although I’ve been bitten more than once by the gallery system, being on my own is scary and daunting! Managing my time properly and doing things apart from creating work (which I could easily do 24 hours a day) is also a huge challenge. I’ve just started a blog (scary!) and I haven’t the first clue about mailing lists etc or even what to say. You are right that nobody ever touches on these topics at art schools! Thank you for making this information available. I’m making my way through it all 🙂
Thanks for the insight Cory!! looking forward to read more blogs from you.
I always wanted to do something unconventional but never had the knowledge or the guts to do so or to initiate the process bt after reading ur blog and watching your video on youtube i felt inspired to start selling my artworks.
THANKS CORY
Hi Cory,
I came across the Abundant Artist on Facebook. I aspired to be an artist when I was in high school. I went to university and studied art in Sydney (I’m in Australia). Sadly my aspirations seemed to die there. I did complete my B Fine Art degree but came out very disillusioned. I studied again and became a nurse. After almost 20 years in nursing, I am slowly burning out and want to return to my painting and drawing. I am also hearing impaired which seems to be slowly taking its toll on my nursing career. I am hoping I might find the right advice and inspiration to start over and paint and draw once more. Perhaps even make it my career focus once again.
Hi Cory,
I am from Canada and came across your website and blog when I was looking at online options to sell me Art. I have been an artist for a long time, and has success with getting recognition and awards at shows internationally, but very few sales.
I have overspent to be at these galleries and shows, and want to focus on selling my work. I have a full time job as a graphic and web designer, so would love to be of any assistance to fellow artists who are a bit daunted by the work.
Hello, thank you very much for making the effort to put together information to help emerging artists. While in university I only had one prof ever talk about business and his lesson was to take into consideration all the years of training and money into education when you are pricing works. There wasn’t any information about navigating the art world. This guidance is very helpful and much needed so great job 😀
Hi there from down under,
My problem is I can’t decide what to concentrate on!!
I am doing 4 different styles all very different and I think I need to concentrate on just one and build it I just don’t know which art form to go with. I do embroidery,weaving, bird sculptures ,watercolour.
BTW thanks a million for your site I can’t wait to start putting your advice into action!!
Cheers Bel
I’m at work at my day job and as I write this, I’ve gotten an e-mail advising me that my yearly performance review is due and I have to put in my goals for the next year. Funny as MY GOAL is to get out of this humdrum and make art. I’ve sold a few pieces into corporate collection past 12 months and made good money… it was almost like printing it. I need more of the right relationships.
Thank you Cory for all the information you bring to people. I have recently purchased your book, How to Sell Your Art Online, I’m in the middle of reading it, it is very informative and helpful. It’s going to take me sometime to go through it: I consider it to be a good reference book.
Thank you Cory for all your blogs and information. I have made a small amount of money from my art. But not enough to really speak about. To be honest I stumbled onto your website. After reading just a little of your content, I thought I was in Art Heaven. Finally someone who just might be able to help me get out of the “normal work-a-day life” and do what I love.
I am an artist that now has the time to focus on my art full time. After organizing someone else’s time for 34 years I find it very difficult to organize my own. I started making a small amount of money on my art before retiring last year on a part time basis. Focusing on handmade jewelry with my self taught metal smith skills brought a small profit to me over a span of 4 years. I started my “business” 6 years ago. I am now investing in reproductions of my 2D illustrations/art to include in my show circuit and online sales. I am now struggling more than ever with my time management and marketing strategies. I have only read this one article having just recently subscribing to your site. I look forward to investigating your resources further.
I have taught art for many years, mostly drawing and painting in High school and college. I mainly paint large abstracts in oil. I will divide my web site and set up another for representational art. I like to do faces and figures. Hope you can visit my web site as that would help with what you think I should be doing.
You inspired me to make a list of things to do. Not complete, I’m sure. Now I will prioritise that list. Fortunately keep painting is one of the items. So glad to be working with you!!
As far as I know Alexander Calder died in 1976.
I’m not sure what you’re saying. I mentioned Calder because his art inspired my friend’s art.
Thanks Cory,
Yes, there are a ton of choices to make. I’ve been at this now for three years. Throughout this journey, I’ve succumbed to many of the internet distractions as well as a few local distractions. I had to laugh at the comment about predatory galleries because they do exists and do not know much about art. They seem to care only about getting your money for shows and fairs.
It is very noisy and it takes so much time filtering.
But add to that and the fact that I’m still finding my way for my art personally but have come to realize that there is no real arrival, only a constant evolution of ideas and artistic expression.
The resources that your site provides have been quite valuable to me and I appreciate what you are doing. I’ve been on FASO for three years and am ready to do something more feeling like it is not a good fit for my work. However, the idea of moving everything somewhere else is a little overwhelming.
Hi Cory…I’m a very new artist to the blog although I’ve been painting my whole life. My goal is to get my work out to those who appreciate the time and work and expertise it takes to execute a fine painting. I don’t want to be one of those who throw a bucket of paint on a canvas and hope it matches someone’s sofa so that it will sell. I’m wondering what you think of the option of selling originals versus giclee prints? I have recently taken the attitude that I’d rather put a higher price on my art and sell the original instead of a giclee. Your thoughts?
You can make either one work Bob, they’re just different business models with different audiences.
Hi Cory,
First of all it took me few light years to get at the end of the comments so I could write mine. (no honestly, when I realized how many there are I used end key 😀 … anyway …)
I read your article and with no doubt its a word from a wise, but Im looking for more specific help.
I need “professional” people to find buyers for my paintings “for commission” not people like “give me money if someone buy it I say I did it”. I need people who know “interested buyers” for my style, not sites just showing them between few thousand others like a drop of water in ocean.
Im not a new artist I have been doing this for years and even invented my own style of painting but Im new to this market, however for a guy who tried only less than a year and work as IT engineer 10 hours a day I believe this is a good achievement:
https://auctionata.com/en-us/o/198477/pouyan-arephpoor-b-1971-mudraw-industrial-color-2016
Aaaaaaaaaand more importantly I need free minded people who could work with an Iranian artist! Yea some people cant tell difference between me and governments of Iran 😀 and telling me its forbidden for them to deal with Iran… Do I look like Iran’s map or something ?? 😉
By the way thank you for your time I cant write in short I know 😀
Regards,
Pouyan Arephpoor
Hi Cory,
Your post is delightful and many thanks to you for sharing your wisdom with us. I’m finally topping enough confidence to showcase my paintings now. For a while, I was my worse critic. So now, I need all the marketing insight I can get, and your blog has certainly been very helpful. Looking forward to your next email.
Nadege
Hi Cory,
Thank you for showing the guiding light. I am a designer working a full time well paid job with a big brand. but recently i am taking my art more seriously as a part time thing to fill that empty gap in my heart. I am reading about full time artists and honestly TAA is the best place I could find.
I have not yet broken the barrier of my ‘first sale’. although I have started sharing my works on Social media and a very known brand approached me to work with them for a project through instagram. but right after i have agreed to work with them, they have dissappeared without giving me any way to contact them. So i am back to ground zero with no sale yet!
I understand it takes a long time to get ‘there’ and i am willing to walk the path without giving up.
thank you for your constant support.
Nidhi
I make hand quilted wall quilts, stained glass, started in oil painting, watercolor and wood bird carving. My quilts are top quality , and I’ve always thought I could sell them to interior designers, but don’t have a clue how to go about it. ?????
Just finished your book from B&N How to Sell Your Art Online. Loved it. I especially liked the suggested schedule you laid out towards the end of the book. I am re- reading the book and starting to implement your suggestions. Looking forward to your posts ; I just subscribed! I really hope to see results because I feel like I’m often just spinning my wheels!
Thank you!
Thanks Cory! Lots of good information here and on your site. Next on “blazing my trail” is to update my webpage to an e-commerce site. I am trying to decide how to separate my blogging from the selling of my art?
Looking forward to reading more of your good words of being an artist wisdom.