The Cheshire Cat scene from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland has always struck me as particularly profound.
“I just wanted to ask you which way I ought to go,” says Alice. “Well, that depends on where you want to get to,” responds the Cheshire Cat.
“It really doesn’t matter…” she replies and the Cat interrupts her, “Then it really doesn’t matter which way you go.”
If you could wave a magic wand and go any direction or create any kind of life for yourself, what would it look like?
This is a question I often ask artists when they tell me they want to make a change. Perhaps you want to quit your day job, spend more time with family or receive recognition from galleries and the formal world of museums and academia.
Perhaps you have a message that you want the world to know about?
Whatever it is, I have a suggestion for you.
Dream big.
Take a moment for yourself and capture what you want your ideal life to look like. Paint, sculpt, write or record it.
Get as detailed as possible. What do you do when you wake up in the morning? What kind of breakfast? Where do you live, and in what kind of living situation? How much time do you spend making art and what kind of art are you making?
Before I can tell you how to get somewhere, you need to at least have an idea of where you want to go. Otherwise it doesn’t matter which direction you head in, right…Alice?
Need a little more direction? Want some more specific help? I do one-on-one work with artists who are focused and serious about their careers. Click here to find out more about it.
Why is it whenever I get into “art selling” blogs, there is always a point where I’m being asked to pay for information or guidance?
If I could afford to pay for information, then I wouldn’t be following half of these blogs.
I’m trying to get help, because I believe in what I do, not because I want to make make my situation harder.
I appreciate the positive sentiments in your blog, but leads like these are a sour reminder of not being able to afford the help I need.
Pach – I appreciate the sentiment. Are you on the mailing list? If you are, there is a free email course that walks you through the basics of how to get your first sales.
Finally, I’ll ask: have you done the work that I suggested on this blog post?
I had this feeling for a long time too. Every time I asked advice, somebody was holding up a hand for money. I have to say that Cory gives out a tremendous amount of free information, so you can get started. There are many things to think about before you even get serious about marketing. Thanks Cory, when I asked you questions years ago, I was not even close to get ready knowing what I really wanted.
I’m new to your site, but had an art career for over 40years and want to get my online sales working. Where do I sign up for this mailing list?
preach
Thank you for this Cory.
This was excellent for me today. I spend a lot of time like Alice asking what should I do next? Where do I want to go? I walk around in circles hemming and hawing until I can take a nap. Catatonic is the word that comes to mind. I know that working on Blog, photos, sales etc is the thing I SHOULD do but it’s the thing that I suck at. Ultimately I go up to my studio to make beads. Today I read this post and it straightened me right up. Although I have a great idea for a bead too.
Thanks
Just want to say that I followed your advice from the intial email where you let us ask you one question. I did it. Created a new website on wordpress as you suggested. In the last three days its received more follows and comments than my old blog which was 8-9 years old did in the last six months of daily blogging. Hope the miracle will continue!! Thanks!! Now to do mailchimp!!
Would you mind telling me what your question was, Margaret ?
I signed up for and keep getting the “free” lessons. But when I follow the link in the lesson all I see are Members Only options. How do I open an account to see the free lessons?
Thanks,
Joyce
i thought this was wonderful, and can be used if trying to change your life in any sort of way. In my case, we’re trying to change ALOT and we wrote our goals down, but they weren’t as detailed, therefore they aren’t as powerful of a reminder. I’m going to do this exercise this afternoon.
Pach Cory does not work for free. He has a business, so he sells a product to earn a living. Just as you won’t give away your artwork just because someone reads your art blog. He does give away some information, but eventually he will need to pay for food! Thank you Cory for the info!
I’ve done this exercise before and know what I want very well. That isn’t enough to get there. I know how to make a website and that isn’t enough either. There seems to be something I’m not getting, and I just don’t know what it is. I search for my materials diligently and make my pieces with passion. But I don’t know how to share that part of me with the world. Obviously. So, I shut down and stopped trying. If you can teach me something different, I’ll be more than happy to listen.
Hi Rebecca – It’s a good start that you know what you want and know the story you want to tell. We have great resources on our website and blog to help you out including our upcoming How to Sell Your Art Online course. Check it out here. How much time did you spend understanding your target audience and marketing your work last time around? That’s vitally important so you know that what you’re doing is resonating with people who want to buy your work, and has to be done every day. Check out our blog for even more great resources to help you out.
I seem to only have one issue, I don’t know what art I should focus on. I make a lot of different types of art and most depends on my mood, sometimes I paint (with Ink mostly), sometimes I draw, sometimes I make online animations or even small phone apps! I can’t seem to make up my mind on what I want to make and focus on…. I’m just in general a confused person. How did You find what it is you wanted to focus on?
I have been an artist for many years. I have tried art shows and never made much money but spent a lot. I have been in a local gallery and had some good sales at the beginning. Now not so much. I’m not sure what’s going on. I also have a page on Facebook, which gets hits but no sales. I just started posting on Instagram. I would like to pursue online sales but don’t know how to start.
Hi Cory – Thank you for the platform you have provided.
I am not a scholar of Art, but i have been painting and sketching for as long as i can remember, what can i do to get my artwork out there and where do i start.
Thanking you in advance.
Lerato
I think that this is great information because I was looking at your list of where to sell my art and it caught my attention. I am planning to start selling my art online and this will be great.
This really is a tough question. I see myself painting and packing and shipping art….but to whom? Where? Why? I don’t know whether to persue museum shows, biennials, and fairs that require a “voice” or “statement”. Or to simply go commercial and persue selling prints in home decor stores and big box stores, and general commissions along with teaching workshops and classes? Can I do it all? Should I do it all? Will it last until retirement? Gasp….
Hi Cory, i am in the same situation as Lerato……… lots of talent but no experience in selling……… have been in the advertising industry as an accomplished illustrator forever but now seeking to make it happen in the print business if possible or selling my originals.
Regards
Alexander