What are the most important lessons you have learned about being an artist and selling your work?
Selling your work takes a lot of time! It’s an entirely new area for most artists. You need to get educated about sales, marketing and the business end of art, that’s as important as taking workshops and classes for painting. The second most important thing is learning to find the balance between creating art and running the business side. It’s really important to embrace the business side of your art and approach it with as much enthusiasm and creativity as your artwork.
Are you helping other artists, especially emerging artists, develop their voice?
Visual voice is one of the, if not the most important element in an artist’s work once mastery of the basics is gained. When I teach students, particularly my private students a big part of my job is to help them figure out who they are as an artist, what it is they want to say and how to go about saying it. That is visual voice. It’s a long process and one that requires you understand art history, and your own history. It requires you to delve into your heart and soul. Over the months and years of working with my students I work hard to help them find their authentic voice. On my blog I write about my own process and struggle to find my most authentic visual voice and in sharing my own journey I hope to help others along the way,
If you could pass on one gem of wisdom to other artists, what would it be?
Work hard. I know that sounds trite and cliche, but it’s true. You must believe in yourself down to the very core of your being. If you do you will find the time, the strength and the finances to buy the best supplies you can afford and you will commit to spend time in the studio. You will seek out the best instruction, and plan a path for your success which includes the business end of your art because you value what you do. If you value what you do, others will value it too.
I certainly never would have thought that art and the business of art would be so much work when I started this endeavor.
Unless you are making art for your storage locker or to take up residence under your bed, your continuing ability to create will be directly related to selling or sharing your work. If you can’t support yourself from your art you deny yourself the opportunity to exercise your vision.
I certainly never would have thought that art and the business of art would be so much work when I started this endeavor.
Unless you are making art for your storage locker or to take up residence under your bed, your continuing ability to create will be directly related to selling or sharing your work. If you can’t support yourself from your art you deny yourself the opportunity to exercise your vision.