Key Messages
How to Become a Successful Artist: Finding Your Voice and Selling Your Work
If you’re an artist and want to be successful, then you have to make sure your artwork works for you.
This means finding your voice and values, learning about marketing and advertising, and being able to sell your work.
Art, Inc.
can help you do just that.
You’ll learn how to find and refine your creative style so it resonates with buyers.
You’ll understand how to launch a product that sells consistently and sustainably, as well as present yourself—and your work—in the best light possible when approaching galleries or collectors.
Overall, Art, Inc.
provides the insights and strategies needed for success in the art world so that you can make sure your art works for you in every way imaginable!
Forget the Starving Artist Myth and Let Your Authentic Art Lead the Way
Aspiring artists shouldn’t pin their hopes on the image of a tortured and struggling artist – someone who has to go through immense hardship and make great personal sacrifice just to create something of value.
Having artistic vision, passion, talent and hard work are more valuable than anything else.
Authenticity is key when it comes to being an artist.
Creating your own unique style and reflecting your life story in your art will prove far more worth it than simply trying to emulate an established painter or teacher’s style.
No one can make truly great art unless they’re authentic – what makes you unique should be highlighted instead of hidden away.
In order to stay inspired, artists should observe their surroundings and take note of everything they experience.
Keeping a journal and writing down any interesting thoughts or observations that come up could become potential sources of inspiration at any time.
Being true to yourself as an artist is the best thing you can do for yourself – forget about trying to copy anyone else’s style!
It’s Not Enough to Be an Artist: You Need to Be an Entrepreneur Too
Being an artist is so much more than just making art; it requires you to create and run a well-run business based on your values.
The first step is to identify what type of artist you want to be and the kind of art you want to make, along with any values that are important to you.
For example, if you want to be an illustrator, consider the materials you need for success and priorities like environmental friendliness.
Once those specifications are in place, the next step is to identify what steps need to be taken in order to achieve your goal.
If the goal is freelance work with big companies, setting up a business name and website will be essential.
Additionally, photographs of your artwork should be high quality as well as have an attention-grabbing bio, which can serve as marketing material.
Finally, taking care of administrative tasks like filing taxes and applying for business permits needs to become second nature.
Not doing so could land your in legal trouble so it’s important not to overlook these duties – though they may come off as tedious – in order for your artistic career dreams really take flight.
The Art of Promotion: How to Use the Internet, Blogging, and Social Media to Promote Your Artwork
If you want to be a successful artist, you can’t just stop at creating art – you need to make sure that you promote your work effectively.
The internet is a great place to start when it comes to promoting yourself as an artist; having a good website with an easily navigable interface and memorable domain name will give people easy access to your work.
Don’t forget about social media either; while it can be dangerous to get lost in the endless sea of posts and updates, these networks can provide an excellent platform for getting your name out there.
If you want to attract the attention of the press, create a well-crafted press kit containing all the relevant information about yourself and your art.
In short, if you want to succeed as an artist, promotion should be just as important – if not more so – than your art itself.
The key is to use smart marketing tactics that both support and showcase your artwork.
So make sure you don’t neglect promotion when trying make a name for yourself!
Gaining Success as an Artist in the Modern World: Leveraging Digital Technology and Knowing Your Options for Reproduction and Selling Artwork
Artists in the modern world are definitely more fortunate than in the past, having access to digital technology which enables them to create and share their art in new ways.
With digital reproduction, you can make copies of your artworks and easily sell them to a wider audience.
But how do you choose which images to replicate, and how should you assess the quality of your prints? Make sure that for the highest-end galleries, printing on archival paper with archival ink will ensure that your work remains valuable over time.
Use the highest quality photographs to market your artwork as well.
When it comes to reproductions or selling your work, it’s important to figure out an asking price for it that covers materials, labor, and other costs related to creation.
If you’re looking for a broader audience be sure explore online retailers such as Etsy, Big Cartel and Shopify or set up your own website.
And when targeting high-end clients directly – consider working with them on commission or selling at fairs/auctions.
How to Become a Gallery Artist: Tips for Showcasing Your Work
Organizing an exhibition is a great way to show your artwork to the world.
Before you take this step, it’s important to make sure that your work is suitable for the kind of gallery you wish to exhibit in – each has their own preferences and direction.
In order to narrow down potential galleries, you could use the internet, ask your local art community or a professor.
In order to present yourself in the best light when going to a gallery with your portfolio, remember to take at least two pieces of artwork and a copy of your CV, including an artist statement about why you created the art.
Don’t forget that replies from galleries may take some time – patience is key!
If you cannot find a gallery that would welcome exhibiting your artwork, there’s nothing stopping you from organizing solo or group exhibitions on your own.
Just make sure that each participating artist gets space to display their work and think about how you want to promote it — printed cards, press releases or online promotion are all possible options here.
How to Succeed in Illustration: Tips for Landing Commercial Art Jobs
For aspiring artists looking to make a career out of their talents, it’s worth looking into the world of illustration.
It can be a highly lucrative field with many opportunities waiting for those who take the plunge.
The first step is to decide which area you wish to specialize in.
There are endless possibilities including wedding invitations, birth announcements, logos, advertisements and more.
Once you’ve chosen your focus, do some research into local jobs that might be available and start applying.
You could also leverage social media or participate in relevant trade shows such as Printsource or Surtex to get your name out there.
Once you’ve landed a job, read through the necessary requirements carefully and ensure that both yourself and your clients know the terms and conditions of use for any work produced.
It’s essential that copyright remains with you as an artist – you’re only granting a lease for specific purposes over a certain duration of time.
Find Balance and Take Breaks to Succeed as an Artist
When it comes to being an artist, there will be times when you feel productive and times when you don’t.
However, it’s important to recognize that both are necessary for growth.
Rather than getting discouraged by these ebbs and flows in productivity, use them as an opportunity to be creative in different ways.
During your productive times, tackle larger projects and focus on expanding your portfolio or skill set.
This is also a great time to make new connections with other people in the art scene.
Portfolios can always benefit from a fresh look or some interesting tutorials or classes you might pick up along the way.
In periods of downtime or unproductivity, take a break; recharge your batteries; and take some self-care time with family and friends.
You could also take on teaching someone else about art—sharing your knowledge can often help rekindle forgotten techniques you may have neglected before now.
Taking control of your organization is also important during this period so that when work starts piling up again, everything runs smoothly with less stress altogether.
Wrap Up
In a nutshell, Art Inc.
gives readers of all levels the tools needed to make a living from their art.
It challenges the myth of the struggling artist and encourages readers to think like entrepreneurs and promote and market their work.
The book provides actionable advice on how to package your art for greatest impact.
Additionally, it stresses the importance of taking initiative and not waiting around for others to take action first—you can create your own exhibitions or find small businesses willing to showcase your artwork in lieu of galleries.
Overall, Art Inc can be used as a tool-kit anyone passionate about art can use to turn their creativity into a career and make lasting change in the world of art.
