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Artists are Entrepreneurs

Carolyn Edlund

Blog #104 of 226

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July 17th, 2014 - 09:30 AM

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Artists are Entrepreneurs

Photographer and guest blogger Pamela Viola shares her experience with the realities of being in business as an artist, including the hard work involved and the ultimate rewards.

I know. You’re an artist. All you want to do is be creative and make your art. If you want art to be your career and pay your bills, you will have to do many things other than create artwork. First, you must realize that not only are you an artist, but also an entrepreneur and a small business owner. There are no one size fits all instructions for building a flourishing art business so instead of providing you with a checklist, I’ll describe my own experience.

As briefly as possible, I’d like to set the stage with a bit of my history. I don’t have an academic degree in art. When I graduated from college in the mid-1980’s, I lived in New York City and attempted to make a living as a fine art photographer. I was exhibiting in group shows, got a couple of grants, but I wasn’t earning much money.

Quickly I moved on to “Plan B”, a 15-year career in film and television production. During that time, I was too busy to make much art. Ten years into that work, I realized how much I missed being creative and knew I needed to find my way back. It took a while, but five years ago I became a full-time professional artist earning my living solely through sales of my work. I am convinced the internet made it possible.

I will tell you this up front. I spend at least 50% of my time researching new clients and opportunities, marketing and doing administrative work for my art business. Of course without the art there is no business, so that is priority number one. My recommendation is that you make art at the beginning of your day, before looking at email or going off to your “day job” if you have one. It’s too easy to get bogged down with tasks and emotionally drained if you wait until sometime later in the day.

A couple of years ago I told this to a young artist who worked in a gallery that represents me. Several months later he said he was getting up an hour earlier every day to make art. This month he has his first solo exhibit.

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Diane Palmer

9 Years Ago

Orangeville, ON

You are so right about creating your art first thing before any interruptions disrupt your energy. I try very hard to follow this, not easy but it does work.

Bill Swartwout

9 Years Ago

Fenwick Island, DE

Some interesting insights into the running of a business. I left a comment on the actual blog post.

Bill Swartwout

9 Years Ago

Fenwick Island, DE

Some interesting insights into the running of a business. I left a comment on the actual blog post.