Thursday, January 22, 2009

Career Action

The only way an artist gets somewhere in their art life,
is to do something. The nuts and bolts stuff needed to run a successful art career is basic. Action can get an artist
some traction. The art is the product, selling the art takes action.
Art business skills need to be worked on constantly. Action really matters. Action prevents starving.

Monday, January 5, 2009

A good book

I recently read Seven Days In The Art World. The author is Sarah Thorton. The book is a real page turner , and shows that the blue chip art word is a very fascinating place. I highly recommend this book .

The Trade Magazine Stories

I always wonder when I read about artists in the art magazines, how well they are doing?
I know that selling one's art is not always easy. The magazines seem to give the impression that painters and sculptors are
raking in the money. On my side of things, it's mostly uphill to support my art habit, I do it with a great deal of constant effort.
It just seems that the magazines give a false impression about many artists and their financial success.
I happen to know several artists and I know the struggle to pay all bills with art sales ain't easy.
The magazines report big money being paid for works by, lets say, some blue collar artists. My thought is, it's not what you make but what you get to keep on the money side.
There is one art publication that always shows wonderful art studios that artists have built.
My first thought is, I wonder if those artists have paid for those studios?
Often the trade magazines don't mention the business part of an artists career. Making money as an artist is not a crime.
Bills have too be paid.
Just an observation about some of the magazines.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Recession Is a Lesson

I think that the recesson is a good lesson on how to have the nerve to survive as an
artist. The USA Artists website mentions that 96% of the public tolerates artists.
26% values artists.
This my editing of the information on the site. Close enough.
The recession is just a reminder that artists have to hustle for their success, everyday. Real artists will survive the recession of 2009, just fine.
The lesson is to have an art life no matter what happens.