Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am an artist, intent on the goal to one day creat art for money... That one day soon, creating art will be my day job. I am in the medical field now and feel like a caged animal. I am enjoying my new line of drawings done at my desk titled "Parole letters" little still lifes I do that keep my hope hanging on. As far as quotos, Im exceeding them,at my current position, but with no personal satisfaction, I would rather make less money and create art, than be rich doing the 8-5 drudgery

visit my site please...www.jackiegrawe.com

my web page address is www.jackiegrawe.com

Successful artists think about creating art as a business, beyond simply following a passion.  Learn about marketing.  What is your niche?  Who do you think your customers will be?  Ask yourself a lot of questions about the business of art, from your creative process to the financial aspects.  Things will start to come together and you`ll begin forming a vision of how you can create art AND make money.

Hi Jackie,
I`m thinking of Michael Crighton and Michael Palmer, not to mention Robin Cook. All of them are or were MDs, who then went on to become novelists. It seems the best way is to sell your art, make some steady money, THEN leave the day job.

But if you have the way to pay the bills, and you definitely despise your work, it`s better to move toward mental health than continue to pound your head into the wall. Y`know? :-)

CampSteve is a terrific resource for you, as he`s a visual artist like yourself.

I visited the site, and you look like you`re doing a lot of portraits of famous people? That would definitely be a fine niche, but I wonder if it wouldn`t be more a commercial art product than something original and different? Of course if you intend to make money, then commercial is a way to go.

Do you want to be unique and original....or make money from Art?

I agree with Craig - sell your art, make money then quit the job.

Your portraits are great by the way, - and going commercial with these will bring in the money.

 

Zai

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Zai

I like your work. Have you considered doing art fairs? Many small and larger cities in the Detroit area (Birmingham, Ann Arbor, etc.) have art fairs. If such a thing exists in your area you could start there.

Another option is to choose a part of the country where you would like to live (a tourist destination), relocate there and set up a gallery or exhibit in an existing gallery.

Here`s an idea! You`re not too far from Chicago. Do a series of prints about Frank Lloyd Wright and details of Prairie Style architecture. Find out when they will have house tours and go to Oak Park, IL to sell them. You could make a bundle.

You should start a blog about your work, your beliefs, your life. From your brief bio it sounds like you have plenty to write about.


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Art fairs are a great way to get exposure.  I only do one each year which is the big local one in my town.  It tends to jumpstart my career for each summer.  I do fairly well in sales but I do it more for marketing.  I pass out a gazillion business cards and get people to my website which spawns commissions.  Plus, it`s great to meet customers and talk with them.

A lot of artists make art fairs and festivals their full-time job.  I know a few people who live on the road practically all summer going from festival to festival setting up their booths.  They create work in between shows or during the winter "off season".  It`s personally not for me but the romance of travel and meeting people all over the country is certainly a lure for some.

Try a local one where you live.  Get business cards printed.  Show some prints.  Advertise that you do portraits.  Make contacts.  Follow up.  It`s a good way to get some initial exposure and meet other working artists.

You might also put together a promotional kit and send them to music agencies. It`d likely make for a distinctive CD cover having a portrait of their leading artists instead of a photograph. Remember, lots of people made really good money doing "album" covers, back in the 60s. ;-)