Managing Yourself as an Artist

You are the type of person who brings a brush to canvas and calls it beautiful. Who sweats through minute changes for the perfect photograph, only to Photoshop and edit it even more. To you, your work is a representation of yourself that you want to share with the world.

Congratulations, that's great. So how are you going to pay your rent now?

If you want to be an artist, consider yourself as working freelance; you will certainly have your ups and downs in terms of sales and interest in your work, and you need to prepare yourself financially for it. Making art does not have to be very expensive (although it can be quite costly), and it is time consuming. Most artists (myself included) will take another job, in an art-related field, preferably, that will allow them to use their knowledge and give some freedom to work on the side.

Keep good records of your work; photographs, sketches, and especially signed documents and contracts if your work sells. It is very important long term to be aware of where your art is and how much it is selling for.

Not selling? Be open to the idea of donating pieces to charity auctions. At an auction where the proceeds of the sale of art go to charity, it is nearly guaranteed that someone will purchase your work. So regardless of the fact that you are not directly profiting from it, you will technically have a sale, and your work will be on display where others can see it. On top of that, generally artists that are involved in charity auctions attend the event, which is a perfect opportunity to network and meet potential buyers. Afterwards, make sure that you get a receipt for the final selling price; you can use it as a tax write-off.

Keep business cards on hand always! You can find inexpensive ones on sites like vistaprint.com. Kodakgallery.com is promoting it's "Mommy Cards" which are essentially business cards where nearly the entire front is a photo area; ideal for artists! Promote yourself on sites where you can find an audience; Facebook, Etsy, and make your own website! If you are low on funds, sites like weebly.com offer user friendly sites for free that are easy to maintain.Have a small 4x6" photo album on hand at all times with photos of your work for easy accessibility.

Be aware and ready when opportunities come up. Have your Resume, Artist Statement, and a Short Biography in print and easily accessible on your computer, ready and prepared for a juried show, contest, or a client's personal interest. Keep records of all shows and exhibitions that you enter, and the information and works you've provided. Even if you are rejected, this may be good information when the next year rolls around, and some of the annual shows once again offer their applications; you will be better equipped to understand what certain collectors/judges/galleries are looking for.

Keep in mind being an artist is selling yourself, so you need to present yourself and your work like a business and be professional. And after all this organizing and accounting and documenting...don't forget to make art!