Seven Things Every Artist Should Know

This post is based on the book ART/WORK: Everything You Need to Know (And Do) As You Pursue Your Art Career, by Heather Darcy Bhandari and Jonathan Melber, which arrives in bookstores this week.


In the course of researching ART/WORK, we interviewed 100 arts professionals about their experiences in the art world and their expectations of artists. These are some of the most common customs, perspectives and recommendations that we found. The most important piece of advice, of course, was to constantly make your work. Nothing on this list matters more than the quality of your art and your commitment to making it. But if you're pursuing a career as an artist--or even just considering one--there are quite a few things to keep in mind as you make your work:

1. Every artist has a day job.
Most artists cannot live off their art--even relatively successful artists in New York or L.A. So don't feel like you're doing something wrong if you can't make ends meet without a day job. The key is to define yourself as an artist. What you do for rent is just that. It's not who you are.


2. Residencies are good for your health.
Applying to residencies is a critical component to a career as a visual artist. Some are hands-on, with career mentoring or technical instruction; some are totally independent without much in the way of communal activities or guidance. They are literally all over the world, and are a fantastic way to connect with other artists, curators and teachers--not to mention save money on rent.

The application process itself is worthwhile. It forces you to think deeply about your work and goals. And it puts your work in front of curators and gallerists who sit on the selection committees, and who may keep you in mind for other projects and shows in the future (regardless of whether you get into that particular residency).

A few places to start your search:
artistcommunities.org
resartis.org
transartists.org
nyfa.org


3. NO BLIND SUBMISSIONS!
Every Saturday you can go to Chelsea and see people hauling around their portfolios, cold-calling on galleries. This is a terrible idea. It tells the gallerist that you don't respect his or her time and that you don't seem to care where you show. You should be very familiar with a gallery's program, and be able to explain why you fit into it, before you approach the gallerist about considering your work. And given that galleries don't decide to bring on new artists lightly, the last thing you want to do is insist on a snap judgment because you happen to be in the neighborhood.


4. Write stuff down.
Paperwork sucks. But staying on top of it will make your life easier and save you time in the long run, which means more time to make art.

There are some basic items to track just for yourself. Make a detailed inventory list for every work, a list of contacts, and a chart of art-related expenses and any income from art sales.
There are also arrangements between you and other people that you should write down: When you sell work, make an invoice and keep a copy for yourself; when you consign work to a gallery, use a consignment form; when you do a commission, use a commission agreement.


5. The Internet is all the rage.
You need a website. (Or a blog, or some sort of online space.) Everyone expects you to have one: gallerists, curators, critics, art bloggers, other artists. It doesn't need to be fancy or expensive, but it should have images of your work, a copy of your cv and your contact information. Ideally, the design of the site should reflect the kind of art you make or the kind of artist you are.

Also, think of it as a retrospective you're curating, rather than an exhaustive encyclopedia entry. Present your work in a coherent order (or total disorder, if that's what your art is about), separate different bodies of work and don't feel compelled to upload everything you've ever made.


6. Rejection: It's not you, it's them.
The odds of landing a residency, getting a grant or finding gallery representation are daunting. Popular programs may accept as little as 1.5% of their applicants each year. And even before the economic crisis, commercial galleries couldn't possibly absorb all the artists who came out of school.

Which is all to say that you shouldn't take it personally if you don't get into your dream residency or favorite gallery. With those kinds of numbers, you can be sure that the decision doesn't turn solely on the quality of your work. There are many other factors that go into committee selections, such as how many other applicants do work similar to yours, or come from the same city. Likewise, a gallerist may love your work but not have the collector base to support it.


7. There's more to life than commercial galleries.
Commercial galleries are a prominent part of the art world, but there are many other ways to show your work: non-profits, collaboratives, artist-run spaces, online galleries, artist-run fairs, cafes, restaurants, retail spaces, books, zines, podcasts, project-specific websites, libraries, botanical gardens, hospitals, science centers--really, anywhere you can think of.
Only you can know where your work fits best, which depends of course on its content, the context you want it to be shown in, and the kind of audience you seek. Let your art dictate where it should be shown, rather than conforming it to a preconceived venue.

More tips at ART/WORK: Everything You Need to Know (And Do) As You Pursue Your Art Career.

Comments

[LarryR]

"Every artist has a day job. The key is to define yourself as an artist. What you do for rent is just that. It's not who you are."

Besides being false (there really are professional artists) I think it devalues the word to attach the artist addendum to every pursuit with no regard for achievement. Artists are the only profession I can think of that encourages this practice. Certainly doctors, lawyers, licensed plumbers and electricians discourage and or even prohibit amateurs from claiming to be members of their field. The overuse and misuse of the word have made it a euphemism for unemployed or frivolous and usually elicits an eye roll.

[Jonathan Melber - Huffpost Blogger]

LarryR: your points are well taken. "Every artist" is of course an exaggeration. There are some artists who can live from the sales of their work. And in general there are good reasons to draw a line between professionals and amateurs. But if you sell work at a gallery, isn't that professional? Or do you only get to call yourself "professional" if you sell enough to live off your sales? Because if it's the latter, then most of the emerging artists who show in reputable galleries in Chelsea and the Lower East Side, for example, would not be able to call themselves artists. And what about non-commercial work? Are people who only show at non-profit venues not allowed to call themselves artists?

[poorpearl]

I am familiar with most of your suggestions, so in that sense it's not news. But what makes it really noteworthy is the location: the home page of huffpost. Now that was interesting. I have had a website for some years and also myartspace. facebook is also a way to connect. Building a community is helpful. And loving what you do is essential: I'm lucky in that I happen to love both the painting and the psychoanalytic practice that I have. Congratulations on your new book.

www.juliaschwartzart.com

[jsanti7]

I liked the article. It rings with experiences that are common for a lot of my artist friends own experiences and the advice seem to be given in true sincerely. Coming from the Santa Fe ,Taos area points 1, 3 and 6 are so applicable to this area ...thanks 4 this well written article

[mommadona]

VERY well stated.

Good info.

[anechoic]

I think the secret is to appeal to the masses and public taste.
Some suggestions: Paint water color or pallet knife paintings of boats in a harbor or clown portraits or kittens playing with a ball of yarn. Visit as many small town art fairs as you can and soak in the work!
Show your work at old age fnord homes and town art fairs.
Get written up in your local newspaper.
These things will help create a path to success for any aspiring artist.

[rucognizant]

"I think the secret is to appeal to the masses and public taste."
But first, there is a need to elevate the taste of the masses.
AS WELL AS REVERSE THE INCOME GAP!
Before 1990....... ART WAS MY DAY JOB! Ordinary people had money to spend on Art and were able to respond emotionally to a painting that appealed to them And BUY IT.
Since, the public vision has been so muddied and confused, INTENTIONALLY, by the great R W smear machine, in order to promote THEIR AGENDA., it is difficult for people to see truth clearly.
Today, those who can see clearly; are the least likely to have money to buy artwork. This has led to a lot of this fakey cartoony, surface art, no more true than botox treatments, and as superficial.
In other (more primative) civilizations the artists were the LEADERS, the Knowing ones.....who educated & influenced the rest of the group. Who had the prescience and vision, resulting from long hours spent in the right brain hemisphere. Today.............. we are a left brain hemisphere oriented society; ( counting money is a LBH activity) and the majority haven't a clue about the other hemisphere. ( Including the Yale Grad. Art Professor I had in college who went there once when he was a student and kept referring to the joy of that moment.) I was priviledged to have spent every day there while earning a living as well, for almost 30 years.....­..........­..

[anechoic]

you obviously missed the 'fnord' in my post

[the-lexicon]

Don't forget horse and pet portraits.

If it will fit on a diner placemat, then it will sell.

lexicon

[MAragon]

If it weren't for the internet, no one would see anything I have painted or know that I've written novels. The internet is THE WAY to go for artists, since getting into galleries or shows is difficult, especially, if like me, you didn't come out of an art school, but are self taught.

[Lee Andrew]

Great article.

[artistatlarge]

Great, simple advice for emerging artists and great reminders for the rest of us.

I create small, simple web sites for artists and am astounded, still, at how many artists just don't understand the value of having a portfolio site. Or participating in directories, or networking online. I think the internet and the web is one of the greatest tools for modern day artists ever invented.

[fleaba]

This is a great article and so unique to find it on the front page of the post. Very appropriate to my life. Just started a blog and posted artwork. Good advice for everyone.

[fleaba]

I'm glad to see this on the huffingtonpost !!! Great info.
I just did my art blog on gwencooper­studio.blo­gspot
I would love to get comments regarding other people's experiences about how being actively creative in a project puts fear and chaos at bay.

[TracySLC]

You do beautiful work, I like your use of color and how you connect with nature. I think you are right, when you are working, it does help to quell fear and doubt. Creating art (in any form) is very therapeutic and for some even cathartic.

[TracySLC]

I think this is WONDERFUL advice for any artist, and there certainly is more to life for an artist than to market their wares only to galleries. There's also more than one type of artist other than a "Sunday Painter".
The doll arts is a small field, but it encompasses a tremendous talent pool of artists who sculpt, costume, paint anything from realistic, narrative figures, to fantasy figures. They'll often market their work through magazines, doll shows, and websites.
As for "day jobs", working in the arts commercially, can certainly bring in a healthy paycheck, and it's not a bad gig being paid to design or illustrate. I think it's a shame that in the art world Illustrators and Graphic Designers sometimes aren't considered to be legitimate artists. Commercial art is a great field, and it requires every bit as much creativity and discipline as the "Fine Arts".

[ProudLiberalDan]

As an actor and writer, rather than a visual artist, I think you give some great advice that applies to all visual and performing artists.

[LetterLover]

Here! Here! I am a writer and took away a great deal from this piece. We creative types have to stick together and continually inspire each other. Keep up the good work everyone.

[tomas0808]

8. Chop off your leg.

Collect a disability check and you will have all the time you want to pursue whatever artistic discipline you choose

[MSheppard]

I think you're on to something here.

[RightWingMarine]

really now that's not necassary.