Want to Become a Professional Visual Artist? Here are the 8 Rules You Need to Live By.
Being an artist, owning an art gallery in Los Angeles, and
working for the world's largest fine art instruction
program have taught me a few things about what an artist
must do if he or she wishes to make a living as an artist.
The following rules are addressed to becoming a
professional fine artist working in the medium of paint.
However these tips can really be applied to any medium of
art, whether it be painting, poetry, or music.
I sincerely hope they help with your artistic endeavors!
Rule #1: Know the Fundamentals of Your Art.
For years I played guitar without knowing how to read
music. After learning music theory my music was much better
and I was far more productive.
Before I understood the fundamentals of music I had an
excuse ready when I couldn't make a song go right, I was
too tired, I was having a bad day, or not in the mood.
Since I didn't know the WHY behind what I did when making
music I was never truly causative at making music.
Knowledge has and will always be power. Don't just rely on
natural talent, know the WHY behind what you do in your art.
Take lessons, if you feel you are too far advanced for
lessons, then find a mentor.
Rule #2: You Will Learn How to Market Both You and Your Art.
In my time as an art dealer and gallery owner I have
witnessed this same phenomena time and time again.
Two comparable pieces of art, each created by two different
artists. One sells for $500 and the other for $10,000.
Why?
It always came down to marketing. One artist painted and
displayed work in a gallery as the sole means of promoting.
The other artists would do promotional actions like press
releases highlighting their new work, they had a
professional website, they got interviews with art
magazines, they networked with other artists, art
professionals, and art enthusiasts, they got their work
published in a coffee table books or calendars.
The ways to market your work are endless, the point is, you
are going to have to learn how to market your art and
yourself.
You could always hope that you create such an incredible
work of art that the buzz created just by your painting
will have the public beating down the door with cash in
hand.
However that takes the responsibility of your success out
of your hands and places it into the hands of the public.
When it comes to art, the public can be a very fickle
entity indeed.
Do you want anything fickle in charge of your success?
Rule #3: Do Not Succumb to Fear of Rejection or Failure.
Everyone has heard some variation of the story about the
author who has a closet full of manuscripts that have never
been read by another soul due to fear of rejection.
The same phenomena can happen to visual artists.
Many successful painters still do not view their own work
to be perfect. So if you wait till your work is "perfect"
then you may very well be dead of old age before perfection
happens.
Don't be afraid to get your work out there. People will
love your work, hate your work, see it as mediocre, or see
it as the beginning of a new renaissance.
Taste in art differs widely and you will never win over
everybody.
Rule #4: You Will Pay no Heed to The Critics.
I am not just talking about art critics, but just negative
people in general. A lot people on this planet are
miserable and they like to drag others down with them.
Some are overt in your face, "you'll never be any good." At
least they are easy to spot.
The worst are the ones that give back handed compliments or
deftly slide that needle of criticism into the conversation
by use of passive aggressive means.
'The last piece of yours was much better, I don't mean to
be mean but.., That is very good work for a student, but
there is soooooo much competition out there in the
professional world,' etc etc.
Of course if you called them on it they would profess
innocence, say that you are over reacting, that they were
just kidding. Don't buy it.
If you can, just don't associate with these people, if they
are our family don't talk about your art work with them.
You are an artist because you like to create art, not
because you want to impress your family.
If you have no choice in being around these people just
recognize that they are just lonely unhappy people, and
above all, do not take it personally.
The only critique one should listen to is your professional
drawing or painting instructor.
And be wary of that as well, make sure that at the same
time they are critiquing your work that they are also
showing you how to improve.
Rule #5: Speaking of Art Instructors, You Will Choose a
Good One.
My wife originally came to America as a foreign student
from Canada to study visual art in college.
Her first semester she took beginning drawing and painting
classes.
She came to learn the basics, perspective, tone, shading,
light and shadow, proportions,etc.
Instead she received a lot of airy fairy over significant
mumbo jumbo. The main technique taught was the 'if it feels
good then do it' technique.
No real techniques were taught because the art teachers did
not understand them!
When choosing an art instruction school or studio please
pick one that has a systematic approach to teaching the
fundamentals of drawing and painting.
Interview your art teacher, ask to see their work as well
as their students work.
Ask the potential teacher how they go about teaching the
basics to a new student.
Rule #6: You Must Learn to Sell (or find someone who can
and will)
The odds are, if you work is displayed anywhere where
people can view it someone will come along who likes it,
maybe even love it.
The problem comes in convincing them that they love your
painting more than they love their money.
It really is simple, professionally handle the clients
objectives and continue to interest them in both you and
your work.
If the idea of selling is abhorrent to you, you either have
to call it quits to your dream of being a successful fine
artist, or you have to find someone who can and will sell
for you.
Rule #7. Learn to Harness the Power of the Internet.
Take a look at ebay, type in 'original oil painting' into
its search field. You will see hundreds of paintings from
artists selling their work online.
Type in 'fine artists' into any search engine and you will
find professional websites featuring professional artists.
There are a few websites that even act as an online art
gallery and will display and sell your work online for you
for a cut of the sale.
The internet really is a great way to show off your work,
sell your art, create brand recognition for you as an
artist, and to communicate your work to a large audience.
Rule #8: You Will Not Get Weird About Art and Money.
I know some of you cringe when it comes to selling your art
for money, or that some of these tips might sound a little
too business like, with words like brand recognition,
professional, selling and marketing.
Like it or not, if someone exchanges money for your art you
have entered into the field of business.
When you come to this fork in your career as an artist you
can take one of two paths.
Path one, never sell your art for money, continue to work
at your day job and keep art as a hobby. Perfectly
acceptable. Many people do this across the world and lead
happy lives.
Path two, realize that your art is providing someone with a
product that they will adore for years to come, You created
something original. Nothing in this world is it's exact
duplicate.
For this you will receive money in exchange. This will help
you concentrate on creating more works of art as you may
have to work less hours at a 'real' job. Maybe you will get
to the point of not having to work that 'real' job at all!
Michelangelo was commissioned by the Vatican to do his
work in the Sistine Chapel. He was paid quite handsomely
for it.
He was also commissioned by Florence to create the statue
of David.
Artists can create wonderful enduring works and should
rightfully be exchanged properly with.
Well there you have them, 8 rules you need to live by to
become a professional visual artist.
I sincerely hope that they help and I wish you the best of
luck in how ever you decide to pursue the field of art.
----------------------------------------------------
Eric Hines has worked in the field of art for over a decade
as a musician, art dealer and is currently employed by
Mission Renaissance, the world's largest drawing and
painting instruction program in the world. He is currently
taking art classes to learn to draw and paint, eventually
he will be selling his own art work and not just the works
of others.
For more about learning how to draw and paint art lessons
please visit
http://www.thegluckmethod.com/howtodraw/courses/index.html
