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My goal with this post is to create a little bit of a discussion via the comment form. Please offer your opinion on this one. If you get this via email just reply and I’ll add you comment to the site.
What I am trying to figure out what is the best way to help the individual independent artist. I am sure most of you know the type of artist I have in mind with this question. The artist that holds down a day job but also spends a fair bit of time in the studio producing work but the work is piling up faster than it is selling. Artists who do not have any type of gallery representation. Artists that feel stuck because they don’t know what to do next. Artists working from a corner of a room in their house, or in the garage, or basement, dreaming of one day turning a corner and being able to make a living full time through their art. What would help those artists the most?
Money is the obvious answer but is it the best answer? I’ve created and awarded artist grants through a prior business before but always wondered if that was the best use of the money. Sure I was able to help one artist at a time but there was always a stack of applications from other artists that I was not able to help. Would more grants for lesser amounts be the answer? More specific grants where an artist asks for certain tools or supplies?
“The arts” get a lot more support than “the artist.” It is important to me as this blog starts to generate revenue that I always give back to the community that supports it. With that in mind I’d like to do what I can to lift up more artists. Or better yet create a community where artists lift each other up. So tell me what do you need? What one thing do you believe would really help your art career? Please let me know in the comments.
Thanks,
P.S. Did you leave you comment?
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I think that there could be more promotion and education aimed at the general public regarding the benefits of owning original art. The more people who can appreciate art the more potential customers.
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I need exposure. I’m a mom, a teacher and artist. I’m confident that I have something unique to offer the art world but I don’t even know how to get the world to see what I have to offer.
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To be honest I haven’t a clue what I need. I have often thought having my own solo showing. However funding for that is non-existent. So I thought social media would be the key. I have a Myspace, Facebook, twitter, youtube, blogspot, my own website, etsy, and I network in Ning communities.
The only sales I’ve gotten were three one of which was due to a typo I made in pricing. lol Its seems as though the only people who follow me are other artist. Which I don’t mind at all. I like networking with people I feel as though I have something in common with. I understand building a fan base takes time.
So again I honestly can’t say what would help other than buyers. I’m not being funny. I follow this one particular artist and I have to admit I could never bring myself to ask how she does it. She doesn’t seem to be that friendly. lol However our style is similar and she has a loyal fan base.
Okay I’m rambling…. my point is I guess I just keep doing what I doing and in time my fan base will come as well.
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I have been thinking about your question and personally, even though financing my art is a very large problem at the moment, what would help the most is an art mentor/coach. Like a business coach/mentor but this would be someone who has experience in the art world that would be willing to share their experience and who I could bounce ideas off when I was stuck or had a problem.
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Dear Daryl,
I have to agree with Scott. Most artists start with the need tocreat art. They have no idea of where they fit in the world of art.
I think that artists who go to art fairs, if they can afford the booth space, will get the most valuable feedback they can use from the art buying public. The artist will learn what sells, how their work is purceived by the public, and what is their nitch.
I believe that before an artist is professional enough to get their art displayed by a gallery, they need to listen to feedback from the public and improve their skill.
Artists who survive economic crises, are obviously producing art that the buying public appreciates and will spend money on. If their work does not sell, they need to look at the art , listen to public comments and produce art that the public will buy, if they want to have a career selling art. That is really the bottom line.
To get exsposure, go to the public and put your work out there. That is how the majority of sucsessful artists have made it in this tough business.
Gimics or trying to fool the public or “educate” the public is futile. I agree with Scott. The art either has merit or not.
Jacquie Vaux
http://www.jacquievauxart.com
http://www.arttopicsblog.com
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