Friday, June 23, 2006

Selling your art

The great majority of professional artists didn't choose to become artists because everybody was telling them that that field was lucrative.

Chances are that you became a professional artist because:
  • You love creating art
  • You are passionate about expressing yourself
  • You don't want to be bound by a 9 to 5 job that doesn't give you any freedom or personal satisfaction
  • You want to be your own boss
  • You majored in art creation and naturally wish to pursue this path
  • Art is the only thing you are talented at
  • Creating your work is vital to your survival

These are great values, aspirations & goals. But in order to pursue them, you must also be able to satisfy you basic needs (like eating, having a place to live, having clothes to wear, etc...). To satisfy these needs costs money.
"I'm not doing this for the money. Thinking about selling my work dries up my creative juices and deforms the true expression of my work!"
Just because there has been some romanticism about the "starving artist" doesn't mean that's the only way to live as one. People like to say that while Van Gogh lived poor and became insane, he was a true artist, and this was recognised because his art is worth millions decades after his death. I would like to remind you that Picasso decided that after death was too late and made a ton of money off his work while he was still alive!

Whichever artist's story you like most, tell yourself one thing: both of these guy's paintings have been sold for millions of dollars. And to have someone buy you work, you have to want to sell it... (Or, like Vermeer, find a relative or someone you can trust to help you sell it for you.)

Moral of the story: Even though your artwork might be infused with your soul and figuratively represents the infinite nature of the universe, no one will buy it or even know about it if you don't get it out there!

Part 2 coming soon...

Brad @ Sparkio.com: Simple, Stylish & Affordable Online Portfolios