Health & Fitness
How Do Artists Make a Living?
I traveled to Santa Fe with my daughter and while we drank our iced tea in an outdoor restaurant she asked how artists keep from feeling frustrated and giving up when there are so few galleries and the ones (like in Santa Fe) are geared towards successful, proven artists. I replied with my “coaching hat on” that being creative is not always about selling and making a living at art.
Artists initially make art, write poetry, literature, and compose music and dance for the joy and fulfillment of creation. Sure, they need to share their work and that can be done is a variety of ways. Sales are only one part of it. Some artists have day jobs and make art in the evenings, vacations or on weekends. Some teach art. Some run art centers, are directors of non-profits or art organizations. Still others find a way to incorporate their art form into their daily lives in a multitude of ways.
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Some do make a living at art. The artist needs to be focused and committed to production, know their market, be professional in their dealings with galleries and the public and be consistent in quality and style. Many artists, I’ve discovered, see this business/marketing part as too much to handle, and decide somewhere along the way in their career to make art when they can, exhibit in local non-profits, community art centers and small galleries. This is a good way to get known in your community.
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If the desire is to show and sell in big name galleries as in Santa Fe and Laguna Beach or major cities then the commitment of time and energy is larger. The results can also be greater. It’s up to the artist of course to decide on how much of a commitment they want to make to their career. What is your passion, what fits into your life easily? Consider your energy, family, relationships and so on. What are you willing to let go of that keeps you from pursuing an artistic goal? What are willing to change? As with any career decisions, a review of one’s values, concerns, finances and life style are important issues to think about when making these choices.
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