Where to Begin an Art Career
In previous posts I argue the importance for artists to develop their career based on their values and not based on comparisons with other artists and quantitative measures. The values that define you as a person will define you as an artist. You can’t separate those two. That is a start. If you know who you are and what is important to you, then your work and your choices will show it too.
The business of art is full of alternatives and suggestions to consider and choose from. There are so many books and articles on the subject that is overwhelming to consolidate into one cohesive strategy. Even more so when you have two books offering you two completely opposite suggestions and both are the most effective way of doing it. That is choosing only two books randomly. If you add a third book you would have three completely different options of the most effective way of doing it. Getting confused is very easy when so many voices are dictating us what to do and how to do it.
I began my art career four years ago. I like to use the date of my first exhibit as the starting date: September 2010. Everything began moving very fast after that but it began by showing the artwork. The last thing in my mind was to sell the work. Showing it comes first. Sales would come in due time when you show the work. I’m no expert. I keep trying to figure things out and trying new ways to get the artwork in front of people’s eyes. When the artwork is out, the name is out.
Many new and aspiring artists ask where to begin an art career. To answer the question I have to wear my instructional designer’s hat. I can’t offer you an informed suggestion without performing an analysis. It bothers me when someone offers a solution to a problem without knowing the situation, the context, the art, or the artist. Every context is different and every artist is different. What works in one town might not work in the next. Art is subjective. There would be people who love what you do and there would be people who hate it. It is part of the nature of art.
The strategies to begin and run an art career are subjective to the artist and context. To add to the box I suggest showing your work. When? Where? How? Opportunities answer the questions. Opportunities only come when you look for them. Start searching for local shows, local competitions, libraries, events, galleries in your town, or prepare your own show. If you want it you will seek for it.
It seems like everyone in the art world knows if you are successful or not in. Interestingly, there is no specific measure of success. Everyone measures success by comparing someone with someone else. Artists are trying to compare themselves with other artists to determine if they are successful or not. People who claim they can help you be successful are comparing one artist with another, or with some quantitative formula they invented for their own entertainment. There are so many books about how to succeed in the art world seems like we will never read a fraction of them. Measuring success in the art world sounds like people trying to figure out how much of a sinner they are by comparing with the sins of others.
I didn’t want to get involve in the ‘business’ side of art because I didn’t want to stop loving what I do. While I’m definitely prefer to be sculpting all day everyday, I realized that the business side of art is very important, because it allows me to continue creating. I love to network and meet new people, and I also love to teach. As my wife says, “If you were making art alone, you wouldn’t have the chance to meet so many people, you wouldn’t be making all these connections, and you wouldn’t be teaching”. I can do all the other things without neglecting my studio time.