I interrupt my series on "The Days and Weeks of a Full Time Artist," to tell you that tomorrow officially begins the 6 month art show season. In a few hours, I will be leaving home and heading for my travel trailer in Leavenworth. For the first five weekends of this year's season, I will be doing the Art-in-the-Park show in that beautiful city in the Cascade Mountains.
While far being on of the busiest shows on my schedule this year, Leavenworth offers an excellent place to "tune up" my displays and presentations. Plus it gives me a chance to live in a beautiful mountain environment and see old friends again.
I learned much last year from my artist friends in Leavenworth as I broke into the business. You couldn't image a more friendlier and helpful group of people. They were very important to my success as they gave me invaluable tips and advice on my new life style. While I won't be doing as many shows there I as I did last year, I will be opening and closing my year there as the last three weeks of the season will also be there. In addition, I also have a couple of open dates between other shows that I will probably spend in Leavenworth during the summer.
Two days ago, a transported my travel trailer up to the same place where I had it last year. Through one of my artist friends, I was fortunate to find a local resident who has several acres out on Icicle Road who let me put my trailer on his property and charges me a very nominal rent. It is a beautiful wooded spot well off the main road and backed up against the mountains...very quiet and peaceful. I do enjoy my time up there so much.
My son Eric is promising to come over this weekend for a day during the show and stay with me. Also Susan is coming up Sunday afternoon to help me break down and spend the night up in the mountains before we both head back home early Monday morning.
As for writing my two blogs, I will continue to do so, but posting them on the Net and sending out the e-mail to regular subscribers may prove to be a problem as I need an Internet connection. I do try to stay in hotels with a wireless Internet connection, but I am not always lucky. My place in Leavenworth does not have any kind of Internet connection, so when I am there for three or four days, you may not hear from me. But I will keep writing while I am there and get them on the Net when I can.
If you would like to see my art show schedule, it is posted on my web site. It is not complete yet as I haven't been officially accepted yet for several shows and I don't post them until I have the official acceptance letter in hand. So, you need to keep checking back occasionally.
It is going to be a busier year for me as I travel to four different states to display and sell my art. In many ways, I consider it a success already as, so far, I have been accepted into 6 major shows with, hopefully, more acceptances coming.
I hope sometime during the next six months that you can come to one of my shows and say hello.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
The Days and Weeks of a Full Time Artist - Part 3
When I started writing this series on becoming a full time artist, I didn't actually intend it to be a primer for artists who are thinking about making a living from it. It just sort of took on a life of its own as I began writing it. And I am glad it turned out this way as it may be helpful for someone thinking about making this kind of life change.
In reading the last two installments, my wife Susan said asked me if I was worried about people thinking that I was whining. If you are thinking that, banish that thought from your mind. I have never been happier in my life than I am now, helped along, I'm sure, because I am experiencing some success. It is a good life for me and I can't envision doing anything else. And I think the previous 58 years have prepared me well for what I hope is the last career in my life.
There are a lot of insecurities in play as you wonder if your work will be accepted by the public and if you can make a living at it. But, most of us live with insecurities these days.
But let's get back to art shows and jurying. To be accepted for an art show, you and your work must be accepted by a panel of jurors. In the bigger shows, that panel changes every year. And each show is unique in its requirements. And each requires some thought on your part on how to enter. You just sort of learn as you go on this. Even smaller shows will require you to submit samples of your work before you are accepted.
Most shows require a long lead time for entry. For instance, the Edmonds Art Festival, held in mid-June, requires all entries to be in by January 7. The Boise Art Festival in September has and entry deadline of March 31. All shows require at least 2-7 months.
As mentioned above, each show has different requirements. Many shows, especially the bigger, more prestigious shows, require slides of your work for jurying...anywhere from 4-8 slides. And the quality of your slides is very important. Some will accept photographs, while others are now accepting digital prints on a CD.
Almost all shows require one photo or slide of your display tent. This could be a problem for a new artist who hasn't even purchased a tent yet. But, without this picture, you might as well not enter. For my first year, I set up a tent in my front yard, complete with artworks displayed inside. It seemed to have worked. During my first year, my display underwent many changes, and at the end of the year, I took several pictures of it for next year's entry.
Jurying can be very frustrating and depressing, and it can be very uplifting. It is something you have to do every year, even for shows that you were accepted for the previous year. That also makes it a little terrifying as you are asking people you will never see or know to make a judgment on your work and, in a sense, on your life. And you have to do it over and over again.
You also have to learn not to take the rejections personally, even though your first reaction is one of depression, followed by anger. Jurors are human beings with their own stengths and flaws. One friend who has been accepted by a major show for five straight years, has now been rejected two years in a row for the same show. Go figure.
This year alone, I was rejected by one of the most insignificant shows imaginable in a small town, but was accepted by one of the most prestigious shows on the west coast as well as several other major shows. But, I was also rejected by a good show here in Washington, two years in a row. It is hard to figure why, especially as the judges see the exact same artworks.
But, while you can't take it personally, is still affects your income and your life. Not all shows are equal, so if you are accepted in smaller shows but rejected for larger shows, your income will suffer. Last year, I did a major show where I sold 48 pieces of my work in two days. The next week, I did a smaller show and sold only five pieces in four days.
A good friend of mine has been a full time artist for over 25 years. His work is excellent and sells very well. He has participated in many major shows over the years and done very well. But he has finally tired of the insecurities that come with depending on jurors year after year. He finally opened his own gallery this year and it has started out well.
In the next installment, I will talk about galleries, both your own and those owned by others. Is that a good way to go if you are an artist?
In reading the last two installments, my wife Susan said asked me if I was worried about people thinking that I was whining. If you are thinking that, banish that thought from your mind. I have never been happier in my life than I am now, helped along, I'm sure, because I am experiencing some success. It is a good life for me and I can't envision doing anything else. And I think the previous 58 years have prepared me well for what I hope is the last career in my life.
There are a lot of insecurities in play as you wonder if your work will be accepted by the public and if you can make a living at it. But, most of us live with insecurities these days.
But let's get back to art shows and jurying. To be accepted for an art show, you and your work must be accepted by a panel of jurors. In the bigger shows, that panel changes every year. And each show is unique in its requirements. And each requires some thought on your part on how to enter. You just sort of learn as you go on this. Even smaller shows will require you to submit samples of your work before you are accepted.
Most shows require a long lead time for entry. For instance, the Edmonds Art Festival, held in mid-June, requires all entries to be in by January 7. The Boise Art Festival in September has and entry deadline of March 31. All shows require at least 2-7 months.
As mentioned above, each show has different requirements. Many shows, especially the bigger, more prestigious shows, require slides of your work for jurying...anywhere from 4-8 slides. And the quality of your slides is very important. Some will accept photographs, while others are now accepting digital prints on a CD.
Almost all shows require one photo or slide of your display tent. This could be a problem for a new artist who hasn't even purchased a tent yet. But, without this picture, you might as well not enter. For my first year, I set up a tent in my front yard, complete with artworks displayed inside. It seemed to have worked. During my first year, my display underwent many changes, and at the end of the year, I took several pictures of it for next year's entry.
Jurying can be very frustrating and depressing, and it can be very uplifting. It is something you have to do every year, even for shows that you were accepted for the previous year. That also makes it a little terrifying as you are asking people you will never see or know to make a judgment on your work and, in a sense, on your life. And you have to do it over and over again.
You also have to learn not to take the rejections personally, even though your first reaction is one of depression, followed by anger. Jurors are human beings with their own stengths and flaws. One friend who has been accepted by a major show for five straight years, has now been rejected two years in a row for the same show. Go figure.
This year alone, I was rejected by one of the most insignificant shows imaginable in a small town, but was accepted by one of the most prestigious shows on the west coast as well as several other major shows. But, I was also rejected by a good show here in Washington, two years in a row. It is hard to figure why, especially as the judges see the exact same artworks.
But, while you can't take it personally, is still affects your income and your life. Not all shows are equal, so if you are accepted in smaller shows but rejected for larger shows, your income will suffer. Last year, I did a major show where I sold 48 pieces of my work in two days. The next week, I did a smaller show and sold only five pieces in four days.
A good friend of mine has been a full time artist for over 25 years. His work is excellent and sells very well. He has participated in many major shows over the years and done very well. But he has finally tired of the insecurities that come with depending on jurors year after year. He finally opened his own gallery this year and it has started out well.
In the next installment, I will talk about galleries, both your own and those owned by others. Is that a good way to go if you are an artist?
Sunday, April 24, 2005
The Days and Weeks of a Full Time Artist - Part 2
Ok. You have made the decision to become a full time artist. Let's go for it!! The first thing you have to learn is the very hard truth that about 10% of your time will be used in creating new art. The remaining 90% will be spent running your art business.
Surprised? You shouldn't be. Selling any kind of product requires being in business, which requires you to spend part of your time being a business person. The books have to be maintained, sales tax has to be collected and paid, licenses must be obtained, reports have to be filled out for state and federal agencies, profit and loss statements must constantly be monitored to see if your head is above water...well you get the idea. When starting out, you really need a written business plan, at least for yourself, that outlines all of these details just so you don't forget them.
Then comes the sales and marketing part. Deciding how your art is going to be sold, who to sell it to, how and when to sell it, how to market yourself and get your name out there and how to collect names of customers who buy your art for possible future sales. All these and much more require a marketing plan to be written and updated, again, again for your own needs. You should also read some books on how to promote yourself.
Then there is the technical part that ties into marketing. I'll just focus on 2D art for this part as it is what I know best. Besides creating the art, you need to think about making reprints of the originals, frames for both the originals and various size reprints, cutting mats for paper reprints, backing boards, plastic bags, wiring frames for hanging, protective sprays, stretching canvas for originals and canvas reprints, and more.
See what I mean? 10% creating...90% running a business. Even my short experiences as a full time artist has proven this to be true. It is so wonderful when that 10% time comes along. There is nothing better than shutting out the world and creating something new.
But let's cut to the chase and assume that you know how to run a business and you know all about the technical parts like matting and framing. Now, we need to focus on how and where to sell your works. In other words, sales and marketing.
Boiling it all down to basics, there are three places to sell your works: The Internet, festivals and galleries.
First, the Internet. This takes a bit of work to get up and keep going as you are trying to market both yourself and your art works. So you need to keep it updated all the time with new works, new appearance schedules, articles, and more. You also need a secure way to collect money on the Net when you make a sale. I will just cut to the chase on this one and say while you really need to have an Internet site, it isn't going to do much good until people get to know you and your works. Then it will come in very useful as your fame starts to pick up steam. Just don't leave it until then as web sites take time to put together.
Next comes festivals. This is where you need to concentrate most of your time when starting out and even when you become more well known. Art festivals, and other kinds of festivals occur all year long, but the best ones for an artist are those that run between May and September. And there are hundreds and hundreds of them all over the country.
These are almost all outdoor shows. Be aware that there are different kinds of festivals and shows. There are the pure art shows (like Salem Art Festival, the Richland Allied Arts Sale, and the Shoreline Arts Festival); the art shows mixed with another theme (like art and wine festivals or art and jazz festivals); and art shows that occur in tourist towns (like Leavenworth and Lake Chelan here in Eastern Washington).
Then there are shows that are part of some bigger event like county fairs...the Apple Blossom Festival, Ephrata's Sage and Sun, and the Edmonds Waterfront Festival. Finally, there are the Christmas shows that occur in Nov. and Dec.
My advise to new artists, based on experience, is to stay away from the latter two types. Christmas shows are expensive and people tend not to buy art as gifts for other people as they are not sure if they will like it. I have had sales at Christmas, but it usually comes from relatives and friends who know that the person they are gifting really loves my work.
The other shows like county fairs and town festivals are usually (but not always) pretty bad for artists. Its the mostly the wrong kind of crowd for artists that come to these shows and they are coming mostly for the wrong reasons, as far as you are concerned. They are there for carnival rides, the food and other things not related to art.
Another good reason to stay away is that many of these shows are very expensive to do. Oh yes, I think I forgot to mention that all these shows cost money to be in. Many shows, like Apple Blossom Festival, bring in thousands of people (hence a large show fee), but most of them are not the least bit interested in buying your work
No, the kind of shows that you want are ones that are almost strictly related to art. In others words, the kind of shows where people are coming to primarily look and buy art. The only catch here is that all these shows require jurying. What's that, you say?
I will explain that in the next episode.
Surprised? You shouldn't be. Selling any kind of product requires being in business, which requires you to spend part of your time being a business person. The books have to be maintained, sales tax has to be collected and paid, licenses must be obtained, reports have to be filled out for state and federal agencies, profit and loss statements must constantly be monitored to see if your head is above water...well you get the idea. When starting out, you really need a written business plan, at least for yourself, that outlines all of these details just so you don't forget them.
Then comes the sales and marketing part. Deciding how your art is going to be sold, who to sell it to, how and when to sell it, how to market yourself and get your name out there and how to collect names of customers who buy your art for possible future sales. All these and much more require a marketing plan to be written and updated, again, again for your own needs. You should also read some books on how to promote yourself.
Then there is the technical part that ties into marketing. I'll just focus on 2D art for this part as it is what I know best. Besides creating the art, you need to think about making reprints of the originals, frames for both the originals and various size reprints, cutting mats for paper reprints, backing boards, plastic bags, wiring frames for hanging, protective sprays, stretching canvas for originals and canvas reprints, and more.
See what I mean? 10% creating...90% running a business. Even my short experiences as a full time artist has proven this to be true. It is so wonderful when that 10% time comes along. There is nothing better than shutting out the world and creating something new.
But let's cut to the chase and assume that you know how to run a business and you know all about the technical parts like matting and framing. Now, we need to focus on how and where to sell your works. In other words, sales and marketing.
Boiling it all down to basics, there are three places to sell your works: The Internet, festivals and galleries.
First, the Internet. This takes a bit of work to get up and keep going as you are trying to market both yourself and your art works. So you need to keep it updated all the time with new works, new appearance schedules, articles, and more. You also need a secure way to collect money on the Net when you make a sale. I will just cut to the chase on this one and say while you really need to have an Internet site, it isn't going to do much good until people get to know you and your works. Then it will come in very useful as your fame starts to pick up steam. Just don't leave it until then as web sites take time to put together.
Next comes festivals. This is where you need to concentrate most of your time when starting out and even when you become more well known. Art festivals, and other kinds of festivals occur all year long, but the best ones for an artist are those that run between May and September. And there are hundreds and hundreds of them all over the country.
These are almost all outdoor shows. Be aware that there are different kinds of festivals and shows. There are the pure art shows (like Salem Art Festival, the Richland Allied Arts Sale, and the Shoreline Arts Festival); the art shows mixed with another theme (like art and wine festivals or art and jazz festivals); and art shows that occur in tourist towns (like Leavenworth and Lake Chelan here in Eastern Washington).
Then there are shows that are part of some bigger event like county fairs...the Apple Blossom Festival, Ephrata's Sage and Sun, and the Edmonds Waterfront Festival. Finally, there are the Christmas shows that occur in Nov. and Dec.
My advise to new artists, based on experience, is to stay away from the latter two types. Christmas shows are expensive and people tend not to buy art as gifts for other people as they are not sure if they will like it. I have had sales at Christmas, but it usually comes from relatives and friends who know that the person they are gifting really loves my work.
The other shows like county fairs and town festivals are usually (but not always) pretty bad for artists. Its the mostly the wrong kind of crowd for artists that come to these shows and they are coming mostly for the wrong reasons, as far as you are concerned. They are there for carnival rides, the food and other things not related to art.
Another good reason to stay away is that many of these shows are very expensive to do. Oh yes, I think I forgot to mention that all these shows cost money to be in. Many shows, like Apple Blossom Festival, bring in thousands of people (hence a large show fee), but most of them are not the least bit interested in buying your work
No, the kind of shows that you want are ones that are almost strictly related to art. In others words, the kind of shows where people are coming to primarily look and buy art. The only catch here is that all these shows require jurying. What's that, you say?
I will explain that in the next episode.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
The Days and Weeks of a Full Time Artist
Almost everyone should make an effort to be an artist. Whether it be in photography, painting, sculpture, writing, music, jewelry-making, or just about any other artistic medium you can think of, a person needs a creative outlet. It is so important to expand the limits of our imaginations... to let our minds carry us far beyond our own self-imposed limits.
It doesn't matter if no one ever sees your work. Its only important that you do it. To create works of art that you are proud of, whether you share them or not, is being an artist. It doesn't matter what others think. It is only important what you think and that you are deeply involved in the process to create your art while learning new techniques and coming up with new ideas to take it even further.
That, briefly and probably badly put, is the the definition of an artist. But, there is a difference between being an artist vs. a full time artist. Let me explain.
Suppose after some time spent with your art, you show your works in local shows and you get favorable reviews. Maybe even people want to buy your work. Now, your mind starts to wonder if you are good enough to become a full time artist. Can you afford to quite your day job and go full time?
Most people would not take that step, and probably 99% of them are making the absolutely right decision. It is a difficult life for many reasons, especially economics. But even more so, you are putting your creative soul out there for everyone to see and judge. And that judgment comes only in the form of money. You can't live on compliments.
In my case, the "big" decision was greatly helped along in that I didn't have to quite my job...it quite me. I was part of an economically-motivated layoff that cost me a well-paying job. At age 58, my job prospects were not good, especially living in an isolated rural county with a population smaller than the attendance at a Super Bowl game.
As my work was being well received locally and were selling, I decided to make the jump. Sure, I was a little scared, but I was far more excited than scared. I remember talking to my wife Susan about retirement, while I still had a full time job. She asked me what I would do when I retired. My answer was be an artist, do some writing, and travel.
Of course, that is what I do now. It has taken on a different form than what I envisioned when Susan asked me the question, because I still have to bring in some money. I am not at legal retirement age when it comes to Social Security, IRA's and 401K monies.
The next decision to be made could be very hard for some artists. When you become a full time artist, you have to be willing to part with your art for money. For many fields, like writing or music, this is not an issue. But if you are a traditional paint artist, sculpture, sketch artist, pottery maker, or jewelry maker, you have to be willing sell your originals. Now, that could be difficult for some as so much of your soul goes into every work you create. If you can't do it and you don't have a million or so in the bank, you can't become a full time artist.
Now, the next big decision becomes how does one go about getting started? How does one go about marketing and selling one's artworks? I will save that one for tomorrow.
It doesn't matter if no one ever sees your work. Its only important that you do it. To create works of art that you are proud of, whether you share them or not, is being an artist. It doesn't matter what others think. It is only important what you think and that you are deeply involved in the process to create your art while learning new techniques and coming up with new ideas to take it even further.
That, briefly and probably badly put, is the the definition of an artist. But, there is a difference between being an artist vs. a full time artist. Let me explain.
Suppose after some time spent with your art, you show your works in local shows and you get favorable reviews. Maybe even people want to buy your work. Now, your mind starts to wonder if you are good enough to become a full time artist. Can you afford to quite your day job and go full time?
Most people would not take that step, and probably 99% of them are making the absolutely right decision. It is a difficult life for many reasons, especially economics. But even more so, you are putting your creative soul out there for everyone to see and judge. And that judgment comes only in the form of money. You can't live on compliments.
In my case, the "big" decision was greatly helped along in that I didn't have to quite my job...it quite me. I was part of an economically-motivated layoff that cost me a well-paying job. At age 58, my job prospects were not good, especially living in an isolated rural county with a population smaller than the attendance at a Super Bowl game.
As my work was being well received locally and were selling, I decided to make the jump. Sure, I was a little scared, but I was far more excited than scared. I remember talking to my wife Susan about retirement, while I still had a full time job. She asked me what I would do when I retired. My answer was be an artist, do some writing, and travel.
Of course, that is what I do now. It has taken on a different form than what I envisioned when Susan asked me the question, because I still have to bring in some money. I am not at legal retirement age when it comes to Social Security, IRA's and 401K monies.
The next decision to be made could be very hard for some artists. When you become a full time artist, you have to be willing to part with your art for money. For many fields, like writing or music, this is not an issue. But if you are a traditional paint artist, sculpture, sketch artist, pottery maker, or jewelry maker, you have to be willing sell your originals. Now, that could be difficult for some as so much of your soul goes into every work you create. If you can't do it and you don't have a million or so in the bank, you can't become a full time artist.
Now, the next big decision becomes how does one go about getting started? How does one go about marketing and selling one's artworks? I will save that one for tomorrow.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Hello again...Remember me?
It has been a couple of months since I made an entry in this column...and for that, I apologize. I can give you a some good excuses...and truthful to boot.
If you read my technology blog, you know I have been faithful in writing those. I usually put out 5-6 of those per week. But, most of my time these days is spent getting ready for the upcoming art show season, which actually starts one week from today. I create new paintings, print them package them, price them, and get the marketing materials ready. A lot of work, to say the least.
But, another reason I stopped writing was that I didn't like where the old blog was headed. I was trying to write about the world of art in general, just like I do for the tech blog. But, I discovered I didn't really want to do that. I was trying to become a conduit to great art for you, and that isn't my mission.
So after taking some time off to think about it while doing other things, I decided to write what I really wanted to write about in the first place...about art as I see it. I will write about my works, my shows, my experiences on the road, my successes, and even my failures.
I will write about my experiences in the art world...great museums I have visited, other artists and their art that I like (and maybe you will too), great books I've read, and other things that interest me that relate to the world of the arts. I have great stories to tell from my time on the road and all the art I am exposed to.
The bottom line is that I want to write about my world of art... and the way I see the rest of the art world. I am not an art expert and am not qualified to write any long dissertations about what is good and what is not so good art. I am just going to tell you about what I see. Good art is in the eye of the creator and the beholder. And just like I get to make up my mind, you should have the opportunity to do the same.
If all this sounds a bit egotistical, perhaps it is. But, most blogs are about the writers who create them and the world they live in...be it politics, technology, religion, literature, history, or even art. That being the case, it is probably true that most blogs are egotistical.
In reviewing my tech blog, I find that I am really doing the same thing: searching out technologies that are interesting to me, exploring them more, and writing about them in hopes they will be of interest to others. In reading the responses from my readers, it seems to be working.
I hope this will be the case for this blog and that you will enjoy my new approach.
If you read my technology blog, you know I have been faithful in writing those. I usually put out 5-6 of those per week. But, most of my time these days is spent getting ready for the upcoming art show season, which actually starts one week from today. I create new paintings, print them package them, price them, and get the marketing materials ready. A lot of work, to say the least.
But, another reason I stopped writing was that I didn't like where the old blog was headed. I was trying to write about the world of art in general, just like I do for the tech blog. But, I discovered I didn't really want to do that. I was trying to become a conduit to great art for you, and that isn't my mission.
So after taking some time off to think about it while doing other things, I decided to write what I really wanted to write about in the first place...about art as I see it. I will write about my works, my shows, my experiences on the road, my successes, and even my failures.
I will write about my experiences in the art world...great museums I have visited, other artists and their art that I like (and maybe you will too), great books I've read, and other things that interest me that relate to the world of the arts. I have great stories to tell from my time on the road and all the art I am exposed to.
The bottom line is that I want to write about my world of art... and the way I see the rest of the art world. I am not an art expert and am not qualified to write any long dissertations about what is good and what is not so good art. I am just going to tell you about what I see. Good art is in the eye of the creator and the beholder. And just like I get to make up my mind, you should have the opportunity to do the same.
If all this sounds a bit egotistical, perhaps it is. But, most blogs are about the writers who create them and the world they live in...be it politics, technology, religion, literature, history, or even art. That being the case, it is probably true that most blogs are egotistical.
In reviewing my tech blog, I find that I am really doing the same thing: searching out technologies that are interesting to me, exploring them more, and writing about them in hopes they will be of interest to others. In reading the responses from my readers, it seems to be working.
I hope this will be the case for this blog and that you will enjoy my new approach.
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