Anyone make a living from their art, or wish they could? Free Dating, Singles and Personals

Anyone make a living from their art, or wish they could? Posted: 9/29/2009 7:46:38 AM
Hi Spade63: Yes you can absolutely make a living from your art. What kind of living, how good of a living will depend on your dedication, your consistant good work habits and your belief in yourself along with your marketing of your works. I made a living for years off the arts in the fine, scenic design art field. No one believed in me in the sense that relatives just short circuited at the idea of anyone making a living off of painting. People who buy cardboard prints in the local discount store do not understand others who want an original piece of art. My spouse did believe in me and he also worked in the arts. (Problem was we were partners in everything and when he died that caused a significant shift in the creative dynamics.) Do what you love and the money will follow - but (BUT) you must market yourself. No one is going to coming knocking on your door and say, "Hey, I read your thread and decided to give you a one man show." If you want suggestions on how to market yourself I will be glad to share those with you when you are ready. Do not give away your work. Your work is your talent, gift and life force. Would you expect others to give you their work free? If you had a brother who was a gardener you wouldn't expect him to take hours out of work schedule and do your lawn for free. Now as a wedding gift yes you can gift someone with your work. You keep motivated by believing in yourself, knowing every day your work is going to be part of your gallery showing. Meantime there is nothing wrong with doing special orders for your skill. I use to paint murals for some businesses and although the subject may not have been of my choosing it utilized my skills and honed my craft as I practiced the techniques. All is grist for the mill. Then as I got more experienced and my portfolio I improved I could speak my mind and explain to people what they really needed. (I still cringe at the work I did when as a student and a woman hired me to change the magnificant desert landscape mural in her home to an ocean scene. I begged her to reconsider but she was adament so she got her ocean and I got the experience. The woman had no taste, the desert landscape was fantastic and I learned that if someone doesn't like your work it is not you, it is them; the original artist skills, technique and subject was far superior to mine, at the time.) This is a word of caution for all artists using a variety of materials - check out the toxicity of your materials. Wear masks if you have elements that are airborne. Use room air purifers and fans to draw fumes away if you are working with oils etc. I have known too many artists who became very ill because they did not understand their materials ex. gold leaf is filled with arsenic, if you don't wear gloves and a mask and incorporate gold leaf in a few months of daily work you will get this product in your system. Believe in yourself and continue to bounce off other artists - think about it - with the net you can talk to other people - hang out with exhorters, encouragers, not discouragers - Eyores need not apply. I work as a writer now so I am starting over so to speak - I paint now but with words. The funny thing is my Dad said, "But you finally made it as an artist." I sighed he didn't believe I would make it as an artist, now he missed another opportunity to be an encourager. When we look at people who don't believe in themselves, they can not believe in us. Our work be it painting, sculpture, writing or other catergories of art is like the old adage 10% inspiration 90% perspiration. Do what you love. Be who you are. Go for it with a passion. best to all Maggie