Becoming a great artist takes a lot of passion and raw talent. However, having an inborn talent and interest in art is not enough to make you a great and best-selling artist who many appreciate. To achieve such a status, one needs to know how to treat their career as a profession that can help them earn a decent living. Fortunately, it is not as complicated as many people assume it to be.
All it takes is focus and dedication to transform your talent into likable art that can fetch good money when sold. The following tips can monetize your skill and live off being an artist.
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- Forget The Fear of Inadequacy
Just because you know no one and have no connections to get your work to show in major galleries around big world cities does not mean that you should give up following your passion as an artist. Doing this will be disappointing in today’s digital era, where one can leverage online spaces to their advantage. Some virtual galleries happen online.
Failing to get a slot as prestigious art galleries of the world should not be a reason to hide your excellent art pieces. Move away from imagining that your work will amount to nothing because there are no sponsors and buyers. After all, getting to a good gallery is impossible.
On the contrary, passionately put your mind and creativity into your pieces, then use whatever medium is available to advertise the work. Social media has worked quite perfectly for breaking artists who have made a name for themselves. The important thing is to first try before dismissing the idea by thinking that it will amount to nothing without connections.
- Express Yourself
One way to attract people to your work is to let them see your emotions through the work’s creations. Find a sport that will trigger the much-needed art inspiration before working on any project. It needs to be authentic and exceptional to lure supporters from all over.
When something is exquisite and phenomenal, it is difficult to ignore, regardless of whether it shows in a state of the art gallery or a local art shop. Creative artists rewards’ come when they work on pieces that inspire and evoke emotions.
- Multi-task when Starting in the Industry
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It can be challenging to survive selling individual artwork, considering how stiff the competition in this industry is. Nonetheless, consider doing more than your artwork, especially if you are new. It is possible to get stuck with beautiful pieces since not many people know what you do. However, working for already established companies that allow personal artwork displays helps artists build a network that comes in handy when they venture out on solo missions.
Never shy away from working for others. Use the platform as a chance to network and keep applying for grants and awards that can be stepping stones to the next stage of your dream art career. After all, there is no shame in working for others as long as the experience is valuable. Dismissing such opportunities may also mean getting stranded with excellent art pieces because of a limited network.
- Update Yourself
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As an artist, it is essential to know when relevant art events take place. Have a notebook with all relevant events worth going to and make a point to attend most of them. It is through such avenues that artists get to meet people they can partner with. Some artists get their big breaks attending such events. All one needs is to talk to the right person and have their career set their career for good.
Such events may seem handy, but it is worth every minute spent for a focused artist aiming for success. Choose events that resonate with your art style to maximize your work’s chances of making relevant contact. It makes no sense to link up with people with opposite ideologies since this will only conflict with yours.
- Have an Excellent Portfolio
It is generally difficult to have a great portfolio without any work. However, having not been employed by the prestigious employer you are targeting is no reason to hold back. Instead, choose to build your portfolio in different ways. Volunteer at art workshops for kids and charities, offer free services to established art galleries and companies and do anything valuable without asking for payment as long as it comes with a recommendation on your resume.
It is surprising how such selflessness will pay off when applying for a job or grant to start an outfit. The art industry is not necessarily the easiest to succeed in, but that does not mean it is impossible to make it big. All you need is a strategic move that will lead to the best career in the future.
Final Thoughts
Art and craft are fun and exciting until it gets to the business aspect. Before one breaks even or begins to attract meaningful clients, it may not be an easy task. Successful artists were persistent and kept doing their best to stay afloat. Work on improving and polishing your skills every time to have the upper hand in the Industry.
