photo credit: connie bickman, skye, scotland
by Kelli Bickman
Art school is great for teaching you how to use your materials and what is available, but beyond that you must develop your own personal style. There are galleries out there who won’t even look at your portfolio until you’ve been out of school for five years. Develop a style that people will look at and say “that is a – insert your name here – painting – I could spot one anywhere.”
This is important. I’m not going to tell you how to do it here, as there are plenty of places to find this information. But if you plan on making a living as an artist it is useful to be able to show a portfolio that accurately represents the originals. And 10 years from now you will really appreciate having photographs of your “early” work so you can be adequately embarrassed at the work you once thought was genius, and you’ll see how far you’ve come.
If you don’t have your portfolio on a website it will be very hard for the world to find you. Succeeding in art is a numbers game. The more people you connect with and share your work with the better. Your website should reflect your personality while remaining professional and easy to navigate.
Post interesting content along with your art – a short story of why or where you created a piece will help sell it. Share your stories and art with everyone via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter (here is an article I wrote with tips for selling art on FB: http://kellibickman.net/2010/11/techniques-for-selling-art-on-facebook/). Make business cards, hand them out. I’ve found postcards with an image on the front work nicely as a mailer and a hand out.
If you want to have gallery shows, you must create a congruent series of paintings, sculptures, etc. I like to work on several canvases or paper pieces at once in the same theme in various sizes and work on a theme to develop a solid body of work that flows nicely together. For instance, I wouldn’t show a deity painting with a botanical.
Robert Rodiguez (the blue dog) said if you are going to paint something, be sure you really LOVE painting that thing, because someday you might be famous for it. People wouldn’t be as interested in a Rodiquez landscape without the blue dog. Take William Wegman’s photography as case in point; does the world even know he is also a painter?
I have never been an “art snob” kind of artist. I love to say “yes” to people who ask me if they can show my artwork. I’ve sold thousands of dollars of art out of restaurants and cafes. People have approached me for private commissions and commercial work because they saw my work in a coffee shop. Showing in professional level galleries is fantastic, and if this is your path, follow it by all means. But don’t overlook the little guy while you are on your way to the top. As a result of my showing as much as possible, I get emails from people offering me shows in art spaces and galleries (big and small) every week.
Every time you book a show or event, write a professional press release to send to the media. Emailing the editorial department works as well as hard copies. Research your local media outlets and every place you would like to see your name in print – libraries and bookstores are excellent resources. Art News won’t come knocking on your door if you don’t let them know you have a door. Be sure to include a flattering photograph of you with your art and a separate photograph of one of your works of art.
Placing yourself in the midst of success brings you one step closer to it yourself. Jealousy at someone else’s success only brings misfortune. Find a mentor, someone whose work you admire and who is accessible to you. Intern for them, shuffle their paperwork, wash their paintbrushes, whatever they need. And ask questions, lots of them. Find out how they got where they are and learn as much as you can. This will help you more than you can imagine.
If you want to have a career as an artist, make art whenever you can, out of whatever is available to you. There is never an excuse for lack of money for materials – when Raushenberg was broke living in the West Village, he used trash he found on the street to make paintings. The world is ripe with art-making materials waiting to be discovered. A true artist makes money to make art to make money to make art (someone else said that, but I don’t remember who).
A friend of mine once said that in order to make great art we need to do three things. 1. Throw out your friends. 2. Throw out your lovers. 3. Throw out yourself. Then, he said, if you are lucky, you will create great art.
While your art friends are out at the bar partying or whooping it up with drinks after their “day” job, go home and make art. Trust me, it will pay off. They will still be drunk years later and you will have made a career that supports you from doing something you love.
When I was feeling discouraged one day many years ago, my mentor, Neil Gaiman, said, “Always keep your eye on the top of the mountain. You will have to go through the swamp, and through the forest and then you will have climb that mountain one foot at a time, but never loose sight of the top.” Then he added, “And when you get to the top, celebrate, but don’t keep your head in the clouds too long, because when they clear, you will notice there is another mountain on the other side of that one.”
We are always in a rush to get somewhere or be something other than what we are in this present moment. There is no “there,” only here and now. Stop, take a deep breath and recognize you are exactly where you are supposed to be. Then relax and enjoy the ride. The process of creation is a gift. Stay present in your life and share your gift with the world.
by Kelli Bickman
www.1111studio.net
Other Articles by Kelli Bickman:
Tips for Selling Art on FB – A Success Story
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