You might not think of it this way, but as an artist you are the owner of a small business. Accounting, inventory, and marketing are all part of the process of getting art out to clients. Finding time to build and maintain relationships is essential for success. Developing and managing a website and following through with your social media are time consuming, but necessary to extend your reach. Each of these tasks alone could keep you busy most days, and we haven't even mentioned the most important work: creating art. Tip #1. Organize your Business This strategy may be the least exciting to read about, but proper organization is critical to the long-term success of your art career. Some arti
Last weekend, I had the wonderful experience of talking to a number of artists at the Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival (Reston). While the weather on Friday was dreary, the stories made the afternoon full of laughter and remembrance. This is the first in a new series of Art-Linx blogs: Stories from the Road. The goal is to connect. We all have great adventures at shows and sometimes getting to and back home. I would love to share your story with our community. Our first story is told by Vicki Munn. She and her husband Lance are woodworkers from Indiana. Vicki graduated from college and her first job was as an office administrator. It was hard work running the office and the pay was $100 a
I have been gambling at least 20 weekends a year for the past 25 years. By that, I mean being an artist at juried art festivals. The classic definition of a gambler describes the life of the traveling art festival artist quite well; "wagering money (jury fees) or something of value (time) on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent on gaining money or material goods. Gambling requires three elements be present: consideration, chance, and prize," elements present at every art festival. The difference between a simple gambler and an artist who is successful largely falls on mitigating risk. As artists, the first risk is choosing which shows to apply for and hopefully attend.
