How to Survive as an artist under any econony

The economy goes up, the economy down. Sometimes it's easier to sell art than other, but these are the things that I've learn't over 10 years. This is how I've survived, and I thought that I'd share those thoughts with you in today's blog.


-Be inventive. Mix it up, if something isn't working for you, that has in the past, find new ways to create work, or create a new line of work that is more relevant to people's budgets, eg smaller paintings, drawings, or limited edition prints.

-Don't stand still. There isn't a wage for you, so explore the full possibility of marketing available to you. The aim is that your work reach as many people as possible.

-As an artist you cannot separate yourself from the marketing and sales of your production. Remember that nobody has as much vested interest as seeing your work sold as you do. No gallery could possibly dedicate the time required to market your work as you can when they have 17-35 other artists to manage.

-Blog, send out Newsletters, use social media, update people on your exhibitions and goings on as a way of  keeping yourself in people's mind's, but never forget that more personal contact is vital when it comes to connecting sales.

- Select a couple of trusted people to bounce  ideas off. Take on board what intelligent people have to say, but don't be discouraged if people are negative or don't understand your ideas. If you are going to stick to something you can't listen to everybody! You need to trust yourself, and be confident.

- Dedicate at least 1-2 hours of your day on the marketing and business side of what you do- This will pay off in sales. Remember that that with expensive art, it can happen straight away, or months down the track, when someone is flipping through a magazine and sees your work. The key here is patience.

-Have a vision for the future, and set goals, because in tougher times, this will be the light at the end of the tunnel.

-Be generous and kind to other artists weather you like their work or not, weather they are doing brilliantly or terribly. It fosters a better sense of goodwill out there in the artistic community. Oil always rises to the top anyway.

- As the blog states these are some of the tools I've learned to survive as an artist, but I definatley didn't get intro being an artist to learn how to do PR, or how to do an excell spread sheet, it's a by product of how I've survived to do the thing I most love in the world.....MAKE ART!! Hope it's been helpful.