How to Get an “A” Grade in Art Business from Art Matters by Aletta de Wal, Artist Advisor

#1. ART: Make art that inspires you to continue making more.
This is the fun part. You need a signature style and a body of work ready to show at a moment’s notice. Get into the studio and develop “product.” Show and sell only your best work. Discard, or burn any work you consider below standard. It all starts and ends with making art.

#2. AUDIENCE: Build your art market one person at a time.
Build relationships with people who enjoy and express an interest in your work. Do this right and they will become your informal reps by telling others about you and your art. If you are an introverted artist, develop better social skills. If you are an extrovert, learn to contain your enthusiasm long enough to hear what the viewer wants to know.

#3. ACCOUNTING: Track your investments of time, toil and art supplies.
The business side of art is a numbers game. You need to make lots of art in different sizes, have at least 5 shows a year and meet your audience in many venues. That takes time, money and energy. You have to keep track of all this so you know what it will take to break-even or make a profit. (If you need help on this, Pat Fiorello and Alexandria Levin make it painless.)

#4. ATTENTION: Show your work often and everywhere.
Attention spans are getting shorter. You have to cut through the clutter of broadcast messages. You are not selling soap but you are trying to get mindshare. You need a simple, memorable way of arousing and retaining interest in your work over time. When people see your work in person, in magazines and on the Internet, they see you everywhere. That is the goal.

#5. AMBITION: Motivate yourself to get fame, fortune or followers.
Without ambition, you wouldn’t get much done. Some artists still sneer at marketing their art. They claim that they are only in it for the joy of creating, and that great work will attract purchasers. Nothing wrong with that if you don’t need money to feed your art habit and pay the bills. Choose a “can do” attitude and you are 80% of the way there. Decide what you want from your art. Add good work habits to get past the things that don’t thrill you. Build it, promote it, and they will come.

I learned to cultivate my interests and to share what I discovered so others could grow. The result is that I love what I do for a living. Because I love working with artists, I am motivated to keep on learning and exploring. That makes it more interesting for all of us.

What are you doing to raise the grade on your life as a working artist?

Buy Local Art! Shop ’til you drop!

This is a great event that I have been a part of  for several years with a group of artist friends. If you take all the holiday sales and choose the most unique works…this is where you will find it.  Come and support local artists with a buy local attitude!  Thank you