Hello dear readers and subscribers; today we discuss 20 ways how to make money as an artist, ranking them from best to worst, so you can opt to implement the best and most efficient monetization strategies in your career. Read the full article online here: www.contemporaryartissue.com/20-ways-how-to-make-money-as-an-artist-best-to-worst/ Discover art opportunities at Artenda: artenda.net Or request our CAI Advisory Report service for 1-on-1 personalized advice here: www.contemporaryartissue.com/submit/ If you have any further questions, feel free to comment down below, and we'll chat very soon! All my best, Julien
I disagree about being too commercial. Branding and marketing is more important than galleries. Gallery credibility is in question because I know of many "quality" galleries that are now selecting artists based off of their instagram followings. The quality is quickly become secondary to artist social status and built in follower base. I would advise the artist to look at the art business as they would any other business. Most high end galleries won't entertain another artists without an endorsement from someone they deem to be a mover and shaker. Most artists will never be movers and shakers because they will never be endorsed regardless of talent. Create your own universe through marketing and affluent relationships and the galleries will automatically change their tune. I respect your opinion and I love your channel but I have seen differently.
It completely depends on your work and where you are located. The gallerists I have talked to have all said they find artists through other artists. These types of galleries don't want to compete with your commercial business. They are more interested in finding artists whose work is community/engagement oriented, or make large scale, experimental work. This isn't true for everyone but I have more than a few friends who were found through small local shows and artist communities. It's just a different track.
Hi POPE, thank you for tuning in and sharing your honest thoughts-I respect your opinion as well, and there is truth in it for sure. It comes down to what I mentioned at the end of the art fairs chapter; it often depends on what type of artist you want to be, what feels comfortable, and what works for you. So you are certainly right here, and not everyone is destined to follow the same path-or the path I generally discuss here. Branding is becoming increasingly important, but the important distinction here is that an artist is not a brand but a person. The advice to look at your business as an artist as you would look at any other business simply is something I read very often but strongly disagree with-for various reasons. You cannot market yourself as you would market a traditional business, nor can you market your art in the same way you could market commercial goods or services. When it comes to building a following on Instagram-as we have mentioned a couple of times here-that's a great strategy and validation that there is a market for your work. But doing this so you would be selected by galleries that curate their program based on the IG following of an artist does not sound like a good idea at all. They simply want a share of your pie of clients and sales-so they are not really quality galleries but rather opportunistic, in my humble opinion. On the other hand, I completely agree with affluent relationships and creating your own universe! Interesting topic, interesting discussion. Thanks!
@@contemporaryartissue I think there needs to be a discussion about the reality of making it as a traditional gallery artist or as an artist in the established art world. I would encourage artists to consider moving away from dreaming of landing in an established upper tier gallery as salvation. You stand a similar chance of getting drafted in the NBA. Please don't misunderstand me as bitter. I am fine with my career as an artist and I have achieved many of the things that you cover, but I only open up these thoughts for those who may not get the same opportunity but have immense talent. The myriad of opportunities outside of the traditional art world are so untapped. It is virtually still the wild wild west of possibilities. Also the rules of art are so subjective, they become detrimental to the artist themselves. I concluded a showing with a talented artist that was critiqued for having a cohesive body of work by buyers that were interested in a varied vision. That very notion is contrary to what I learned as an artist. Needless to say my sin in having variety resulted in my rent being paid for several months. As an artist, creation is what I value of course. As a business man, the rent being paid is paramount. Any artist that wants to sell is for all intents and purposes a business person at that point. It is such an interesting conversation. I will definitely refer others to this channel!
@@lifeasart101 Completely true good analogy. Entry level galleries are barely making ends meet nowadays, and they are highly controlled by appealing to becoming a “seriously” high end gallery. I even live in LA, an art center, and there are a million artists here. Only .0001 % get decent representation with a small gallery and the sales are never enough to live on. I actually know someone a client , in Hauser worth a huge gallery but it’s only one in a million chance. On the other hand I watched street artists become famous over the years here, some just networked and got good collectors aka Michael Kohn gallery, did music videos and met people and got in galleries through street fame, like Retna. Fame is a business itself I guess. But yea, the established art world is very exclusive by nature, and requires a ton of networking and following their social codes , it’s a lot of silly nonsense that gets most artists 99 out of 100 nowhere , and reduces their soul, their creativity. They say just make a product and repeat is the formula. Just my opinion from doing art for 25 years. Okay, have a good day .
I respect your opinion, and applaud anyone who shares knowledge with others. For me personally, I don’t aim to be accepted in any industry. My challenge is to understand how I want to contribute to the world, and use my art to do that. Carpenters, fabricators, and masons are also artists. Their art is displayed in front of us everyday in our buildings and the infrastructure that we interact with everyday. Its important for me to always remember that different industries are interrelated in ways we don’t often notice. I would be afraid to pigeon hole myself into one industry, because I would narrow my ability to see the world differently. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, the more we all share the better we will all be for it.
I'm a retired cabinet builder. I loved those very few jobs where I acted as designer. The majority of the time I worked for others and did some ugly, stupid projects. For my own sanity I built high end rustic furniture and was hoping to do that when I retired. Unfortunately, styles changed and my body failed me. I will always be a craftsman who is an artist. Today I build picture frames and do painting so I have something to put in them. I don't know about a contribution to the world. The world is largely uninterested. So the goal is to get them interested. If I can let a viewer see the world with a little clarity, I've succeeded. Not sure I'm doing a very good job.
Right! Hi from totally blind artist! I paint by touch after my loss of sight. My husband made me blogs, but we mooved to Los Angeles one year ago and we started new life. It was not easy. Much inspiration from our art family! ✨💫🎨🎊💝
I am a video/animation designer artist living in France. For me, even though I create videos and animations for companies, they have to agree that I will have complete creative control. They hire me to create video ads because they saw my personal work and trust in my choices and judgment
I could be called a successful artist, since I am present on the most important online art platforms, artsy, 1stsibs,and many more, had works estimated at over 100k and do believe I have some advices that may help other artists. 1. You can definitely see yourself as a business, your own name is your brand. You represent a style, a color, a way of expressing something creatively, and you are associated with it. 2. What matters most is the quality of your work. You must try to have an impeccable quality, and very creative work. Excellence is the key. Whenever you will be truly excelent, success will come naturally, no social media needed, no galleries, people will be drawn to your excellent work. 3. Make your own niche, have your own substyle, tackle new topics in a very creative way, be different, very different. 4. Art galleries are not essentials (anymore) . We live in the 21st century, art consumption changed drastically. I have turned many important art galleries over the years, and kept a couple with selected works, not because I need them but... Because because they are nice people (sounds absurd, I know) 5. To be continued...
Hi Lee, thank you for tuning in and for contributing to the discussion! Indeed, your persona as an artist is the brand. Quality is key! As is originality. Something fresh and new will also be appreciated, hence the saying variety is the spice of life. To be continued indeed. Have a great day!
Andrew Wyeth (via his wife Betsy) and Wolf Kahn both promoted their art (kept their art in the public imagination) by selling prints, having their art on calendars, and in books, etc, and all this before it was cool. Turner was as commercial as hell as attested by a modern biography. Richard Diebenkorn was a great teacher and is now recognized as a great artist. Rembrandt was a teacher! Indeed, Rembrandt packed them in and of course artists of his era routinely taught other artists with the aim of creating studio assistants. Numerous highly successful contemporary artists teach and sell art instruction via online classes or streaming services or digital media. If you are concerned about your soul -- your artistic soul -- your soul generally -- read deeply in the religion of your choice and form a life-affirming spiritual practice, but to make money, find the path that is natural for you and don't let someone on the internet tell you how to live! Or -- remember (irony alert) you can always start a TH-cam channel giving out art advice. Evidently, that works too.
We are now breaking barriers! Making our own rules. The best person to represent you is yourself! Once you fall into the mindset of commercial or high end you allow the money to control the energy of the piece. This why the industry is so stuck up because they want a third party to determine what's industry accepted. Every one makes money off the artist if you play this industry accepted mindset.
Let's agree to disagree. From my experience, the art industry does not solely make money of the artists, the artists also make money thanks to the galleries, the critics, the curators, the institutions, the art prizes, the grants, etc. I do agree when your mindset is commercial the energy of your art can shift for the worse-but this is not the same as respecting/following the unwritten rules of the art world, on the contrary.
Love your perspective! I´m curious how the art industry will develop in the future. Maybe it won´t change at all - but we well see that the parallel universe of smart and independent artists will expand. 🙂
I talk to local restaurants and coffee shops about displaying my work for short periods of time and most are happy to do so for a small percentage off the price of the pieces. Ive sold more than a few pieces like this
I played parts of this a few times and I get the impression that in order to follow the “rules” and maintain “artistic integrity” are so limiting in the ways you’re “allowed” by the secret rules of the gallery system .. it’s just a way to make you dependent on them. Granted in the larger art world a gallery can do more or promote you in ways you can’t.
ive just watched a few of your videos and I can't believe how much amazing valuable information you have in them! I am DEFinitely going to watch a LOT of these as they are really giving me the motivation to get my website going ( i can do it!) and focus and make a detailed plan for the next few months of artmaking. Thank you so much for creating these!
That was an awesome video! It covers all the options available to us artists. The thing is, we artists just want to spend our time creating, and we tend to get lazy about marketing, networking, and other tasks that take away from our creative energy... And time. That's why I decided to enter the comic book industry, just to work with (not for) a publisher who I can collaborate with - I create, and they handle the sales, splitting the profits, and everyone will be happy! XD I've tried doing online and social media marketing and I quickly burned out. So I thought to myself, 'Why don't I just leave the marketing to the people who specialize in it, and focus on doing what I do fine?". It was a long road preparing it, but this year I'm testing it.
I'm a former art professor and watched the art world, knew some successful NYC gallery artists. YES-- THERE ARE TWO ART WORLDS...what kind of artist are you? The slimmer but more prestigious "gallery route" respected, less selling, higher cost of art (as the percentage needs to go to gallery cut and you.) But IF, IF, you are GOOD AT MARKETING & storytelling AND DEPENDING on your type of art you can MAKE MORE MONEY AS AN ARTIST- no cut given away- you manage yourself mostly, marketing storytelling etc. many artists MAKE MORE direct to public, but yes half or more of your time is on marketing, networking etc. Basically Andy Warhol mixed both got museums etc but made himself a BRAND...that is a rare example. MOst artists are one or the other level, and it's hard to be honest with yourself as to what type you are.
Hi there, thank you for tuning in and for your comment. You are absolutely right, there is more than one career path for artists, and you must first find the route you feel most comfortable with. In fact, last week or two weeks ago I wrote an article on this topic, feel free to give it a read or stay tuned for the video version: www.contemporaryartissue.com/artist-career-paths/
I have some questions about renting a gallery/space and run your own exhibition. A) Since anyone can rent and make an exhibition, there has been a overwhelm of hobbyists exhibiting their work (at least where I live). But if I am to distinguish myself and not be seen as just another 'happy amature', won't making my own exhibitions basically discredit me? Especially if I stand there and try to sell my own work? B) Are exhibitions that I've organized myself something to mention in my resume? And in that case how should they be referred to? Thank you for fantastic content!
That is a very good question; in the end, it comes down to this; if you make your own exhibitions professionally, it will not discredit you. Whereas hobbyists might be filling the space with as much art as possible, hanging prices and titles on the walls or even on the canvas, installing the works on cords, and even placing easels or banners to advertise their work, you should install the exhibition as if it is a high-end art gallery. A personal exhibition is a great way to learn, and there is no shame/discredit to it when done professionally. How to mention it in your resume, exactly the same way as any other exhibition. You don't have to specify the exhibition was self-hosted at all. Hope this might be helpful!
Really informative video. It's giving a lot of thinking for those who are still looking for the right "path" for their carreer. Also it gives a lot of insights into what the curated art industry looks like from within. A side note though: although I can understand the "don't be a sellout"-message advising against using popular means in order to sell your art (etsy, blogging...), it makes me wonder : how come it's not considered losing your "artist integrity" when following the industries' rules ? To me it sound very hypocritical. I understand there is a lot of money and status to be earned while doing so, but I don't think the artist's essence is to be recognized by the curated art industry. I would even go so far to say that this might be the selling-out we are trying to avoid. If your goal is to keep your integrity as an artist, I don't think getting recognition from those lots is what you are looking for. Especially when you realize how much importance your social connections have in that world compared to your quality as an artist. I know of people who are very well connected and are "artists" but don't do any art by themselves and hire anonymous artists to actually do the work. They just sign their name on the artwork at the end of the day. One might wonder if the more democratic means offered by internet might actually be the place to be for the "real" artist. To me the curated art industry became more of a financial outlet, as many art buyers actually do it for speculation.
Hi Roxane, thank you for tuning in. When it comes to your question of the art industry rules, those rules are only guidelines to provide a professional environment or framework for the art to be experienced and collected in the best way possible. When it comes to the art itself, the artist is 100% free. Even more, this framework enables to artist to focus only on the art, and almost nothing else. When it comes to the real artists-however we define this-they are everywhere. I am considering to create a video on these paths and spheres; the traditional art world and the influencer model. Both have their plus and cons, but there are so many misconceptions about the first. For instance, the curated art industry is not merely a financial outlet, and most private collectors buy out of love and not for speculation. To be continued!
This is a great video. Unfortunately, tho I’ve been an artist all my life and studied in school and college, I am not widely known and at 64, its a bit late for me to plan for anything long term. Now it’s all about being able to pay rent and eat.
Hi Judi, thank you for tuning in. Being an artist your entire life is an achievement in itself. Never give up on your dreams! Keep doing what you do for as long as you enjoy it. Wishing you all the best!
@@mikenoneofyourbusiness7122 You are absolutely correct. School taught me nothing about marketing. I AM however recognized in a particular virtual world and had TH-cam videos done about me (just search on JudiLynn or JudiLynn India). But still, my work is not recognized offline by the brick and mortar community. And I’ve accepted this. But to pay bills, I am stuck with selling prints. Some have asked about buying canvases. I have no other income, so my art must support me in any way possible.
It´s never too late!!!!! Believe in yourself and your ability to earn more money than just for paying your rent and eat. You can do it - either within the traditional system, or by yourself. Check the teachings of Neville Goddard and learn how to tap into your intuition and to receive YOUR personal perfect strategy to increase your visibility and sales. "Manifest" people who can help you with it. Shut down the noise of all the rules and laws that seem to dictade an artits´s success. Allow yourself "more", knowing that you deserve the payout for your lifelong investment and dedication to your art. Sending you lots of love and positive energy from Germany.
But loving bussiness mentality I hoped you'll share your practical experience of what ways did you / your colleges personally try and how much a month on average were you / your collegues were able to make. So it's really calculable what ways to try for an average artist watching this channel. The ratio of what percentage of artists succeed / make a month / working hours. Otherwise it's all smoke and mirrors. I personally only tried online marketplaces, like Etsy, it was good fun and was a calculable way, like "paintings you have in your shop * paintings you produce and upload a month * average price = your income". Too bad many other artistic ways are not that calculablem which is why I always was shy trying them.
Hi Walperion Music, a great suggestion! I completely agree the video or information would be better with some actual numbers after some decent and thorough statistical research. I have taken note and put it on my to do list! Have a great day and stay tuned!
Apparently appreciateing art is every individuals right it is artists like us who appreciate art sure how many people appreciate our art great advise u have the vibe so we come to ur forum definitely ur wisdom has done wonders to many
23:43 Almost any type of book can be published on a print-to-order basis these days, including coffee table art books, meaning the financial investment is in creating the content, not printing it.
Thank you for all your high quality content, sharing your insights and allowing a safe space to discuss these topics. May I just add how important it is to learn acceptance when it does not work out the way you 'hoped' for despite doing it all.. It is incredibly easy to burn out and to become bitter if you do not check in in on your mental health, the intention to 'why' you are wanting to go down this path and if you do not work on yourself. Being kind to oneself and knowing who you are is incredible important on this journey while having an open mind to learn and grow. I studied and have been working on most of your points for 8 years non stop. My resume and craft has grown, I did solo shows exhibiting for my paintings and short installation films, have references from running and organiding shows myself, did courses on marketing and so much more. However, the reality is I also work every week in healthcare and weekly on my art. I had no holidays in 6 years and put every penny into my art. Everything is possible, but sometimes despite working hard it does not mean opportunities come to you as you imagined. I think it really is important to understand how much work it takes and how much time it takes away from the 'creating' while not knowing the outcome in regards to 'success'. You mentioned the work/life balance and I applaud you for it. I do not want to sound negative and am not, but I do think it truly is important to understand what this journey may ask of you in regards to compromises and at times sacrifices. If it calls you go for it I say and learn while doing it, but the outcome may be a different one you hoped for which is ok 🙏 All the best to all 🙏
Hi Isabel, thank you for tuning in and for sharing your honest thoughts and personal experiences. You are absolutely right. The right mindset, with realistic expectations, is crucial; otherwise, you could burn out sooner than later. We always advise finding a good work-life-art balance to make your practice and life sustainable financially and mentally. Pressure from the outside can be hard to deal with, but arguably pressure from the inside can be worse. Thanks a million for your contribution here, and wishing you all the best!
Thanks for sharing. I agree with what you are saying. The "art industry" isn't easy to negotiate. Also, there are many types of art, art markets and artists. Art has the power to influence an audience. Ask who is your audience? Some artists are happy at art fairs, some are happy online, some prefer established galleries
This is great information. I would say you have presented it from the industry acceptable point of view to sell art. It comes off as eliteist. As a photographer, it doesn't matter to me the way I sell my art. I want people to experience my art. With 7.8 billion people on this planet, driving up the price of a unique piece of art is the way it used to be done. I'm sure it's the medium I work in which makes it unique from other mediums. Always good to get other peoples perspective.
Hi there, thank you for tuning in and for your comment, and sharing your thoughts and experiences-it is indeed a feast to get other people's perspectives. Have a great day and wishing you all the best!
I was art teacher, it's great experience. I made good money and was respected. For 5 years before that job I was selling art for 5 years and sold my work. 2008 was economical crash and impossible to sell.
Apparently appreciateing art is every individuals right it is artists like us who appreciate art sure how many people appreciate our art great advise u have 😊the vibe so we come to ur forum definitely ur wisdom has done wonders to many
From the top of my head, I really enjoyed this specific video and the style of it: th-cam.com/video/6gGn0XEOBNc/w-d-xo.html He also has some other videos on his channel that are a bit less professional and a bit more TH-cam-focused. But nevertheless, I believe this specific video is a very good example of a professional tone and using TH-cam for your art
So glad I've found your channel - really informative..... the challenge as an artist is always to get the mix of studio work and marketing...... studio work great- marketing not so great!!! Thanks for the awesome content!
Dear Lisa, thank you very much for tuning in. Glad to hear you enjoy the content. Yes, you are spot on. It can often be a minefield these days for artists, however, with the right information, things become a lot more clear and comprehensive. Wishing you all the best!
I’m really enjoying the videos, and am finding them helpful. One thing I’m currently considering, is to show/sell through a big auction-house. I approached them yesterday and showed some photos of my work and they were very interested, but is it a good strategy?
Hi Dr. Shrinker, thank you for tuning in and for your most kind words. Indeed, we often create videos discussing a selection of emerging artists-and we represent a number of emerging artists we strongly believe in, resulting in some monographic videos about them as well. Have a great day!
Very informative video, I´m taking very seriously your advices and content. Which other store apart from Artsy is held in high esteem and recognition?, You mentioned other but I didn´t understand the name as english is not my native language. Thanks for your insight.
Thank you Dr Julian! Listening to your full spectrum complete and correct spot on advice is quite reasuaring to correct decisions made throughout! It is of course very helpful to takesteps into venturing mindfully while keeping true to the Art which has cost more than an arm or a foot throughout!
Dear Amaresh, thank you for watching! Great to hear this video helped you, and hopefully, it gives you that bit of extra confidence to go forward. Wishing you all the best!
This is interesting in many ways but what I didn't know is certain money funnels are deadly. Wow, what eye opener. So here is a question if you have done some of these deadly sells funnels. How do you recover from them, our do you even have a chance to even be an artist if have done these deadly sells funnels by mistake?
Hi thanks for your video , I found it very interesting as it confirms many things I wanted to do in a to do list! I would like to ask you if you know any on line curator course, I couldn't find anything yet. Thanks again!
Wow such a great video, i have 24 new tabs to work through after watching this :) Can you give any examples of artists youtube channels that you like? Thank you, Daniel
Hi Daniel, thank you for tuning in. Good luck with the 24 tabs 😅 When it comes to artists with a TH-cam channel, I like videos on the style of this one for instance: th-cam.com/video/6gGn0XEOBNc/w-d-xo.html However the entire channel is a bit too "vloggy", whereas other channels that are very professional such as the channel of Studio David Claerbout, can be a bit too boring. So it's about finding this balance between both and I believe the established galleries have found the right tone for TH-cam, think of David Zwirner or Perrotin gallery, especially with those artist studio videos and interview documentaries. Hope this might help!
@@contemporaryartissue Thank you. Really appreciate your answer. Will check out the links now :) I find it really interesting the relationship between integrity and Art. Can you recomend a good book on the philosophy of Art as i have so many questions running round my head... Also, how much "you" as a person should stay out of the way of your Art... sometimes I find the art amazing but the artist is annoying 😁 and lastly..What is your objective opinion on Mosaic Art, does it come under fine art or decorative art? Sorry for all the questions (Im a mosaic artist that creates one off pieces but interior decor seems to be the more popular choice)
Thank God i found this channel. I stopped taking commission two years ago because it just frustrate me and makes me feel restricted and it just doesn't feel genuine.
You're absolutely right! They are a temporary solution to make some money, but they do not do anything for your oeuvre or to your career. Wishing you all the best!
Hello, I'm glad to find this channel,, it really makes my day. It's a pleasure to hear someone speaking about " artistic integrity " because that's really means a lot for artistic community. The integrity is our vision , if we loose that there's no fun at all, an artist go blind without it. You put that concept in the spot and thanks for that. About rhe subject Sell or not sell ,, that's the question? Sometimes the less you sell the more you get into your own way,,, if you're desperate for money try get money from trading,,
"Art" only sells once it's famous ( to collector/investors) or if it's popular eg.: Popular images (created by following a formula) on t shirts ,tote bags and greeting cards.
Very Very good video! Thanks a lot for all the tips especially what higher and lower your value as an artist!. I don't have the merchandise by choice and I mostly work by commissions, definelly still a lot to learn!
Hello Julien! Would you consider creating additional format in which your audience could send you examples of their works so you can look at them with your professional eye and share your thoughts in the video? I think there are many of us who really would appreciate possibility like that. For me it is hard to asess value of my own works and it would ment a lot to get feedback from person with your knowledge and expierience
Thank you!! Great advice and I believe you’ve hit the nail on the head.. art is one of the the greatest forms of human expression, and commercialization of one’s art, unless done effectively can lead to a perversion of the purity of the process of authentic expression. Thankyou for your valuable input and advice!!! Keep channeling and creating!!!
Brilliant and helpful video! One question though regarding "art merch"... Every major museum and mega art gallery offers various extensions of their art collections through merchandise, via their own shops. It's especially true with pop and contemporary artists (both dead and alive), because their work lends itself so well to being adapted and reproduced in limited editions, without destroying the artist's image and value. What are your thoughts on this, if you don't mind? Are they the exception, and if so, why? Thank you very much!
Thank you for tuning in and for a good question. The unwritten rules for artists are different than the rules for institutions and galleries. A gallery is allowed to be more commercial, especially big art brands such as the mega-galleries and the art institutions. Hope this might help!
Due to the nature of art as an alternative investments and the downward evaluation of money making schemes and art, which has the secular to sacred paradigm, it seem any person mad enough to embark on any kind of cultural input is placed on the identity politics authentic the gesture spectrum curve. It requires the identity politics (artist) investor to have enough capital to easily sustain the kind of risk without taking up the stock and shares approach to their identity politics kind of art which comes down like a pack of cards once money seems to be involved it the construction of self. So one approach is Leibniz combinational theory in Monadology. If structures of the universe had simple combinations for argument sank then a construction of an artist self ought to comprise of a simple combination which might be the outsider and insider perspective. This would correlate to the inner subjective sense of self and an objective public sense of self construction as a sustainable self evaluative cultural practice and with luck give an intrinsic value too.
I have exhibited in group exhibitions 6 times and never sold any artwork via those exhibitions. Some of the exhibitions were a bit questionable but still, you cant rely to always sell on exhibitions.
That's correct. However, in 6 shows, you should at least qualify a sale, otherwise, something's off between the venue and the art itself. Wishing you all the best!
Is it ok if I start selling unlimited prints while my style is developing? Once I feel prepared that my artwork is ready for galleries I can sell few limited edition prints. It just that I want my artwork to be my main income but I understand that you said that selling unlimited and cheap prints of my artwork can a bad long term choice. Is it ok if I just do it at the beginning of my art career ?
You can certainly do this at the start of your career, but it devaluates your original pieces instantly. Plus, because there are so many prints available, the results are most often rather underwhelming.
Very useful content for emerging artists, thank you 🙏 I agree with everything you’ve said. Unfortunately, a lot of it is also trends/fashion, luck, unfairness, subjective taste, favouritism, who you know, how you dress, how you talk, your ethnic background and where you come from, money etc etc The art world is not a beautiful place. Yes, Instagram and galleries are important and we need them make ourselves more visible but how many followers you have shouldn’t matter next to your art which is the most important. Galleries are shops and they shouldn’t treat us like products. They need us too… I had experiences where a curator conducted a studio visit and asked me to paint in certain way to sell more… because she has seen that in the biennale last year … ain’t doing that. Of course this doesn’t go for all of them, there are also respectful people but in short nobody but you should have full control over your art. Thanks for reading.
Hi Hamit, thank you for tuning in and for your comment. Yes, everything plays a role-who you are, your natural charisma, your presence, your persona, etc. It's not only about the art, it is also about the artist. The art world can sometimes be an ugly place, but it can also be very beautiful. I agree you should stay clear from galleries or curators that are imposing their vision. In the end, we're all free in the art world and you should always maintain your artistic integrity to remain free! Have a great day
What is your opinion about responding to galleries who accept on-line submissions? Here in the western part of the US, a number of galleries in the larger cities indicate on their websites that they accept these submissions.
Accepting online submissions is fine, but most often, the best galleries will curate their program by invitation only. One could almost argue the better the gallery, the less likely there will be a policy for unsolicited submissions. Hope this might help! Have a great day
Thank you for your reply. For artists who are newly emerging, those newer and/or smaller galleries provide a chance to exhibit one's work. These smaller galleries are often looking for talented artists as a way of building the gallery's reputation, just as emerging artists are looking for galleries. Connecting with these galleries is a step in the process of building a reputation that could lead to representation by the larger, better known galleries. Since I'm in the US and you are in Europe, perhaps there is a difference.
I put commission art before all. Its easier for me and many others to find someone with interests similar to mine/theirs and sell them a commission. I think this video is ranked this way based on your experience. Not everyone is suitable to work with a gallery - your strength
I think there is a different strategy you should go after depending on the art you make. Some art is a lot more exclusive, complex, conceptual and high end. You can ruin your career by treating it like a business and pushing yourself forward. But most art has a lot more to do with visual design than art. In that case feel free to act like a businessman - create posters, cards, go into mass production etc...make money! Pay the rent! Why not. Its all about matching your particular art with the particular strategy. Not every man with a brush is an artist automatically. 90% of them are designers who only think they are artists. Thats why some strategies dont work for them while they do for others.
Exactly. It´s alot, to have the art-making and the art-selling work for just one person! It´s exhausting, especially when you have other duties as well such as a family. Anyway, it´s alot for one person!
@@ateliersarahanahoryvapaos Definitely. Most artists aren't good at self promotion. Me included. I also get bored with painting one style or theme for too long, which isn't ideal for selling art.
@@lofi-guy Am just like that too! I like to explore different styles and mediums. I do nevertheless sell pretty well when I make the effort. / Now got curious about your work...where can I see it?
@@mikenoneofyourbusiness7122 The problem is that the very capitalist system we have to work within compromises and distorts creative freedom. Most so called artists are mere craftsmen masquerading as artists. Some are mere ad men.
I would like to know how to make it into a great galleries even if I make an actual living from illustration and graphic design. My work might be present across posters, tshirts, booklets, because it is my job. Still, I have some amazing paintings and will continue creating more. Are the best art galleries willing to accept me?
I wonder, IF you can attend contest + open call ect. by sending in the same work? ( if it´s fits to the topic) OR should it be always something different? >>> Can I repeatedly send in the same work ? ...
You can, absolutely. But make sure that it doesn't get accepted simultaneously, otherwise, you could have some trouble when having to exhibit that work in two different places at the same time. Go for it!
Hi Dejan, yes, absolutely. Talking about your own art and representing/selling yourself are two different things, the latter being very unnatural and difficult to get right. Thank you for tuning in!
@Mike Noneofyourbusiness it's because it is inherently obnoxious to wax poetic over your own genius....it sounds like bragging and it feels terrible. Your diagnosis that this must be a lack of confidence or poor quality art is simply a function of your poor quality analytical skills.
Thank you very much for this talk that so exhaustively deals with such a complex subject. From my experience on You Tube, in addition the comments that a good video receives are also very interesting and valuable, so it is worth double.
You mentioned how representing yourself as an artist could result to a role conflict however don't Takashi Murakami also commercialize his work and himself? I guess its a rare situation to be successful on.
Hi Lei, Takashi Murakami also works with Gagosian Gallery, Perrotin, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, and Martin Lawrence Galleries. Occasionally there will be some artists with some personal ventures, for instance Damien Hirst's personal auction in 2008, but these are rather exceptions than the rule. Thank you for tuning in!
I watch a sculptor on twitch who does live streams of commissions he accepts. All his work os custom. That’s kind of the way I want to go with, except the streaming part.
As for the art fairs - I’ve been represented by galleries -and have sold direct for years - calories are cool, but they will most likely only show you once per year. This is not enough to live on. Also, I’ve always been non-exclusive with any gallery, and when the gallery wants me to go exclusive, I just say no. I’ve been sold all over the United States, by maybe 10 different galleries,. And even with those sales, it’s not enough to live off of, I have to sell, original art sketches in art prints, and various websites and different conventions in order to make a living. Until you’re at a point where you’re selling paintings for $20,000 and you can sell 20 of them a year. Just remember that a gallery will take 50% so, he really have to be selling quite a bit. I know tons of artists that sell direct to collectors that make a really good living. I think you have to do this to build up your credibility, and once or known and selling a gallery, will want to show you. But in my opinion, I will never go exclusive with a gallery.
During my break I briefly went to the other room and did not close the door well. A little bit of wind did the rest of the magic trick 😅 Thank you for tuning in!
I’d rather sell my artwork $100-1000 max to average middle class buyers than have any middleman fleece 75% of my hard work. Most people cannot afford original work. Even if it’s high resolution prints or photographic works - most buyers are out priced drastically. Galleries cater for deep pocketed business savvy investors.
There are average middle class buyers who also purchase more expensive works-and they do it at art galleries. The idea that only the super rich visit galleries is simply wrong. The power of all the major art cities filled with galleries is that there are so many regular people, private collectors, visiting and collecting in those galleries.
Hello dear readers and subscribers; today we discuss 20 ways how to make money as an artist, ranking them from best to worst, so you can opt to implement the best and most efficient monetization strategies in your career.
Read the full article online here: www.contemporaryartissue.com/20-ways-how-to-make-money-as-an-artist-best-to-worst/
Discover art opportunities at Artenda: artenda.net
Or request our CAI Advisory Report service for 1-on-1 personalized advice here: www.contemporaryartissue.com/submit/
If you have any further questions, feel free to comment down below, and we'll chat very soon!
All my best,
Julien
I agree
Super conseil merci 😊
AI is gonna steal your art as soon as you make it.
I disagree about being too commercial. Branding and marketing is more important than galleries. Gallery credibility is in question because I know of many "quality" galleries that are now selecting artists based off of their instagram followings. The quality is quickly become secondary to artist social status and built in follower base. I would advise the artist to look at the art business as they would any other business. Most high end galleries won't entertain another artists without an endorsement from someone they deem to be a mover and shaker. Most artists will never be movers and shakers because they will never be endorsed regardless of talent. Create your own universe through marketing and affluent relationships and the galleries will automatically change their tune. I respect your opinion and I love your channel but I have seen differently.
It completely depends on your work and where you are located. The gallerists I have talked to have all said they find artists through other artists. These types of galleries don't want to compete with your commercial business. They are more interested in finding artists whose work is community/engagement oriented, or make large scale, experimental work.
This isn't true for everyone but I have more than a few friends who were found through small local shows and artist communities.
It's just a different track.
Lame
Hi POPE, thank you for tuning in and sharing your honest thoughts-I respect your opinion as well, and there is truth in it for sure. It comes down to what I mentioned at the end of the art fairs chapter; it often depends on what type of artist you want to be, what feels comfortable, and what works for you. So you are certainly right here, and not everyone is destined to follow the same path-or the path I generally discuss here. Branding is becoming increasingly important, but the important distinction here is that an artist is not a brand but a person. The advice to look at your business as an artist as you would look at any other business simply is something I read very often but strongly disagree with-for various reasons. You cannot market yourself as you would market a traditional business, nor can you market your art in the same way you could market commercial goods or services. When it comes to building a following on Instagram-as we have mentioned a couple of times here-that's a great strategy and validation that there is a market for your work. But doing this so you would be selected by galleries that curate their program based on the IG following of an artist does not sound like a good idea at all. They simply want a share of your pie of clients and sales-so they are not really quality galleries but rather opportunistic, in my humble opinion. On the other hand, I completely agree with affluent relationships and creating your own universe! Interesting topic, interesting discussion. Thanks!
@@contemporaryartissue I think there needs to be a discussion about the reality of making it as a traditional gallery artist or as an artist in the established art world. I would encourage artists to consider moving away from dreaming of landing in an established upper tier gallery as salvation. You stand a similar chance of getting drafted in the NBA. Please don't misunderstand me as bitter. I am fine with my career as an artist and I have achieved many of the things that you cover, but I only open up these thoughts for those who may not get the same opportunity but have immense talent. The myriad of opportunities outside of the traditional art world are so untapped. It is virtually still the wild wild west of possibilities. Also the rules of art are so subjective, they become detrimental to the artist themselves. I concluded a showing with a talented artist that was critiqued for having a cohesive body of work by buyers that were interested in a varied vision. That very notion is contrary to what I learned as an artist. Needless to say my sin in having variety resulted in my rent being paid for several months. As an artist, creation is what I value of course. As a business man, the rent being paid is paramount. Any artist that wants to sell is for all intents and purposes a business person at that point. It is such an interesting conversation. I will definitely refer others to this channel!
@@lifeasart101 Completely true good analogy. Entry level galleries are barely making ends meet nowadays, and they are highly controlled by appealing to becoming a “seriously” high end gallery. I even live in LA, an art center, and there are a million artists here. Only .0001 % get decent representation with a small gallery and the sales are never enough to live on. I actually know someone a client , in Hauser worth a huge gallery but it’s only one in a million chance.
On the other hand I watched street artists become famous over the years here, some just networked and got good collectors aka Michael Kohn gallery, did music videos and met people and got in galleries through street fame, like Retna. Fame is a business itself I guess.
But yea, the established art world is very exclusive by nature, and requires a ton of networking and following their social codes , it’s a lot of silly nonsense that gets most artists 99 out of 100 nowhere , and reduces their soul, their creativity. They say just make a product and repeat is the formula. Just my opinion from doing art for 25 years. Okay, have a good day .
I respect your opinion, and applaud anyone who shares knowledge with others.
For me personally, I don’t aim to be accepted in any industry. My challenge is to understand how I want to contribute to the world, and use my art to do that.
Carpenters, fabricators, and masons are also artists. Their art is displayed in front of us everyday in our buildings and the infrastructure that we interact with everyday.
Its important for me to always remember that different industries are interrelated in ways we don’t often notice. I would be afraid to pigeon hole myself into one industry, because I would narrow my ability to see the world differently.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, the more we all share the better we will all be for it.
Disagree
I'm a carpenter and tile setter, and they have an artistic aspect they are not art .
@@sbencic4147I like your distinction of the job having an artistic aspect. That’s better phrased than how I wrote my comment. Thanks for commenting.
I'm a retired cabinet builder. I loved those very few jobs where I acted as designer. The majority of the time I worked for others and did some ugly, stupid projects. For my own sanity I built high end rustic furniture and was hoping to do that when I retired. Unfortunately, styles changed and my body failed me. I will always be a craftsman who is an artist. Today I build picture frames and do painting so I have something to put in them. I don't know about a contribution to the world. The world is largely uninterested. So the goal is to get them interested. If I can let a viewer see the world with a little clarity, I've succeeded. Not sure I'm doing a very good job.
Right! Hi from totally blind artist! I paint by touch after my loss of sight. My husband made me blogs, but we mooved to Los Angeles one year ago and we started new life. It was not easy. Much inspiration from our art family! ✨💫🎨🎊💝
Hi Kate, thank you for tuning in. Wishing you and your husband all the best! ❤
@Expf4578 🙂🙂🙂
I am a video/animation designer artist living in France. For me, even though I create videos and animations for companies, they have to agree that I will have complete creative control. They hire me to create video ads because they saw my personal work and trust in my choices and judgment
I want to find success as an artist not sure how to start
I'm an artist too, but based in Nigeria for now, can we talk more about it?
I could be called a successful artist, since I am present on the most important online art platforms, artsy, 1stsibs,and many more, had works estimated at over 100k and do believe I have some advices that may help other artists.
1. You can definitely see yourself as a business, your own name is your brand. You represent a style, a color, a way of expressing something creatively, and you are associated with it.
2. What matters most is the quality of your work. You must try to have an impeccable quality, and very creative work. Excellence is the key. Whenever you will be truly excelent, success will come naturally, no social media needed, no galleries, people will be drawn to your excellent work.
3. Make your own niche, have your own substyle, tackle new topics in a very creative way, be different, very different.
4. Art galleries are not essentials (anymore) . We live in the 21st century, art consumption changed drastically. I have turned many important art galleries over the years, and kept a couple with selected works, not because I need them but... Because because they are nice people (sounds absurd, I know)
5. To be continued...
Hi Lee, thank you for tuning in and for contributing to the discussion! Indeed, your persona as an artist is the brand. Quality is key! As is originality. Something fresh and new will also be appreciated, hence the saying variety is the spice of life. To be continued indeed. Have a great day!
would love to hear more :D
Andrew Wyeth (via his wife Betsy) and Wolf Kahn both promoted their art (kept their art in the public imagination) by selling prints, having their art on calendars, and in books, etc, and all this before it was cool. Turner was as commercial as hell as attested by a modern biography. Richard Diebenkorn was a great teacher and is now recognized as a great artist. Rembrandt was a teacher! Indeed, Rembrandt packed them in and of course artists of his era routinely taught other artists with the aim of creating studio assistants. Numerous highly successful contemporary artists teach and sell art instruction via online classes or streaming services or digital media. If you are concerned about your soul -- your artistic soul -- your soul generally -- read deeply in the religion of your choice and form a life-affirming spiritual practice, but to make money, find the path that is natural for you and don't let someone on the internet tell you how to live! Or -- remember (irony alert) you can always start a TH-cam channel giving out art advice. Evidently, that works too.
We are now breaking barriers! Making our own rules. The best person to represent you is yourself! Once you fall into the mindset of commercial or high end you allow the money to control the energy of the piece. This why the industry is so stuck up because they want a third party to determine what's industry accepted. Every one makes money off the artist if you play this industry accepted mindset.
Let's agree to disagree. From my experience, the art industry does not solely make money of the artists, the artists also make money thanks to the galleries, the critics, the curators, the institutions, the art prizes, the grants, etc. I do agree when your mindset is commercial the energy of your art can shift for the worse-but this is not the same as respecting/following the unwritten rules of the art world, on the contrary.
Love your perspective! I´m curious how the art industry will develop in the future. Maybe it won´t change at all - but we well see that the parallel universe of smart and independent artists will expand. 🙂
I talk to local restaurants and coffee shops about displaying my work for short periods of time and most are happy to do so for a small percentage off the price of the pieces. Ive sold more than a few pieces like this
Hi, can i ask how percentage off the price you do ?
I played parts of this a few times and I get the impression that in order to follow the “rules” and maintain “artistic integrity” are so limiting in the ways you’re “allowed” by the secret rules of the gallery system .. it’s just a way to make you dependent on them.
Granted in the larger art world a gallery can do more or promote you in ways you can’t.
Thank you. I do like the emphasis on "artistic integrity" being important.
ive just watched a few of your videos and I can't believe how much amazing valuable information you have in them! I am DEFinitely going to watch a LOT of these as they are really giving me the motivation to get my website going ( i can do it!) and focus and make a detailed plan for the next few months of artmaking. Thank you so much for creating these!
The pleasure is all mine! Happy to hear the videos are helpful and motivating/empowering 💪 Wishing you all the best!!
That was an awesome video! It covers all the options available to us artists.
The thing is, we artists just want to spend our time creating, and we tend to get lazy about marketing, networking, and other tasks that take away from our creative energy... And time. That's why I decided to enter the comic book industry, just to work with (not for) a publisher who I can collaborate with - I create, and they handle the sales, splitting the profits, and everyone will be happy! XD
I've tried doing online and social media marketing and I quickly burned out. So I thought to myself, 'Why don't I just leave the marketing to the people who specialize in it, and focus on doing what I do fine?". It was a long road preparing it, but this year I'm testing it.
I'm a former art professor and watched the art world, knew some successful NYC gallery artists. YES-- THERE ARE TWO ART WORLDS...what kind of artist are you? The slimmer but more prestigious "gallery route" respected, less selling, higher cost of art (as the percentage needs to go to gallery cut and you.)
But IF, IF, you are GOOD AT MARKETING & storytelling AND DEPENDING on your type of art you can MAKE MORE MONEY AS AN ARTIST- no cut given away- you manage yourself mostly, marketing storytelling etc. many artists MAKE MORE direct to public, but yes half or more of your time is on marketing, networking etc. Basically Andy Warhol mixed both got museums etc but made himself a BRAND...that is a rare example.
MOst artists are one or the other level, and it's hard to be honest with yourself as to what type you are.
Hi there, thank you for tuning in and for your comment. You are absolutely right, there is more than one career path for artists, and you must first find the route you feel most comfortable with. In fact, last week or two weeks ago I wrote an article on this topic, feel free to give it a read or stay tuned for the video version: www.contemporaryartissue.com/artist-career-paths/
I have some questions about renting a gallery/space and run your own exhibition. A) Since anyone can rent and make an exhibition, there has been a overwhelm of hobbyists exhibiting their work (at least where I live). But if I am to distinguish myself and not be seen as just another 'happy amature', won't making my own exhibitions basically discredit me? Especially if I stand there and try to sell my own work?
B) Are exhibitions that I've organized myself something to mention in my resume? And in that case how should they be referred to?
Thank you for fantastic content!
That is a very good question; in the end, it comes down to this; if you make your own exhibitions professionally, it will not discredit you. Whereas hobbyists might be filling the space with as much art as possible, hanging prices and titles on the walls or even on the canvas, installing the works on cords, and even placing easels or banners to advertise their work, you should install the exhibition as if it is a high-end art gallery. A personal exhibition is a great way to learn, and there is no shame/discredit to it when done professionally. How to mention it in your resume, exactly the same way as any other exhibition. You don't have to specify the exhibition was self-hosted at all. Hope this might be helpful!
Really informative video. It's giving a lot of thinking for those who are still looking for the right "path" for their carreer. Also it gives a lot of insights into what the curated art industry looks like from within.
A side note though: although I can understand the "don't be a sellout"-message advising against using popular means in order to sell your art (etsy, blogging...), it makes me wonder : how come it's not considered losing your "artist integrity" when following the industries' rules ? To me it sound very hypocritical. I understand there is a lot of money and status to be earned while doing so, but I don't think the artist's essence is to be recognized by the curated art industry. I would even go so far to say that this might be the selling-out we are trying to avoid. If your goal is to keep your integrity as an artist, I don't think getting recognition from those lots is what you are looking for. Especially when you realize how much importance your social connections have in that world compared to your quality as an artist. I know of people who are very well connected and are "artists" but don't do any art by themselves and hire anonymous artists to actually do the work. They just sign their name on the artwork at the end of the day. One might wonder if the more democratic means offered by internet might actually be the place to be for the "real" artist. To me the curated art industry became more of a financial outlet, as many art buyers actually do it for speculation.
Hi Roxane, thank you for tuning in. When it comes to your question of the art industry rules, those rules are only guidelines to provide a professional environment or framework for the art to be experienced and collected in the best way possible. When it comes to the art itself, the artist is 100% free. Even more, this framework enables to artist to focus only on the art, and almost nothing else. When it comes to the real artists-however we define this-they are everywhere. I am considering to create a video on these paths and spheres; the traditional art world and the influencer model. Both have their plus and cons, but there are so many misconceptions about the first. For instance, the curated art industry is not merely a financial outlet, and most private collectors buy out of love and not for speculation. To be continued!
This is a very educational explanation, really needed by every new and established artist. Thank you for the video, I watched it from start to finish.
This is a great video. Unfortunately, tho I’ve been an artist all my life and studied in school and college, I am not widely known and at 64, its a bit late for me to plan for anything long term. Now it’s all about being able to pay rent and eat.
Hi Judi, thank you for tuning in. Being an artist your entire life is an achievement in itself. Never give up on your dreams! Keep doing what you do for as long as you enjoy it. Wishing you all the best!
@@mikenoneofyourbusiness7122 You are absolutely correct. School taught me nothing about marketing. I AM however recognized in a particular virtual world and had TH-cam videos done about me (just search on JudiLynn or JudiLynn India). But still, my work is not recognized offline by the brick and mortar community. And I’ve accepted this. But to pay bills, I am stuck with selling prints. Some have asked about buying canvases. I have no other income, so my art must support me in any way possible.
It´s never too late!!!!! Believe in yourself and your ability to earn more money than just for paying your rent and eat. You can do it - either within the traditional system, or by yourself. Check the teachings of Neville Goddard and learn how to tap into your intuition and to receive YOUR personal perfect strategy to increase your visibility and sales. "Manifest" people who can help you with it. Shut down the noise of all the rules and laws that seem to dictade an artits´s success. Allow yourself "more", knowing that you deserve the payout for your lifelong investment and dedication to your art. Sending you lots of love and positive energy from Germany.
But loving bussiness mentality I hoped you'll share your practical experience of what ways did you / your colleges personally try and how much a month on average were you / your collegues were able to make. So it's really calculable what ways to try for an average artist watching this channel. The ratio of what percentage of artists succeed / make a month / working hours.
Otherwise it's all smoke and mirrors.
I personally only tried online marketplaces, like Etsy, it was good fun and was a calculable way, like "paintings you have in your shop * paintings you produce and upload a month * average price = your income". Too bad many other artistic ways are not that calculablem which is why I always was shy trying them.
Hi Walperion Music, a great suggestion! I completely agree the video or information would be better with some actual numbers after some decent and thorough statistical research. I have taken note and put it on my to do list! Have a great day and stay tuned!
@@contemporaryartissue Love and cheers man!
Your critiques are absolute gems i just love to listen i have learned so much about art from them, thanks ❤
Apparently appreciateing art is every individuals right it is artists like us who appreciate art sure how many people appreciate our art great advise u have the vibe so we come to ur forum definitely ur wisdom has done wonders to many
23:43 Almost any type of book can be published on a print-to-order basis these days, including coffee table art books, meaning the financial investment is in creating the content, not printing it.
Thank you for all your high quality content, sharing your insights and allowing a safe space to discuss these topics. May I just add how important it is to learn acceptance when it does not work out the way you 'hoped' for despite doing it all.. It is incredibly easy to burn out and to become bitter if you do not check in in on your mental health, the intention to 'why' you are wanting to go down this path and if you do not work on yourself. Being kind to oneself and knowing who you are is incredible important on this journey while having an open mind to learn and grow. I studied and have been working on most of your points for 8 years non stop. My resume and craft has grown, I did solo shows exhibiting for my paintings and short installation films, have references from running and organiding shows myself, did courses on marketing and so much more. However, the reality is I also work every week in healthcare and weekly on my art. I had no holidays in 6 years and put every penny into my art. Everything is possible, but sometimes despite working hard it does not mean opportunities come to you as you imagined. I think it really is important to understand how much work it takes and how much time it takes away from the 'creating' while not knowing the outcome in regards to 'success'. You mentioned the work/life balance and I applaud you for it. I do not want to sound negative and am not, but I do think it truly is important to understand what this journey may ask of you in regards to compromises and at times sacrifices. If it calls you go for it I say and learn while doing it, but the outcome may be a different one you hoped for which is ok 🙏 All the best to all 🙏
Hi Isabel, thank you for tuning in and for sharing your honest thoughts and personal experiences. You are absolutely right. The right mindset, with realistic expectations, is crucial; otherwise, you could burn out sooner than later. We always advise finding a good work-life-art balance to make your practice and life sustainable financially and mentally. Pressure from the outside can be hard to deal with, but arguably pressure from the inside can be worse. Thanks a million for your contribution here, and wishing you all the best!
@@contemporaryartissue 🙏
Thanks for sharing. I agree with what you are saying. The "art industry" isn't easy to negotiate.
Also, there are many types of art, art markets and artists.
Art has the power to influence an audience.
Ask who is your audience?
Some artists are happy at art fairs, some are happy online,
some prefer established galleries
This is great information. I would say you have presented it from the industry acceptable point of view to sell art. It comes off as eliteist. As a photographer, it doesn't matter to me the way I sell my art. I want people to experience my art. With 7.8 billion people on this planet, driving up the price of a unique piece of art is the way it used to be done. I'm sure it's the medium I work in which makes it unique from other mediums. Always good to get other peoples perspective.
Hi there, thank you for tuning in and for your comment, and sharing your thoughts and experiences-it is indeed a feast to get other people's perspectives. Have a great day and wishing you all the best!
This was so helpful and so packed with information. Thank you!
Hi Sheila, my pleasure! Thank you for tuning in
I was art teacher, it's great experience. I made good money and was respected. For 5 years before that job I was selling art for 5 years and sold my work. 2008 was economical crash and impossible to sell.
Hi Alexli, thank you for tuning in and for sharing your experiences. Teaching is great indeed!
Apparently appreciateing art is every individuals right it is artists like us who appreciate art sure how many people appreciate our art great advise u have 😊the vibe so we come to ur forum definitely ur wisdom has done wonders to many
Most welcome, have a great day!
Hello! To which channels were you referring to at 29:30? Thank you and have a nice day!
From the top of my head, I really enjoyed this specific video and the style of it: th-cam.com/video/6gGn0XEOBNc/w-d-xo.html He also has some other videos on his channel that are a bit less professional and a bit more TH-cam-focused. But nevertheless, I believe this specific video is a very good example of a professional tone and using TH-cam for your art
So glad I've found your channel - really informative..... the challenge as an artist is always to get the mix of studio work and marketing...... studio work great- marketing not so great!!! Thanks for the awesome content!
Dear Lisa, thank you very much for tuning in. Glad to hear you enjoy the content. Yes, you are spot on. It can often be a minefield these days for artists, however, with the right information, things become a lot more clear and comprehensive. Wishing you all the best!
I’m really enjoying the videos, and am finding them helpful. One thing I’m currently considering, is to show/sell through a big auction-house. I approached them yesterday and showed some photos of my work and they were very interested, but is it a good strategy?
Great! Just what I was looking for. Thank you!
The pleasure is all mine, go for it!
Excellent channel. Full of great information. Have you considered doing a monthly artist spotlight video, for emerging artists?
Hi Dr. Shrinker, thank you for tuning in and for your most kind words. Indeed, we often create videos discussing a selection of emerging artists-and we represent a number of emerging artists we strongly believe in, resulting in some monographic videos about them as well. Have a great day!
Very informative video, I´m taking very seriously your advices and content. Which other store apart from Artsy is held in high esteem and recognition?, You mentioned other but I didn´t understand the name as english is not my native language. Thanks for your insight.
Fantastic advice - most I have discovered by my own trail and error - nice to have my experiences confirmed! Thank you. Gill :-)
Got to jump but will come back to this vid later. As always good stuff! Thank you.
Hi Daniel, welcome back anytime. The pleasure is all mine, wishing you a great day!
Thank you Dr Julian! Listening to your full spectrum complete and correct spot on advice is quite reasuaring to correct decisions made throughout!
It is of course very helpful to takesteps into venturing mindfully while keeping true to the Art which has cost more than an arm or a foot throughout!
Dear Amaresh, thank you for watching! Great to hear this video helped you, and hopefully, it gives you that bit of extra confidence to go forward. Wishing you all the best!
This is interesting in many ways but what I didn't know is certain money funnels are deadly. Wow, what eye opener. So here is a question if you have done some of these deadly sells funnels. How do you recover from them, our do you even have a chance to even be an artist if have done these deadly sells funnels by mistake?
You're a gem. Thank you for all you do here.
Thank you for watching and for your very kind words. I appreciate it!
Hi thanks for your video , I found it very interesting as it confirms many things I wanted to do in a to do list! I would like to ask you if you know any on line curator course, I couldn't find anything yet. Thanks again!
If one is a lover of artworks but doesn't have the skill to draw, can he still make profits from buying from the real artists ?
Yes of course, you can first build up your gallery as a lover of Arts.
Then you can contact some known Art collectors like Mr. Delmar of Hantzgroup.
He has large community of Art buyers, he will buy up all your artworks and sell to his community members.
This is interesting. Does he buy all types of drawing like charcoal paintings
Once your drawings are great he buys all, I can't speak for him tho, you can confirm from him
Your insights are appreciated !
The pleasure is all mine!
Priceless Information! >>> THANK YOU !
The measure is all mine! Thank you for tuning in
Wow such a great video, i have 24 new tabs to work through after watching this :) Can you give any examples of artists youtube channels that you like? Thank you, Daniel
Hi Daniel, thank you for tuning in. Good luck with the 24 tabs 😅 When it comes to artists with a TH-cam channel, I like videos on the style of this one for instance: th-cam.com/video/6gGn0XEOBNc/w-d-xo.html However the entire channel is a bit too "vloggy", whereas other channels that are very professional such as the channel of Studio David Claerbout, can be a bit too boring. So it's about finding this balance between both and I believe the established galleries have found the right tone for TH-cam, think of David Zwirner or Perrotin gallery, especially with those artist studio videos and interview documentaries. Hope this might help!
@@contemporaryartissue Thank you. Really appreciate your answer. Will check out the links now :) I find it really interesting the relationship between integrity and Art. Can you recomend a good book on the philosophy of Art as i have so many questions running round my head... Also, how much "you" as a person should stay out of the way of your Art... sometimes I find the art amazing but the artist is annoying 😁 and lastly..What is your objective opinion on Mosaic Art, does it come under fine art or decorative art? Sorry for all the questions (Im a mosaic artist that creates one off pieces but interior decor seems to be the more popular choice)
Great video! very informative and helpful! Thanks
The pleasure is all mine! Thank you for tuning in
Is it possible to rent your art, like a big 3D piece or sculpture - to galleries that charge fees for their exhibitions?
Thank you for putting this together!
How about working as a designer/webdesigner?
Hi there! Yes, great combination as an artist. Go for it!
The true Artist does not stand out within the bustle of the advertising show. Thank you for your advice, thank you
Absolutely spot on! Thank you for tuning in.
Thank God i found this channel. I stopped taking commission two years ago because it just frustrate me and makes me feel restricted and it just doesn't feel genuine.
You're absolutely right! They are a temporary solution to make some money, but they do not do anything for your oeuvre or to your career. Wishing you all the best!
Hello, I'm glad to find this channel,, it really makes my day. It's a pleasure to hear someone speaking about " artistic integrity " because that's really means a lot for artistic community. The integrity is our vision , if we loose that there's no fun at all, an artist go blind without it. You put that concept in the spot and thanks for that.
About rhe subject Sell or not sell ,, that's the question? Sometimes the less you sell the more you get into your own way,,, if you're desperate for money try get money from trading,,
Very informative video. Thank you.
"Art" only sells once it's famous ( to collector/investors) or if it's popular eg.: Popular images (created by following a formula) on t shirts ,tote bags and greeting cards.
Also originality and uniqueness a tote bag with an original and unique work gives the buyer the feeling he is also unique.
Very Very good video! Thanks a lot for all the tips especially what higher and lower your value as an artist!. I don't have the merchandise by choice and I mostly work by commissions, definelly still a lot to learn!
That's great to hear! Thank you for tuning in and feel free to stay tuned for more career advice :-)
Hello Julien!
Would you consider creating additional format in which your audience could send you examples of their works so you can look at them with your professional eye and share your thoughts in the video? I think there are many of us who really would appreciate possibility like that. For me it is hard to asess value of my own works and it would ment a lot to get feedback from person with your knowledge and expierience
thank you, great presentation and information.
Thank you so much 🙏 the pleasure is all mine
Lots to unpack in this !
Absolutely, feel free to read the full article at your own pace at contemporaryartissue.com Thank you for tuning in!
Thank you!! Great advice and I believe you’ve hit the nail on the head.. art is one of the the greatest forms of human expression, and commercialization of one’s art, unless done effectively can lead to a perversion of the purity of the process of authentic expression. Thankyou for your valuable input and advice!!! Keep channeling and creating!!!
Will do! Thank you so much for tuning in and for leaving a comment. I appreciate it!
thank you again you are very informative
Hi Lore, how have you been? The pleasure is all mine!
@@contemporaryartissue I am creatively great but I am receiving a lot of resistance in the art world. Thanks for asking I hope you are doing well
Thank you for such a great and concise insight.
Hi Anije, the pleasure is all mine! Thank you for tuning in
Brilliant and helpful video!
One question though regarding "art merch"... Every major museum and mega art gallery offers various extensions of their art collections through merchandise, via their own shops. It's especially true with pop and contemporary artists (both dead and alive), because their work lends itself so well to being adapted and reproduced in limited editions, without destroying the artist's image and value. What are your thoughts on this, if you don't mind? Are they the exception, and if so, why? Thank you very much!
Thank you for tuning in and for a good question. The unwritten rules for artists are different than the rules for institutions and galleries. A gallery is allowed to be more commercial, especially big art brands such as the mega-galleries and the art institutions. Hope this might help!
Thank you!@@contemporaryartissue
Due to the nature of art as an alternative investments and the downward evaluation of money making schemes and art, which has the secular to sacred paradigm, it seem any person mad enough to embark on any kind of cultural input is placed on the identity politics authentic the gesture spectrum curve. It requires the identity politics (artist) investor to have enough capital to easily sustain the kind of risk without taking up the stock and shares approach to their identity politics kind of art which comes down like a pack of cards once money seems to be involved it the construction of self. So one approach is Leibniz combinational theory in Monadology. If structures of the universe had simple combinations for argument sank then a construction of an artist self ought to comprise of a simple combination which might be the outsider and insider perspective. This would correlate to the inner subjective sense of self and an objective public sense of self construction as a sustainable self evaluative cultural practice and with luck give an intrinsic value too.
One criticism is why the text is in white, making it hard to read in this video, which I find very insightful, so thank you.
Thank you Yas for your valuable feedback! And thank you for tuning in
This is the most realistic video on the matter i see in years
Thank you so much for tuning in and for the kind comment 🙏
Thanks to you@@contemporaryartissue
Thanks, great stuff!
The pleasure is all mine, thank you for tuning in!
Thanks for the video -great advice -
I have exhibited in group exhibitions 6 times and never sold any artwork via those exhibitions. Some of the exhibitions were a bit questionable but still, you cant rely to always sell on exhibitions.
That's correct. However, in 6 shows, you should at least qualify a sale, otherwise, something's off between the venue and the art itself. Wishing you all the best!
You have very good sound quality.
Thank you for your positive feedback!
Hi,
please kindly advice Art residency
names.
i am an a artist painter & crafs last 18years including jewellery Designer.
Thanks
The way the lighting flickered and the door opened on its own. 😳😨
Thank you for your ideas to make money in art and giving awareness to all artists. I am Nick Rodis speed artist from the Philippines.
Hi Nick, the pleasure is all mine. Thank you for tuning in and wishing you all the best
I would like to add that artists can get known through the film and music industries, the theater, or other collaborations.
How do i raise funds for Studio Facility here in Nigeria 🙏
Thanks for this information.
Is it ok if I start selling unlimited prints while my style is developing? Once I feel prepared that my artwork is ready for galleries I can sell few limited edition prints. It just that I want my artwork to be my main income but I understand that you said that selling unlimited and cheap prints of my artwork can a bad long term choice. Is it ok if I just do it at the beginning of my art career ?
You can certainly do this at the start of your career, but it devaluates your original pieces instantly. Plus, because there are so many prints available, the results are most often rather underwhelming.
Very useful content for emerging artists, thank you 🙏
I agree with everything you’ve said. Unfortunately, a lot of it is also trends/fashion, luck, unfairness, subjective taste, favouritism, who you know, how you dress, how you talk, your ethnic background and where you come from, money etc etc
The art world is not a beautiful place. Yes, Instagram and galleries are important and we need them make ourselves more visible but how many followers you have shouldn’t matter next to your art which is the most important. Galleries are shops and they shouldn’t treat us like products. They need us too… I had experiences where a curator conducted a studio visit and asked me to paint in certain way to sell more… because she has seen that in the biennale last year … ain’t doing that.
Of course this doesn’t go for all of them, there are also respectful people but in short nobody but you should have full control over your art.
Thanks for reading.
Hi Hamit, thank you for tuning in and for your comment. Yes, everything plays a role-who you are, your natural charisma, your presence, your persona, etc. It's not only about the art, it is also about the artist. The art world can sometimes be an ugly place, but it can also be very beautiful. I agree you should stay clear from galleries or curators that are imposing their vision. In the end, we're all free in the art world and you should always maintain your artistic integrity to remain free! Have a great day
@@contemporaryartissue thank you for this empathetic and thoughtful response. Have a good day 😊
What's the name of the platform for residencies and contests besides Artenda?
The other platform is ArtConnect-best of luck!
What is your opinion about responding to galleries who accept on-line submissions? Here in the western part of the US, a number of galleries in the larger cities indicate on their websites that they accept these submissions.
Accepting online submissions is fine, but most often, the best galleries will curate their program by invitation only. One could almost argue the better the gallery, the less likely there will be a policy for unsolicited submissions. Hope this might help! Have a great day
Thank you for your reply. For artists who are newly emerging, those newer and/or smaller galleries provide a chance to exhibit one's work. These smaller galleries are often looking for talented artists as a way of building the gallery's reputation, just as emerging artists are looking for galleries. Connecting with these galleries is a step in the process of building a reputation that could lead to representation by the larger, better known galleries. Since I'm in the US and you are in Europe, perhaps there is a difference.
I put commission art before all. Its easier for me and many others to find someone with interests similar to mine/theirs and sell them a commission.
I think this video is ranked this way based on your experience. Not everyone is suitable to work with a gallery - your strength
27:38 invisible ghost 👻 enters through right door. 30:03 ghost probably exits, or stays but closes door to avoid being detected
Spooky indeed 😅 Thank you for tuning in!
😂
I think there is a different strategy you should go after depending on the art you make. Some art is a lot more exclusive, complex, conceptual and high end. You can ruin your career by treating it like a business and pushing yourself forward. But most art has a lot more to do with visual design than art. In that case feel free to act like a businessman - create posters, cards, go into mass production etc...make money! Pay the rent! Why not. Its all about matching your particular art with the particular strategy. Not every man with a brush is an artist automatically. 90% of them are designers who only think they are artists. Thats why some strategies dont work for them while they do for others.
Well stated, thank you ❤
But I just want to sit at home in my underpants painting. I'm really not made for this selling game. 🤣
😂😂😂 With good gallery representation, your dream will come true 😂
Exactly. It´s alot, to have the art-making and the art-selling work for just one person! It´s exhausting, especially when you have other duties as well such as a family. Anyway, it´s alot for one person!
@@ateliersarahanahoryvapaos Definitely. Most artists aren't good at self promotion. Me included. I also get bored with painting one style or theme for too long, which isn't ideal for selling art.
@@lofi-guy Am just like that too! I like to explore different styles and mediums. I do nevertheless sell pretty well when I make the effort. / Now got curious about your work...where can I see it?
@@mikenoneofyourbusiness7122 The problem is that the very capitalist system we have to work within compromises and distorts creative freedom. Most so called artists are mere craftsmen masquerading as artists. Some are mere ad men.
شكرا لك 🙌
I would like to know how to make it into a great galleries even if I make an actual living from illustration and graphic design. My work might be present across posters, tshirts, booklets, because it is my job. Still, I have some amazing paintings and will continue creating more. Are the best art galleries willing to accept me?
Great video, as always, I more than appreciate your high quality, in depth content 🫶🏻
Hi Ben, thank you so much for your loyal support and kind words for this channel. I appreciate it!
I wonder, IF you can attend contest + open call ect. by sending in the same work? ( if it´s fits to the topic) OR should it be always something different? >>> Can I repeatedly send in the same work ? ...
You can, absolutely. But make sure that it doesn't get accepted simultaneously, otherwise, you could have some trouble when having to exhibit that work in two different places at the same time. Go for it!
@@contemporaryartissue Thanx a lot !
I used to own a cafe which I decorated with my own art. I can attest to the mortifying feeling of representing myself to clients.
Hi Dejan, yes, absolutely. Talking about your own art and representing/selling yourself are two different things, the latter being very unnatural and difficult to get right. Thank you for tuning in!
@Mike Noneofyourbusiness it's because it is inherently obnoxious to wax poetic over your own genius....it sounds like bragging and it feels terrible.
Your diagnosis that this must be a lack of confidence or poor quality art is simply a function of your poor quality analytical skills.
Thank You.
I'd like to show in London and New York. I'm a professional artist, but I don't have any contacts . Any ideas?
Thank you very much for this talk that so exhaustively deals with such a complex subject. From my experience on You Tube, in addition the comments that a good video receives are also very interesting and valuable, so it is worth double.
Hi Jaime, the pleasure is all mine, thank you for tuning in! And a very good point!
You mentioned how representing yourself as an artist could result to a role conflict however don't Takashi Murakami also commercialize his work and himself? I guess its a rare situation to be successful on.
Hi Lei, Takashi Murakami also works with Gagosian Gallery, Perrotin, Kaikai Kiki Gallery, and Martin Lawrence Galleries. Occasionally there will be some artists with some personal ventures, for instance Damien Hirst's personal auction in 2008, but these are rather exceptions than the rule. Thank you for tuning in!
I watch a sculptor on twitch who does live streams of commissions he accepts. All his work os custom. That’s kind of the way I want to go with, except the streaming part.
As for the art fairs - I’ve been represented by galleries -and have sold direct for years - calories are cool, but they will most likely only show you once per year. This is not enough to live on. Also, I’ve always been non-exclusive with any gallery, and when the gallery wants me to go exclusive, I just say no. I’ve been sold all over the United States, by maybe 10 different galleries,. And even with those sales, it’s not enough to live off of, I have to sell, original art sketches in art prints, and various websites and different conventions in order to make a living. Until you’re at a point where you’re selling paintings for $20,000 and you can sell 20 of them a year. Just remember that a gallery will take 50% so, he really have to be selling quite a bit. I know tons of artists that sell direct to collectors that make a really good living. I think you have to do this to build up your credibility, and once or known and selling a gallery, will want to show you. But in my opinion, I will never go exclusive with a gallery.
Thank you , another great lecture!
Hi John, thank you so much for tuning in and for your most kind words. Have a great day!
I can’t stop thinking about the door opening by itself
During my break I briefly went to the other room and did not close the door well. A little bit of wind did the rest of the magic trick 😅 Thank you for tuning in!
Incredible work !
Thank you so much for tuning in!
Well done!
I’d rather sell my artwork $100-1000 max to average middle class buyers than have any middleman fleece 75% of my hard work. Most people cannot afford original work. Even if it’s high resolution prints or photographic works - most buyers are out priced drastically. Galleries cater for deep pocketed business savvy investors.
There are average middle class buyers who also purchase more expensive works-and they do it at art galleries. The idea that only the super rich visit galleries is simply wrong. The power of all the major art cities filled with galleries is that there are so many regular people, private collectors, visiting and collecting in those galleries.
Thank you 🙏🏿 good sir 😄😊