Attention Artists: You Can Make Money From Your Art With Six Safe Methods

Artists are a special breed. They march with a different drummer. Artists have been given a special gift, and that gift can be both very rewarding and very frustrating. The rewards are obvious. The frustration comes from how to make money from your creative efforts. The purpose of this article is to provide you with some tools to solve this problem.

It is important for artists to understand that they are the most important part of the “Art Market”. Without the artist there is no art market…no art galleries, no art shows, no art books, no art magazines, no art studios, no art supply houses, no art agents. In fact, there are no businesses of any kind related to the art world if it is not for the artist.

Earning money will never be your primary motivation, but it should come a close second if you want to live off your talents.

How should you represent your work to make a professional presentation of your artwork? As a professional artist, it is extremely important to give your best when submitting your art for review. The following six components are the foundation for making money from your artwork.

1.Visual Communication

So let’s start with how you communicate visually; And let’s also remember that as an artist you are in business, and every business must have a professional image. Here’s what you’ll need in the “Professional Stationery” category: Your letterhead; your business card; and your mailing envelope.

Your letterhead should be simple and creative. It should have your phone number, address, email address, and web address. Your business card should have all of the information found on your letterhead. Finally, your shipping envelope must have your logo and return address on it.

2. Professional slides and photos

You’ll also need some “professional-quality slides and photos.” What does professional quality really mean? As an artist, you are creating a visual product, a product that needs to be seen before it can be sold. Slides and photos are your product inventory. If you’re able to take a high-quality photograph of your work, that’s fine; but unless your photography really captures your work, hire a professional to do it for you. When photographing your art, it is important that you never do it in a frame. Framing is fine when your work is sold and hung, but those who review your work are distracted by the framing process.

When submitting your art for review or consideration, your slides must have at a minimum your name and phone number. However, if you really want to be professional, your slides should also have the title, medium, and size. The developing lab can do it for you. If you are sending photos instead of slides, please make sure all of the above appears on the back of each photo.

Every dollar you spend to make your art look professional is worth more than the cost. Photography is a business expense and tax deductible.

3. Internet presence through your own website

What about a “professional website” you ask? Absolutely! Four or five years ago, most artists did not know any of the following terms: URL, dot.com, Internet, Hosting, On-line, Search Engines, etc. They are only now beginning to see the value of an online presence as an incredible new opportunity for exposure.

If you don’t have a website yet, you need to remedy it as soon as possible. The fact is that the Internet offers contemporary artists a unique opportunity to exhibit and sell their art.
4. Professional brochure

A first class brochure can be the most effective way to visually present what you do and how well you do it. A professional brochure can create a better impression than a book complete with cheap reproductions. Your brochure should contain a representative sample of the scope of your work and should also include your biography.

A photograph must also appear on your biography page. Although this is not essential, an interesting image of the artist can influence the reader’s interest in the artist’s work. Make sure your brochure is produced using the four color process and is printed on 80-100lb glossy paper.

5. Professional biography

Your bio is basically an artist statement. It is understood why you do what you do, who has influenced your work and everything that has been written about you. Your bio should incorporate a photograph of you.

6. Where to send your art

Finally, who should you send your art to for review? The most readily available sources are: galleries; juried events; contests; print editorials; agents and representatives; art fairs; and art festivals.

Take these simple steps one at a time to help get you on the road to making money from your artistic talents. Remember to do your best and represent yourself and work as if you are in business because, in fact, you are.