Artists Helping Artists

30 Minutes A Day

The one thing I have loved about the art industry (from the artist’s standpoint) is how supportive the majority of artists are toward one another. It’s a real challenge making a living as an artist, but it can also be one of the most rewarding, intriguing, and fulfilling experiences of your life. I have met many wonderful people, and made some lasting friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life for sure. These people helped me, mentored me, and offered me the kind if encouragement, support, and advise that I was unable to find through family and friends.

I am a member of The ACE Art Group artist co-op. Members pictured from left to right:

Pia Davis, Bill Cramer, Emelina Figueroa, David Romo, and Melanie Banayat

I, too, enjoy returning the favor and passing on what I have learned thus far to emerging artists.

Here are some ideas on how to spend 30 minutes a day marketing your art career.
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• Apply for a Business Tax Registration certificate and Sales Tax permit that allows you to purchase supplies wholesale and charge sales tax.
• Purchase your domain name (register.com) and establish an internet presence. (either your own site or an artists' co-op site). If it’s your own site consider using ‘your name’ for your domain name to increase your name recognition. And it’s best to stick with a “.com” Address instead of .biz, or .net. because people are use to addresses ending in .com
• Hire a professional photographer, or assembl the photographic equipment necessary to properly document your work (emphasis on properly!)
  
• Document your work with properly labeled slides and organized digital files at 300dpi, and 72 dpi
• Do the necessary research to come up with a target list of places (galleries, museums, consultants) that may be receptive to your work.
• Subscribe to relevant art publications such as, ArtCalendar, Artweek, ArtNews, Art in America, etc. and whatever other publications will keep you posted on the activities of the contemporary art world in your community and elsewhere.
• Make a commitment to yourself to devote at least ‘X’ number of hours per week to the business aspects of your career...sending out slides/digital images, visiting galleries, making follow up phone calls, researching opportunities, talking to other artists.
• Read your local art reviews and visit exhibitions
• Organize files for yourself to keep track of in coming and out going correspondence, emails, phone calls, and contacts. (A contact management program, such as ACT, or Entourage can be invaluable.)
• Send out at least one package per week that will familiarize a gallery, private art consultant, curator or collector with your work.
• Agree to spend at least 1 hour per month online checking for new websites, e-commerce sites or art sites that may be of value.
• Email your website link to at least 3 people per month
• Assemble a personal mailing list of friends, target galleries and potential collectors that may be interested in your work for use when you send out exhibition announcements. I strongly suggest collecting email addresses to utilize email blasts!
• Have simple business cards printed with your name, address, phone number and email address, to distribute to anyone potentially interested in your work. If possible, include an image of your work on the card.
• Create an updated bio that outlines all your previous exhibitions, education, collectors, and awards.
• Write an artists' statement, not only for distribution and publishing on your website, but also to help you talk intelligently about your work, should someone ask.
• Create a simple consignment receipt and bill of sale for future use.
• Determine pricing parameters for your work.
• Prepare a referral list of resources for future use: framers, photographers, packers and shippers, printers, etc.
• Come to terms with the possibility of rejection and feel confident you can handle it.

Remember, this checklist is just a beginning. You will need to personalize it and adapt it to your specific needs. But, if you commit yourself to devoting time to all the activities listed above, you will have accepted the responsibility of seeing yourself as a working professional artist. Over time, the results you see WILL give you the exposure you want and your work deserves.

Artists Helping Artists