Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post - Is self-sufficiency through art possible?

Mary Sparrow · 12-17-2004, 08:33 AM

Carol,

I am an extrovert in every aspect of my life, except my art and then I shut up like a clam. It takes every ounce of courage I have to tell people I am an artist. I think it is because of precisely what Linda just said. Nobody gave me permission to become a professional. Just last night when I was posting my unveiling of Charlie, I wondered to myself if I would ever be brave enough to post in the professional unveiling section. Now that I sit here and think about it, I have been working as a commissioned portrait artist for over a decade. Would that not make me a professional? While I may not produce works of art like Marvin, I still am making DOUBLE what I made working for the newspaper full time...and I work part time now, so that should give you a little encouragement. Don't get too excited, I still couldn't support my family doing this, but I do make a very nice extra income, much more than any other part time job I could have that is for sure.

So far, every portrait I have done has led to at least one more. Michelle's comment about making a good product being more important than worrying about marketing it is very true. Portraiture has a way of selling itself. The catch is to make sure that the first few you sell to has a network of friends that like to "keep up with the Jone's" and it will spread on it's own from there.

12-17-2004, 08:33 AM	#7
Mary Sparrow EDUCATIONAL MODERATOR Juried Member Joined: Jul 2001 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,120	Carol, I am an extrovert in every aspect of my life, except my art and then I shut up like a clam. It takes every ounce of courage I have to tell people I am an artist. I think it is because of precisely what Linda just said. Nobody gave me permission to become a professional. Just last night when I was posting my unveiling of Charlie, I wondered to myself if I would ever be brave enough to post in the professional unveiling section. Now that I sit here and think about it, I have been working as a commissioned portrait artist for over a decade. Would that not make me a professional? While I may not produce works of art like Marvin, I still am making DOUBLE what I made working for the newspaper full time...and I work part time now, so that should give you a little encouragement. Don't get too excited, I still couldn't support my family doing this, but I do make a very nice extra income, much more than any other part time job I could have that is for sure. So far, every portrait I have done has led to at least one more. Michelle's comment about making a good product being more important than worrying about marketing it is very true. Portraiture has a way of selling itself. The catch is to make sure that the first few you sell to has a network of friends that like to "keep up with the Jone's" and it will spread on it's own from there.