Is self-sufficiency through art possible?

[Michele Rushworth]

I don't network very well given my introverted nature and thus, don't do very well at making my art visible. I am NOT a business minded person...

Hate to say it but I got to where things are now by being extroverted by nature, and by working hard at making my art visible. Also, I am a business minded person.

Being a working artist is like running any other small business: make a good product, and, at least as important: let people know about it.

[Linda Brandon]

Carol, welcome to the Forum! I'm captivated by the lady with the dogs. I can't wait to see where it's going.

Most portrait painters I know have had to build up their career and have had to develop extroverted personalities in order to do it, whether they were extroverted to begin with or not. Every tiny step you take toward putting yourself "out there" will help. (Even posting here is such a step.)

I think part of the problem is that a lot of artists are somehow waiting for permission to become a professional. Nobody will give you permission! There is no license to do this, and there is nobody to tell you when you're "good enough." Assume that you are "good enough", push yourself as hard as you can to make your art as good as it can be, get some business cards and flyers out there, and see what happens.

[Mary Sparrow]

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.

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

Carol, your work is impressive and you should be proud to share it here.

In terms of getting the word out, two very worthwhile marketing tools are a website and a miniportfolio to carry about with you. Most of my earlier commissions have come from showing people those samples of my work and inspiring them to think about having a portrait made of one of their loved ones. I've also gotten some commissions from my website, but I find that that's most useful as a sort of online portfolio to send people to. That way if someone calls and expresses an interest I can give them the URL, or one family member can bring up the site to show others what he's thinking of doing. My prices are on there, too, which avoids having to deal with what can be a sticky issue face to face. Around here most people think that a portrait should cost a couple of hundred dollars.

Offering a discount on a portrait at the sort of auction which attracts potential art patrons is another way of getting your name out there, although it has never worked well for me. If you have gicl

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

Originally Posted by Mary Smith

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.

Mary, frankly I wondered why you didn't post there since your work definitely fits the category. Your next unveiling should move down to the professional section.

Leslie

[Michele Rushworth]

Mary, you wrote:

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.

Actually I said:

at least as important: let people know about it.

Marketing your work is as important as, if not more important than, making top quality paintings. There are some big name artists out there (whom I shall not name!) whose work is so-so but they have become well paid and famous anyway. And we all know many artists whose work is excellent but who languish in obscurity.

It's a double edged sword: paint well, and market well.

[Mary Sparrow]

Ah, my bust. Sorry about that! However, it has been true for me. But only on a part time basis. With the exception of having a website, I have never advertised, it has taken care of itself and I have always had something commissioned on my table. I know that when I am ready to go back to work full time I will have to step it up, and that extrovert in me will need to cross over and figure out how to market myself.