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[ Home: Art Business: Becoming a Pro - The Very First Steps ]
"Becoming a Pro - The Very First Steps"
Page 2 of 4

Author: Gradiva_Couzin, Contributing Editor



  • Quit your day job, or take a leave of absence, or cut down to 80% time, or work four 10 hour days, or do whatever you possibly can to devote at least one day a week to your art business! Moms: hire a babysitter or arrange to barter childcare to give yourself dedicated art time. Do this even if it is crazy, unreasonable, and impractical. Even if it makes your family really mad.


    • Here's where I went from there:


  • I told everybody I knew that I was becoming a professional portrait painter. Since I had no other discernible means of support, people took me seriously. If you aren't in a position to quit your day job, but you can devote Saturdays to your art, that doesn't mean you can't annouce that you are becoming a professional artist. You just aren't a full time artist.

  • I convinced a friend to "hire" me to paint a portrait of his parents. He paid me a small amount. That first portrait really helped me to take myself seriously and gave me something for my portfolio.

    Here is a photograph of "Portrait of Mr. & Mrs. Rivera", my very first portrait commission:


  • I started browsing artist magazines and websites, especially ones that list 'calls for art'. On the web, I recommend http://http://www.artistresource.org/ and http://www.wetcanvas.com/.

  • I signed up for the 'calls for art' list called Tentacle List at http://www.laughingsquid.org/tentacle/ .

  • I started photographing and documenting my work.

  • I gave every painting a title.

  • I dedicated a space in my apartment for painting.

  • I bought books on art business, and I highly recommend these two:
    Art Marketing 101, Constance Smith and The Fine Artist's Career Guide, Daniel Grant.

    • Join the Conversation!
    Don't wait - discuss this topic with fellow artists now in our forum!
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