Today’s quote:
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. ~Andy Warhol
English: Andy Warhol (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Andy Warhol’s quote applies to art itself, but also to the business side of things.
Be honest: When did you last feel annoyed that financially, things aren’t going as well as you would like them to go?
And if this is the case: What are you doing to change this?
Many artists I know spend all day creating art, truly incredible art on top of that. And then they wait. And wait. And wait for the buyers to come. Sadly they don’t, and they won’t if you don’t also devote time to your business. Your business is not just creating art – it is also selling it if you want to make a living. The skills needed for this are what some artists are sorely lacking. So if you are not a natural salesperson, there are only two ways:
- Become a better one (even if you still don’t love that part of your work).
- Have someone else doing it for you.
Most artists I know, especially when they are starting out, feel they are not able to afford option 2 off the bat. However, working through an agent (or manager) is always a possibility. This is a subject on its own, and one with many pitfalls, but it still IS an option.
If you want to go it alone, you HAVE to invest in your business skills. No one will know how amazing your art is if you don’t learn how to sell it. Which will most certainly be something I will discuss on this blog sooner or later, so keep your eyes peeled 😉
© Petra Raspel 2013
artist sense 