I am an incredibly lucky individual.
I’m a professional artist. I get to spend my life creating meaningful cultural objects (paintings, in my case) and, on the really good days, watching other people connect with my creations. Sometimes, I even get paid for this privilege.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re an artist of some kind too. So you know what I’m talking about. But you also know that the life we’ve chosen isn’t always as simple and idyllic as I just made it sound.
There’s more to being an artist these days than hiding out in your sunny studio, creating your beautiful or powerful masterpieces, and emerging only to graciously accept congratulations at the opening receptions of your numerous solo exhibitions.
You’ve got to find or build a studio, for one thing. And you’ve got to come up with a way to fund the materials you need to make your work. And unless your best friend is an art dealer or curator, you’ve got to figure out how to get your work seen and appreciated and desired before you earn that exhibition. And don’t forget — there’s eating, paying for a place to sleep, and the electric bill too…
Being an artist is certainly not the only demanding career out there. But it does have some unique complications. For one thing, there is no single career ladder. Everybody has a different definition of what success would be for them. There aren’t too many objective standards for what is “good” or “worthy” or “valuable.” And there aren’t too many sources of information on how to navigate this crazy business.
That’s right, I said business. Some artists think that’s a dirty word. But many of the ones you’ve heard of have some awareness of the role of business in their creative careers.
Why, then, does the allergy to thinking of art in business terms persist? Here are a few myths that seem to perpetuate the resistence.
MYTH: If I become business-savvy, it is only a matter of time before I sell my soul.
REALITY: This is just patently untrue. Putting your work up on a website, sending a press kit to a gallery, or doing your taxes properly — all elements of business savvy — will not lead to the ruin of your integrity. You can still think independently and make the career choices that are best for you. Why not be well-informed and well-prepared when making those choices?
MYTH: My creativity will be stifled as I succumb to the pressures of business.
REALITY: It is true that sometimes, especially when it comes to marketing and selling their work, artists feel pressure to live up to someone else’s expectations, not their own. But if understanding smart professional practices can save you time or money or energy or stress, doesn’t that actually make more room for your creativity? Also, a knowledge of how to handle yourself in a business context will better prepare you to stand up for yourself and what you think is important in your work.
MYTH: My gallery will take care of all that business stuff when the time comes.
REALITY: Many artists do have this kind of relationship with their galleries or dealers — once they get them, of course. Dealers or agents can be a huge source of help, especially when it comes to the sale of your work. Still, taking personal responsibility for how your artwork (and you) are handled outside the studio shows that you have respect for the fruits of your creativity. That will earn you respect from the people you work with. It can also avert disaster if a working relationship comes to an end.
MYTH: I don’t need to understand the business of art — if I work hard enough, my talent will take me where I want to go.
REALITY: This is a tough one to let go. Wouldn’t it be great if it were true? Perhaps for some people it is. But for the rest of us… why would we want to short-change that talent? Why wouldn’t we give it every opportunity to be appreciated? As artists of any kind, we have been given the gift of self-expression, and the desire to share our ideas and visions with others. Forget money for a minute. Don’t we owe it to ourselves to pursue every avenue that could fulfill that desire? Understanding a bit about the business of art can help you choose the most efficient way to make your voice heard in the real world. Professional development alone won’t do the job, but it can certainly make it easier.
MYTH: I can’t understand business. My brain just doesn’t work that way.
REALITY: You’re not giving your brain enough credit. Your brain organizes your studio practice and figures out what kind of materials you need. It plans and executes amazing works of art. Your brain can bring an idea into reality. Becoming a business-savvy artist does not mean becoming a CPA or a lawyer. It simply means taking professional responsibility for your artmaking, and acknowledging that being an artist is a job as well as a passion. Once your brain truly understands this, and learns where and when to look for help, it can handle whatever art business issue comes its way.
Personally, I think a little professional savvy can go a long way toward empowering yourself to take control of your own career in a field that can be unpredictable and confusing. That’s why I’m writing this column. I’ve tried to find resources, programs, and mentors to teach me the business and professional practices I didn’t pick up in school. I hope the lessons I’ve learned from my own experience and that of others can be of value, or at least amusement, to you.
Most of all, I hope that these tips and musings can reduce a bit of the stress associated with that dirty word business, and give us a little more room to remember how lucky we are to be artists.
COMING SOON: Finding help.
Please feel free to contact me with questions about or ideas for The Business. I can only write about what I know, so the more I learn from you, the better this column will be. Thanks!
