Are you the Local Artist?
When I began my pursuit of a career in art, I used the
internet as a tool to share my art with the rest of the world. It was only
after a few weeks into my journey as an artist that I thought:
Does my local community even know that I am an artist?
Perhaps this is where I should have started sharing my art,
making small ripples around my local town, spreading to bigger ripples and
travel miles to neighbouring towns and cities.
The only way some people in my local town had heard of me
was from word of mouth. But words do not convey my art. So I made flyers with
eye-catching imagery; an outline of my artistic style and intentions; links to
my websites, galleries and blog; my address and contact information. I designed
the flyers myself but printed them with Vistaprint for a reasonable price.
Front of Flyer
I usually see many flyers in shops and supermarkets, but I
want people to take the time to read my flyer and create an interest in my art.
So I thought of all the businesses that have the customer wait for their
services, places where you read a paper or magazine like dentists, take aways,
restaurants, hair dressers, barbers, laundrettes etc.
Back of Flyer
After doing this, people in my local area are constantly
commenting and congratulating me on my art. I intend to send out another batch
of flyers closer to the Christmas season when people need ideas for gifts to
loved ones.
The internet is possibly the greatest tool for selling your
art but you should also spread your art around your local area too, it might be
take more effort than online marketing, but it is definitely worth it.
Don't Quit your Day Job
Right now, the economic climate for the majority of artist
looks particularly bleak. With the financial instabilities of most artistic
careers - with low earnings, if any at
all - we need a day job to get by for living costs and funding for our job as
an artist. A day job means spending the majority of our hours working as
opposed to making art, which can sometimes negatively effect the final product
of the art. It can take a long time to juggle both the day job, which brings
the money in, and your passion as an artist, which is still waiting for it's
lucky break. It just takes some time getting used to it.
At the minute I am trying to find a job, to give me funds
for studying a degree in art; to obtain a certificate in teaching; to become an
art teacher; to build a harmonious combination of a day job as an art teacher
and an artist in my free time. Yea, I'm thinking way ahead into the future but
I feel this is what I have to do, to live a healthy life as an artist with a
day job that I will enjoy.
I felt this was the only was way I can see myself getting by
in the future, some of you have a job unrelated to art, purely for the money,
which you may or may not like. I think it is interesting to see what sorts of
jobs other artists have in order to get by.
So my questions for you are:
- What are your thoughts on the struggles an artist can face
throughout their career?
...and
- What is your current day job?
I asked this question on Fine Art America, here are some of
the job replies:
Benn Van: I'm a senior architectural draughtsmen, and won't
quit my job.I enjoy it too much.
Peter Piatt: This is my day and night Job. I set my own
hours, bookings, prices, and set my coffee pot for 6:00 am. But this life is
not for everyone. (especially for those who have a real life and family).
Jeff Kolker: accountant..CPA. Not easy..I am my job, as I
have my own accounting firm....
Marlene Burns: this is also my day job, never worked in
anything but the art field, for 40 years now. struggles exist in however you find
yourself as an artist. the key is how you face them.
Liora Hess: Day job is quality assurance in the medical
field. Even if I were selling enough work, I would have to keep the day job
because of the insurance.
