SO, YOU WANT TO BE AN ARTIST? The Business of Being a Professional Artist
267,498
Published 2017-07-27
… The business of being an artist and working with galleries
Alan K. Avery, owner Alan Avery Art Company
Thank you to Charles Mitchell at Think Free Films for the video and editing!
Art School: Is it worth it?
o You can learn artistic rules on the Internet, by job shadowing or joining an artist co-op.
o You have to learn composition, perspective, anatomy, and color theory to become a successful artist.
o You have to learn the rules in order to break them.
Assessment of your talent: Why do you create your artwork?
o Photorealism is a technique and anyone can learn a technique.
o Great artwork is when you can bring incredible ideas and creativity together with incredible technique.
o Have reasons and inspiration behind your artwork.
Finding a Gallery
o There is a gallery for every artist.
o Networking is the most valuable tool you have as an artist.
o Be out in the artistic community and be seen.
Challenging yourself
o Being the top artist in a gallery is not necessarily the best for your career, long term. If you don’t challenge yourself, you will not experience growth as an artist.
o Being around other great artists helps to elevate your work.
• Rotating your artwork
o Rotate your artwork a minimum of three times per year in a gallery setting.
o Keeping the gallery inventory fresh will benefit your chances of being show to collectors.
Pricing
o You have to pay your dues, start low and work your way up the ladder.
Social Media
o Once you start getting a collector base, they will find you on social media.
o Put your best self forward, don’t air politics on social media.
The Business of Art
o An art dealer has the lowest profit margin of any business , a 50/50 split with the artists is not unfair.
o Galleries have to figure in the cost of running a gallery, hosting events and openings, and paying a staff. All of which comes from their 50% .
o Discounting artwork devalues the art for the rest of the collection.
o Many people have not been in an art gallery before. It is the gallery’s job to make people feel comfortable by speaking to and informing them about the art.
Signing with a Dealer: Is it necessary?
o It depends on the type of career you want. You can show at art festivals, sell your work online, or sign with a gallery.
o Brick and mortar galleries will stay in business regardless of the Internet.
Serious collectors want in person advice for purchasing artwork
o Do not sign with an art dealer until you have gotten to know them and know it is the right gallery and experience for you. Research the gallery and the art dealer.
Contracts
o They exist for a reason, to protect everyone involved. The reason for a contract is because an art dealer has been burned in the past and needs to protect their interests for the future. The same goes for artists, the contract is also there to protect your interests.
o If you do not understand terms in a contract, ask the dealer for clarity. If you see something you don’t like in your contract, you can ask for a revision to suit your needs. Make sure that your contract is an agreement between you and your art dealer. Make sure to read your entire contract. Does the contract deal with insurance coverage, who pays for shipping, and payment dates if a work sells?
o Know what your rights are before you approach a gallery. You have the rights to your work and how you are represented.
Alan Avery Art Company
656 Miami Circle, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30324
www.alanaveryartcompany.com
All Comments (21)
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Leonardo Da Vinci didn't go to art school because they didn't have such a thing. They had apprenticeships.
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I've made a full-time living off of my art for the last eight years. No gallery. Getting rid of the middle-person allows me to price my work optimally. I don't have to pay $10K do make an opening party become the work goes right from my studio to the collector. I don't attend many openings because I'm too busy doing what I'd rather do, making art.
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Comment section: 1% art, 99 % socks & history check. Chill out, the title starts with 'Business', not a lecture of art history.
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He's not wearing socks because they are in an exhibition somewhere.
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Art history is thinking and mind. Making art is feeling and soul.
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You know you're truly an artist when you wear shoes without socks.
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Secret of earning a living as a producing artist is a well edited mailing list... every artist needs 50 regular customers who will buy whatever they need a gift for someone... dealers and galleries take half but selling direct the artist gets 100%... add up what it cost to make and multiple by three- one to pay for materials and time, two to make another piece like the original, and three is profit... build a collector group and keep in touch with them... today it is easier than it was 40 years ago with social media... Art is a business.
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If you’re going to emphasize the importance of Art History, get your facts straight. Of course Leonardo went to art school. He trained as an apprentice painter since he was 13! Toulouse Lautrec also studies under a painting master!!!
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I went to art school and earned my MFA. The Number 1 thing I learned at art school was that I did NOT need art school. What we need is to learn how to market and sell art. Art school does not do that.
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I certainly hope the brick and mortar galleries don't disappear. I love going into them and seeing the work up close. The internet just isn't the same as actually being in front of a peice...
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This guy is a salesman. Not an art expert. But that is what is to be learned here.
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I went to art school in Germany and had the best time of my life. Didnt really learn technics, but had many many interesting conversations with professors, fellow students and other people at school. To say "you dont learn anything at art school" is just not true. I wouldnt be the person I am without the school.
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"Art school instructors teach you to paint like them." That's why I find it essential to my learning to explore dozens of different ideas and techniques. I have taken art instruction but didn't return because the instructors made comments that were prejudice toward a style, a material, a technique, etc. One said, "I don't know why anyone would want to work in watercolour." WTF? You don't have put something down to appreciate something else!
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Art school is great. I think it's also not the only way to make it. You'll learn great info and connections, but there are ways around it if you can't afford art school. Let's be real there are so many resources put there- don't limit yourself. Find mentors, work in galleries, connect yourself with other artists, Research, pay for online classes. Use what you have and bloom where you are planted.
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Bad start... Of course art schools, as we know them today, didn’t exist until the 20th century, so it’s damn non-sense to say Da Vinci didn’t go to art school. Old time artists did go through years of apprenticeship at older experienced artists. And oops, I forgot to put on my socks ! :-D
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Phillip i correct. The historical records and writings show that all of the masters during the early days of Leonardo and Michelangelo were, at one time, apprentices under a master for many years before they were allow to paint anything and learned about their craft from the bottom through prepping the studio, cleaning the studio, taking care of the studio(studio setup and maintenance lesson). They were even the models for the figurative works. Their parents also paid the master to take them (tuition) for their apprenticeship. This was the birthplace of the Academies and college training.
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As an artist far away in Africa, Ghana. Having the opportunity to get this advice for free means a lot .
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Leonardo da Vinci didn't go to an art school because it wasn't the system at the time. He did what other artists did when they were young, worked at a workshop where he got mentored by a master. His mentor Andrea del Verocchio also mentored Botticelli. Van Gogh might have not gone to art school but Picasso did, John Singer Sargent did, Chapman Brothers did, Jeff Koons did. Georgia O'Keeffe went to 5 schools. Etc etc. And pretty much all pre-20th Century artists were at least mentored by someone. Not saying these are all the best artists in my personal opinion but you can't deny their success.
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I think he is confusing Michelangelo with da Vinci?? I know this....because I went to art school..???
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Great info, thank you for sharing this video! Totally agree that contracts are so important. I've had gallery owners tell me they work on a 'handshake deal' - which is cute, but, when things go wrong, all that matters is what's in writing. I always insist on having all deals in writing - the most important thing it does is reminds us of what we agreed to.
