What is the first thing to do to become a professional artist?

Question

You have painting and art items ready to show the world but you do not know where to start. Knock on every coffeeshop? Pass out the business card on the street? Set up an auction party from your home?

Answer 1

I am a professional artist and here is my advice to you:
Know your craft and know how to present your work.
The first thing you want to do is contact your local Chamber of Commerce or check your newspaper for ads about local artist's organizations. Join these art groups, in fact join as many as you possibly can. Most art groups meet at least once a month to discuss business at hand and they usually will have a guest demonstrator, such as a water-colorist, an oil painter, sculptor etc. who will show you his/her craft and offer advice. You will pay membership dues to belong to these groups and it's worth it because they usually have group shows where awards are presented. These events usually make it into the papers, for the simple reason that the group probably has a publicist whose responsibility it is to advertise what the group is doing.

At these meetings, everyone will have some jewels of information. There is always an upcoming exhibit that you will hear about.

Art magazines and websites catering to artists have so much information on how to show your work. Museums have open exhibits as well. Art centers that have various art classes, usually open up their facility for one person and group shows.

Every time you show your work, send a notice to your local newspaper asking them to publish your announcement. The more times your name appears in the newspaper, the better it is for you. (This is free advertisement, take advantage of the opportunity to blow your own horn--no one else will.) At the exhibits that you participate in and go to see the work others, you should always have a pocket full of business cards. This is the place to hand them out.

Try not to socialize too much otherwise you won't get any work done.

Answer 2

You have to take professional-quality slides of your work, which you send, along with a curriculum vitae (like a resume but not very emphatic about your day job, more on your artistic influences etc) to an art gallery that shows work that is in some ways similar to your. (Don't take abstracts to someone selling Trisha Romance).

When they tell you no - most likely the case for the first few galleries - you ask them how you can improve your presentation; listen to everything you are told because it will help you sharpen up your slides etc.

Eventually you will find a gallery.

Answer 3

Set up your own website--this might be easiest. And get business cards with the site address on it-so when you set up a booth at a local street fair, or work out a deal with a coffee shop to display one of your works, interested people have a place to go look at more of your work.

Auction at your home? No. Until you are established, and have a following that doesn't include family and friends, then it just seems more like a tupperware or candle party...

Good luck!

Answer 4

develop an eccentric attitude and become arrogant enough to be noticed but not despised. Show your work to gallery owners and curators that show the type of artwork you make. be gutsy enough to take some chances. know how to read people. be confident. make really good slides and good digital images also. as mentioned before a website is a good idea, but make sure it's very professional and designed to fit with your work. send your work to magazines like CYMK that show new artists or upcoming artists. go to openings and make a lot of contacts. developer a name. good luck!

Answer 5

All of that, any of that, what ever you're comfortable with.
I know being an artist also has a lot to do with being socially shy. Find what is most comfortable for you.
You might even try Conventions (Sci-fi, fiction, reenactment) if your artwork fits into these genres.
Galleries, consignment shops, flea markets...etc

Answer 6

Go to uni and get a degree for an artist, thr go and get the public's view on if it is good or not

Answer 7

sometimes you have to start at the very bottom...hey every master and famous artist has done commision work and sold work for very low prices. Most important thing is to believe in yourself and have faith in your talent.

Answer 8

You gotta get your work exposed to the public eye.
Maybe you can give some to places that would accept it for free, and count it as advertising for you.

Answer 9

Sell something (representative of your art) with your name and date on it.

Put your stuff up on EBay it does not matter where you sell it from, but track your earnings, keep pictures/archives of your work.

Answer 10

paint something fairly mediocre, then die suddenly in a really strange way. I guarantee your art will sell for heaps.