Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Tips For Getting Yourself Recognized In The Entrepreneurial Arts World

By Pamela Hughes


If art is your passion, and you intend to make a living sculpting, painting, or designing, you need to consider it a business enterprise. Vincent Van Gogh's work is highly prized today, but he only managed to sell one painting in his lifetime. You will have to sell much more if you are going to eat and pay rent. You can't succeed in business if the public doesn't know anything about you. Succeeding in the entrepreneurial arts world includes calling attention to yourself.

Creating a working schedule, and keeping to it, is crucial. Even if your art business is something you do part time, you need to work at it every day. Maintaining regular hours of work is a better idea than waiting for a time when you feel creative. Even when you aren't in the mood to paint or sculpt, you need to show up every day just like you would have to with any other job.

It's a good idea to create a master price list. People may love your work, but they will still want to know how much it costs. Until you are on the same plain as Picasso, you will need to have a comprehensive listing of the works that are available to the public. You can put this on your website and keep it password protected. Taxes and shipping costs should be included.

Your price has to be fair and competitive. You aren't working by the hour when you are creating. The hours you spent on a painting aren't really relative. When you price your work too high, you won't have buyers. When you price your work too low, you won't be taken seriously. You should research artists whose experience is similar to yours and charge accordingly.

Sales are business transactions. A contract must accompany every sale you make. You will find sample artwork sales contracts online you can download and use, but it is best to spend a little money and have a lawyer familiar with contracts write one specific to you. It must contain language regarding reproduction and exhibition rights.

Good marketing is critical. If people don't about it, your art business will fail. You need a website that reflects your style and is consistent with your artistic expression. You might suggest to local restaurant or hotel owners that your work would be a great asset to their businesses. Community art centers, galleries, and art shows in the park are good ways to get yourself a little recognition.

Don't forget to pay your taxes. If you neglect filing income taxes and keep all your money in your pocket, the Internal Revenue Service will notice at some point. You should hire a certified public accountant to fill out quarterly returns if you can't do the job yourself. Detailed record keeping is critical.

If art is what you are passionate about, you can earn a living doing it. You have to be practical and realistic about it however. If you aren't, you might end up like the living Van Gogh with only one sold painting to your name.




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