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PAINTBOX SCHOOL OF ART BLOG

The Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming a Professional Artist

10/25/2017

3 Comments

 

The Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming a Professional Artist

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Like the majority of Art School Graduates the dream was to leave college and make my living as a professional artist.  It’s just under 10yrs since I graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with BA Hons in Drawing and Painting and I am lucky enough to be doing what I love, teaching for Paintbox as well as being able to concentrate on my own work as a professional artist.  However, like everything in life it hasn’t been easy and here are somethings I wish I had known before becoming a professional artist-

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  • You have to learn how to self promote- This is something I really struggled with in the beginning but if you don’t sing your own praises no one else will.   The art scene is such a saturated market you need to learn to shout about what you do and how well you do it.
  • Be prepared to work normal jobs- I have done everything from waitressing, writing menu blackboards to nannying.  You need to learn very quickly that unfortunately you probably won’t be able to live off your earnings as a professional artist straightaway.  Get your head down, take any work you can to fund your passion and perseverance should pay off.
  • The influence of social media- Nowadays it’s SO important to have a social media presence.  Facebook estimates that it has an average of 1.32 billion daily active users.  For me, Facebook and Instagram are a must to create a following and get your name out there as a professional artist.
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  • Think of being a professional artist as any other business- At the end of the day if you want to earn a living from your art you MUST think of it as your “small business”.  That means your number one objective is to make a profit.  Budget, manage your time and costings, and make sure that you aim to sell your products for more than what it costs you to produce.  Now that last point seems obvious but so many artists don’t charge appropriately for the time, supplies, studio rent etc.  Any cost that you incur to produce a piece should be covered in the final selling price.
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  • It is about who you know- Networking is a massive factor that influences your position in the art scene.  Having good relationships with fellow artists, gallery owners, framers etc can provide all kinds of opportunities.
  • It’s blooming hard work-  For many artists the need to make ends meet means you will probably be doing a full time job.  As well as this you will no doubt be working tirelessly in the studio to get your work ready for exhibitions, networking when you can and occasionally, once in a blue moon, you might actually have some free time to yourself!
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  • Every mistake and hiccup can be learnt from-  It sounds like a cliche but it is true.  We learn so much about the practical side of art in Art College that the business side is often over looked.  From registering as self employed to filing a Self Assessment.  The life of a professional artist has many obstacles and as long as you keep learning along the way you will get there.
  • Don’t lose your artist focus-  The most important thing to remember is that your passion is to become a Professional Artist.  As in, you want to earn a living from selling your art.  Through all the struggles and awful jobs just remember what your goal is and don’t give up!​
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If you want to learn more about the do's and don't's in becoming a professional artist, the Paintbox Artist Bootcamp is for you!  This course also qualifies for our current offer of 10% off when booking, secure your place now!
Book Now
Sources- CNN.com http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/11/world/facebook-fast-facts/index.htm

Jemma K Derbyshire

Paintbox Tutor & Professional Artist

3 Comments
jose Igor link
11/23/2022 01:48:36 pm

Always good to find good articles on the net. Thank you

Reply
Storyboard Artist link
11/23/2022 02:06:42 pm

You need to learn very quickly that unfortunately you probably won’t be able to live off your earnings as a professional artist straightaway. I truly appreciate your great post!

Reply
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1/7/2023 02:28:35 pm

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  • Home
  • Courses
    • Full Year Courses >
      • Drawing, Painting and Mixed Media Course
      • Landscape Course
      • Professional Development Course
      • Mentoring Programme
    • Short Courses >
      • Half Day Drawing & Painting Course - 10 Weeks
      • Introduction to Drawing & Painting
      • Contemporary Collage - 5 Week Course
      • The Modern Portrait - 5 Week Course
      • Expressive Flower Painting - 5 Week Course
      • Landscape Course - 10 Week Course
      • Wilhelmenia Barns-Graham - Shape of the Land
      • Nature's Language
      • William Scott - Pots, Pans and Paints
      • Drawing & Painting from The National Gallery Collection
      • 10 Week intensive remote Mentoring Course
      • Artist Bootcamp
      • The Mixed Media Kitchen
      • Diebenkorn - Going Large
      • Drawing Plants - The Botanical Works of Jim Dine
      • Floral Garden
      • The Colour Garden
      • Capturing the Coast
    • Workshops >
      • Prospect and Refuge: Losing and Finding Oneself in the Garden
      • Expressive Architecture
      • Abstracting the Landscape
      • Ways of Painting a Dynamic Nude
      • The Mixed Media Winter Garden" with Robin Wu
      • Nature Morte - Van Gogh in Oil
      • The Importance of Tone
      • "Intensive 3 Day Mentoring" - with Jemma Derbyshire
      • Print the Kitchen - A Weekend of Experimental Monotype
      • The Eye and The Mind - Cezzane in Still Life
      • Drawing Together – sketching into print
      • Drawing Fast and Slow
      • Encaustic Painting - Hot and Cold Wax
      • The light flows from their branches: Drawing and Being with Trees
      • Salt and Sand
      • The Sea, The Sea - Capturing the Coastline
      • Abstract Florals
      • Whatever the Weather
      • Nature and the Artist book
      • "Painterly Portraits" with Kim Scouller
      • "Capturing The Change" with Kittie Jones
      • "Natural Form - An Exploration" with Eleanor White
      • "Translucencies in Acrylic" with Owen Normand
      • "Drawing Into Painting" with Dominic McIvor
      • "Abstracting the Landscape" with Jo Perkins
      • "Under the Trees" with Lara Scouller
    • Summer Courses >
      • Young Artists Summer School - with Dominic McIvor
      • Draw - Paint - Print the Shoreline with Lara Scouller
      • Beyond The Window with Dominique Cameron
      • FEAST! with Robin Wu
      • Expressive Portrait Painting with Kim Scouller
      • "Nature Catching Up With Art" - Paul Cezanne with Janet Melrose
      • Wild Abundance with Kittie Jones
    • Luxury Painting Holidays
  • Online Courses
  • Members Area
    • Drawing and Sketcbooks >
      • Materials and Surfaces
    • Painting and Mixed Media
    • Daily Tasks
    • Videos
    • Lynsey's Kitchen
    • Interviews with Artists
    • Gallery
    • Materials and Suppliers
  • Our Story and Studios
  • Gallery
  • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Christmas Open Studios
  • The Team
  • Gift Vouchers
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us