by Rebecca Sciullo | Nov 1, 2019 | Learning
In Real Artists Don’t Starve, Jeff Goins lays out twelve principles to help artists understand how they can sustain themselves with a creative business. He divides these principals into three logical parts: Mind-Set, Market, and Money. This book is practical. It’s not about becoming an overnight sensation, or immediately commanding extraordinary sums of money for your work. The goal is to find find a balance so that you can sustain yourself while you create.
The book is full of detailed stories to back-up his advice. There were quite a lot of them, and at times, it seemed like too many; however, there were several that I want to learn more about, including the Florida Highwaymen.
Overall, the book is full of practical guidance that you’ve probably heard before but presents it in a framework that you can follow in a step by step manner.
The author offers free bonus materials, including a workbook, which serves as a useful outline for you to take notes on how to implement his ideas in your creative business.
It’s never too late to join the Artisan Advantage Book Club. The next book selection posts next week. Don’t forget one newsletter subscriber is selected to receive a free copy of each book selected. Sign up here to join the newsletter mailing list.
Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
by Rebecca Sciullo | Oct 28, 2019 | Learning, Resources, Your Artist Statement
Many artists dread writing an artist statement. They will write a statement when required to do so for an application, a submission, or to accompany an exhibition. While professional artists realize that the artist statement is necessary, and will write one when required to do so, they may not find the process comes easily to them. Also, there are some misconceptions out there when it comes to what an artist statement is.
Let’s review the what and why of an artist statement. I hope to persuade you to write the best one possible for your body of work.
What Is An Artist Statement?
Your artist statement is a written document that explains your intention for your body of work. It helps the reader to understand your work better and could entice them to view it if they have not seen it before.
There are different ideas about what an artist statement should contain and how to write one. A useful statement is one that makes someone want to view your work if they have not done so before. Or, it makes them want to take a second look at your work. It teaches or gives the viewer insight into something they may not know about the work by just looking at it.
Your artist statement is not your bio or about me page. Instead, it is primarily about your work, not your background. Your bio and artist resume/cv should exist separately from your statement.
I encourage you to craft the most effective statement you can for your work at this moment in time.
Why Should You Write an Artist Statement?
The artist statement is more than just a written document about your work. To succeed with your visual art business, you need to stand out, get noticed, and make a connection with people in a noisy world. The artist statement helps you to do that. It is your opportunity to help people to view and understand your artwork, especially when you are not there to speak with them. Also, it forces you to clarify what you want to communicate about your work. By doing this, you will be better prepared to speak and present your work, whether it is in a formal or informal setting.
The bottom line – an artist statement prepares you for the opportunities that come your way, which is WHY you need to have one that effectively represents your work. Visit the Artisan Advantage Resources page for some tools to help with writing your artist statement.
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by Rebecca Sciullo | Oct 7, 2019 | Artisan Advantage Book Club, Learning
It’s time for another Artisan Advantage Book Club pick! Join me in reading Real Artists Don’t Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age by Jeff Goins.
Join the Club!
It’s easy. All you have to do is get your copy and start reading! Stay connected to the Artisan Advantage blog for posts about how you might apply principles from the book to your visual art business, as well as for opportunities to share your comments about the book with others.
Click here to read more about the Club.
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by Rebecca Sciullo | Sep 16, 2019 | Artist Websites, Learning
Are you currently building or planning out a website for your art? Your artist website is a vital part of running a successful visual art business. Your website should be your own unique space; however, there are five things that every artist website should include.
Here are five things that your website should contain.
A homepage that encourages visitors to browse and engage with your website. Use solid images that represent your work, along with a brief description of your work. Help viewers to understand a bit about you at first glance. Get to the point. Keep words concise, punchy, and compelling to hook visitors and get them to explore deeper into your site.
An About page the tells people about you and your story.
People want to know why you are an artist. What goes into the effort to create your work? What makes you and your work special. Avoid making your About page too long or tedious. Let potential customers see who’s behind the art, but get to the point. Pictures of you working in the studio are a great addition to an About page.
A Gallery of Your Work
Present images of your work in an organized fashion. If you have different types of work, organize the work into logical categories. Images are key. Be detailed enough so that what you create and sell is clear to visitors. Also, by being clear in your language, you better optimize your pages for search engines, and this means it will be easier to you find your site.
A great addition is to provide an in situ page where customers will be able to see your work installed in home and businesses. Seeing your work this way helps them to visualize what it might look like in their space.
Contact Page
How can I get in touch with you? As well as providing essential contact information, including your email address, phone number, and address, your contact page should encourage visitors to connect with your business on the social media channels you use as well.
If you have a studio or gallery that is open to the public, include directions and possibly a map. Many website platforms today make it easy to embed an interactive Google map, so visitors don’t get lost. Be sure to include your hours of operation.
Call to action
What do you want people to do? Would you like them to visit your studio or attend an event? Can you help them to find your work in a gallery or retail store? Can you ask them to subscribe to your mailing list? Make sure that you are specific about what people need to do to find you, your work, or connect with you. Place the call to action on whichever page you think makes the most sense.
Future posts will cover other enhancements that you can make to your website. Start with these five, and you will have the foundation for a reliable place where people can learn about you and your work and connect with you.
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by Rebecca Sciullo | Sep 4, 2019 | Learning
Artist Resume or CV?
Different situations in your visual art business require an artist résumé or curriculum vitae. Job opportunities may call for them, applications for grants and residencies usually require them and galleries like to keep them on hand. Artists often refer to these documents as one and the same. There is, however, a difference between the artist résumé and the CV.
What’s the Difference Between an Artist Resume and a CV?
According to the College Art Association,
There is a difference between a CV and an artist résumé. The CV is a record of all your professional activities, usually intended for use in academic situations as well as for applications to employment opportunities. The artist résumé is an abbreviated document, typically one to four pages in length, and is often tailored to reflect a specific expertise. The artist résumé is used in conjunction with commercial and non-profit galleries, the search for exhibition opportunities, residency and grant applications, public art proposals, etc.
Do you need an artist resume?
Your business path may not immediately call for a résumé. or CV. Still, it is important for you to keep a current record of the your work history. It’s easy to record activity when it is fresh in your mind. It’s harder when you have to recall events from the past when you are under the gone to write one.
The College Art Association provides a guide on how to write both an artist résumé. and a CV. At a minimum, maintain a list of your work history in chronological order, starting with the most current information. Then, when requested, edit the information needed into the appropriate format. Include the most current and relevant information for the opportunity at hand. This prepares you for requests that may come your way, without requiring too much work at the time.
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