As an artist career coach and mentor I am called upon to provide the best art marketing strategies tailored to each individual client’s creative, career and financial goals. My mission is to help artists attain art career success that fits their needs. After helping thousands of artists over the years I’ve learned there are certain “Golden Keys” to building a more rewarding life and career as an artist. In this article I share 8 of them. I hope you enjoy them, will apply them and gain more art career success!
1. View Yourself As The CEO of Your Art Business
Visualize yourself as the CEO of your own artistic enterprise. Most artists set small goals. Instead, examine your art career from a big picture perspective. Imagine your ideal artistic life waiting to be created. Dream, brainstorm, and envision unlimited possibilities.
When I arrived in NYC as an art student I visualized my future art career as I wanted it to be. I ignored the naysayers, protocol and statistics. My big picture vision included a purpose: to make a difference in the art world and empower artists. Creating art and having this purpose motivated me every day to move forward. I discovered opportunities everywhere. My big picture vision inspired me to change my misconceptions and the myths that I held me back, beginning with the self-destructive “poor starving artist” stereotype.
As Emerson stated, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
2. Ask Yourself the Important Questions
Ask important questions today and periodically throughout your career. This exercise will reinforce your objectives, help you stay on track, and serve as a catalyst for positive change.
* What do I want to achieve for myself as an artist?
* What does success mean to me?
* What are my priorities today? This year?
* What positive step can I take today?
* Am I currently creating the best art I am capable of?
* What toxic relationship or materials should I avoid?
* How much money do I want to earn this year from my art?
* How can I better manage my time and finances?
* Who should I reach out to today?
* How may I use my talent to make a positive difference?
3. Create Your Art Business Plan
If you want to boost your art career success sooner or later you will need to examine the practical side of your art business. You will need to clarify what makes your art unique, define your customer profile, and create a financial plan.
Your Art Business Plan is a work in progress, always evolving as your career grows. Review your Business Plan quarterly and update it. Whether you need an update or have to start a new one,
please read my article How to Create Your Art Business Plan
When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. ~ Confucius
4. Define “Art Career Success” Your Way!
Clarify your own definition of the word “success” and live according to it. Don’t seek refuge in current trends and public opinion. Be honest and true to your needs and objectives. Make decisions based on your own highest values, not those of your friends, colleagues or family.
Seek positive artist role models whose values you share and who have attained the goals you desire. Read all you can about these artists. Learn from their success stores and select their actions as part of your career road map. Equally important, read about the mistakes they made to know which ones to avoid.
Celebrate every success you achieve, whatever the size.
Remember this quote: “There is only one success — to be able to spend your life in your own way.” ~ Christopher Morley
5. Build Your Reputation and Keep it Growing
Reputation and financial success go hand in hand. The more people who know about you, your art and your career accomplishments the more likely they will follow and be interested in buying your art, offering you exhibitions, and writing about you.
Put effort into generating publicity. Writers, publishers, and media people can reach more people than you can as an individual. The good news is they are always seeking new and valuable content. You can fill their needs. Learn how to tell your story and what makes you unique. Share your story and sell more art.
Read How to Write your Artist’s Statement
Read How to Write Your Artist Biography
6. Increase and Enhance Your Professional Relationships
Having an excellent body of art work, an arsenal of art marketing strategies, and daily persistent action steps will not suffice unless you have and use what I refer to as The Power of People. My success formula is based on how to “Hunt, Farm and Feed” your relationships.
“Without him I would have given up.” ~ Pierre Auguste Renoir about Claude Monet
Read Build Your Art Career With People Power.
7. Improve Your Internet Presence
A big mistake artists make is not creating a strong Internet presence through their own personalized website and social media. They fail to understand that their website is like having a storefront gallery that is open 24 hours a day to a world-wide audience.
Every day I discover dozens of artists’ website that are not functioning properly or poorly designed. If it isn’t kept up to date, mobile friendly, easy to navigate, and doesn’t represent your art in the best manner, you suffer the consequences.
Read Does Your Art Website Pass This Test?
8. Increase the Value of Your Artwork
Increasing the value of your art is an ongoing strategic process that should be high on your priority list. If you plan this objective carefully, based on your strengths, you will reap the rewards very quickly.
There are several key benchmarks that justify rising prices and perceived value of art. They include:
* Increase in sales each year for several years
* One-person exhibitions in respected galleries, museums and alternative spaces
* Annual one-person and group exhibitions without time lapses
* Positive reviews and testimonials from established art writers and recognized art buyers
* Published catalogues of your art work with introductions written by influential art professionals.
Read How to Add Value to Your Art So You Can Raise Your Prices
Do you need personalized writing assistance?
A timely reminder to put myself out there, and reassess my goals. Thanks for your advice and support Renee.
Andrea, you’re welcome. Thank you for creating art to “celebrate nature, and to raise awareness of environmental issues.” You may want to consider joining ForMotherNature founded by Cathy Berman. Tell her you’re a member of Manhattan Arts International and a Friend of The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS. Have a joyful, adventurous and remarkable 2021 and continue to achieve your goals!
Excellent article! As a creative, I don’t think I’m alone in experiencing the “treading water” syndrome where you’re kind of flailing around with all the plates in the air and one hand tied behind your back. These are the articles we need to calm our minds, get our focus back on, set us straight on the path again. Clear, comprehensive, easy-to-read and retain WITHOUT vast paragraphs of what we’re doing wrong. And those little one-liner fabulous tidbits like, “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. ~ Confucius” Now that there is some powerful stuff!