As an artist living in an imperfect world, there may be times when you’ll feel neglected and under-served. You may suffer from one or more of these circumstances: isolation; financial hardship; young and under recognized; and aging and invisible.
Like a chronic disease, if left unresolved and untreated, these conditions can erode your confidence, prevent you from pursuing opportunities, and stifle your creative inspiration. For whatever reason when you feel disenfranchised, avoid perceiving yourself as a victim. Then, avoid associating with people who are negative and pessimistic.
This article provides positive solutions for you art career problems that may occur during different stages of your career. I wrote a similar article on this subject for the June-July 2017 issue of Professional Artist magazine.
Instead of focusing on the problems,
let’s focus on the solutions.
Do You Feel Isolated?
Solution: Find Allies and Join Forces
Perhaps you live in a part of the world or small community where there is little or no support for the arts. Or you have limited time for networking. Feeling isolated can be devastating.
There are a wealth of art conferences, art communities, organizations, websites, online galleries, and alternative venues where creative folks are connecting with each other. If you’re in the U.S. find nonprofit art organizations and more resources listed by state.
To feel instantly connected, use your computer and an internet connection at home or a public library to tap into world-wide access to social media. For example, if you’re a pastel artist connect with more than other pastel artists as a member of The International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) or the Pastel Society of America (PSA). If you are a painter in either oil or acrylic, you can apply to the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. And, if you’re a female artist share news, views and encouragement with fellow women artists in several women’s arts organizations. There are also artists’ groups on Facebook and LinkedIn where artists exchange encouragement and resources.
Join, start making connections, and engage in positive uplifting discussions. Here’s an article about Valuable Art Organizations.
Do You Suffer from Financial Hardship?
Solution: Utilize Available Financial Resources
It can be devastating to feel financially deprived. There are solutions. Seek resources from organizations, grant sponsors and foundations that are devoted primarily to serving artists in need.
The Artists Fellowship was formed with the sole purpose to assist artists and their families in times of emergency, disability, or bereavement. CERF+, the Craft Emergency Relief Fund is a leading nonprofit organization that uniquely focuses on “safeguarding artists’ livelihoods nationwide.”
The Foundation Center has a database of over 140,000 grantmakers.
Many artists have received funding for either emergencies or for art projects using GoFundMe one of the easiest ways to raise money online. After you create a campaign you can start accepting donations, there are no deadlines or goal requirements, and you get to keep every donation you receive.
Read Create Your Art Business Plan
Read an article that contains Resources and Grants for Artists.
Read About Three Fellowships that Provide Funding for Artists.
Are You A Young Artist Who Feels Underserved?
Solution: Create Your Own Alternatives
As an art student, I realized I couldn’t change the rules of the gallery system. So, instead of lamenting about problem, I was determined to create solutions. I founded an artist membership group, Artopia, and organized exhibitions in alternative spaces throughout NYC to give other emerging artists like myself exposure. Similarly, because the mainstream art press ignored unknown artists I launched Manhattan Arts International magazine which I distributed for free through hundreds of NYC galleries. Now as a curator, to give artists more exposure, I organize online exhibitions on www.manhattanarts.com.
Channel your energy into a positive direction, join or take up a cause, and become a pioneer devoted to changing the course of art history, and you will no longer be under recognized.
Do You Feel Old and Invisible?
Go Where There Are Opportunities
It’s great that we’re living longer. Many retires are launching their second careers as artists. However, our society often ignores elder artists and they feel like invisible members of the art community.
The Carter Burden Art Gallery in NYC was established to “to create a dialogue with the arts community supporting our belief that older, lesser-known artists must not be overlooked due to age or decreased marketability in the current art scene.” It offers exhibition opportunities to NYC artists over the age of 60, and fosters a supportive and culturally-diverse community of re-emerging artists.
Opportunities for mature artists exist in areas where there are larger populations of seniors. For instance, The Dina Baker Fund For Mature Female Artists at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, Inc. in Florida helps to stabilize and strengthen the careers of female artists 55 years of age or older.
Articles about mature artists has become a popular theme with many writers for print and online publications. Many blogs have published posts about aging artists that have gone viral.
Read A Positive Future for Maturing Artists.
Solution for Many Problems – Help Someone Else
One of the best solutions to alleviate the painful feelings of isolation, financial hardship, under recognition, or age discrimination, is to go and help others who are suffering more than you are. Knowing the world needs you and you have a purpose to fulfill is one of the best sources for healing your wounds. They may not solve your problems immediately, but it will help to focus on something else besides them.
Contact your alma mater or locale art school and offer to mentor a young artist. View your creativity, career experiences and wisdom as valuable gifts waiting to be shared.
Dear Renee,
New Mexico artist Nancy Reyner introduced me to you and this article touched a deep nerve. As a full time artist, I love managing my own time. Living in a smaller community, knowing neighbors, I practice random acts of happiness while waiting for paintings to dry. If someone leaves their trash cans on the street, I return them. If someone needs help in the yard, or moving something, I go and help. Talk about getting into the flow! Work, life, relationships, everything becomes brighter each day. Do small, random acts. They can move mountains. And I just turned 70 years young!
Dear Mary, Thank you for stopping by and writing an inspirational comment and reminding us to practice random acts of kindness. So easy to do and it returns so many benefits. Aren’t we both fortunate to know Nancy Reyner? 🙂 Wishing you many more years of creative bliss, Renee
Renee:
This Blog really touched me and my needs so I’m very appreciative of your efforts. I especially appreciate your info to help senior artists of which I’m one. I have been painting with oil for 30 yrs and I’m 84 years young but still trying market my paintings via the Internet. Because my wife now has dementia I can no longer be away to participate in Art Fairs and etc. so my marketing has to be through other avenues. I keep working at it trying everything I can think of. Thanks again,
Ernie
Hi Ernie,
Thank you for your comment. I admire you for caring for your wife in her time of need. I also applaud you for referring to yourself as “84 years young”. That’s the spirit I also see in your excellent paintings at http://www.erniekleven.com. They reflect your artistic accomplishments and your understanding of the laws of nature. I wish you continued creative bliss. Best regards, Renee