New Year and New Beginnings
by Stefan Baumann
Becoming an artist consists of learning to accept yourself, which makes your work personal. Painting involves skills that can be learned; but if you want to make “art,” you must accept yourself.
If ordinary people make art, then you would have to allow that the ideal artist would be an ordinary person too, with the whole usual mixed bag of flaws that makes us human.
Our flaws and weaknesses, while often obstacles to getting our work done, are a source of strength as well. Something about making art has to do with overcoming things, giving us a clear opportunity to do things in ways we have always known we should and start to change ways that don’t work for us anymore.
Artists must work many hours to perfect their craft. And a painter who wants to make the leap to becoming professional will have to work twice as hard. It is not uncommon to spend more time marketing your art than creating it. This requires some discipline and direction. While artists chose this way of life, many artists feel that they need some perspective on the business of art.
Here are 10 steps to start the New Year.
- Clean up your studio. It’s hard to think when every corner of your studio is stacked up with books and things.
- Clean up your desk. Many artists don’t have a place set aside for the business of selling art. This is where you go to make contacts and close sales. Have a comfortable place that is quiet and clean.
- Start with a yearlong calendar on the wall. I like using the “At–a-Glance” Yearly Planner with all of the months on one sheet. Mark it with an art show for yourself in November.
- Choose one gallery you want to contact and mark it down on the calendar this month. Then just choose one gallery a month to contact. I suggest that you look in a magazine to find a gallery you want to be in. Don’t worry that you are not good enough, just do it. You will learn from the experience. If they say no, then just move on to the next one the following month.
- Get your mailing list in order. Make an Excel file and list 100 galleries or contacts with addresses and phone numbers. Again, use your favorite magazine to get addresses of galleries and collectors.
- Make a postcard of your artwork. There are many companies that do this -- locate them on line. On the backside, include your bio and contact information.
- Sign up for a workshop. It is important to get coaching from other artists. If you don’t have input into your work, your painting will get stale. It is also a great place to make contacts and find new avenues to market your paintings.
- Choose one day a week that you paint and two hours a week that you do public relations for your art. Mark it on the calendar. This is an appointment that you cannot move; it is there like a doctor or tax appointment, but it is for you and your art.
- Set up your website. Often you can do it yourself. Many providers have easy to use tools so that you can maintain your website, or contact a family member or someone in high school who can help you. A web site is the 21st century artist’s portfolio.
- Sign your work and take lots of pictures. It is time that you start treating your art business like a business.
Happy New Year!
Stefan Baumann
