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How Do Artists Make Money?
Valerie Atkisson / ArtBistro
How do artists make money? Many people who are not artists wonder about this, and many seasoned artists wonder the same thing! Of course artists know that to make money, you sell your work. But there may be other ways of making money that you may not be aware of. Here are the top 10 ways that artists make money. Each has a short description and a link to an article full of advice from the experts. This quick reference guide will help you get on the right track to make a career as an artist.
Selling Your Work
Commercial Galleries
Commercial galleries typically sell artists’ works at a commission. The typical commission that galleries take is somewhere between 40% and 50% of the sale of the work. This is determined by the contract. Whether you submit your work for sale by consignment or enter into an ongoing relationship with a gallery, the parameters should all be written down in a contract. We have put together two guides for you. One is: Are Commercial Galleries Essential to Artists Careers?. The other is: How to Get Gallery Representation These essential articles will help you navigate the commercial gallery system.
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rjambler
6 days ago
14 comments
Great article. I think the hardest part is finding galleries, especially ones that will promote and sell your work.
Linda_Wandt
17 days ago
2 comments
Great article, it was really informative and engaging. It needed to be proof read though.
Senseriffic
2 months ago
4 comments
Wow good info! Hard finding galleries sometimes though, takes work!
rezaul
3 months ago
2 comments
good but somerhing missing.......................
apydomisb
3 months ago
756 comments
Very informative article.
zazaniac
4 months ago
20 comments
how can i earn..im in the philippines.
brunettmama
4 months ago
76 comments
some state's galleries are not well known or advertised such as mine.
TheDesigner
4 months ago
154 comments
Sometimes i get a little put out with these "art schools" - Sucking in these young kids- how do they sleep at night? I could not recommend this profession to anyone who can Do anything else!!!
It was once a pretty lucrative business- but those days are pretty much long gone- ask someone in there 50s in the business if you can find one. It can be fun- and rewarding- i've won a sh_t load of awards- but someday you're going to be old- and wish you had two nickles to rub together- like so many other occupations- playing in a band etc. 1 in 1000 really make any money at it. Example: the going rate for design and production in the 70s was $20-30 per hour. That was great!! A 3 bedroom house cost $25,000 and new GTO car cost $3.500. Today a house cost $120,000. and a car is $30-$50 thousand...and young free lancers are out there cutting each others throats {including there own someday- by driving the price down} for free lance jobs at $25.ph. One told me if they liked the project- they would do it for $15 per hour. Hello!! How many hours will it take you to buy- your kids a pair of shoes, pay $100. ele. bill or $1,200 per month mortgage, your Iphone bill, cable, gas, car payment, food, insurance, clothes, and someday a baby, a teenage, and how about retirement. just to name a few items. Well i hope i opened some of your eyes. Use your head man.
lino
5 months ago
24 comments
very cool, very informative, very spot on......
is easy to find a lot of information about how to make art, but not about how to live from art......
I am on the struggle....this article helps a lot...thanks,,,,
http://livingart.imagekind.com/
http://bohemiorebelde.blogspot.com/
Cheers....
xcillia
5 months ago
206 comments
Good article. Very informative.
ArtMonster4
5 months ago
52 comments
I would've liked to have seen some space devoted on publishing artwork. This is one segment that has great bearing to illustrators of all stripes. I hope this will be covered in the near future.
TunisiaLee
6 months ago
80 comments
I didn't know about the law for building and construction sites. Great article! Are there any auctioning opportunities for artists, such as fairs and bazaars?
czabarte
7 months ago
2 comments
An artist can also make a living LICENSING ART to manufacturing companies to place on their products. Think giftbags, dinnerware, garden flags, etc.
bukesova180
8 months ago
78 comments
Thanks. this site is a really good source of information
2bartist
8 months ago
134 comments
This is very informative. Thank You!