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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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2bartist
9 months ago
134 comments
This is very informative. Thank You!
Creativegrl
9 months ago
4 comments
This is very informative. I have found that the Internet serves me well. I have the whole world at my fingertips and with a first class website and a little help from ebay.com and fantastic google.com
I actually make good dollars for my recent outpourings of `cutting edge ' ART!
www.kaylipton.com/
Dell177
9 months ago
10 comments
Issued December 17, 2007
Guidelines for the Chicago Public Art Program
1. General
The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs (”DCA”) is dedicated to preserving
and expanding the City’s acclaimed public art collection. As part of this function,
DCA administers the Public Art Program and encourage artists to consider
participation in the Program. The Program assures that 1.33% of the construction
budget for construction or major renovation of a City-owned or City-financed
building or structure or for certain outdoor improvements, is used to acquire and
install permanent art at that building structure or improvement. These buildings
include public libraries, police stations, fire houses, senior centers and others.
Rondell Wiliams
Graphic Artist
Chicago, IL.
Sambo
10 months ago
10 comments
I am a little clumsy with my typing skills,I still type with 2 fingers,How do I correct this matter,???I found both articles to be very informative. I don't want to seem arrogant or offensiev to any one,I write also,I know what it's like to be critiqued on my work,mostly people don't understand artist in general,only other artist do.
c_a_t
10 months ago
36 comments
thanks. that was informative!
Nina_1
10 months ago
440 comments
This is a great article. I love how this site has so much information!!
AngelasArt
10 months ago
110 comments
Great article. I bookmarked it so I can refer to it later. Thanks!
ognarev
10 months ago
26 comments
very interesting article. Art business is about Peoples connections.
Pictor
10 months ago
96 comments
Having a strong showing in your own genre is crucial to this as well. Galleries, museums and publishers really want to know that an artist will be productive and consistent in their works. Responsible to their business. Art is your business, if you really want to make a living, chances are you will need to take responsibility for getting yourself out there; very few artists are "discovered," and that is just the hard fact. A developed sense of ones artistic self is very important. While artists do go through "periods" in their work, a consistency to that work should be in place and evident before approaching a gallery that is beyond a local mom and pop situation. Publishing is another area not mentioned here - a published artist, be it through imagery, writing on technique or aesthetics, or edition work can add a significant dimension to an artist's monetary potential.
Valuable resources here, Valerie, hope to see you expand on this!
JosephManutti
11 months ago
1748 comments
Great article, Val! Excellent resources.
sbokse
11 months ago
2 comments
As a practising professional artist with a master's degree and a rented studio away from my house, my answer to "how do you make money as an artist?" is, "I have a day job." Someone visiting my studio open house over the weekend where there are overflowing boxes of paintnigs and a couple nice soft chairs I hauled in off the street and a tv made from a very old computer game monitor and a VCR tuner (all of which will be obsolete in 2 months) said she evnied my lifestyle. I explained that I only get to be there weekends and the occasional evening when I am not too beat.
oscarortizdotcom
11 months ago
14 comments
Artists make money by becoming sales persons. Like it or not, that's the truth. A good and practical resource is the book "Mistery of Making It" by Jack White, an experienced retired painter and manager of the highly profitable artist Mikki Senkarik. Visit: http://www.senkarikstuff.com/books.htm. Your friend, OscarOrtiz.Com
Tikki
11 months ago
818 comments
Great article. This is excactly what I needed to see.
lindas
11 months ago
8 comments
Great article! Having been an artist for all my adult life, I must say we are fortunate the have the open communication which leads to important information needed by us all. When I entered the art world there was no ready information as most artists were very guarded about information gleaned from experience whether it be about technique or the business end of art.
munecavalerio
11 months ago
26 comments
this is good information i never know what to chrge so i alway end up doing thing for free or less money ..