ArtBistro

By doing what ever is necessary to pay the bills and keep on striving to do more art.  The starving part I've got down to an art of its own. Now the rest of the country knows how we live.......and its kind of healthy,in a way. Our focus is more inclined to be providing than leisurely pursuits.  I have more time to create.  Keeping a positive attitude is the most important of of all...but keep on making art ! 

well said. I agree completly

If you are dependent on your art for a living, then follow Gekko's advice and look for every craft show, local art exhibition or any other venue including street begging. If you are not dependent on your art for a living, pray for the guys who are, along with the auto workers Architects, Lawyers and retail workers who are recently unemployed. It's a tough time and for you who still have a job, but no market for your art. Stockpile stuff for when the market improves and you can sell again.

yea, Art during a recession is hard to sell, but often times the art created during recessions and down periods is some of the most profound art. Just look back in history!

I've been unemployed for 7 months now.  The stress of having to deal with maybe losing the place I live in has made it difficult to produce my art works.  It drains all of the creative energy.  I spend almost all of my time trying to find work and trying to come up with a few more dollars to keep the bills paid.  The main problem is that because of all this I don't have the money to enter any competitions or to print and frame my art works.   I have my works up on many online art sites, but as we all know sales are slow everywhere.  I really need to put together a show, but just can't afford it.  Will just have to wait and hope that things get better, though it looks like it might be a while yet.  My best to all of you fellow artists...may the force be with you.  ;-)

 Here is a topic in the forum for some alternate ways for artists to make money:

http://artbistro.monster.com/topics/10255--ways-to-make-money-direct-no-gallery-or-website-no-fee-or-commission-taken-off-the-top/posts

I exhibit a lot, and run a gallery out of my house, make prints of my paintings. But sales have slowed down the last couple of years. Other gallery owners and artists have said the same. So I have used and have been looking to other ways to make money through my art outside the gallery situation as Gekko mentioned.

Suggestions in that topic would be welcome.

As a photographer it's pretty tough too.  A lot of my contemporaries have gone into doing other businesses because of the changing business relationships between publishing compnays and stock agencies and the contract agrements with talents.  It used to be  a good stock photographer could make a decent living selling commercial stock and doing 1 editorial assignment a week at least that was my experience.  That isn't true amymore and the photographer is eing out a living because of lower rates being paid out whiole the stock agents make a bundle.  Photographers these days are nothing more than sharecroppers.  New photographers maybe satisfied with the conditions of getting a buck per shot from these online stock agents but they don't know any better.

As for me I'm heading out of the US to work as a contract photographer again in the ME.  Not enough viable work for me here.

For me,  I started selling at one of our Local Flea Markets.

 all my Items went for  the 10.00 to 20.00 range and people bought them up as fast as I could produce them.

 (as my dad would say , even tho its 10.00 its 10.00 that you didnt have in your wallet when you started I was averaging between 100.00 to 200.00 on a weekend  which is not too shabby if you ask me)

 that was till Our Local Ducks unlimited State Rep. Saw what I did, then It went from there I now sell and Donate all over the Country and Canada. and Saturated the Market with my Art work.

 Then I was asked to do a Painting of a local Persons Antique Car and now I have so many people asking me to do paintings for them it`s making my Head spin.  ( I still have orders coming in each day )

 I was Laid off for about 3 months which now I am Back to work ( Thank God ) and trying to find time to get all these orders filled, so I have been blessed with a Talent and Being able to work at the Same time.

 So try selling at a Flea Market or a Craft show, Price your work a  lower so anyone can buy your work not just the rich and famous .

 thats how I started and now Im busy with two jobs .

now all my bills are caught up , and Actually have extra money in my Pocket to do other things .

 Thanks for all the advice! I sell prints of my work too because they are cheaper for the patron and when the cant afford the original, prints on canvas look very close to the original. I ordered a print on canvas for one my most colorful paintings to see if the quailty was even worth it or if it was just going to look bad and end up a waste of money. The print looked so great and the color was exact. The only thing is it was flat with no brush strokes (expected) so it robbed it of a little depth and texture, but still a great print. I do sell prints on special thick (almost water color quality) paper, and regular and glossy paper. Prints are affordable ways to sell pieces to patrons who dont have a lot of money at the time. The company I use is good and not to expensive, but the more prints you order, the cheaper each piece becomes so you can make a little bit more of a profit by ordering more. I hope that may be helpful for everyone.

If you go to my website (www.sarahwieman.com) you can see just how colorful my artwork is and know that if print companies can copy these saturated colors and make them look good - well they can copy anything!!  

 After working in the prepress industry for 35 years I was laid off in April 2009. The art I created on my own always meant more to me than my work projects. The loss of steady income has been the real shocker. I'm treating this as an opportunity to do the Art I always wanted to do but didn't have the time. If I can figure out a way to to make money doing my Art that would be great. If not at least Art will keep me busy.

I'm with Gekko... I try my hand at everything to keep my name and work in front of the public and at least pay for the supplies.  This economy has knocked the tar out of our sales here at Avalon Stained Glass School and Art Gallery.  Lucky for Carl and I that we were born during the great depression and know how to cope. 

However, like everything else, if we remember bartering, we can put some of our art in nice places and get what we need instead of what we have.  I just bartered some art things I no longer needed for the following... Bakery goods, Computer help, car detailing.. So are there some good restuarants in your area that could use your art or design talents... How do you think Van Gogh, and alot of those other guys ate and drank? Most of them never sold a painting until they were dead!

Tread the earth lightly... and in the meantime... may your day be filled with...

Peace, Light and love,

Arlene Wright-Correll AKA the grand dame of barter!