#and I’ll have a cv and artist resume and artist statement prepared by that time so it’ll be much easier to submit for it

[vnlucura]

new residency opportunity just dropped in atl omgggg well

[aquiliscreations-blog]

Some things I’ve learned

It’s not easy being a full-time artist. Money-wise it’s feast or famine. I’m either doing really well, or I haven’t sold something in months. I’ve learned quite a bit and I wouldn’t change a thing. I figured I’d share for other artists out there.

#1 There is no Time for Procrastination.

     I’m not always good at getting on the ball in the mornings. Mornings are rough for me in general, and I’m usually in denial about being conscious. I find that the longer I procrastinate on a project, either waiting to start or waiting to finish, the harder it is to actually do the project.

#2 Walk the Talk

     If you call yourself a full time artist, you should be creating everyday. Even if its a 15 minute doodle. I’m also not very good at this. If I wake up later than normal I feel like I’ve wasted the day, and therefore can accomplish nothing. This is a fallacy. Steal the time to work on something

#3 It’s OK Not to be Perfect

     Perfectionism is the enemy of creativity. As a perfectionist in most things I do, this has been a very hard lesson for me. Even if you can’t get that one detail just right, you have to know when to call it finished. If you keep overworking your piece, not only do you stand the chance of ruining it entirely, but you are also preventing yourself from moving on to your next project. This, however, does not mean quit working on something because you’re scared to mess it up.

#4 It’s OK to Experiment

     It’s OK to work in a different medium then you’re used to. It’s OK to try a different style within the same medium. Not all of your work has to look the same. Especially early on it’s important to try different things to find your style.

#5 You have to promote yourself

     As an introvert this is very hard, but no one is as invested in your work as you are. No one will promote you if you don’t promote yourself. This can mean going to art events and talking to everyone, or having a large online presence, or both. It’s not easy, it takes dedication. Prepare a short and concise artist statement about your and what you do. Memorize it and be ready to tell people about it when you ask

#6 It’s not all about You

     When you’re networking don’t just talk about you and your work. Listen to what other artists and art enthusiasts have to say. Take genuine interest in it. Building art relationships is much like building friendships. And you never know who you’ll be working with in the future. You don’t want to come off as self-obsessed in your first impression.

#7 Take High Quality Images of Your Work

     This seems like common knowledge, but I’ve seen some pretty terrible images of art. Most smartphones now have decent cameras, but they aren’t the best for art. They don’t capture the fine detail. You want at least 300 dpi  images for submitting to shows. If you can afford it, consider buying a DSLR camera. If not, you’re a member of an art community, I bet you know someone who has one, and for a small fee, or trade, can help you out. Don’t ask for it for free. They’ve spent as much time learning their art as you have yours.

#8 You’re Your Own Worst Critic

     I’m never happy with my work. I’m just not. I find one detail I hate and I fixate on it. Most of the people I know seem to love my work, but I have a very hard time believing it, and it slows down my creative process because I get very down about it.

#9 Create an Online Portfolio

     It may not get much traffic in the beginning, but and online portfolio can really help you when submitting to exhibitions, and many request them on their applications. It’s easy to find cheap hosting. I use SiteGround and their built in Site builder. You don’t have to be a web guru to make and elegant and professional looking online portfolio. If you don’t believe me, you can check out mine. I’m nearly computer illiterate. I pay for my domain name, www.aquiliscreations.com, because it looks more professional than say, www.weebly.com/aquiliscreations.

#10 Have Business Cards Made

     I know it sounds like work, but it’s easy to go to a site like VistaPrint and design your own business cards. You can almost always find promo codes. My latest order is 13.94 for 100 business cards. They currently have a special for 500 basic one sided cards for 9.99 (plus whatever extra you add on.) Usually, I put the name of my business (it’s ok if you don’t have one) I add my artist name, and I state what I do. (Artist, pianist, musician, etc.) I also list the mediums I work in, but this isn’t necessary. I also add my phone number and e-mail. If you’re not comfortable with phone number, just do your e-mail.

#11 Have an E-mail Set Up Just for Your Art

     I know it doesn’t sound important, but it looks more professional. For example here’s mine, AquilisCreations@gmail.com. Other things that could work for me are: Aquilisedwardsart@gmail.com, or Aquilis@Aquiliscreations.com. All of these look much more professional than Babylove1979@yahoo.com.

#12 Use Keywords on Your sites

     Whether its a Facebook page, or an Online portfolio, looking into SEO (search engine optimization) can help you gain more foot traffic. Using keywords like art, painting, drawing, your name, artist, where you’re located, your subject matter, etc. in the Titles of your page or home page, and the file name of your images you upload can help you come up in search engines. For Example, if you search Aquilis Edwards, I’m the first 2 listings on Google. If you search Aquilis Creations, pictures of my art are the first things to pop up, and the entire front page of the google search is linked to my patreon, my facebook, my portfolio and my etsy in some way.

#13 Put Yourself Out There

     Submitting your work to exhibitions and galleries can seem daunting, but it’s worth it. You may feel like your art isn’t good enough, but you’ll never know until you try, and you have a good chance at getting feedback if you’re rejected. So it’s a win/win. Some shows have entry fees. Usually between $15 and $35 in my experience. That can make it more daunting, but it’s an investment in your future. Not only does it give you a chance to sell your work, it also gets your work in front of your ideal audience, art connoisseurs and collectors. You can find Art opportunities at Artopportunitiesmonthly.com and ZAPP. You can sometimes find opportunities with no entry fee as well.

#14 Create an Artist Resume or CV

     Even if you don’t have a large amount of experience, you should still create a CV. Include any classes you’ve had, whether formal or informal. Include any shows you’ve had, even if they are group shows. Include any art you’ve sold, even to private collectors. Include any classes you’ve taught even at community centers. (If you haven’t volunteer!) Do some research and look at examples to show you how it’s done.

#15 Never, Ever Give Away or Trade Art for Exposure

     It doesn’t work out. Chances are the person offering exposure just wants to get art for free and has no influence over a large audience. I did this once for a charity event. I’ve yet to see a single penny from the so-called exposure. This isn’t an unpaid internship. You’ve spent years developing your skills. You’ve spent money, whether on training or supplies. Don’t give your time and money away for free. Just don’t do it.

#16 Learn How to Price Your Work

    Underselling yourself isn’t doing you any favors. Prices too low can make your work seem insignificant. Prices too high can drive away customers due to sticker shock. If your a novice, you’re prices should be a little less than a professional. There are two ways to price your art, per square inch, or for time. I prefer the square inch model, because it prevents works of the same size having vastly different prices that make the artist look inconsistent. if you’re prices are too high you can always come down later. It’s hard to raise prices.

#17 Do the Work because YOU Love It.

     Its one thing to take commissions. Many artist make a good living that way. However when you don’t have a commission and you’re just painting for things to have in stock or in your portfolio, don’t try to pander to an audience. Do work you’re passionate about. You can certainly tell the difference in a piece the artist loved doing and one they did because they felt they have to.

#18 Don’t Do this For the Money

     Lets face it, making a career out of art is hard. Don’t do it because you want to make money, you may never make enough to sustain yourself, and that’s perfectly OK. Make your art to express yourself, to let your creativity run wild, and because you are passionate.

#19 If you have Art Block, Do it anyway

     Don’t wait for inspiration to strike, work even when you don’t feel like it. Make it a habit. Practice. Do nonsensical things. Sit down, start with a line on your canvas and see what grows from there. This is how you learn new techniques, find new subjects, and generally grow your creativity. Many times, once you start, inspiration will find you.

#20 Love Yourself

     Even when you feel like a failure, love yourself. When you haven’t made a sale in months, when you feel like your art isn’t good enough, when you just know you’ll never make it, pamper yourself. Get together with your people who make you laugh, who make you feel genuinely loved. Listen to the music that makes you feel good. Take a bubble bath with a glass of wine. Take yourself out on an artist’s date. Don’t let yourself wallow in the self pity and despair.

I hope that this has been helpful or inspiring. If I can help just one aspiring artist on their journey, I’ll be a happy girl. Cheers and Happy Arting!