How to make an artist?
Translation of an article I wrote for Russian online media "Where to study and work"
A few weeks ago I wrote an article for Russian online media "Where to learn and work," talked about ways to monetize creativity. Below I want to share with you the translation of this article.
There is an opinion that you will not earn much on your creative work. I also thought so, until I began to draw. Till 27 years I was engaged in business. Last summer I sold my shop, bought a canvas, paints and started painting. A month later, the first fans and buyers of my paintings appeared. Now my works are sold all over the world, there are collectors from the USA.
How to make money on creativity?
The first thing you need to get rid of is stereotypes, that all artists are poor and that "you can't earn a living by creating", "art should be for art's sake, not money's." Any work must be paid!
Secondly, it is important to understand that in the modern world an artist simply must be able to work with social networks, promote his personal brand, engage in networking, study marketing and sales.
Even if you are a very talented artist, but you do not know how to promote your work, no one will know about you.
Third, we live in a time where deliberate departure from the rules and standards in painting is welcome. It doesn't matter if you have an art education or not, everyone can draw! Do not be afraid to be yourself and draw what you like; for every style there is a fan!
Secondly, it is important to understand that in the modern world an artist simply must be able to work with social networks, promote his personal brand, engage in networking, study marketing and sales.
Even if you are a very talented artist, but you do not know how to promote your work, no one will know about you.
Third, we live in a time where deliberate departure from the rules and standards in painting is welcome. It doesn't matter if you have an art education or not, everyone can draw! Do not be afraid to be yourself and draw what you like; for every style there is a fan!
нщWhere to sell your artwork?
After I plunged into the world of art, I was amazed at how many ways there are to monetize my artwork. Consider the main ones:
Sale of paintings. You can sell your finished work or write to order
At the beginning of your career, it is enough to publish your pictures on social networks. After more than 50 works in your portfolio, you can start cooperation with offline and online galleries, themed sites. The most popular online sites for selling art are Etsy, SaatchiArt, ArtFinder. Not necessarily, it must be paintings on canvas, now also popular Digital Art. You can digitize your pictures and sell posters with them or create paid download files that the user can print and hang on his wall.
After I plunged into the world of art, I was amazed at how many ways there are to monetize my artwork. Consider the main ones:
Sale of paintings. You can sell your finished work or write to order
At the beginning of your career, it is enough to publish your pictures on social networks. After more than 50 works in your portfolio, you can start cooperation with offline and online galleries, themed sites. The most popular online sites for selling art are Etsy, SaatchiArt, ArtFinder. Not necessarily, it must be paintings on canvas, now also popular Digital Art. You can digitize your pictures and sell posters with them or create paid download files that the user can print and hang on his wall.
Participation in contests
Contests are good because you can win good cash prizes, and there is a chance that you will be noticed by large galleries and art dealers.
Illustrations
The art market is not limited to painting only. You can make illustrations for magazines, books, online media, draw prints for clothing brands, bed linen, design packaging, postcards, make logos, commercial and advertising illustrations. Sites where you can search for customers and sell ready-made images, for example SpoonFlower.
Stock websites
This is a good source of passive income. The meaning of stock sites is that you upload an image once, but it can download dozens, hundreds or thousands of times. You can post not only your own illustrations, but also details of paintings, as well as photos. The more images you add, the more chances your customers will find your portfolio. I used to add all my pictures to stock sites, then I turned to photos. The last image that I bought on this site was a bouquet of flowers that my husband gave me.
Most popular sites: Shutterstock, Depositphotos, Adobe Stock.
Auctions
The most famous major auctions of Christie's and Sotheby's - the dream of every artist! But now it's not about them, but about small online auctions, where a novice artist can sell his work. Popular community is on Facebook "Pictures at friendly prices (rus)." You put the minimum cost for which you do not mind selling your picture, and then people start to bet. The auction lasts a day. The person who offered the highest price for your work takes the picture.
You can find similar groups in your country.
Teaching
If you are a professional, you can earn on holding workshops or individual lessons. Online education is very popular. Popular platforms for creating online courses it's Udemy and GetCourse. You can also create a YouTube channel with video tutorials and eventually generate ad revenue.
Partnership with art material manufacturers
A very popular trend now is to become an ambassador of a brand and tell its subscribers about it, use its products at creative workshops. There are many options for cooperation and monetization in this case, it all depends on your negotiation skills.
Contests are good because you can win good cash prizes, and there is a chance that you will be noticed by large galleries and art dealers.
Illustrations
The art market is not limited to painting only. You can make illustrations for magazines, books, online media, draw prints for clothing brands, bed linen, design packaging, postcards, make logos, commercial and advertising illustrations. Sites where you can search for customers and sell ready-made images, for example SpoonFlower.
Stock websites
This is a good source of passive income. The meaning of stock sites is that you upload an image once, but it can download dozens, hundreds or thousands of times. You can post not only your own illustrations, but also details of paintings, as well as photos. The more images you add, the more chances your customers will find your portfolio. I used to add all my pictures to stock sites, then I turned to photos. The last image that I bought on this site was a bouquet of flowers that my husband gave me.
Most popular sites: Shutterstock, Depositphotos, Adobe Stock.
Auctions
The most famous major auctions of Christie's and Sotheby's - the dream of every artist! But now it's not about them, but about small online auctions, where a novice artist can sell his work. Popular community is on Facebook "Pictures at friendly prices (rus)." You put the minimum cost for which you do not mind selling your picture, and then people start to bet. The auction lasts a day. The person who offered the highest price for your work takes the picture.
You can find similar groups in your country.
Teaching
If you are a professional, you can earn on holding workshops or individual lessons. Online education is very popular. Popular platforms for creating online courses it's Udemy and GetCourse. You can also create a YouTube channel with video tutorials and eventually generate ad revenue.
Partnership with art material manufacturers
A very popular trend now is to become an ambassador of a brand and tell its subscribers about it, use its products at creative workshops. There are many options for cooperation and monetization in this case, it all depends on your negotiation skills.
Where to learn to draw?
To receive an art education or not is a personal choice of everyone. Someone has developed a sense of taste since childhood, someone needs to work on it. In any case, now the tendency is such that in art ideas come to the first place, and not the skill of the artist.
It is worth starting from personal preferences and desires. You can be trained in professional art institutions.
You can take individual lessons from artists whose style you like. Also, a huge number of offline and online courses are being taught, where in 1-2 months you can master a certain skill.
The easiest and budget way to learn how to draw is to copy the artworks of artists that you like. The more artworks you copy, the faster you will fill your hand and find your own style. After the 20th picture, you will gain confidence and begin to express.
There is nothing wrong with this method. In addition, some work you can sell. Just be sure to specify the author and the name of the picture, which inspired you.
How to sell your art?
Art is the same business as any other. If you don't talk about your work, it is unlikely that you will find customers and buyers.
It is also worth understanding in which direction you want to develop, in which price category to work and what target audience you are targeting. Only after you decide, choose the site for promotion.
There is no universal advice on which way of promotion is right for you. You need to try and test everything. The most important thing is to talk about yourself and your work wherever possible. At the beginning of the journey you will have some fans. But over time, they will become more and more. Publish not only your work, but also the details of the work. Share the creative process, the materials you use. Show your techniques and techniques. Tell about what you are inspired by.
To receive an art education or not is a personal choice of everyone. Someone has developed a sense of taste since childhood, someone needs to work on it. In any case, now the tendency is such that in art ideas come to the first place, and not the skill of the artist.
It is worth starting from personal preferences and desires. You can be trained in professional art institutions.
You can take individual lessons from artists whose style you like. Also, a huge number of offline and online courses are being taught, where in 1-2 months you can master a certain skill.
The easiest and budget way to learn how to draw is to copy the artworks of artists that you like. The more artworks you copy, the faster you will fill your hand and find your own style. After the 20th picture, you will gain confidence and begin to express.
There is nothing wrong with this method. In addition, some work you can sell. Just be sure to specify the author and the name of the picture, which inspired you.
How to sell your art?
Art is the same business as any other. If you don't talk about your work, it is unlikely that you will find customers and buyers.
It is also worth understanding in which direction you want to develop, in which price category to work and what target audience you are targeting. Only after you decide, choose the site for promotion.
There is no universal advice on which way of promotion is right for you. You need to try and test everything. The most important thing is to talk about yourself and your work wherever possible. At the beginning of the journey you will have some fans. But over time, they will become more and more. Publish not only your work, but also the details of the work. Share the creative process, the materials you use. Show your techniques and techniques. Tell about what you are inspired by.
If this article helped you, share it on social networks.)
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