Three Habits that Build an Art Career

Art, like any self-motivated job, takes discipline. Even a driven artist can be sidelined by family obligations, a day job, other creative endeavors, and life. Coming home from the day job with your brain fried from work demands, family clamoring for your attention, and a house that might need attention (dishes, laundry, etc,) can push your art to the back seat. It's life, it happens.

How to break free from this cycle of un-productivity?

• First show up. Go to the place where you do your art. Walking into your studio or even just up to the table where your brushes, paints, and artistic equipment lives will help to inspire you to start. 
• Carve out time. Let your art be your job. Go to it religiously. Set the time. Label an hour or two of your day for art and make it a priority. If you go over that time, great! 
• Alert the masses. Let the people in your life know that this time is scheduled for building your art career. Explain how important it is to you and ask for their cooperation in giving you this time to work uninterrupted.

Finally, accept the importance of Art in your life. Too many times we push creativity aside out of guilt, obligation, or just plain laziness. More Art to the top of your priority list and take the first step in creating a career as an Artist.

Go forth and create beauty in the world.

Sign Making Time - In Pictures

Creating signs with the Silhouette Cameo - my favorite new toy!

 Vinyl Removed

Sanded to distress

Everyone Needs Art ~How to Find Them

Art is everywhere and everything is some kind of Art.

Businesses need artists to design their logos, websites, car wraps, and advertising.
Stores need art to sell.
Movie Producers need posters and ads and set designers.
Broadway needs set designers, painters, and costume creators.
Everyone who works in these industries creating these necessities is an artist, because everything is art.
Andy Warhol knew it when he created his Campbell Soup can work.

As we've watched mix media artist on the rise, the art world is expanding.
Painting furniture to pop with color and design is one of my favorite forms of art. Visit my Pinterest board to see some amazing and crazy furniture art. (Confession; Addicted to Pinterest Art)

The trick to finding a paying gig in business is to get your art in the face of those who need it. I've volunteered to paint theater sets when my daughter was doing community theater, now I get calls to paint sets. Volunteering can lead to jobs.

If you want to paint store front windows, paint your own, take photos and show them to businesses in your area.

Small gift shops will often let an artist put their work in the store either on commission or even buy it out right. If you lug your art to a shop, have your prices ready. I once painted pictures on a bunch of feathers, framed them and walked them into a shop. When I laid them on the table the owner said, "How much do you want for them?" I stuttered and just threw out a price. Probably too low, but I was unprepared.  Be professional. Not everyone will want your stuff or give you the price you want. Thank them and move on.

Check out local art/craft shows/street fairs. Not the flea market kind, but ones that do juried shows usually have better crafts and art. Tip; bring enough to fill your table and then some. You want your table to look full and attractive.

Don't forget local Galleries! Bring your art in and ask the owner if he'd consider displaying your work.

Then we have the online venues; Etsy, Fine Art America and others. Google it. You can even sell on Ebay, but I haven't tried that yet. Make your own website and Facebook page. Share and tweet on a regular basis!

Don't be afraid to strut your stuff. It's your art & heart and it's beautiful.