Art Schools & Careers

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Art Careers Require Marketing

Your marketing should be like a dangling bit of yarn, leading the client, customer or collector to you.

Art careers require marketing, PR, and other administrative efforts.

Somewhere — I can’t recall where, right now — I read that an artist should spend about 50% of his or her time on marketing.

So, I was stunned to see a recent poll showing that some artists dedicate less than 10% of their time to marketing.

I’ll admit this is a case of “Do as I say, not as I do,” but really… 10%?  Are any of these people serious about their art careers?  Whether it’s a percent of your day, your week, or your month, 10% isn’t enough to achieve anything resembling success.

Here’s the poll and the article about it:

MAKING A MARK: Time spent on marketing by artists (poll results)

makingamark.blogspot.com12/1/11

Topics include: art news, art blogs, drawing, painting, visual artists, art competitions, art exhibitions, art history; art techniques and tips; art business and marketing; the art economy and making a mark with pastels, coloured …

Artist and writer Katherine Tyrrell tackles some fascinating topics in her blog.  This is just one of several excellent articles for people who have — or are considering — art careers.

Her poll results seem a little stunning.  I’m not sure if the numbers are so dramatic because she’s not well-enough known among professionals, yet.

(Of course, that’s one reason I’m talking about her and linking to her, here.)

Or, perhaps the poll isn’t truly representative of her full audience; after all, she has the #3 art blog in the UK.

You can follow her at Twitter as makingamark2.  Recommended!

Return of Photo-Realism ?

Photo-realism is in the news again.

The return of photo-realism?

A return of photo-realism?  I must have missed the memo, big time.  However, it’s a trend to be aware of, as you plot your path to success in your art career.

My discovery of this trend began when Robert Genn’s recent email mentioned the return of photo-realism.  (Genn’s free, twice-weekly emails are brilliant, if you’re pursuing an art career.)

I skimmed that article, nodded in agreement with a lot that he said, and then went looking for evidence to support (or refute) his views.  Is there really a photo realism movement in progress?

It didn’t take me long to find that Robert Genn is, indeed, exactly right: Photo realism is surging as an art trend.

Personally, I’m not a photo-realist and never will be.  Oh, I had my photo-realism phase.  Soon, I was bored out of my mind.  There’s a lot of technical skill involved, of course.  However, when I pursued a photo-realistic style of painting, I felt more clever than inspired.

That’s a pretty wide gap.

I found myself musing over comments by Terry Gilliam, an amazing artist in his own right.  In the L.A. Times, he was talking about the art of film making, and he said,

“…there’s this rush now for photorealism and it bothers me. There’s so much overt fantasy now that I don’t watch a lot of the films because everything is possible now. There’s no tension there. Where’s the tension?”  — Terry Gilliam in the L. A. Times

I think he’s hit on something, and it’s about the emotional impact.

For me, the extreme opposite of photo realism is non-representational, abstract works.  However, I can argue equally well that the opposite is Impressionism, Tonalism, Luminism, or any of the other -isms that begin with something real and photographic, and transform the subject into something with more emotional impact.

That’s what’s missing in my clever, photo-realistic works: The emotional impact.

Of course, I can argue equally well that the sterile nature and lack of emotions in photo-realism can be statements as well… and important ones.  The innate spectatorism of modern life cannot be ignored, and the more chilling photo-realistic works convey that nicely.

Somewhere in-between, there’s the wit of photo montages.  (Those are collages with interesting, sometimes quirky elements added.  Often, the viewer may not notice the additions for a few minutes.  That’s where the humor comes into the work.)

However, returning to the theme of photo-realism, the following article (and the art in it – do click the link) caught my attention:

Paul Cadden – Glasgow, UK Artist – Illustrators – Artistaday.com

www.artistaday.com12/4/11

Cadden regards his paintings as a departure from classic Photo-realism, chiefly since they contain emotional, cultural and political themes without visual reference. His work has been exhibited in Glasgow including at the …

For me, the key phrase in that article is why Cadden sees his work as a departure from classic Photo-realism.  His works — while technically superb — contain emotional statements I rarely see in purely photo-realistic works.  That’s why I keep going back to that article, and to Paul Cadden’s website.

I can’t imagine anything that would draw me back to a realistic style, even hyperrealism, which is what Cadden is creating.  Photo-realism doesn’t inspire me.  (That’s not a value judgment of photo-realism in general, just a personal reaction.)

Nevertheless, this trend towards photo-realism is important to note.  If you work in this style, it’s time to issue some press releases, online and locally.  Your photo-realistic artwork may be exactly what collectors and galleries are hungry for, right now.

At the moment: Photo-realism sells!

Looking for Work as an Artist ?

morning newspaper with coffee, looking for art jobs

Looking for work as an artist? These resources are a good place to start. Art jobs exist, if you look.

Are you looking for work as an artist?  Art jobs exist, but you may have to look beyond the “help wanted” section of your local newspaper.

Most art jobs will be in advertising & marketing, or in the academic field.

Some art-related jobs will pay well but you may be working with very demanding quality standards and incredibly tight deadlines.  Other art jobs — especially in the academic field — won’t pay as well, but the environment is laid-back enough to make it worthwhile… for some artists, anyway.

Here are a few websites with art jobs — and recent articles (late 2011) — to help you find work in the field of art.

The first is artsopportunities.org.  If the following article isn’t at the link, they’re likely to have other art-related jobs to interest you.  Sometimes lots of others.  The site specializes in art employment and job listings.

It looks like a pretty good site with a wide variety of art jobs listed.

621 Gallery – Free postings for arts jobs, art internships, call for artists

www.artsopportunities.org10/31/11

Category: Calls for Proposals. Last Day to Apply: 02/20/12. Area of Focus: Crafts & Visual Arts Design Arts Media Arts: Film, Audio, Video Multidisciplinary Public Art…

The next one is a site with one specific opening for people looking for academic art careers.  If that job is no longer open when you’re reading this, here’s the phrase to use when you’re searching for something similar at Google, “Faculty Careers – Fine and Performing Arts.”  Or, simply searching on art jobs might be good enough.

CCCU Career Center: Faculty Careers – Fine and Performing Arts …

careers.cccu.org11/4/11

Job position for CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ART with Southwest Baptist University.

How about the job bank at the Americans for the Arts website? I never even knew that existed, until I went looking.

Americans for the Arts Job Bank: Graphic Design/Commercial Art …

jobbank.artsusa.org10/27/11

Dancewave transforms the lives of New York City youth through unique exposure to world-class, pre-professional performing arts training. Dancewave was founded 1995 by Diane Jacobowitz, Artistic/Executive Director. …

Then there are art jobs listings where the typos are so strange, I raise an eyebrow.  This one doesn’t look very professional.  The only reason I’m including it is so you can see — just maybe — all that glitters isn’t gold.  It isn’t even fake gold leaf…

Art Director Job | 1013302 | PostJobsNow

postjobsnow.com11/9/11

360i LLC – New York City, NY – Job Title: Art Director – Profession: Marketing -> Advertising (Online and Offline) Art Director – Category: CreativeLocation: New York , NY – Description: Art Director – Equal parts strategist, creative …

The next one in this parade of art jobs is in the UK, and it sounds so good, it’s probably filled by now. Still, if anyone says the art jobs market has dried up, it looks like they’re very wrong.

Freelance Visual Designer: HUGE: London, UK Job Post | ART …

artjobs.eu10/10/11

Freelance Visual Designer: Developing original design concepts, executing designs, participating in visual design presentations to clients. London, UK Job Post.

Some websites specialize in visual arts careers. Others are talent recruiters, looking for performing artists. Still others offer a wide range of creative jobs in all fields described as “art.”

Here’s a listing from a site focusing on “creative jobs,” not just art jobs.

Art Director – Creative job

creativejob.net11/9/11

Demonstrated ability to: Communicate thorough knowledge of assigned product(s). Effectively collect electronic materials for output. Effectively handle multiple assignments at one time. JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: Art Direction/Graphic Design …

And finally, here’s a reference to 630 jobs being created in connection with a Christo art installation, “Over the River,” in Colorado.  I’m not sure how many of them are actually art jobs, but they’re worth checking out.  After all, Colorado is a gorgeous state to live in, and the location for this installation is spectacular… even if it annoys local fishermen.

Residents react to OTR decision – Canon City Daily Record

news.google.com

New York Times

Residents react to OTR decision – Canon City Daily Record

The Bureau of Land Management released Monday the Record of Decision approving the temporary art installation. The project is estimated to create about 630 jobs during the process, …

So, my conclusion is: There are art jobs if you look for them.  Some are specialized.  Some aren’t.  Most require at least a four-year college degree.  Some don’t.

(If you’re going back to college, it may be wise to choose a double major.  For the best chance in the art jobs marketplace, having a major in art and something like education or business… well, it improves your odds of being the winning candidate.)

I think artists need to be very flexible about how and where they break into the art jobs marketplace.  The initial job may not be very interesting or creative.  Interview for it anyway, as long as art jobs even exist in that company.  Later, it can be far easier to transfer within the company than interview “cold” as an outsider.

The Internet offers many sites with free interview tips that can help you with art jobs.  < That link had some code issues when I visited, but it’s such a cool site, I had to link to it.<

Some interview recommendations are better than others.  In general, I advise against spending much on a report or interview tips.  (Besides, you may find exactly what you need at Fiverr.)

Seriously, the free sites are usually good enough; if you need more than that, some one-on-one coaching is a better use of your money.

Once you’ve been hired and worked for awhile, you may make connections with people who can help you get the job you really want.

I think that’s true for most fields:  Get your foot in the door first.  Land the interview, and impress people with your creativity.  Then, see what develops in the direction you’d like.

The path to the best art jobs may not be obvious at first.  However, many of the juiciest art jobs are hiding in plain sight… once you’re in the right place to see them.

Does Your True Life Purpose Include Art?

woman with binoculars

Make it easy to find your life purpose and tranform your art career!

Do you know your life purpose?

Whether you think it’s something you’re born with, or something you choose, having a written life purpose can make a different.

If you’re drawn to an art career (no pun intended), it’s important to take a look at this concept.

I knew I wanted an art career.  However, I didn’t know why.

The “why” part has crystallized my art career.  I now understand why I do this, and — perhaps just as important — I understand what I’m trying to communicate in my art.

For a successful art career, what you say (and how clearly you convey it) can be as important as how you say it (the medium and the style).

Not long ago, I read an article which changed so much of what I’m doing with my art career, online and off: Steve Pavlina’s How to Discover Your Life Purpose in about 20 Minutes.

I’d read lots of books about writing a mission statement, or figuring out your life goals, finding your life purpose, and so on.

Mr. Pavlina’s article made the process vastly simpler for me.

Forget using “life purpose worksheets” or anything like that. All you need for Steve Pavlina’s exercise is a pen (or pencil) and a piece of paper.

Click here to learn the process.

However, if you hate your job (and yourself, for staying at it), you’ll probably get more from this article, 10 Reasons You Should Never Get a Job.  It will make you wince.

All in all, we’re at a point in history where amazing changes are happening around us.  You and I can catch that wave and surf our way to success… whether that’s an art career or any other passion in life.

If you like what Steve Pavlina says, and you’d rather skip the “starving artist” stereotype, you may enjoy this video about creating abundance.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad1DhUdtcFs

Finding your life purpose, and understanding how it affects your art, can make a world of difference in your art career.

How to Start Your Freelance Art Career

If you’re wondering how to start your freelance art career, this video covers a lot of the commercial aspects.

One reason I like this video is the guy isn’t slick and polished.   He’s telling you what works for him, and it’s not a rehearsed, scripted presentation.

He talks about things like your logo, your business cards, your portfolio, etc.  He makes a brief reference to some stickers he can put on the back of his work (or elsewhere) that reinforces his experience: 15 years of artwork.

Anyway, this video is a little more than two minutes long, and it’s worth watching if you’re considering, launching, or already working in a freelance art career.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N5P-KTN-Ro

Did I mention that you should take notes? Everything he mentions should probably be on your checklist, to improve your freelance art career.