Career Tips for Artists

Are you struggling to sell your original art… or even your prints? The fact is, as of late 2025, fewer than 25% of Americans have $2000 in the bank. 50% of Americans have less than $500 in savings. And 23% of Americans age 25 – 34 have nothing in their bank accounts. Yes: Nothing. (Ref. […]

Never underestimate the value of the U.S. government when it comes to surreal and absurd images, many of which are in the public domain. I mean it.  And, if you’re easily offended, or if the subject of VD bothers you, avert your eyes. Seriously, this poster (at right) appears to be in the public domain. 

I wrote the first draft of this article in 2006, when the arts community was still deciding if we were “art journaling” or creating “artists’ journals.”  Then, I expanded the article in 2011, weighing in on the continuing debate. (Today, the phrase “art journaling” seems preferred, so I’ve updated the article… but only a little.)

Why art? Really, why would anyone take the time to create art, unless  he or she is a full-time artist? The answers are clear to anyone who’s independently created art of any kind. Even if it’s a scribble or a graphic note in the margin of your class notes, if you’ve ever expressed yourself visually,

I’ve been completely redesigning my office/studio this week. The room is a normal bedroom size, about 12′ x 12′, and it serves two important purposes:  I write in this room, and I create art here. Writing The writing requires lots & lots of reference books within easy reach.  I write on a variety of topics

Years ago, when I worked in fashion in Los Angeles, a co-worker at the May Company told a great story about a desperate ad campaign. He’d had just a few hours to write a newspaper ad for the ugliest argyle socks ever made. He wrote this headline: “You’ve never seen socks like these!” The socks

This morning, I read Seth Godin’s blog in which he posted a joke set of predictions for 2008.  (He claimed to have written them in 2002.  Obviously, he’d written them this week.) But, as he concluded his post, he stated his point very well: “…just think about how impossible it is for your to predict

Today, I was reading a blog entry by Rick Sheffren, Leverage: Maximize your income in minimum time. It reminded me of the potential leverage of past accomplishments. As artists, we don’t always pause to update our resumes (CVs).  We participate in swaps, group shows, and see our works published in zines and magazines… and all

Every year, new art galleries and crafts shops open. Often, they’re launched on a shoestring. They need consigned items to sell. Every year, new artists and crafters decide that this is the year they’re going to launch their careers. They need places to show their artwork. It could be a perfect partnership for your artwork

If you want to meet other artists and talk with them about local resources and outlets for your own art, here’s one great approach:  Join art associations and clubs, and — here’s the important part — go to their annual meetings. Unlike some corporate annual meetings, art associations’ meetings can be very sociable and fun.