How to Become an Artist

To be a successful artist in your own lifetime, you need to balance institutional learning, good business sense, hard work and talent. Read on for an overview of the basic steps involved in pursuing a career in fine art.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Artist's Canvases
• Oil Paintbrushes
• Acrylic Paints
• Easels
• Studio Lighting
• Acrylic Paints
• Career Counseling
• Business Cards
• Portfolios
• Cameras
• Digital Cameras
• Film
• Slide Film
• Slide Projectors
• Cameras

1. Research and apply to universities with the best undergraduate programs in art. Find out whether they offer adequate foundation studio classes that cover all the technical information you'll need for your chosen medium.

2. Take slides of your artwork. Many undergraduate programs require a portfolio in addition to your general application.

3. Go to art openings and become familiar with the art scene, since this will be your main venue for selling your work when you get out of school.

4. Learn the business of art. Take business management classes.

5. Begin building your résumé by entering both open and juried exhibitions. Be discriminating. Request to see images from the previous exhibitions and find out who the juror is. Be sure the exhibition provides adequate insurance and security for your artwork.

6. Go to a graduate school that offers practical classes and lots of instruction. Your goal is to learn as much as possible from those who know how to teach.

7. Find a studio space when you leave school, and get to work. Stay focused. Try to devote at least half of your total work week to art. Build a strong body of work.

8. Promote yourself. Have business cards made and begin introducing yourself to the art community. Involve yourself in as many events as possible and become a familiar face. Have studio parties if your space allows.

9. View other works that seem similar to your own, and compare prices locally and abroad. Galleries should add their commission to the amount you want rather than cut into your wholesale price.

10. Consult a local arts alliance for contract help. Have a written contract or agreement and have it reviewed by your attorney. There are certain laws that will protect you as well as some by which you must abide.

Tips & Warnings

• It may not be wise to go to a specialized art school early in your education. Go to a college or university that offers a broad-based core curriculum to develop other career options just in case you find that art is not your calling.
• Consider teaching; it will hammer in all the information you learned as a student.
• Avoid signing your life away to any gallery. Remember, without you they have nothing to sell. Know what you're worth and stick to it.
• Never stop learning about your craft.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.

[willowman1]

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[vaxzine]

on 2/2/2009 This is a sad post. You don't 'learn' how to become an art maker, if anything you 'remember' how to become one. If you think that you are an artist, you probably aren't one. The realest makers of art are people who are taking RISKS and really don't care what you think about what they make. If you're 'trying' to become an artist, you'll more than likely never really be what you are really trying to become. Just be yourself, turn off the computer and go make something meaningful. The rest will fall in place.

[MeganP]

on 1/16/2009 I handled the careers of several hundred American artists for 12 years. The ones who make it have definitely had basic business classes and understand that their art is a small business. It is not just a lifestyle. The ones who don't make it, time tested, tend to love the lifestyle but lack the discipline. Make no bones about it, it is a very competitive, tough, demanding field. It is nothing like art school.
If you develop your skills as an artist, you also need to know the basics of the business. And if you don't do this, then be prepared to have an agent or a spouse with business skills promote your work on your behalf.

[coreyblake9000]

on 1/16/2009 I have made my living as an artist for more than a dozen years now and have built an approach to becoming successful that I teach to other artists. Your craft is only one of four necessary elements towards becoming successful. The other three are marketing, networking and public relations. For more info on my approach, feel free to contact me at [e-mail].

[OOOObubblesOOO]

on 1/16/2009 Awesome discussion. Please comment on HOW TO GET INTO ART SCHOOL by OOOObubblesOOO http://www.ehow.com/how_4603317_art-school.html