Street Artist
 

How do you market yourself as a street artist? I am talking about drawing customers with your little set up easel for $15.00 a pop for fifteen minutes each. Where would be a good place to start such a business?

Judson, I admire your tenacity. I'm delighted that you're thinking of doing this life sketch work. Before you think about doing this, though, I really recommend that you can draw three apples in a bowl in a convincing manner in 15 minutes. (Not terribly easy to do.) Go ahead and post it on this thread and I can coach you from there. :)

Portrait Street Artist
 

What I am talking about is a simple head portrait without extravagant detail. To draw a bowl of three apples would understandably take hours.

Judson,
Do you have practice doing this? I assume you do because you say you are ready to market yourself. If so, I suggest either getting a space at a festival or any public market and just start doing it. I spend a good portion of my summer doing this same thing, only I take 30 minutes and do 8 X 10 character sketches in oil. They are very popular, it is a very lucrative business and often I am commissioned to do a more formal portrait in the process.

All you have to do is just set up and start painting and have patience. Eventually word will get around.
I know someone who paints children's faces at the library for free. That too is a way to get known. If you have some portraits on display while you are doing your quick sketches, than that helps all the more.

Good luck on this endeavor. Its tons of fun!

Dianne

Judson:

You can paint apples in a bowl in 30 seconds, or 30 days. I think Linda's generous offer would be very informative to your endeavor. I believe that Linda has done this sort of public drawing in the past. I'd listen up.

However, if you choose to pass, maybe Linda would lend her expertise to some other Pilgrim who recognizes the opportunity.

I am greatful for her advice.

I certainly would and will when I have a spare 15 minutes if that offer is open to some other Pilgrim!

Dianne

Hi I've moved this topic into the business/marketing area.

Diane, I would love to see some photos of what you're doing... what are you calling "character sketches"? (The "very lucrative" part of your sentence jolted me from my stupor tonight. :) ) What is your set up - do you use lights? How do you manage the wet canvas handoff to the client? Do they have the right to refuse the painting?

Judson, for arguments sake, let's go for one apple on a plate. I want you to be able to determine if the materials you plan to use can get you to a reasonable sketch in a short time period.

Fifteen minutes... Tickticktickticktick....

Judson, wherever you set up be sure you don't need a special permit. In many areas artists are not allowed to set up on the street or in a park and charge for their work without written permission from the city or the parks department.