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Mary Sparrow · 08-06-2003, 11:07 AM

I wasn't sure where to post this question, so hopefully this is appropriate.

Now that I am finally finished birthing babies, I am ready to become serious about my portrait business. I can not compare to may of the artists on this forum, but am ready to devote my all to fine tuning this craft.

For the past 10 years, I have been very pleased to be able to earn a nice amount of money for my efforts. Especially considering I do not advertise and have had no formal training. Painting portraits was not something I set out to do, it just sort of happened when one woman asked could I paint people? I replied no, the next day she showed up on my doorstep with paints, brushes and canvas a picture of her child and said try. Well, I did, she loved it (and boy, I absolutely cringe whenever I see it now!) so did her neighbor and the chain began.

At any rate, I am at a point in my life where I am ready to get busy. I need more supplies, I need to attend workshops, I need books and so on. Money is extremely tight around here these days and I need money to make money at this point.

Our county has a grant for up to $3500 for aspiring professional artists. I just recieved the application today and am in a total absolute panic about how to even remotely go about filling this thing out. I have never even had a slide made of a work of art, Never showed my work in public! I have no body of work other than the few I have done of my children.The only thing I have to show for myself is on avg. 1.5 commissioned portraits a month for the last 10 years. So how is a person like me, supposed to compete for grant money?

They ask for my resume, what resume

I need three letters of recommendaion "from professionals in the same field, that can speak to your talent and artistic potential."

I don't even KNOW any other artists! Well I know one portrait artist, that's it.

So, what do I do? I HAVE been a working artist, that by some stroke of luck makes really nice amount of money for a part time job. The grant money is for working artists needing to advance. I fit that description, I just don't have all the things I need to fill out the grant application without looking quite pitiful.

Any suggestions? Or should I just avoid embarrasment and take out a loan?

Thank you in advance.

08-06-2003, 11:07 AM	#1
Mary Sparrow EDUCATIONAL MODERATOR Juried Member Joined: Jul 2001 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,120	Applying for grant money? I wasn't sure where to post this question, so hopefully this is appropriate. Now that I am finally finished birthing babies, I am ready to become serious about my portrait business. I can not compare to may of the artists on this forum, but am ready to devote my all to fine tuning this craft. For the past 10 years, I have been very pleased to be able to earn a nice amount of money for my efforts. Especially considering I do not advertise and have had no formal training. Painting portraits was not something I set out to do, it just sort of happened when one woman asked could I paint people? I replied no, the next day she showed up on my doorstep with paints, brushes and canvas a picture of her child and said try. Well, I did, she loved it (and boy, I absolutely cringe whenever I see it now!) so did her neighbor and the chain began. At any rate, I am at a point in my life where I am ready to get busy. I need more supplies, I need to attend workshops, I need books and so on. Money is extremely tight around here these days and I need money to make money at this point. Our county has a grant for up to $3500 for aspiring professional artists. I just recieved the application today and am in a total absolute panic about how to even remotely go about filling this thing out. I have never even had a slide made of a work of art, Never showed my work in public! I have no body of work other than the few I have done of my children.The only thing I have to show for myself is on avg. 1.5 commissioned portraits a month for the last 10 years. So how is a person like me, supposed to compete for grant money? They ask for my resume, what resume I need three letters of recommendaion "from professionals in the same field, that can speak to your talent and artistic potential." I don't even KNOW any other artists! Well I know one portrait artist, that's it. So, what do I do? I HAVE been a working artist, that by some stroke of luck makes really nice amount of money for a part time job. The grant money is for working artists needing to advance. I fit that description, I just don't have all the things I need to fill out the grant application without looking quite pitiful. Any suggestions? Or should I just avoid embarrasment and take out a loan? Thank you in advance.