Is self-sufficiency through art possible?

Carol Broman · 12-11-2004, 11:01 PM

Hi, I am a 27 year old portrait artist working out of Jacksonville Florida I have been a 'voyeur' of the forum, and rather nervous about doing anything other than watching, but I am excited to have a chance to participate and communicate with others who are enthusiastic about art and about the human subject specifically.

So... I am attaching some examples of my recent work. The painting with the dogs is in progress and slightly distorted because of the angle I shot the pic. Two local galleries represent my work, however the commissions are sporadic and I cannot as yet survive without the support of my greatest patron (my boyfriend).

Do people actually make a living do this? It would be wonderful if it is possible! And to have success before death, faked or actual!

Thanks for the opportunity to post.

Mary Sparrow · 12-12-2004, 09:23 AM

Hi Carol! Welcome. I think your portraits are wonderful and fresh, I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to make a living at this!!

Michele Rushworth · 12-13-2004, 12:29 AM

You might want to check out this thread: http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...9&page=1&pp=10

The possibilities are certainly there for a diligent and determined artist, no doubt about it.

Claudemir Bonfim · 12-13-2004, 10:49 AM

Welcome to the forum Carol.
And about your question... I

Carol Broman · 12-16-2004, 11:53 PM

Thank you to every one offering encouragement!

There is really no other pursuit of interest to me. More exactly, there is nothing else I think I am suited to do. I think I am driven enough and excited enough and just slightly obsessive compulsive enough and self-absorbed enough to make a good go of it, but I don't network very well given my introverted nature and thus, don't do very well at making my art visible. I am NOT a business minded person, nor do I have the finances available to hire an agent. Galleries kill me with their fees!

Maybe I am rudely curious, but I would love to know your individual stories of how you got to where you are or how you are going along the way...If you would be so kind to share your philosophy or your concrete step by step plan....I would be very interested and grateful to hear.

Michele Rushworth · 12-17-2004, 12:11 AM

Quote:

I don't network very well given my introverted nature and thus, don't do very well at making my art visible. I am NOT a business minded person...

Hate to say it but I got to where things are now by being extroverted by nature, and by working hard at making my art visible. Also, I am a business minded person.

Being a working artist is like running any other small business: make a good product, and, at least as important: let people know about it.

Linda Brandon · 12-17-2004, 12:38 AM

Carol, welcome to the Forum! I'm captivated by the lady with the dogs. I can't wait to see where it's going.

Most portrait painters I know have had to build up their career and have had to develop extroverted personalities in order to do it, whether they were extroverted to begin with or not. Every tiny step you take toward putting yourself "out there" will help. (Even posting here is such a step.)

I think part of the problem is that a lot of artists are somehow waiting for permission to become a professional. Nobody will give you permission! There is no license to do this, and there is nobody to tell you when you're "good enough." Assume that you are "good enough", push yourself as hard as you can to make your art as good as it can be, get some business cards and flyers out there, and see what happens.

Mary Sparrow · 12-17-2004, 08:33 AM

Carol,

I am an extrovert in every aspect of my life, except my art and then I shut up like a clam. It takes every ounce of courage I have to tell people I am an artist. I think it is because of precisely what Linda just said. Nobody gave me permission to become a professional. Just last night when I was posting my unveiling of Charlie, I wondered to myself if I would ever be brave enough to post in the professional unveiling section. Now that I sit here and think about it, I have been working as a commissioned portrait artist for over a decade. Would that not make me a professional? While I may not produce works of art like Marvin, I still am making DOUBLE what I made working for the newspaper full time...and I work part time now, so that should give you a little encouragement. Don't get too excited, I still couldn't support my family doing this, but I do make a very nice extra income, much more than any other part time job I could have that is for sure.

So far, every portrait I have done has led to at least one more. Michelle's comment about making a good product being more important than worrying about marketing it is very true. Portraiture has a way of selling itself. The catch is to make sure that the first few you sell to has a network of friends that like to "keep up with the Jone's" and it will spread on it's own from there.

Leslie Ficcaglia · 12-17-2004, 09:06 AM

Carol, your work is impressive and you should be proud to share it here.

In terms of getting the word out, two very worthwhile marketing tools are a website and a miniportfolio to carry about with you. Most of my earlier commissions have come from showing people those samples of my work and inspiring them to think about having a portrait made of one of their loved ones. I've also gotten some commissions from my website, but I find that that's most useful as a sort of online portfolio to send people to. That way if someone calls and expresses an interest I can give them the URL, or one family member can bring up the site to show others what he's thinking of doing. My prices are on there, too, which avoids having to deal with what can be a sticky issue face to face. Around here most people think that a portrait should cost a couple of hundred dollars.

Offering a discount on a portrait at the sort of auction which attracts potential art patrons is another way of getting your name out there, although it has never worked well for me. If you have gicl

Leslie Ficcaglia · 12-17-2004, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary Smith

Nobody gave me permission to become a professional. Just last night when I was posting my unveiling of Charlie, I wondered to myself if I would ever be brave enough to post in the professional unveiling section.

Mary, frankly I wondered why you didn't post there since your work definitely fits the category. Your next unveiling should move down to the professional section.

Leslie