Learn about the business of being an artist
This section focuses on highlighting books which can help artists.
Who is this page for?
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What's on this page?
This page has the best art business books I know.
CONTENTS:
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Artists who succeed are those that master the BUSINESS side of the art business as well as producing good art.
Or, at the very least, they find a reliable "somebody" (who is very often a spouse or partner) who does that for them. However, there's not a lot of training around for the business side of being an artist - even if you go to an art school. Which is precisely where the art business book comes in! It doesn't really matter if you are the artist or the partner in your artist's art business, these books are for you! I've split them up into different categories so you can easily find what you want - and also see what are the alternatives. Below I've summarised what they contain, provided a very brief review, indicated who they are suitable for and how they are rated by other artists. |
These are the best books on and about the art business which are available on Amazon. So while you learn more about art you can also save on your business expenses!
This is me being business-like!This website costs money to run and to maintain it I need to raise income to offset the costs of running it. Below you will find associate links to Amazon - in the USA and UK - which means I get a tiny percentage of what the book costs you every time you buy one.
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Some of the Best Art Business Books - others are available as ebooks
How to have a career and make money as an artist
The first two books are very focused on how to make a success of your art career
These are more in-depth reads for those who are ready for a lot of detailed guidance on how to start and run an art business - and make money - and survive as an artist!
These are more in-depth reads for those who are ready for a lot of detailed guidance on how to start and run an art business - and make money - and survive as an artist!
- The first is written by an American art agent - and is a roaring success in the USA, but is less well know in the UK
- The second is written by a very experienced teacher of art business in UK art schools
Art Money & Success:
A complete and easy-to-follow system for the artist who wasn't born with a business mind.
by Maria Brophy
A complete and easy-to-follow system for the artist who wasn't born with a business mind.
by Maria Brophy
HUGELY POPULAR and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
A book which shares a lot of very useful information - described by some as "a goldmine". Her overall principles are very sound but the tone of the book probably appeals more to an American audience. Plus Maria Brophy deals with the nature of the contemporary art market today - not one which was around in the past.
A book which shares a lot of very useful information - described by some as "a goldmine". Her overall principles are very sound but the tone of the book probably appeals more to an American audience. Plus Maria Brophy deals with the nature of the contemporary art market today - not one which was around in the past.
Learn how to find buyers, get paid ... nicely, deal with copycats and sell more art.
The author has been an art agent for her husband since 2001. Her approach to making money from art and having a successful art business is based on doing it for real. You can read her blog on https://mariabrophy.com/ |
CONTENTS:
A well organised book with a logical structure and no nonsense approach - focusing on
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Paperback: 354 pages
Publisher: Son of the Sea, Inc. 1st edition Publication date: May 21, 2017 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Rated an average of:
BUY THIS BOOK Art Money & Success
 from Amazon UKArt Money & Success
 from Amazon.comArt Money & Success (KINDLE Edition)
 from Amazon.com |
The Essential Guide to Business for Artists and Designers
by Alison Branagan
by Alison Branagan
Probably most relevant to those living in the UK - but lots of content is relevant to aspiring artists and those starting out everywhere. Probably quite a few artists who have been around for a longtime could also benefit from these art business basics.
An essential book for any artist/designer who is thinking of setting up their own business, this book literally covers everything you need. This is the information that should be taught in art schools and isn't!
Written by Alison Branagan, an author, business adviser and visual arts consultant who has devised and delivered courses on the art business for art students at the University of the Arts in London |
CONTENTS:
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Paperback: 344 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic; 2nd Revised edition edition (9 Feb. 2017) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
BUY THIS BOOK |
from Amazon UK
from Amazon.comStarting Out - for those who aspire to an art career
You have to start somewhere. Whether
First an in-depth book and then three books for those who like to read in short bursts.
- you're an art student who's just left art school,
- a hobby artist looking to start selling your work or
- an accomplished artist who's hoping to realise the dream of becoming a full-time artist
First an in-depth book and then three books for those who like to read in short bursts.
What They Didn't Teach You in Art School: How to survive as an artist in the real world
by Rosalind Davis and Annabel Tilley
by Rosalind Davis and Annabel Tilley
This book is an excellent no nonsense primer for ex-art school students and those starting out - and also for those more experienced artists who missed out on a business education at art school and could do with reviewing and improving their current business practices. Described as a handbook of practical tips, tools, advice and philosophies on professional development. It also has some great quotes!
Written by a couple of English artists who have exhibited internationally.
A ton of practical information is given, solid information without fluff or fillers. Must read for artists at any stage of their career! |
CONTENTS:
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Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Ilex Press; 1st edition Publication Date: 3 Nov. 2016 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Rated an average of:
What They Didn't Teach You in Art School: (hardback)
 from Amazon UKWhat They Didn't Teach You in Art School (Kindle Edition)
 from Amazon UKWhat They Didnt Teach You In Art School
 from Amazon.com |
Short Art Business Guides - for those who like a quick read
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If you're starting out and you want a simple guide to the art business and the things you need to think about these books are for you.
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These major on short simple introductions - not in-depth advice. For that you want other books that specialise in the areas you are interested in.
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A Pocket Business Guide for Artists and Designers
by Alison Branagan
by Alison Branagan
RECOMMENDED FOR UK ARTISTS Excellent advice for UK artists as it's written from a UK perspective - and generally good advice for everybody else |
Every topic in the book is explained in 250 words or less - so no need to read lots of words to find out what you need to know! It covers:
The author, Alison Branagan, lectures at Central St Martins (part of the University of the Arts in London) about the business side of being an artist and what you need to know about business start-up, self-promotion and generally being an entrepreneur as well as an artist. |
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: A & C Black Publishers Ltd (8 July 2011) Republished: Grey Tiger 2013 Rated an average of:
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Art is your Life. Make it your Living by Susan Mumford and Chris King
This is a book of bite sized stories providing an insight into the realities of the art world. |
This book is a great introduction for those who are "innocents abroad" in the world of art. It focuses on practical issues, challenges and problems and has lots of useful information and stories in bite size chunks which make you stop and think.
Susan Mumford, the author writes Be Smart about Art (her partner takes the pics). She describes herself as a game-changer in the 21st Century art world. She’s an entrepreneur, mentor, speaker and author, born and raised in the USA and now based in London I found it ideal reading matter for travelling on the tube in London. |
Paperback: 102 pages
Publisher: Be Smart About Art Publishing Date: 15 April 2015 [Note It's NOT available on Amazon.com] RECOMMENDED Rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 7 customers in the UK |
from Amazon UKArtists' Survival Guide
by Tara Cranswick and a number of contributors
by Tara Cranswick and a number of contributors
This book is a compilation of contributions, hints and tips from a number of different artists.
It's a small book but there's a lot to read as it's packed full of useful information. The downsides are:
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CONTENTS
This book has four main sections - Making, Showing, Selling and Director. Making covers
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Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Grey Tiger; Publication date: 1st edition (28 Oct. 2013) BUY THIS BOOK It's excellent value given the amazing amount of tips inside! Artists' Survival Guide
 from Amazon UKArtists' Survival Guide
 from Amazon.com |
How to sell your art - online and/or via an art gallery
The business model for selling art has changed radically in the last 10 years.
One of the major "need to know" topics of recent times for artists has been "how to sell your art online".
While art business books 10 years ago might have focused on how to woo an art gallery, galleries are now less important than they were - not to mention much less numerous. Which is why making your fortune out of your own efforts holds so much appeal. That and the fact there are more than a few people who have done a very good job at selling their own art - by themselves.
One of the major "need to know" topics of recent times for artists has been "how to sell your art online".
While art business books 10 years ago might have focused on how to woo an art gallery, galleries are now less important than they were - not to mention much less numerous. Which is why making your fortune out of your own efforts holds so much appeal. That and the fact there are more than a few people who have done a very good job at selling their own art - by themselves.
How to Sell Your Art Online: Live a Successful Creative Life on Your Own Terms
by Cory Huff
by Cory Huff
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Rated an average of:
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How to Sell Your Art Online covers
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Cory Huff is the man behind the popular website The Abundant Artist
Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Harper Design Publication date: June 28, 2016 BUY THIS BOOK How to Sell Your Art Online
 from Amazon UKHow to Sell Your Art Online
 from Amazon.com |
The Artist's Guide to Selling Work (Revised 2nd edition)
by Annabelle Ruston
by Annabelle Ruston
This is an excellent book covering contemporary ways of selling art which has been a best selling book for over 10 years. Recently updated to cover selling online. So many books which purport to tell artists about the art business are dated and have not caught up with the changes that the internet has made. This
covers more conventional approaches to selling art - via art galleries and via licensing. However, the revised second edition also includes consideration of more self-directed approaches using digital opportunities to sell your work online and organising and marketing your own reproduction prints of your artwork.
covers more conventional approaches to selling art - via art galleries and via licensing. However, the revised second edition also includes consideration of more self-directed approaches using digital opportunities to sell your work online and organising and marketing your own reproduction prints of your artwork.
Author: Annabelle Ruston is an editor with the Fine Art Trade Guild, one of whose main functions is to guide its members through the potential pitfalls of selling their work
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The second edition of this book helps artists to address the demands of marketing and selling work using social networking and e-marketing in an online world.
CONTENTS
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Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Herbert Press 1st edition 2005 2nd edition 2013 3rd edition: Publication Date:
RECOMMENDED This has been a best-selling book for over ten years however note most of the reviews relate to earlier editions Rated an average of:
The Artist's Guide to Selling Work
 from Amazon UKThe Artist's Guide to Selling Work
 from Amazon.com |
Understanding Art Galleries
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If you want to show you work in art galleries you need to understand how they work.
Both the books below are essentially written for those who manage art galleries or want to start one. However they are also a great education for artists in how art galleries work and the scope for working with them. |
Read more about this topic a A Guide to Art Dealers and Art Galleries in the 'SELL ART' section of this website
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RECOMMENDED: Management of Art Galleries (Second Edition)
by Magnus Resch
by Magnus Resch
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Officially a BEST SELLER - this analysis of research about the inner life of art galleries sold out very fast in the English language edition when first published.
Nothing like it had ever been written before. |
"Entertaining, necessary, in short: brilliant." |
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First Edition in 2015 - SOLD OUT!
First Publisher: Hatje Cantz It sold out really fast! Rated an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 9 customer reviews Second edition published in 2016! I ordered and waited and was rewarded! However printing text in pink is beyond a joke - and impacted on reviews! THIRD EDITION 2018 Paperback: 152 pages (+ 12 pages) Publisher: Phaidon Press UK: 13 July 2018 USA: and I bought it again! BUY THIS BOOK USA: Management of Art Galleries
 from Amazon.comUK: Management of Art Galleries: REVISED / THIRD EDITION
 from Amazon UK
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How to Start and Run a Commercial Art Gallery (Second Edition)
by Edward Winkelman (published 2009)
by Edward Winkelman (published 2009)
Rated an average of
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The blog became a book!
This book is essentially written for people wanting to become gallery owners. However, it's also very helpful for artists who want to research and understand:
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Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Allworth Press; 1st Edition Publication date: July 14, 2009 2nd Edition Publication date: 13 Nov. 2018 BUY THIS BOOK How To Start Run Commercial Art Gallery
 from Amazon.com |
from Amazon UKCopyright
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It's essential to know about copyright in order to
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You can read more about this topic in my section on Copyright for Artists
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The Copyright Zone: A Legal Guide For Photographers and Artists In The Digital Age
by Edward C. Greenberg J.D and Jack Reznicki
by Edward C. Greenberg J.D and Jack Reznicki
RECOMMENDED: An accessible guide to copyright (for the American marketplace). It's targeted at photographers, illustrators, artists who need to understand why and how images need to be protected and what their rights are - within the context of digital images and the internet.
Easy to digest content covers:
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The authors are American and hence much of the content related to law has an American bias. They also write a blog called The Copyright Zone - described as a survival blog for photographers, artists and the confused! Greenberg is a commercial litigator based in New York. Reznicki is an experienced and commercial people and children photographer.
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Paperback: 352 pages
Published by Focal Press in 2015 UK: Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 42 customer reviews BUY THIS BOOK USA: Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by 45 customer reviews
BUY THIS BOOK The Copyright Zone: A Legal Guide For Photographers and Artists In The Digital Age
 - BUY from Amazon.com |
BUY from Amazon UK
Artists' Rights: A Guide to Copyright, Moral Rights and Other Legal Issues in the Visual Art Sphere
by Molly Toreen Stretch
by Molly Toreen Stretch
The audience for this book probably leans more towards museums, professionals in the art business, and lawyers rather than artists and craftspeople working in the art economy.
It's published by the Institute of Art and Law and is
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The book covers:
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Paperback: 254 pages
Publisher: Institute of Art and Law Publication Date: January 6, 2015 BUY THIS BOOK |
BUY from Amazon UK
BUY from Amazon.comThe Artists Resale Right
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The Artists Resale Right (ARR) - in the context of the Secondary Art Market (resales) has the potential to be an important factor in the income portfolio of artists whose art continues to sell well - and as part of the income to be derived from the estate of a deceased artist
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For more about this topic see my section on Copyright and resale rights after death
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Artist's Resale Right: A Guide to Law and Practice Paperback
by Simon Stokes
by Simon Stokes
Published by the Institute of Art and Law, this is the only UK text dedicated to examining the very specialist area of the Artists Resale Right (ARR). It provides background to its implementation within the UK in 2006 and subsequent developments. This new and revised third edition - published in 2017 - takes stock of the first ten years’ experience in the UK.
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Paperback: 84 pages
Publisher: Institute of Art & Law; 2nd Revised edition (29 Aug. 2012) BUY THIS BOOK Artist's Resale Right (Droit de Suite): UK Law and Practice
 from Amazon UK |
Data Protection
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The General Data Protection Regulation relates to people's PERSONAL DATA - data that helps identify an individual. It affects
It came into effect on 25 May 2018. |
GDPR for Dummies
by Suzanne Dibble LLB, CIPP/E
HIGHLY RATED: Has been #1 Best Seller in Business Law / In the Top 10 Business Law Books on Amazon.
An ideal reference book for any business owner anywhere in the world who needs to deal with GDPR if transacting any business with anybody in the UK
by Suzanne Dibble LLB, CIPP/E
HIGHLY RATED: Has been #1 Best Seller in Business Law / In the Top 10 Business Law Books on Amazon.
An ideal reference book for any business owner anywhere in the world who needs to deal with GDPR if transacting any business with anybody in the UK
Sets out in simple steps
- how small business owners can comply with the complex General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
- what constitutes personal data and special category data
- how to avoid fines, regulatory investigations and customer complaints
- how to gain consent for online and offline marketing
- and much more!
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Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Publication date: 23 Jan. 2020 Rated an average out of 5 stars UK: 4.8 by 67 customer reviews USA: 4.7 by 32 customer reviews BUY THIS BOOK GDPR For Dummies
 from Amazon UKGDPR For Dummies
 from Amazon.com |
Art Legacy Planning
Art Business for Artists does not end with the end of life. There's a legacy to deal with....
This website includes a whole section on what's involved with planning and dealing with The Art Legacy - but if you want a book to read this is an excellent handbook whether you are an artist, an executor or one of the prospective heirs.
This website includes a whole section on what's involved with planning and dealing with The Art Legacy - but if you want a book to read this is an excellent handbook whether you are an artist, an executor or one of the prospective heirs.
The Artist Estate:
A Handbook for Artists, Executors, and Heirs
by Loretta Wurtenberger
A Handbook for Artists, Executors, and Heirs
by Loretta Wurtenberger
There's relatively little expert resources on this topic - this book gets great ratings BUT it's not cheap!
RATED:
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This handbook covers
The author has a business which has advised on the setting up and execution of artists estates for many years - with a bias towards Germany. |
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Hatje Cantz Published: August 2016 BUY THIS BOOK The Artist Estate: A Handbook for Artists, Executors, and Heirs
 from Amazon.comSee also The Art Legacy on this website. |
from Amazon UKNEW Creative Legacies: Critical Issues for Artists' Estates
Edited by Kathy Battista and Bryan Faller
Edited by Kathy Battista and Bryan Faller
Publisher states it offers vital legacy-management information for visual practitioners in all fields, including art, architecture, decorative art and design. I have still to be persuaded they have sufficient financial, tax and legal expertise to of practical help beyond the philosophy of what is a legacy. Maybe when I've seen a copy....?
due to be published
3rd September 2020 |
Described as an in-depth guide to practical, legal and financial considerations and best-practice for artists’ estates.
Contributions from: Kathy Battista, Alexandra Bowes-Lyon, Bryan Faller, Nathalie Khan, Christine Kuan, Lisa Le Feuvre, Christy MacLear, Daniel McClean, Tom McNulty, Mark Morris, Judith B. Prowda, Ann-Marie Richard, Christine J. Vincent, Eric M. Wolf, Robin Wright and Loretta Würtenberger. |
Hardback: 192 Pages
Size: 240 × 170 mm Includes 30 b&w illustrations Publisher: Lund Humphries Published: 3rd September 2020 BUY THIS BOOK Creative Legacies: Critical Issues for Artists' Estates
 from Amazon UKSee also The Art Legacy on this website. |
Art in Transit
One of the things an artist has to become an expert at is packing and shipping paintings
Art in Transit: Handbook for Packing and Transporting Paintings
Editors: Mervin Richard, Marion F. Mecklenburg and Ross M. Merrill
Editors: Mervin Richard, Marion F. Mecklenburg and Ross M. Merrill
"This handbook is intended to be a reference for anyone involved in the packing and shipping of painting"
Publisher: National Gallery of Art (June 1991)
Ring-bound edition BUY IN USA Art in Transit: Handbook for Packing and Transporting Paintings
 from Amazon.com
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Read my review of Art in Transit: Handbook for Packing and Transporting Paintings. This is a very large and comprehensive handbook, written for art galleries and museums, which tells you what to do when packing and transporting valuable artwork. However it's also applicable to all those moving and arranging for the transport of artwork.
It's ridiculously expensive for the ordinary artist BUT This book is also available for free from the Smithsonian Institute (see link BELOW). Which is nice, because copies are now difficult to get hold of and astronomically expensive - however if you want your very own copy..... Art in Transit: Handbook for Packing and Transporting Paintings | Smithsonian Digital Repository: (6.1 MB PDF FILE)
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