Learning how to be a successful artist
Education, courses, books and tips about the art business for artists

Links to information and advice about how to become efficient and effective in your art business is organised in three secti0ns
  • Business Habits
  • Real Life Business Practices
  • Learning Opportunities
​
NOTE: This section is under construction.
Live links are indicated in RED
The pages I'm developing look like this line

NEW!

Business Habits for Organised and Effective Artists

Business Habits are what you do so you can go on making your art.
Not so much the paperwork - more an attitude of mind.
Developing the habits of successful artists is key to a successful career.
Lots of artists and those related to the art business have shared their tips. ​
Starting out as an artist?
Wanting to move on from being an amateur artist?
  • What do you "need to know" to become successful?
  • ​What do you need to avoid doing?
  • What is it helpful to know?
This section is about being an artist and
  • what are the things which make an artist different,
  • what are the challenges they will face,
  • what are the habits they need to develop if they want to be successful
​​Wanting to move on from being an amateur artist?
  • What do you "need to know" to become successful?
  • ​What do you need to avoid doing?
    What is it helpful to know?
  • Habits you need to cultivate and practical advice ​for all those wanting a career as a visual / fine artist
Moving on - Being a Professional Artist
COMING SOON (under development)
  • ​Moving on and ever upwards? Becoming a professional artist?
  • Need to know more about an artist's career?
  • Or planning for old age and retirement?
Whatever your perspective you can never stand still AND You must get and keep a grip on your business practices

How do you earn the title of "artist"?

  1. Is "artist" a title or a description - and what's the difference?
  2. Are you an "artist" just because you say so?
  3. Do you have to earn the title "artist?
  4. What entitles you to call yourself an "artist"? 
  5. Do you have to learn to be an "artist"?
  6. Do you need to be skilled to be called an "artist"?
  7. Do you need training to be an "artist" (just as a doctor or lawyer do before they're entitled to claim their titles)?
  8. Do you need to sell your work to be an "artist"?
  9. Do you need to be a professional full-time artist to be able to call yourself an artist?  Does "artist" ever need to be qualified by terms such as professional, semi-professional and amateur?
  10. Do you need external validation to justify calling yourself an "artist?
  11. How do you know an "artist" when you see one?
  12. What makes an "artist" different to everybody else?
from: ​How do you earn the title of "artist"? | Making A Mark (September 2011)

Real Life Business Practices

Real life for artists - the infrastructure that underpins "being an artist"

Real life involves a lot of activities and practices
that enable you to continue to make and share and sell your art.

Art is not all about making art. Real life involves:
  • a lot of activities and practices which mean you can continue to make and share and sell your art.
  • a lot of routine which you need to make time for and which need to be followed if you aren't going to be wasting your time and living and working and storing your art in a complete mess.
Plus professional practices which can make a difference between being a successful artist and an "also ran".

This section is under development (i.e. Published/Live Links | Under Development  )
Picture
Gaping Void https://www.gapingvoid.com/

Office Practices

​Data Protection for Art and Artists - including GDPR

Documentation of artwork
  • How to photograph your art 
  • How to scan your art
  • How to create a digital image 
  • How to back up and archive your images - see above
  • How to back up your image files

Inventory Management
  • How to document and inventory your artwork 
  • Inventory Management including consignment

Commissions
Contact Management - people and organisations
  • Client Management
  • Contacts Management;
  • Gallery Management

Project Management
  • Projects & Proposals

Administration of Money
  • Annual & Quarterly Returns;
  • Travel & Expenses:
  • Records and receipts

PLUS elsewhere on this site

Studio Practices

Under development
  • How to find a studio
  • Rent, Buy or Build?
  • Health & Safety
  • Purchase management
  • Storing Art Supplies
  • Equipment
  • Storage of artwork

Time Management

Under development
  • How to manage your time
  • Managing Deadlines
  • Exhibition Schedules
  • Forward Planning and
  • Time for Networking
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Learning Opportunities for Artists

Sometimes it's difficult to work out how best to develop

Consider opportunities for learning:
which meet your needs
which you can afford
and fit into your other responsibilities.  ​

The Best Books about the Art Business for Artists

The Best Books about the Art Business for Artists
​- a dedicated resource for those wishing to review what's on offer.

Many artists have used books to learn what they need to know to
  • develop their career; and
  • deal with the business side of being an artist from books. 

Organisations supporting Artists

IN THE UK

Art Business Courses

Art Business Courses - They are offered by:
  • art business entities - such as the auction houses. Sometimes designed for people other than artists e.g. art business professionals.
  • art schools and universities - many of whom are plugging the gap in what used to be a dearth of art business knowledge and skills taught in art schools
  • independent tutors - including those operating online
  • plus art business "savvy" is regularly supplied by a number of Art Business Blogs - many of whom have an interest in selling short courses (online or face to face). Get a taster for the calibre of their offering via their blog.

Art Schools in the UK

Art Schools in the UK - offer fine art degrees but also other courses such as Summer Schools.
  • Listing of various universities in the UK with Art Schools and/or offer degrees in Art (and/or related subjects). 
  • The listing is organised on a geographical basis and specifies the location of each Art School, College or relevant University campus.

Personal Consultation

Would you like me to help?
Plus I also help by providing talks, reviews and advice

Tell me about about your priorities re. "need to know"

In terms of professional business practices, do please let me know what are your personal priorities for what you "need to know" about.

Use the form to tell me what you need to know and why.

    I "need to know" about.....
Banner Image: An artist in his studio by  John Singer Sargent