Artist are you making a living with your art?

Question

Honestly, I had never sold anything, I just displayed.

Answer 1

most artist that make art want to keep it but if thats they way of life then yes why not make money by. fatman h

Answer 2

My answer has to be, "barely."  I am on my fourth attempt at doing full time, freelance graphic design.

Some years I have done $100,000 in business.  Other years, I have not even made $30,000. (this is BEFORE expenses)  It has been a RARE year where I did not have to find a "real" job, just to make ends meet.

And, understand, this is in the COMMERCIAL art field.  Fine artists have an even tougher time.  The success rate of THOSE guys is pretty dismal.  Most of the ones I know end up "settling" for illustration assingnents. (I secretly chuckle because they tend to look down on us, mere, commercial artists)

Here is what I tend to advise newbies.  If you intend to get a JOB doing some kind of art work, then stay in school and get a degree.  In most cases, an AA degree is not enough.  Employers, like studios, agencies and publishers look for a degree, first, and the portfolio second.

And, unless you have a JOB, with a salary, going freelance is a tough route.  The PRIMARY function of a freelancer is SALES.  In an agency, someone else finds the clients.  A freelancer has to find them on their own.  We don't make any money unless there is someone willing to pay us for doing a job.

On the other hand, I don't have a boss looking over my shoulder, and worrying about a time clock and pushing boring work on me.

On the OTHER, other hand, if I need the money, I'll DO those boring jobs for the client.

Among the type of projects I take on, because I need the money are, proofreading, editing, copy writing, teaching, filing, archiving, color separating and other print job "preflight" checks, curriculum design, typesetting, print brokering, photographing people's bratty kids and yappy pets, sign painting, and, of course, pounding the pavement, going door to door, selling my talents to whoever I can convince that they NEED my services.

On the OTHER, other, other hand, I get to do some VERY interesting things and work with some interesting people.  I have worked with our local newspaper, NASA, The San Francisco 49ers, The San Jose Sharks, Elie Weisenthal of the Museum of Tolerance, The Tech Discover Museum of Innovation, and many, many other fantastic clients and organizations.  I probably couldn't do this if I was chained to an agency's drawing boards

The term, "making a living" has different meanings to different people.

Answer 3

Absolutely! But it can be tough to get going.

Most artists don't settle on just one discipline. Your steady paycheck might be from working as a graphic artist. Then maybe you write articles on the side, or enter your photography in contests or galleries, or create a sculpture for your community's garden park. If you have a craft hobby, like making cards or soaps, maybe you sell those on the side also. Whatever the scenario for the individual artist, it can add up to a pretty decent living if you play your cards right.

It is also quite possible to have a regular 9-5 job in a creative field and earn a good living, but chances are it's not very artistically fulfilling since you're not calling the shots.

Is there something specific you're trying to do that's not working out for you? I'd be glad to discuss it with you: [e-mail].

Answer 4

What your asking is if it is possible to be a self supporting artist.

I have on and off for thirty years. Some years were great and some years required getting a job to supplement my income.

I am taking a break from it again. There is a lot of room at the bottom, a little in the middle and almost none at the top. If you get there, hold on.

If you would like to make a living, start finding out what people want. Start giving them just that. Start looking at unique ways of making your art available. One friend has sold thousands in coffee shops. I have not sold a dime.

On the other hand, I have sold 50K commissions and then 6 months nothing.

Also, look for niche markets. At one show sold two pictures of just teeth. Two dentist bought them saying it was hard to get dental pictures.

Think eye doctors, glasses stores, this list could go on.

I was thinking of making a sculpture of a  ; (a semi-colon) and title it, "In Memory Of..." Seriously, although a pun, it would make for great conservation in a doctors office if he preformed colonoscopies or did surgeries on the colon. It would be in memory of those who do not have a whole colon and have to use an appliance.

Many self supporting artist will be willing to help you if this is what you want to do. Just ask for some help, suggestions, thoughts.

Best wishes, and

How ever you fare, may you fare well.

Answer 5

yeah i assume you definetly could im only 15 and ive sold 7 paintings. you just have to get your work out there