The Business of Being an Artist [Paperback]

Daniel Grant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 23, 2010

Fine artists are taught many things about the craft of art in the various art schools and university art programs, but rarely do they learn much if anything about how to make a career of their talents. The Business of Being an Artist contains information on how artists may develop a presence in the art world that leads to sales. The book contains information on how artists can learn to sell their work directly to the public with an understanding of the principles of marketing and sales as they're applicable to works of art. Artists will also learn how to find a suitable gallery that will arrange sales and commissions and how to set up a contractual relationship with the dealer that is both equitable and profitable. Among the topics covered in The Business of Being an Artist are: the range of exhibition opportunities for emerging and mid-career artists; how to set prices for artwork; when or if artists should pay to advance their careers; how artists may communicate with the public; applying for loans, grants, and fellowships; areas of the law that concern artists; using art materials safely; online sales and marketing, and much more. In addition to all of this priceless information, The Business of Being an Artist includes a unique discussion of some of the emotional issues that face artists throughout their careers, such as working alone, confronting stereotypes, handling criticisms and rejection, the glare of publicity, and the absence of attention. Without a doubt, The Business of Being an Artist is a must-have book for every artist ready to turn their talent into a successful business.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of the best-informed and most resourceful writers in the art field.” - American Artist

About the Author

Daniel Grant is the author of a number of books on fine artists' career development. He has taught at Lyme Academy College of Art and led career workshops at a variety of colleges and universities around the country including Yale University, Smith College, Iowa State University, and the College Art Association. In addition, he is a contributing editor at American Artist magazine and writes regularly for the Wall Street Journal and ARTnews. Grant has worked as a full-time art critic and feature writer for Newsday in New York City and the Commercial-Appeal in Memphis, Tennessee, as well as having served as the editor of Art & Artists. Daniel Grant has written seven books for Allworth Press: The Business of Being an Artist, Selling Art Without Galleries, The Fine Artists' Career Guide, How to Grow as an Artist, An Artist's Guide: Making It in New York City, The Artist's Resource Handbook, and The Writer's Resource Handbook. Grant's work appears periodically in the New York Times and Art in America. A graduate of Northwestern University, Daniel Grant lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he has chaired the local cultural council.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press; 4 edition (February 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581156731
• ISBN-13: 978-1581156737
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > Arts & Photography > Business of Art

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic overview very insightful., December 19, 2004

By 

Shock Writer (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Business of Being an Artist, Third Edition (Paperback)

I read the 3rd edition by Daniel Grant. The book is aimed mainly at oil painters and sculptures. Even though I am interested in selling fine art photography the information was still much help since it gives such a complete view of selling art. Sales outlets include galleries, mail order, Internet, and others including the likely hood of success in each and examples of persons who have been successful in each. The conversational style is easy to read. Positives and negatives of various sales methods are given. The book neither depresses nor thrills but seems to evenly cover the material. Many many issues of selling art are covered. Just when you think the author is done he comes up with another factor to consider. Personal issues as to how to act are covered as part of the explanations and a chapter on "Handling the Pressures" of success and waiting for success is included. It includes an Appendix of names and addresses of helpful organizations. Makes you feel like you could make money in the arts. Overall it was a great read.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't Quit Your Day Job, April 8, 2010

By 

Conrad J. Obregon (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Business of Being an Artist (Paperback)

Please note that although I reviewed this book from the point of view of a fine arts photographer, I believe that my comments are applicable to all visual artists. Also note that this is a review of the fourth edition.

There are many markets that vocational photographers serve from assignment photography to wedding photography, but I would guess that in pursuing a career in photography a substantial number of photographers envision their images hanging on the walls of galleries. There are plenty of books that tell how to carry on photography businesses from assignment to product photography and many books explain the techniques for creating artful photographs, but few volumes are aimed at the business side of fine arts photography. Photographers interested in learning more about this form of enterprise are probably best served by learning about the business of art.

"The Business of Being an Artist" deals with all of the visual arts, not just photography, and explains the kinds of problems that the artist will encounter that are beyond just the terms of an agreement with a gallery owner. For example, in the chapter on exhibiting and selling art the author suggests that the artist would do well to find out if the kind of work he or she is producing is the kind of work for which the buying public is willing to lay out money and he recommends methods of getting honest appraisals. The author also discusses such practical ideas as pricing one's work and offers suggestions that are not strictly in keeping with a business model that looks at prices that are dependent on cost recovery and profit margins. Although many artists, including photographers, have advised me that a gallery owner with whom one has a long-standing relationship will often discourage one from working in different styles, or changing the direction of one's work, this is the first time I've seen this phenomena described in writing.

The book covers a variety of subjects, including licensing one's images, using the internet to market, hiring managers and representatives, transitioning from school to the working world and searching for grants and gifts. The author describes the extensive interviews that he has conducted with practicing artists and other participants in the fine arts business. He often examines different aspects of problems that are encountered and solutions without suggesting a best course of action. As a result one is aware of what lies ahead, without actually having a recommendation for dealing with the problems. In many cases the author does not give specific advice for some of the activities he describes. For example, although he talks about relations with gallery owners, he doesn't talk about the process for actually getting a gallery owner to agree to carry your work, or what terms to put into an agreement with a gallery owner. Fine artists, photographers or otherwise, will have to look elsewhere for this information.

Much of the material will not be applicable to every vocational artist who reads the book, like the description of the dangers of the contents of certain paints, or the problems created when one artist marries another. Moreover, many of the points are covered by lengthy recitations of the results of interviews that can be quite boring and long-winded, tempting the reader to skip over a section, even though there are often useful nuggets buried in these same sections. However, even though the book is not an easy read, the lessons probably will prove useful.

Even in the long run, an artist, including a fine arts photographer, probably will never encounter all of the problems discussed. On the other hand, reading this book should prevent one from being blindsided by the business side of one's art. One final note: practicing the fine arts, photography or otherwise, is not very likely to be financially rewarding, so don't be quick to quit your day job.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, January 5, 2010

By 

Ben Weeks "MA, www.benweeks.ca" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Business of Being an Artist, Third Edition (Paperback)

The cover design is hideous but this book is full of excellent ideas for artists which could be applied to other kinds of creative industry entrepreneurs too.
I found it very useful and hi-lighted lots of stuff! Lots of real world examples and mini case studies-which I love.