Updated and expanded, this classic handbook explains how to survive and prosper as an artist and face the personal issues raised by an artist's career. Coverage includes how to: arrange exhibits, find galleries, promote your art, choose a second career (including teaching), use safe materials, handle criticism and hype, deal with age and expectations, win grants and commissions, find helpful resources, and much more.
The Business of Being an Artist, Fourth Edition
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A book for the working artist, The Business of Being an Artist outlines promotion, selling, exhibiting, materials, grants, commissions and helpful resources--all this and more for under twenty bucks. A must for the newcomer trying to break into the arcane workings of the art world." -- Art Times
"Directed toward the studio artist, both in graphic design and the fine arts, the book also discusses how to handle criticism, find an appropriate gallery, win grants and commissions, even how to accept credit cards for sales. Consistent with the entire book, a chapter on teaching art focuses on the facets of teaching that affect the artist/teacher's personal production. Well researched and packed with anecdotes and quotations about life as an artist, this book would be of value for anyone considering or counseling a career as an artist." -- School Arts Magazine
"Grant offers clearly organized information on the day-to-day necessities of the professional artist--the things you never learn in art school and never think of when caught up in the rapture of creation. It is a sober text, completely free of highbrow jargon about the spiritual side of art, and it is just what aspiring artists need to keep their feet securely fixed on the ground." -- Artist Spectrum
"The Business of Being an Artist delivers an amazing amount of valuable information. It's an invaluable resource for aspiring artists and those who feel they need to check in with a real expert from time to time. Most people agree that art schools need to offer more survival courses' for their students, and I can't think of a better book for this purpose." -- Crafts Report
"Written in 1991 and recently revised, Grant's introduction points out that these are curious days especially within the art world. However, he has succeeded in shedding some light upon what appears initially to be a dark artistic minefield with his well informed book. . . . Invaluable for any artist wanting to explore the American market." -- ReView, June, 1998
"[Daniel Grant is] one of the best-informed and most resourceful writers in the art field." -- American Artist
"[Grant] delves into every aspect of the day-to-day concerns facing contemporary working artists, including what it is like to live in the pressure-cooker New York art world marketplace, the major challenges artists face pursuing an art career in the sticks, and making a living at another job without losing your creative integrity and dedication. Grant also provides information on issues such as how to get exhibited, finding dealers and negotiating contracts, selling work directly to the public, the pros and cons of using publicists, art consultants, and art reps, safe practices in the studio for handling artists' materials, as well as information on business, legal, foundation and public art support." -- The Artists Proof
"Directed toward the studio artist, both in graphic design and the fine arts, the book also discusses how to handle criticism, find an appropriate gallery, win grants and commissions, even how to accept credit cards for sales. Consistent with the entire book, a chapter on teaching art focuses on the facets of teaching that affect the artist/teacher's personal production. Well researched and packed with anecdotes and quotations about life as an artist, this book would be of value for anyone considering or counseling a career as an artist." -- School Arts Magazine
"Grant offers clearly organized information on the day-to-day necessities of the professional artist--the things you never learn in art school and never think of when caught up in the rapture of creation. It is a sober text, completely free of highbrow jargon about the spiritual side of art, and it is just what aspiring artists need to keep their feet securely fixed on the ground." -- Artist Spectrum
"The Business of Being an Artist delivers an amazing amount of valuable information. It's an invaluable resource for aspiring artists and those who feel they need to check in with a real expert from time to time. Most people agree that art schools need to offer more survival courses' for their students, and I can't think of a better book for this purpose." -- Crafts Report
"Written in 1991 and recently revised, Grant's introduction points out that these are curious days especially within the art world. However, he has succeeded in shedding some light upon what appears initially to be a dark artistic minefield with his well informed book. . . . Invaluable for any artist wanting to explore the American market." -- ReView, June, 1998
"[Daniel Grant is] one of the best-informed and most resourceful writers in the art field." -- American Artist
"[Grant] delves into every aspect of the day-to-day concerns facing contemporary working artists, including what it is like to live in the pressure-cooker New York art world marketplace, the major challenges artists face pursuing an art career in the sticks, and making a living at another job without losing your creative integrity and dedication. Grant also provides information on issues such as how to get exhibited, finding dealers and negotiating contracts, selling work directly to the public, the pros and cons of using publicists, art consultants, and art reps, safe practices in the studio for handling artists' materials, as well as information on business, legal, foundation and public art support." -- The Artists Proof
About the Author
Daniel Grant is a contributing editor of American Artist magazine and the former editor of Art & Artists. His articles and essays have appeared in such publications as Art in America, ARTnews, Chistian Science Monitor, and the New York Times. He is also the author of other acclaimed books, How to Start and Succeed as an Artist, The Artist's Resource Handbook, and The Writer's Resource Handbook (all published by Allworth Press). He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 71 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic overview very insightful.,
By Shock Writer (USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
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,
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,
By
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.
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