I often find that life and art is like a Cy Twombly painting: Endless loops that circle back around on each other without an obvious start or end; except we DO have a start and end. In my art, I find I’m continually circling back to concepts, processes, ideas that I’d left behind and looping them back in.
I left “business” dangling like a loose thread at the end of 2020 when I closed the doors of the pretty cottage that was the Wild Creative Studio, but now I’m trying to find the right way of weaving it back into my practice - or perhaps starting something fresh and new.
In this week’s substack I made a list of all the ways I’ve made money from my art practice. What would you add to that list? What have you tried that I haven’t? Patreon? YouTube channel? Let’s turn the table: What advice would you give me? Let’s chat about this over the weekend x
Is this where we're chatting? It's so good to "see" you, Jacqui! :)
Honestly, I found Patreon to be ...time consuming. But, it may be because I did monthly mailings and you could have a different model. It was fun though to have an intimate group to share photos and writings. I've been wanting to restart it, and may after summer.
Chat where you want! I think i’m posting in the wrong place, substack keeps changing. Why can’t these platforms just stay the same & stop adding new features to confuse us! I’m glad you added your thoughts on Patreon; i support a few artists on there and for some it feels like a full time job for them to keep up with content. I don’t have the energy for that; it takes me all week just to write my substack😂
I LOVE this topic! I’m also really curious on your thoughts on the purpose of art from a viewers/consumer’s perspective. But that’s a different topic! I love that you made a list of ways you have personally made income. That artist in the school gig sounds amazing.
I have three different groupings of income. One is through my visual art and Patreon, one is through my community activism/graphic design work, and one used to be through teaching/facilitating art groups of all ages.
The last one payed the least but was very gratifying. The design work is underplayed because it is non-profit but helps. The visual art work has been a very mixed bag of painting to sell and painting for myself. I find people are very interested in being educated and will give a small amount to stay connected to an artists journey. I have supported many artists like that but as you have mentioned, the work to stay involved in the dialogue is a lot!
I am spread much too thin even after trying to decrease activist work.
Areas I still want to pursue in the future are grant writing, showing at artist run galleries where the artist is paid, showing/selling in small shops/café’s.
Doing the art fair circuit is too exhausting for me so I’m not sure that’s an option.
Thanks Maria! I wonder if with Patreon the expectations of patrons are just too high? There are a couple of artists I support who post very rarely yet I still pay my monthly fee because i really want them to be able to make work. We need to normalise giving money with zero expectations.
Yes to showing work at galleries that pay you! And any other venue that offers a stipend! Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated x
Is this where we're chatting? It's so good to "see" you, Jacqui! :)
Honestly, I found Patreon to be ...time consuming. But, it may be because I did monthly mailings and you could have a different model. It was fun though to have an intimate group to share photos and writings. I've been wanting to restart it, and may after summer.
Chat where you want! I think i’m posting in the wrong place, substack keeps changing. Why can’t these platforms just stay the same & stop adding new features to confuse us! I’m glad you added your thoughts on Patreon; i support a few artists on there and for some it feels like a full time job for them to keep up with content. I don’t have the energy for that; it takes me all week just to write my substack😂
I LOVE this topic! I’m also really curious on your thoughts on the purpose of art from a viewers/consumer’s perspective. But that’s a different topic! I love that you made a list of ways you have personally made income. That artist in the school gig sounds amazing.
I have three different groupings of income. One is through my visual art and Patreon, one is through my community activism/graphic design work, and one used to be through teaching/facilitating art groups of all ages.
The last one payed the least but was very gratifying. The design work is underplayed because it is non-profit but helps. The visual art work has been a very mixed bag of painting to sell and painting for myself. I find people are very interested in being educated and will give a small amount to stay connected to an artists journey. I have supported many artists like that but as you have mentioned, the work to stay involved in the dialogue is a lot!
I am spread much too thin even after trying to decrease activist work.
Areas I still want to pursue in the future are grant writing, showing at artist run galleries where the artist is paid, showing/selling in small shops/café’s.
Doing the art fair circuit is too exhausting for me so I’m not sure that’s an option.
Thanks Maria! I wonder if with Patreon the expectations of patrons are just too high? There are a couple of artists I support who post very rarely yet I still pay my monthly fee because i really want them to be able to make work. We need to normalise giving money with zero expectations.
Yes to showing work at galleries that pay you! And any other venue that offers a stipend! Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated x