While I eagerly await the start of my Units, I am exploring all the Study Skills and
Resources that could help me get back in the swing of studying!
First up, a look at my Goals and Objectives for studying:
Long Term Goal:
I want to complete my Bachelor of Fine Arts and Visual Culture by December 2016.
Short term Goal:
I want to complete the 2 Units I am enrolled in with good marks - minimum Distinctions!
Study Plan
Resource: OUA Link - https://www.open.edu.au/content/documents/study-item/Study_timetable.pdf
SUCCESSFUL PLANNING
What does it take to succeed, at study or as an artist?
Visualising your goals, seeing yourself succeed and having a good plan to follow!
A recent survey of practicing Visual Artists gave some
interesting results; just the sort of information you need to know to be
ahead of the game in Art!
The question was posed as “What are the
top things you need to succeed in Art?”
Some of you would probably
think of a top level Education from the right institution, nope... that
didn’t rate, how about the ability to sell? Nope not that one either,
how about a big stash of cash… nope..... business skills nah, not that
either.
Here’s the list:
- Confidence
- Courage
- Focus
- Faith in yourself
- Trust in the creative process
- Going with your “gut” feelings
- Play, make mistakes, surprise yourself, lighten up
Further down the list came these.
- Self Motivation
- Discipline
- Organisation
- Daily creative practice
- Openness to change
- Viewing things from a different perspective
A great list of things to know and develop. So how
will you go about building your skills in each of these areas to ensure
you are doing all you can to be a successful Visual Artist? Perhaps start by reading more on the subject and finding out how best to develop those skills.
Some more tips and Articles on 'What it takes to be a successful Artist' can be found below:
by Lori McNee Artist
- Art is the core of their lives. These artists wake
up and go to sleep thinking about art. They carve out time in their day
making art or marketing it. (In fact, for these artists, there seems to
be no clear distinction between the creativity of making and marketing.)
If they have a full-time job, it is secondary in their minds to art and
mostly a means to and end. Their real job is being an artist.
- Successful artists understand how business works in the art world.
Successful artists understand the entrepreneurial aspects of making a
living as an artist. When they encounter something new or unusual on the
business side, they investigate and learn to do it or delegate the
task. They know the value of relationships and network in person and through social media.
- Successful artists have a strong work ethic. They
manage themselves, their creative energy and resources. They balance the
time to produce art and to market it. Whatever rhythm of working they
choose, they stick to it. Whether these artists enjoy the business tasks
or not, they know they must be done and they do them without complaint
or resentment.
- Successful artists are resilient. They know that
success does not happen overnight – it requires hard work. These artists
understand that things don t always work out the way they expect. When
they make mistakes, they focus on solutions, not on regrets. They learn
from experience and experiment to improve on any success they have.
- Successful artists spend time only with people who are 100% supportive of their art career.
They limit their time and emotional involvement with people who are
negative especially about art as a career choice. If people close to
them have the skills and inclination to be more directly involved in
their art career, the artist can produce more and better. Successful
artists do not allow unsupportive people to be an obstacle to their
plans for success.
By Geoffrey Gorman
By analyzing and looking at the careers of other successful artists I
have identified the habits that help them succeed. When you meet
professional artists, take some time to note which of these habits they
practice. If you start concentrating and incorporating these successful
habits into your life on a consistent basis, you will see positive
results and benefits.
1. Visualize Succeeding at Your Goals. Visualize succeeding at your goals. Once your goals are clear
and you can break them down into effective strategies, walk through them
step by step in your mind. This will not only help you prepare for each
step along the way, but it will also guarantee arrival at your
destination.
2. Get Regular Reviews on Your Work from Your Peers. Start
making it a habit to invite artists whom you respect and admire to your
studio to see your work. This should be done at least once a month, if
not more often. At some point, when you have your network of peers set
up, you won't even think about having to find artists to invite to your
studio.
When you start inviting professional artists to your studio, you
will find they can give you critical reviews of your work. An honest,
sincere, accurate critique can be very important to your growth as a
professional artist. Another reason to have your peers visit your studio
is that they are a great source of information on the "trade." One
artist I know has lunch at least once a week with another professional
artist. This is his way of staying connected to the art world outside
his studio. Both artists are able to compare notes about the art world,
hear and discuss other exhibition opportunities, and learn from each
other.
3. Review Your Goals On a Regular Basis. At least once a
month, review your short- and long-term goals. Do this by keeping the
goal sheet in the front of a notebook or diary that you use regularly.
When you open your notebook, look at and review your goals. By
doing this on a regular basis, you will find that your goals are
familiar, realistic, and approachable. Your goals will become something
to achieve instead of something to avoid. They will help you make the
small and large decisions that are so important to achieving your
success. Remember to go back to your goals when you are having a tough
time deciding what to do. If they are clear, they will help you make
wise career choices.
After some time has gone by and you have achieved some of your
goals, you will find that you may need to change and adapt them. Some of
your long-term goals will drop into the slot left over from achieving
your short-term goals. Changing and adapting goals is part of the
process as you grow through the different stages of your career.
4. Maintain Your Support Material. Get into the habit of
updating your support material at least every three months. Your support
material consists of your resume, artist statement, biography, recent
articles in the press, and photography of recent work. The best way to
store your resume, artist statement, and biography is on a computer. If
you don't have your own computer get your material stored on a disk that
you can take to a duplicating business or to a computer center. Your
support material also includes labeled slides of recent work along with
an inventory sheet that has retail prices on it.
You should have a filing system that makes all of these parts of
your packet easily available so that you can assemble a packet within 10
minutes at most. This material should be at your fingertips. At all
times you should have at least five copies of your resume, artist
statement, and press. A three-ring notebook is a good way to store your
original master list of slides, along with duplicated sheets of labeled
slides.
As you become more involved in your career, you will run into
situations in which you need to get your support material out in a
hurry. Always have Priority Mail or Federal Express envelopes available
for overnight and second-day delivery. When your material is updated,
well organized, and easily accessible, it will make your professional
life a lot easier. You will also be better prepared to explore different
opportunities because you will know that you have this material in a
presentable form and ready to go.
5. Thank People Who Help You. The art world can be pretty
unforgiving. It sometimes seems as if you can expect only rejection. In
the face of discouragement, we may forget to thank the people who have
been helpful or have given us time in their busy lives to find out what
we do. One museum curator mentioned that artists never thanked him for
the exhibitions of their work he organized and put together. They just
wanted him to show more of their work. He felt that the arts community
did not support him, and that made him bitter.
Start getting into the habit of writing thank you notes to
everyone you meet and work with, such as collectors who are interested
and buy your work, dealers you show your portfolio to and dealers who
show your work, arts writers who write about your work, and other people
who intersect with your career. This habit can make a big difference to
other people and requires very little effort on your part.
Always have a stack of postcards with your image on it ready to
use for thank you notes. People will remember a thank you note, they
will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and you will develop a wider group
of supporters.
6. Be Creative. Georgia O'Keeffe said serious artists
always have three shows painted and ready to go. This sounds like a lot
of inventory to have sitting around, but this concept has several
important ideas behind it.
If an artist does, in fact, have enough work available for three
one-person exhibitions, it means he or she is very prolific. To have
three shows in your studio means you are creating consistent work, which
is exactly what collectors, dealers, and museum curators want to see in
an artist.
Besides being prolific, having three shows available means that
you can jump on opportunities that arise with little notice. I run into
many situations in which artists are able to secure exhibitions mainly
because they have work available. Similarly, I have seen opportunities
lost because nothing was ready to go.
One way to have enough work in the studio is to make a commitment
to produce a certain amount of work per month. Figure out what that
minimum amount might be. Consider where your work is going right now and
how much more you would need to produce to keep a certain amount of
inventory in your studio for the next opportunity.
7. Travel & Explore. Several years ago I ran a series
of panel discussions entitled "Strategies for Artists in the '90s." One
of the panelists, an artist who lives in Santa Fe, had exhibited his
work throughout the United States. When asked for a tip for artists, he
said the most important thing that he did for his career was travel. He
felt that it was critical for artists to investigate other areas, rather
than just remaining where they live. I know many artists feel isolated
in their studios; travel can be a way for artists to become
re-energized. It also reinforces the idea that the art world is very
large and interconnected.
As you plan your travel consider how you can maximize your time.
Research the galleries, museums, and alternative spaces that seem
appropriate for your work. When you arrive, spend time in them and see
what they are like. Do you like the art, the space, the employees, the
location? Gallery dealers often complain that artists do not know what
kind of work they handle before approaching them.
When you visit new places find out the procedure for exhibiting
your work. Always pick up the local arts and entertainment publications.
These will often have information and suggestions on shows and events
that you may not be aware of.
One artist I know loves to travel. He has planned exhibitions in
several of his favorite cities so that he can write off the expenses!
Now that's making your career work for you!
8. Make Art Donations. Artists are always the first people
to be asked for donations of artwork. Most nonprofit and arts
organizations raise funds by auctioning donated art. Donating art can be
very helpful to artists who are at a point in their career when the
uppermost need is to get their work out into the community. For these
artists, fund-raising events can be useful. However, every artist
reaches a time when he or she needs to be increasingly selective about
donations for benefits and auctions. So remember, donating art for
fund-raising events is a useful way to bring your work before the
public, to build up your resume, and to make important contacts in the
community. But you invariably will reach a time when you will stop
giving your work away to these types of events.
Museum donations are another matter. Few museums have large
budgets for buying art. At least two thirds of museum collections come
from donations by artists, collectors, foundations, or businesses. Most
museums will accept donations from artists directly. However, for those
museums that are restricted from accepting art directly from an artist,
you can contact one of your collectors and give that collector a piece
to donate. It is worth it to you in the long run.
There are several reasons for getting into the habit of making
donations to museums. The most obvious reason is to build up your
resume, and nothing looks more impressive than a long list of museum
collections that have your work. A less obvious reason for a donation to
a museum is to introduce your artwork and yourself to the museum's
curators. As you go through the process of contacting curators,
following up and helping them select a piece of your work, you will get
to know them and even develop a relationship with them. What an
effective way to expand your circle of contacts in the art world! An
artist I worked with recently made a donation to a museum and by the
time she was done with the process, she has been invited to show her
work at the museum.
After you have donated a piece to a museum, do not be shy about
asking for a personal tour of the collection. Most curators are proud to
show it to you. Also make sure that their library has an updated file
on you.
9. Know the Key Players. Have you ever noticed that
successful artists know who the key people in the art world are? They
may not be big buddies, but they are aware of the important collectors,
influential gallery dealers, the current museum directors and curators,
and the active arts critics and writers. This acquaintance didn't happen
because of their success. Rather, it created their success. These
artists know the importance of relationships, especially in the art
world, which is a surprisingly small world built upon networking and
friendships based on similar interests and mutual respect.
If you want to be a successful artist, it is important for you,
too, to know who the key arts people are. As you progress with your
career you will need to interact with them at one time or another. You
can't afford to take the attitude that people will seek you out because
your work is so interesting. There are many active, ambitious artists
who already know how important good relationships are to their career,
and they, too, are seeking the attention of these key players.
There are many opportunities to meet and get to know the
important players. You meet them by attending openings, lectures,
presentations, and classes. Consider becoming a volunteer or docent at a
local museum. You will meet the museum staff along with the collectors
who visit. Use these opportunities to expand your acquaintances. Know
who the key players are and, soon enough, they will know who you are.
10. Read Trade Journals. Whenever I read an art
publication or a trade journal devoted to art, I find at least one
important item to add to my store of information. These magazines bring
an overview of the whole art world right into your studio-and they are
chock full of the kinds of facts, opinions, and analyses that will keep
you up-to-date in your chosen profession.
Even the advertising in these magazines can be critical to your
career, because by perusing the ads, you can determine what kind of work
interests art consultants, private dealers, galleries, and museums. The
editorials and feature articles keep you apprised of new opportunities
as well as the names of key players at various institutions.
There are many different publications, so make sure to
familiarize yourself with many of them in order to decide which will be
most helpful to you. Be sure to read art magazines that are specific to
your work, whether it is painting, prints, sculpture, photography, or
crafts. And don't neglect the many newsletters in your field.
Regional art publications are another resource that should not be
neglected. For example, on the West Coast, there is Art Week, and in
the South there is ART Paper, and in New England there is ART New
England. By reading these magazines, you will keep up with art events
and active artists, dealers, and museums in your area. Finally, the
national and international art publications keep you connected to the
art world in the United States and throughout the world, without your
having to travel to major cities.
Geoffrey Gorman, a former gallery director, attended the
Maryland Institute of Art and the Boston Museum School. Five years ago
he founded GG+A, an artist career development firm that works with
artists individually and through workshops.
This article was originally created for TheArtBiz.com. It
appears on NYFA Interactive courtesy of the Abigail Rebecca Cohen
Library.
Set yourself a 'Five Year Plan'
by
Rachel Rolseth
Year 1: Create comprehensive marketing materials
Your marketing materials should include a website that looks and
feels like you (and your art), business cards, letterhead, brochures,
everything. All of it should match and look beautiful, with words that
emotionally inspire people to want to hire you or buy from you.
Probable investment? $5,000. Yes, it’s a lot. . . but find a way to save up, because it’s an investment in
yourself, and it will pay off down the road.
After all, if your website
feels like a hobbyist site it
doesn’t matter how good of an artist you are. No one wants to hire a
hobbyist, at least not for legitimate wages.
Year 2: Build relationships
Jump into social networking, start putting together a database of contacts, and have in-person meetings with potential buyers.
You should also begin showing people the marketing materials you
created, and start a regular email newsletter to keep your fan base
up-to-date on your latest projects.
Years 3 and 4: Switch to a part time job
Or just back off from your regular job a little bit and do more on
the art side of things whenever you can. The first two years are
investing years—years 3 and 4 are the years when you build up your art
business until it can support you.
Year 5: Quit your day job and work on art full time
Sounds good, right? Well, you’ll only get to year 5 if you start at the beginning.
Building a website and creating professional marketing materials is
imperative because it tells people you’re serious. That’s why you HAVE
to do it first.
With Corey’s five year plan ringing in my ears, I set off to work. I
ordered my business cards and letterhead. I hired a professional
photographer to take pictures of my art. I had a website designed.
I did everything as cheaply as I could but still had to dip in to my
savings a bit. Did it cost me a lot of money? You bet your hat it did.
But was it worth it? Undoubtedly.
[Read more at: http://emptyeasel.com/2010/09/28/how-to-become-a-successful-artist-the-five-year-plan/]
Here's more of what you have to learn in order to become successful as an artist:
► How to talk and write about your art in ways people understand, regardless of how little or how much they know about art.
► How to price your art and answer questions about your prices.
► How to make people appreciate your art and feel like it's worth owning.
► How to respond when people criticize your art.
► How to know when you have enough art and enough of a selection to start showing and selling.
► How to show your art in ways that make it appealing to potential buyers.
► How to document your art in ways that increase its appeal to potential buyers.
► How to make sure that anyone who's interested in your art is
able to buy something, regardless of how little or how much they have to
spend.
► How to sell your art outside of the gallery system.
► How to sell your art if it's not the kind of art that galleries sell.
► How to find markets for your art outside of the gallery system.
► How to barter or trade your art for goods or services.
► How to present yourself and your art in ways that don't sabotage your opportunities to make sales.
There are as many ways to sell art and become successful as an
artist as there are artists. And each and every one of those ways is
OK. Never forget this.
[Read More at: http://www.artbusiness.com/wannafame.html]
Tucker's portrait of Joy Hester
