“ Is now the right time to quit my job and become a full time Artist?”

                                                                  " Kandy Head "

                                                                  by Austin Surez

Acrylic on canvas, this young man is a street artist and doing some amazing work. This painting is sold.

 “ Is now the right time to quit my job and become a full time Artist?”

I saw a post on a Artist group page where someone had decided to quit their day job and go full time painting and earning their living from their art and then wanted to know what all the others thought?

I read all the encouraging comments about his great decision etc but I really only agreed with one comment and it said,

                                “Can you get your job back?”

In my business I get asked this question a lot by Artists believing that they have what it takes to earn a living from their art. The answer I give is always the same.

Are you already selling more than you earn from your day job and if not do not quit your day job.

It does amaze me the blind optimism of some Artists, who always tell me about the thousands likes they get on Facebook and all the encouraging comments they get, mainly from other Artists and I do point out that if likes do not translate into sales, then they are just likes.

I know unfortunately I come across as negative and I am not that at all and I do want all good Artists to succeed and I know some do walk out of their day jobs and do make it but they are the exception to the rule.

The reason I always caution Artists from making this decision, is because I do not want to see them make a foolish decision that in the long run will hurt them not just financially but more importantly hurt them emotionally and personally.

So you want to be a full time Artist?

Here is my plan for your life if you were engaging my service. [ I remember what my mentor said to me many years ago, free advice is exactly that and usually goes unheeded.]

So here we go, four simple steps to think about. There are more but this is a good start.

[1] Do you have enough money in the bank to live on for 18 months with no income?

[2] Do you have any collectors who are prepared to help you by buying work on a regular basics?

[3]Do you have a Gallery that will represent you and show your work regularly in group shows, art fairs and give you one man shows?

You need to be selling one or two pieces a month through the Gallery, remember Galleries take commission so know that up front and how much?

Remember Galleries are not miracle workers and you will need to be present often in the Gallery to meet customers and potential collectors.

I am presuming you want to go the Gallery route, but maybe you want to do the Art Fair circuit, then there are costs involved there as well.

[4] How are you promoting yourself?

It is your responsibility to get your name out to your potential audience, unless of coarse you engage the services of an agent, but there are no guarantees that sales will come.

Facebook                     Use them as your bill board to connect with potential buyers.

Twitter.                         Don't just put up pictures explain your art, sell it.

And other social media platforms.

                                      Artist do not like it when I say they are their best salesperson.

Emails...regular weekly emails to all your customers and supporters, telling about your latest work, what’s happening in your life and occasional specials you are offering at your studio.
Invite people to your studio, people love to see where the Artists creates their work.

Blog a weekly blog to tell about your art, your work progress, your studio, your life your dreams and this has to be every week. Story tell.

You must promote the whole package, your Art, the Artist and Artist life. All this creates the package that people will buy into and like you. 

Remember you are not just selling paintings now, you are selling " you" and selling " the artist life" and of coarse " the Art."

This just a few of the marketing tools that you will have to do to survive.

All of this takes hard work and time and then you still have to paint great selling paintings and that also takes preparation and time.

I am hoping that you get the picture and today in such a crowded Art market even when you make the big time you will have to market yourself to stay there.

To be a successful full time Artist is very hard work, no more 9 to 5, you work until it is finished, in the early years no more weekends off because you are out promoting you work and them come back to the studio and paint.

I know one financially successful Artist a friend and I know he works 7 days a week form 4pm to 4am every day, not good to ring him before lunch time, but he produces great work and has very loyal collectors but it has been 25 years of hard work, I admire his work ethic and he has earned all his success.

As a hobby painter you love painting and being a creative person and doing wonderful paintings at your leisure.

To be a full time Artist now you are in the Art Business and there are two words Art and Business and until you are successful you will be every employee you need, you will do everything and still you have to paint and on top of all of this you will need some luck and connections.

What is the best time to give up your day job and paint?

I consider the best time to give up your day job to go and paint full time is when you are forced to. Meaning that you are selling so well that your day job is hurting your painting sales.

Otherwise take the sage advice of the person who commented on the earlier post,

“Can you get your day job back?”

I do hope this has been a little help to some Artists who have dreams of going full time.

I would like to hear your thoughts and comments on this sensitive subject.