Know what you want and pursue it.

Art can be one of the most wonderful ways to make a living, especially if you are successful.
Wonderful sell out shows, stunning reviews and collectors chasing you to own one of your paintings at any price.
Sound to good to be true?
For a small few it is a reality, for most it us a dream never to be fulfilled.

Why would you say that?
Because there is very little room on the top of the mountain and the price to get there is extremely high.

Well then where does that leave the majority of Artists?
Many Artists can, if it is what they want, carve out a very good living in the Arts, but and there is always a but, it does not come easy.
Most successful Artists spend years unknown and selling very little.
Most successful Artists spend years trying to get a good Gallery that will represent them properly.
There are lots of Galleries who will try and sell you but few who will represent you and that takes time and unfortunately most Artists have their eyes fixed on the next sale rather than their whole career. I do understand that I was certainly guilty of that. I just wanted a Gallery to sell my paintings, that's all I wanted and I got that but stayed unknown, they did not represent me.
Proper representation can make a career and make the Artist prosperous.

What if you cannot get good representation?
Then you are going to have to plan out your career and represent yourself.
I get accused of not understanding that Artists are sensitive souls by many people, Artists just pour out their hearts onto the canvas and are totally incapable of doing the business side of Art?

My response to that is always the same.
Why do you want Artists to believe that myth, what's in it for you?

Friends, here are some hard learned truths.
Beware of Galleries who just want to sell you and not represent you.
Beware of Galleries and collectors who want to tie you into contracts.
Beware of being paid to live and give paintings in return.
Beware of vanity Galleries, they are only interested in their bottom line.
Beware of Art magazines that you pay to be in.
Beware of trading paintings for goods.
Beware of people who tell you that Artists are sensitive souls and can only paint and create.
Beware of Artists who are living the Artist life, not working hard at their Art career.
Beware of negative lazy people, who make excuses and blame others for their failure.

Lets empower Artists so that they just don't paint wonderful paintings but are also good smart business people who are in control of their own careers.
I am not saying this is an easy road, because it isn't, but it is the road to success.
If you control your career and you make the decisions, then no blame and no excuses.

Pursue your dreams and understand that this is a business and you can be successful in it.
Yes it will take a lot of hard work, lots of patience, learning new skills.
There will be good days and hard days but you will be the master of your destiny, not someone else.

Know what you want and pursue it, and do the hard work.
Discipline is the requirement for progress.