Should you choose a career in art?

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Should you choose a career in art?

by Ryan Lewis

Choosing a career in art is not like becoming an accountant or an analyst in the bowels of a large corporation. Being an artist is more of a vocational, a lifestyle or a passionate decision. They are the world’s true visionaries; taking the everyday aspects of life, bringing them to the studio and making them great. Artists teach us, they motivate us and they bring beauty into the world.

Making your career decision cannot be taken lightly. Everyone has heard the tale of the ‘starving artist’ but, for those who take the plunge, the rewards can be great. Here are some things to think about and help you on your way.

Your Driving Force

Having a passion for art is not enough to simply quit the 9 to 5 working world and dive into an art career. While having passion is very important, knowing your motivation is just as significant.

Ask yourself these questions: What are the benefits of being an artist? What are the draw-backs? Do I actually want to be an artist? What actually drives me to do this?

These questions will lead you through a whole realm of thoughts about your future. Stay focused. Don’t look at it from the perspective of the average artist. Look at it from your point-of-view and from that of your family. How will changing careers affect your family? What are the struggles you will face and are they ready for it? Take everything into consideration before you make the decision. Once you quit your job, very few employers will take you back.

Financial Motivators

Make the conscious decision to go full time. Don’t just fall into the life without thinking about the numerous aspects involved in a career change. There is a big difference between having a goal and having a plan. Your financial plan must be well thought out and have consideration for many potential outcomes.

Ask yourself: Do I have some extra money saved to pay for my expenses? Have I made any industry contacts that are promising? How many sales have I had in the past? Could I live off this income level? Unfortunately, the government does not promote or fund the arts nearly enough. The financial aspect of your decision could be the difference between going full-time or part-time.

Make a list of all the expenses you have and all the resources that are available to you. Next, determine what you could realistically expect to make in the next one, three, six and twelve months selling your art. After all your expenses (including supplies, rent and food) do you have more or less money than you started with? If you break even then you’re ahead of the game! Just make sure you can increase your revenue or reduce your expenses over time.

Run it like a business

Ask any entrepreneur what it’s like to only work three hours per day and they will stare at you with their jaw dropped to the ground. Most new business owners work twice as hard and twice as long as the average employee in the private sector. Do they do this to punish themselves? No! Business owners realize that while they may put in extra work in the beginning, once business is established and they can take a bit of a breather.

Artists should not treat their enterprise any differently. You need to build a portfolio, gather the names of galleries in your area, gather names of galleries out of your area, create a filing system for your receipts, contact lists, stationary, etc, etc, etc. The early work will not be “picture it and they will come,” rather it is build it, market it, promote it, track it and they will come.

Running your career like a business will not only make you look more professional, but it will increase your chances of becoming a success. If you’re not prepared to operate like this then consider art as a relaxing and enjoyable hobby for your free time.

Final Thoughts

The nice thing about being an artist is the freedom to start small and grow over time. There are literally thousands of artists who have decided to practice on an “evening and weekend” basis, then change careers when they start building their name and making an income. It’s a great way to start if you want to test the market and get a feel for the art scene.

An artist’s greatness is in their dedication to the craft and a devotion to the arts. With this in mind, don’t ever feel that quitting your job will make you a better artist! Leaving your current job without a plan, goals and a thorough understanding of yourself will only result in another ‘starving artist’. Think your decision both forwards and backwards and only make your final decision when you’re ready.

In the end, what matters is that you paint, sculpt or draw what you like. Let the work speak for itself but until you have found your niche, make sure you can still pay the bills! The reward of being a career artist is that you are doing what you love and are living your life the way you want.

About The Author: Ryan Lewis, Artist and BComm graduate, is a member of ArtistLane and currently shows his artwork at the Gust Gallery in Waterton Lakes National Park. Ryan Lewis writes articles for ArtistLane pertaining to the business aspect of being an artist. You can view his work on this site or at his personal website RyanLewis.ca.
To contact Ryan Lewis, send a message via e-mail to Lewis@ArtistLane.com.


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