If you know what type of professional art career you want to pursue, try looking into trade school programs. These programs are generally non-degree programs that offer extensive courses in several specialties, such as graphic design and painting. If you know you want to be a professional artist but are unsure what type of artist you want to be, try looking into schools that offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Bachelor’s programs are typically 4 year programs that give you the opportunity to take a variety of art classes and afford you time to figure out what your artistic passion is. [2] X Research source If you have a Bachelor’s degree and are looking to specialize in a particular type of art, consider looking into a Master’s degree program, such as a Master of Fine Arts.
Taking advantage of these offerings will allow you to learn more about the type of art you want to pursue professionally, and will give you the opportunity to practice and receive feedback from professionals. [4] X Research source
Putting in the work also helps build your confidence in your art and in presenting yourself as a professional artist.
Traveling, seeking out new experiences, and observing the world around you can help you find inspiration and uncover what you want to convey through your art.
Whether you choose a digital or paper format for your portfolio will depend on your career goals, personal preference, and the type of art you typically create. If you are a graphic designer, for example, you will want to create a digital portfolio, as this will likely be the expected format. If you specialize in small, original drawings, you may want to include original or copies of your work in a physical portfolio to show to gallery or museum personnel.
As you start submitting your work, visit gallery openings and events to get to know the people that work there, as well as other artists. The more people get to know you, the more familiar they will become with your work.
You might also want to look into how to advertise on Instagram and Facebook to widen your social media audience and, eventually, boost your sales.
When you price your art, you need to be able to justify the amount. While your artwork is surely unique, so is every piece of original art. Thus, this cannot be a major factor in determining how much you much you should charge for your pieces. [11] X Research source When you first start selling your art, you may have to sell it for less than what other, established artists are selling their work for. After selling a few pieces, you can begin charging more. [12] X Expert Source Natasha Dikareva, MFACeramics & Sculpting Instructor Expert Interview. 5 May 2020.
In determining your financial needs, consider all the things that you need to pay for, including food, housing, more art supplies, and any other expenses you incur on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.
Joining organizations and staying connected to local artistic communities is a great way to meet other artists, learn about the industry, and get exposure.
Learning how to sell your art on Etsy is also a great option. Etsy is popular site that gets a lot of traffic, so it is a great way to expose your work to a large audience and help you make a living as a professional artist.
The key to being successful as a commissioned artist is to be flexible and listen to your clients. While you want to stay true to yourself as an artist, you are also being paid to create something specific based on your clients’ needs. Finding a balance between what you want and what your clients want will make the experience mutually beneficial and, hopefully, help you build a positive reputation and land more commission work. [18] X Research source
You could offer different classes based on skill level and technique. For example, you might teach basic drawing classes for beginners, as well as advanced shading techniques or still life watercolors for intermediate or advanced students.
Working as a professional artist for a company has the added benefit of ensuring that you have a steady salary.
