professional artist means small business person

I have a college buddy who is also an illustrator. He is dead set on doing one particular slice of art. I commend him for his dedication. On the flip side he isn't exactly getting where he needs to go. We were texting the other day and he was venting frustration regarding this genre and his inability to break into it. My advice to him was this.

Being a professional artist is not about drawing all day. It is not about painting all day. To make it, you have two paths more or less. Of course there are variations, but for the most part this is what you got.

1) You are part business person, part accountant, part marketer, part artist. In this role you create your work, you reach out to potential clients, you nurture relationships and manage your money from work. You will spend more time on the business part then on the actual artwork. Sometimes that ratio will switch, but count on at least 50/50 for division of time.

2) You score an awesome rep who sells you for you. This rep does the marketing, the business of nurturing relationships, the accounting and all you do is draw or paint. I know, sounds sweet. But don't think this is free, reps need to make money too. Count on giving them 30% or more of what you make. If this sounds good, then by all means go find a rep. Oh, I forgot to tell you, it isn't easy to A) find a rep that will promote you as aggressively as you will, and B) getting a good, reputable rep to take you on means that you need a good track record of success or you need to have a style that they really need.

I could write multiple blog posts on reps, I will save that for later. But back to 'making it'. The two options above really are the two most obvious. As much as most artists do NOT want to be a business person, you really have to suck it up and find your inner-manager if you want to draw and paint for a living. You also need to take projects you may not find sexy and fun. And with those projects you need to do the best job imaginable. Each project is your chance to move forward, no matter how boring or dumb. I have had some stupid projects let me tell you. But, they all helped me grow in some way and were important to my business.

So, to any of you would-be illustrators trying to figure it out. Take a marketing class, take a business class, and go in knowing you will need to do it all. And if you score the world's greatest art rep, congratulations to you.

versatility should be an asset

Ok, I am onto something. Something that has been nagging me for, oh 20 years.

When I went to art school to study to become an illustrator the mantra that was drilled into each of our heads was 'Have a Style'. All of us illustrators worked to develop a look that could be our own signature. I must admit I struggled with that quite a lot because I like exploring, experimenting and I think different problems require different solutions. And I don't mean just visual imagery, but the look of that visual imagery.

Fast forward to my first experience getting an agent. What did she want, a 'Style'. Fortunately I did pay attention in college and provided a big portfolio of cohesive work. Did she land me jobs, sure, here and there including an 'almost' with Disney.

Now let's fast forward again but in the real world of making a living. My portfolio is diverse, I have so many styles, so many types of work, that if I were to go seeking an agent now they would think I have multiple personality disorder. But, and this is big, I am making a living now, without the help of an agent. And honestly I make significantly more than when I had an agent. Why, because I am versatile.

What really strikes me about this is something I have noticed in the last week or so with other artistic industries. Here are two glaring examples.

1) Project Runway ; who is lauded on the show? The designer who can design a ball gown, AND separates. Yes they may have a style, but they aren't a one trick pony. Sure they have a look that seems to be theirs, BUT seriously they are versatile designers who can apply it to the problem at hand.

2) The Oscars ; yes Meryl Streep won again. But why? Oh sure she is amazing and is always perfect in every role (except that one crappy action movie 20 years ago). However throughout the Oscars they frequently state the versatility as an asset. That the actors can play any role. The actors don't have a 'style' per se, and if they do they are 'character' actors.

I honestly think that being a chameleon is NOT a bad thing as an illustrator. It has served me well and has helped me be a freelancer for nearly 10 years. The best 10 years of my working life too. Let's celebrate style diversity, flexibility and variety, not look down on it. Versatile illustrators unite. Sure let's organize our art by similar looks, but by no means should we feel bad that we do a variety of styles to suit our clients needs.