Making a Living with Your Arts & Crafts

Another Business Model

Most of what is written in these articles is from my experience in the way that I've designed, crafted and sold my work.

My model has led to an efficient way to market reasonably priced metal sculpture.  When I started back in 1973 I needed an income.  I've often heard it said that a company needs five years in order to show a profit.  I couldn't wait five years, three months was more like my limit. 

In other words, whatever could put a few dollars in the checking account.  Expediency was was the key word.

There is another way that can lead to a greater income with less work. 

It's through the fine arts approach.  Here in Indiana for example, there are arts and craft fairs, and then there are fine art shows. 

A fine art show is submitting two of your works to be juried.  If one or both are accepted, they are hung in a show that opens with a showing by invitation only.  Later the show is open to the public and remains open for about a month.

The fact that your work is in this show gives you, the artist, a certain stature.  It's like the fine arts community's stamp of approval.  Your work may sell at the show but more important to your future is the "stamp of approval".

Through fine art shows you begin to gather a following.  Let's say that you are a painter specializing in landscapes.  Eventually, when someone wants a landscape painting in your style for their home or office, they'll be calling you. 

The price for your work will be considerably more than what you would have asked at an arts and craft fair.  As your work grows in stature, you'll probably be contacted by a fine arts gallery who will want to exhibit your work.  If you are successful there, the gallery owner may want to sell your work to other galleries in other cities.

At this point you are on your way.  You are still painting for a market, but a high dollar market.  People will be pointing to your painting on the wall of their office, saying I have a "Huntington", if your name is Huntington.

We are back to what I referred to elsewhere as "perceived value". That stamp of approval from the fine arts community is what started you on your way.

For me, the only problem with this model is that it may take two or more years to establish this fine art status and perceived value.  I've never had the opportunity, or I should say, I've never given myself this opportunity. 

If you like producing your work and do not have an immediate need for income, you may well consider this model.  It's something like delayed gratification, it may pay off handsomely in the future or it may not.

To discover where these fine art shows are, you'll need to do some research.   Starting with your own area if you live in or near a city, moving on from there to larger cities.  In my case I would apply to the "Hoosier Salon", a fine arts show held in Indianapolis, and then moving on to a show or shows in Chicago.