[Shine]

Okay, so I just wanted to start a discussion on switching careers. Would you become a full-time artist even if it meant giving up a stable career?

I've always loved drawing, ever since I was a kid I couldn't put down my pen. My parents kind of forced me into pursuing a career in science though and I thought that they probably know best since they always told me they wanted the best for me. So I just did it and while I never enjoyed it it was okay. I even got a job overseas for a thermal analysis company that pays well but I dunno. I doesn't feel fulfilling, you know? Not in the way picking up a brush does.

I guess I just wanted to know if some of you have gone through the same as me right now. I know that society thinks that art isn't contributing to anything and that you are starving if you really want to pursue a career in art. I suppose that I have listened to damn much to this crap. I'm too afraid to do it though? How does one even become an artist that actually makes decent money, or at least enough for a living? Can I get into the ~art scene without any qualification? Do I have to have a degree in art or smth?

 

[chivy]

ive been in that position, fortunatly (or not) i dont have a career. left school to start an apprentership as a draftsman, but due to the computer thousands with the qualification at the time were made redundant. so i took the first paying job that came along. landscape gardening. and due to a herniated disc have been in and out of work eversince. the gaps and injury time have been filled with art. sometimes it pays sometimes not.
maybe ive just not put my heart fully into it.
the biggest problem would be the conflict of saleman over artist. they are two seperate jobs and mind sets. how much can you produce? and how much can you sell?
ive tried to partner up on this point, offering 50% of the sales price to anyone who thinks they can sell for me, and they under value the art to the point that they wont work for the peanuts they want to sell at.
to sell your self? i would suggest, if youve a little saveings, and a little time to spare, use etsy. dont underprice your art, and test the waters there. its set up for artists to use. and the costs are low compared to other sales platforms.
if your thinking of gallerys and exhibition space, the gallery owners like to take a large percentage, and promote art that they think will fetch the highest price, regardless of quality or whats new, and convincing them to try something else can be very frustrating.
ive sat and watched galleries, an exibition may draw in 100 people in a day, but only one buyer. or more often non.
you want as many to look at your work as possible. you need millions to see it, to build a client list from.
let me know what you think of my thoughts.

 

[chivy]

i also spent every weekend for a full year exhibiting at art n craft fayres, sales were low, even tho i had ceramics for sale from £2.50p watercolours and oil paintings up to £300. most people who attend were either artists thinking of how to sell ther art, bored husbands who didnt want to look at any more shoe shops, and people staying out of the rain.
many of the organizers had a client base in the area already, and made good sales to there usual customers, and i got the impression that the rest of use were picking up the bill for his day out.