Art & Marketing: Surviving as an Artist

I've been toying, frequently, with varying ideas of how to survive as an artist. Arguably, I'm doing it now- but I'm still making mistakes. What is the price of art? The price is what people are willing to pay combined with what the market can bear. I was mildly entertained by this article "The Truth About Surviving as an Artist", by Rex Rocket (click here). He starts off my mentioning that people do not make art for the money. True, to some degree. I have met and learned of several self proclaimed artists who climb to fame and riches with carefully planned strategy. The infamous Jeff Koons is usually brought to the table first, a Wall Street broker turned artist, who holds at least one world record of the highest auction price for a work by a living artist. We aren't, as artists, all fit (or eager) for fame and riches... the question is: how do you survive as an artist?

Lately, I find myself drawn to various methodologies for marketing and "artist branding". The words don't ring, but fall with a inevitable thud from my mouth. Marketing doesn't have to be a dirty word. And as a full time artist, I want and need to learn more about it, if I am going to pay my bills.

I'm an artist because it is the most direct and honest way I feel I can engage and communicate in the world- and here I am, I new marketing novice. I'm planning to attend the 'Arts Alliance: Converge 2010', which happens October 26th, at Eastern Michigan University. Various topics are to be covered. One presentation is titled "Who Needs a Personal Brand?", and goes on: "the art of personal promotion for the artist means developing an image that effectively communicates who you are as an artist and individual".

I am experiencing a physical and internal shift. There are major dichotomies to address. Decisions to make. Though, I can state in a clear calm, regardless of the state of the market, I will continue to make work, read books, and pursue a career that is a combination of art making (producing), teaching (public, community, and/or higher ed.), and ecology (agriculture, horticulture, research).

P.S. Moss for Meditation has sold. Thanks to Chris Jensen, a young Chicago based art collector and enthusiast.