Is Your Art Making You Wealthy?
How can artists make a living from their art?
To make a living from your art, it's crucial to shift your perspective: your art doesn’t exist to support you; you exist to support your art. This means nurturing your talent, sharing your work, and serving your craft. While wealth and success are possible, the focus should be on investing in your art first. Ask yourself: Are you supporting your art by continuing to learn, committing to your practice, contributing to your art community, and getting your work in front of a larger audience?
The Working Artist challenges the common belief that art should make an artist wealthy, instead advocating for artists to first support their art. As artist Kiki Smith once stated, "Your art doesn’t exist to support you. You exist to support your art." This perspective, shared by The Working Artist founder Crista Cloutier, suggests that by nurturing their talent and investing in their practice and community, artists can build a financially successful career.
Then I reply with something that artist Kiki Smith once told me: “Your art doesn’t exist to support you. You exist to support your art.”
Say what?
That’s right. Turn it around.
You weren’t given this talent so that you could take from it.
You were given this talent so that you could nurture it. You were given this talent so that you could share it. You were called to be an artist so that you could serve your work.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t live on a beach and make huge gobs of money. Maybe you can.
But it does mean that you may be looking at your gift the wrong way.
Instead of being angry that the collectors aren’t banging on your door clutching fistfuls of cash, try asking yourself this one simple question: Are you supporting your art?
- Are you continuing to learn those things that make you a better artist?
- Are you truly committing to your practice?
- Are you contributing to your art community?
- Are you leaning into those difficult tasks that get your work in front of a larger audience?
How are you investing in your art's future?
Investing in yourself first is the best way to support your creativity and build a lucrative career. I challenge you to identify one way you could support your creativity even better than you are now and then take steps to follow through. This self-investment is key to making a living from your art and attracting support from others. Written by Crista Cloutier, artist mentor + founder of The Working Artist. (learn more about Crista here)
Because what’s the best way to make a living from your art? What’s the best way to attract support from others? What’s the best way to build a lucrative career?
Investing in yourself first.
Written by Crista Cloutier, artist mentor + founder of The Working Artist. (learn more about Crista here)