Artists Are Not Creating Art All Day
Ask any artist and they definitely wish they could be making art much more than they are. Painting their little hearts out is what all of them want to be doing as making art is where their passion lies. Artists may have jobs, a family, kids, pets, meals to cook, cleaning, and so many other responsibilities that demand time and energy away from the easel, that's just part of life. Yet, somehow, we all find the time to do what we love to do...Often in the very early or very late hours.
Let's take a look at the artist's journey of getting that artwork in front of you, the viewer.
Create a Bunch of Art
Artists begin by creating artwork. Dreams and feelings, hope and fear, joy and sadness are put onto canvas or paper. Sometimes its the practicing of techniques and fine tuning what we love to do, but eventually we have created some artworks, and gradually, we might feel like we want the world around us to see what we do. Eventually, a few questions arise...
- Will people like what they see?
- Will the world understand where I am coming from?
- Can I make some money selling it?
- Can I make a living being an artist?
- How much artwork do I need to have enough to show it?
Another good question with a good answer is how to get started? Just jump in is one answer as well as do the research! Look at the advice given and ask questions. See what rings true for you. Most artists LOVE what they do and want to help the up and coming artists - we support each other in this journey.
Post Art on Social Media
Many an artist will begin by posting on social media - which could be any or all of the popular sites, chat groups or other sites. They may have Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter/X, TikTok, and/or YouTube - you'll need an account, email and start putting yourself 'out there'. And the artist will need to post regularly in order to be seen.
Begin by creating your artist name, as how you want to be recognized, contacted, and remembered by. Sure, use your own name if you like. You'll have a signature, a logo, business cards and much more eventually that will all carry your name.
See these link series for help:
Tech Series 1: Instagram for Artists
Tech Series 2: Are You Reeling on Instagram?
Tech Series 3 How to Be Pinteresting
Tech Series 4 The Blogging Story
Tech Series 5 Who Art Thou? (Coming Soon on this blog)
Keep Track of Your Art
Keeping track of your art inventory is something very necessary for the artist to do as well as having a photo inventory of it all, really from the start. Update your inventory and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE the data in multiple ways (in case of disaster). This is something you don't want to save until later to do as you may not remember what is where, or do I still have it? Did it sell?? When? What size was that painting? Or, didn't I have that piece in this show already?
An artist will need to develop a way to inventory all of their artwork and keep a visual record as well. Learning to photograph their artwork correctly is a must. Some computer savviness for some general knowledge is a must have too.
See Artist Documents - What Do I Need?
See Tips to Photograph Your Art for Jury Submission by Leah Boynton
How to Sell Your Art at What Price?
The most often asked of questions! And one of the most challenging to answer. These links offer methods and suggestions in pricing your art and building up your inventory by levels.
See Pricing Your Art - Be Realistic and Pricing Your Artwork
Do You Need an Art Website?
Having your own website, blog, an artist page on your art group's gallery - there are options for the artist. Based on your budget, time, skills, and talent, the artist will need to decide what works best for them. Again, an important item that needs to be managed and kept timely with fresh content as well as monthly and various fees in the maintenance of a personal artist website.
Join an Art Group
Some artists are perfectly fine going solo for their art career. But maybe you like the idea and socialization of being around other artists, and sharing the costs and resources offered by a local art group. The benefits are real! Friendships with people with similar interests is a definite possibility! And being part of an art group may open doors for you that would take a lot longer to achieve than a solo artist on their own.
An annual fee to join an art group is very common which helps the group manage their mission statements, goals and possibly management fees for nonprofit status, website fees, etc.
Volunteering time in an art group is a very fast way to learn invaluable lessons relating to the business side of art.
Art meetings go on the calendar too - as I like to say, "You miss a meeting and you can miss a LOT!"
See Art Groups
Enter a Popup Art Show or Festival
Having a popup art show or going to an art festival is another time consuming but necessary (to a degree) venture along with potentially needing all the equipment, supplies, art inventory, and Point of Sale System (POS) so that you can attend. And there is the promotion of letting everyone know you'll be in the show.
Submitting to art shows often means a fee to pay in order to enter a certain number of pieces.
The time to setup a show depends on many factors, but usually for a popup show with an art group, you'll need to be there a couple hours before and at least an hour afterwards. Funny how what goes up so carefully, comes down so much quicker.
An art gallery space will take a lot longer to setup depending on the number of pieces that will be displayed. A large show with a lot of artists is an orchestrated maneuvering of pieces that look great together, and tell a story around the display space.
See Lessons Learned at an Outdoor Art Show and Art Shows, Art Galleries - Showing Your Art
Answer a Call for Art for an Art Show
Deadlines are a part of the artworld when art calls come out asking for works based on mediums, themes, and/or sizes, and the artist will consider if what they have created would fit into the request. The location, timing, and art fees of the show, and all important due dates and notifications are mapped out on the calendar to make the decision if they are interested in being a part of that art event.
Some artists create art for specific shows as well, so allowing for drying times, photo taking, and getting the application in on time are considerations.
An artist that gets a solo show will need to have quite a collection of a body of work for a cohesive art display that people will want to come and see.
Knowing that there is often a fee to enter an art show, there is also a commission that the gallery or art group will take out of the artworks sale price with the remainder going to the artist.
Let's look at a common example. Say the price on an artwork is $1000. A gallery may take 30 to 60% of that price. Often we see a 35% commission here in Woodbridge, VA.
$1,000 x .35 = $350 So... $1,000 - $350 = $650 goes to the artist with $350 going to the gallery. This is one way art galleries and art events make their money or raise money to stay in business, pay their expenses, etc. But if the gallery is well-known and/or in a big city, that gallery commission is on the higher end.
(note: not including sales tax on this example)
See Call for Art
Volunteering
While art galleries may have staff that work in that art space, many art shows and smaller art galleries rely on the artists and/or art groups to help work in the space with setup, takedown, help the visitors, even art receptions, and even make the art sales. Every show is different as well as each space.
In working with the Prince William Art Society art group, we've all found that volunteering time in a gallery space as invaluable. When you talk with a gallery visitor and you tell them you are an artist in that show, they will always ask, "Where is your art?" And you can start building a one-on-one relationship with that visitor by artfully describing what you do and why you love it. Your inspiration and your story help to sell the art. People do love to buy from artists when they love what they do and they've MET him or her!
See Getting Involved with Your Local Art Group
Getting Creative with Supplies, Storage, Equipment, Replenishment
Artists will need to manage their artwork in getting it to the show, and if it doesn't sell, getting it home again without damage. There may be equipment to buy or ways to use what you already have to move and get stuff to the show. Think wheels, think cushioning and protection.
Then there is art storage in your home/studio. Go UP whenever possible! Up on the walls, and storage going up.
Replenishment is an ongoing inventory topic in the artist's studio. Artists shop for the best they can afford, searching for art sales from their favorite art supply stores, online and offline. Here is a very basic look of an artist supply list based on prices found on September 25, 2025. (Hey...that's 3 months to Christmas!)
Painting Surface Cost Examples
- Michaels.com 18x24x1.5 Cotton Stretched Canvas $39.99 for 1
- DickBlick.com 18x24x1.5 Linen Stretched Canvas $49.43 for 1
- Jerry's Artarama Aqua Watercolor Paper 18x24 Cold Press 140lb for 15 sheets $68.22
- Amazon Ampersand Aquabord Painting Panel 18x24 $33.90 for 1
Painting Mediums Kit Cost Examples
- Amazon Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint Kit, set of 10 Colors, 1 fl.oz bottles, professional Paint $44.99
- Amazon Winsor & Newton Artist's Oil Colour Paint Introductory Kit, set of 10 colors 21ml tubes $68.37
- Amazon Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set, 24 whole pan $64.76
- Oil Pastels Sennelier run about $5.35 per stick
- Jerry's Artarama Schmincke Soft Pastels Assorted Box Set of 15 is $91.29 or about $6.09 each
- Jerry's Artarama Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencil Tin Set of 48 Assorted $53.50
- Jerry's Artarama Artfinity Alcohol Inks run about $4.39 each fro a 25ml bottle
- Jerry's Artarama Winsor & Newton Gouache Paint Designers Gouache Intro, set of 10 assorted colors 14ml $56.70
- Amazon Nicety 72 Colors Acrylic Paint Pen Markers $23.45
- Jerry's Artarama Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Sketching Pencil Sets run between $5.87 and $13.43
- Jerry's Artarama Copic Sketch Marker Sets run between $70.20 and $421.20
For art surface preparation there are Gesso (Acrylic Gesso 1 gallon about $48.89) and Grounds.
Paint Additives include retarder, thinner, and wetting aid.
Paint Finishes include varnishes, top coats, isolation coats and more, per medium used.
Tools and Equipment: based on sizes of paintings, the artist should have an assortment of Professional Brushes for each medium used, palettes, knives, artist tape, a brush cleaning product, a mahl stick, and sponges. At least one good easel is a requirement and the options are endless and choice should be based on budget, your needs, and space available. And finally, the topic of Displaying is addressed so that the art can be hung in the manner the show dictates.
Many artworks need to be framed and frames can run a gauntlet of prices, sizes, styles and colors. Additionally costs are matboards, backing boards, archival bags for prints, labels, business cards, Certificates of Authenticity.
See Have Art, How Do You Travel? and Storing Your Artwork
Manage Your Art Calendar
Typically in the spring and again in the fall (pre-holidays), the calendars fill up with all the art shows, art receptions, art calls, deadlines to enter, notification dates of accepted or unaccepted art, drop off dates, and pickup dates that are sprinkled all over a calendar's days and months - on paper and/or phone.
Get a calendar with large enough spaces to fill in multiple to dos and events per day! Hello Pencil! Allow for space and changes and additions. It will happen occasionally that you'll have to go north to deliver art and south to pickup art, and east to go to that meeting and west to go pick up those art supplies on the same day.
Manage Your Art Business
Whether your art is a hobby or a business, there does involve managing the artwork, the accounting, the finances - income and expenses (costs of supplies, fees, commissions), scheduling, promotion, taxes and more.
Do keep track of all invoices, receipts, commission fees, entry fees, mileage to get there, - all of those items for the inevitable tax season. Know how much time you put into your creation so that you can price it fairly - but allowing for the mark up of gallery commission, art fees, etc too.
Create a Bunch More Art
Hopefully, your art inventory is depleting. Good, I hope it sold at a reasonable price.
You have a ton of inspiration and things you want to create. Great!
You've discovered more art shows you want to enter and make artwork for. Super!
You'll need to be in your studio and making a bunch more art. Some of these art venues only want new artworks, not something submitted previously, or they have certain things, themes, or sizes they are interested in. The artist will need to have the best of what they have ready for upcoming shows. Time to get in the studio and creating!
Learning More About Art
Art is ongoing. Many artists will continue their art education in so many ways. They may be watching hundreds of YouTube videos or taking a free or fee-based workshop and various classes to expand what they already do and learning new techniques. Exploring new ideas makes it all the more glorious as artists are such curious and creative folks.
My Dear Art Lover, AKA Art Viewer, Gallery Visitor
So my dear reader, as you can see in this blog post, an artist has a long list of things that are done, need to be done, day in and day out to not only create the art, but to maintain that artwork you see at an art show. A ton of time, learning, practice, promotion, went into getting that artwork up on the wall you are viewing. As well as a LOT of heart, hope, and love.
There are artists that paint faster than others. There are awesome self-taught artists as well as artists with glorious art educations. But if you love the art - that is all that matters. If it speaks to you, we have done our job.
Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.
*I LOVE reading your comments on my posts! Just remember that the blog comments are monitored so they may not appear right away.
Do you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member? Yes, I do most commissions, so please contact me through this blog, on Facebook, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.
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