There is perhaps no more judgmental moment in our culture than the five seconds after someone asks you, “So, what do you do?”
Nobody knows this more than artists. An artist is expected to be eccentric, and most importantly, broke. And yet, there are artists that make millions. So how do some artists run thriving businesses, while others languish in obscurity?
““I think that most artists scorned would prefer to be known as the one with the genius brain risking no career over the one with the good brain and great career.”
― Criss JamiKillosophy
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The thing that so many people struggle with is charging what they’re worth. I sold my first painting for $20, and it was a struggle. My first reaction – “Wow, this is worth something! ” It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
Passion and talent aren’t the only qualifications for becoming a professional artist. It takes a certain type of person who accepts the unconventional challenges of this job. Creative business people, the smart ones, they dance with the market. Start somewhere that isn’t zero. Then you can tweak and raise your prices over time. All you have to do is set a precedent that your work is worth something. You can always increase your value, but if you don’t take yourself seriously, no one else will.
