ALIX SLOAN

Available! “Launching Your Art Career: A Practical Guide for Artists”

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Photo by contributor Martha Rich

I’m very excited to share that “Launching Your Art Career: A Practical Guide for Artists” is now available in Paperback and/or eBook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Nook & the Apple iBook Store.

After years of lecturing at art schools, conducting one-on-one consultations and chatting with artist friends, I was frustrated by the lack of straightforward, practical, information available to artists. I longed for an easily accessible resource I could direct them to –  something that covered basics like setting realistic goals, networking, creative effective support materials, finding and creating exhibition opportunities, pricing and selling their art, working with galleries, and managing studio time and tasks. So… I decided to create it myself!

I’ve distilled over twenty years of experience and observations about what’s important, what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid common mistakes into “Launching Your Art Career: A Practical Guide for Artists.” The book also includes additional advice from over forty artists and art dealers and online resources to get artists started doing their own research. To learn more about the book and contributors, click here.

 

 

A Glimpse Behind the Mask: Bill Cosby by Alan P. Sloan

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CosbyAs a producer in Los Angeles in the 1970’s & 1980’s, my father Alan P. Sloan worked with everyone from Marlo Thomas to Orson Welles to Robert Culp. He always had a lot of stories when we were growing up – not all of them suitable for children. He’s working on his memoirs now. In light of recent news, my writing partner Amy Eyrie shared his chapter on Bill Cosby today. It’s worth a read here!

Balancing parenthood with a studio practice/art career…

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I’ve know dozens of artists who are cruising along at a great clip, exhibiting, selling work and building their careers – then parenthood comes along and no matter how badly they wanted it, no matter how happy they are, it’s a struggle. Not being an artist or a parent, all I can do is share what I’ve heard from others… “I hear it takes a few years to really get back to work…” “Don’t worry, you will find balance…”

Well, I just came across this terrific, honest article written by someone whose been there – artist and mom Francesca Fuchs. It’s worth a read not only for artists who are parents, but any arts professional or artist with an artist parent in their life! Thanks Francesca for sharing your experience – here.

Image: Laurie Simmons, Walking House, 1989, gelatin silver print (from Francesca Fuchs’ article)

Recommended (and amusing) post about grants…

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Zoe-Coombs-Marr-as-Dave-011Zoë Coombs Marr’s article about grants in the guardian is definitely worth reading.

“I’m an artist and I’ve received grants. If popular opinion is to be believed, as I write this, I’m literally sitting atop a pile of cash, lighting cigars with your children’s futures. But berating artists for getting too much money is like berating Ralph Fiennes for attacking Harry Potter. As delicious as the outrage feels, it’s a fiction….” Read the full article here.

First Draft of Artist’s Handbook Done!

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After years of speaking at schools and doing one-on-one consultations with young artists, I finally carved out the time to put it all in writing. I just finished the first draft of a no nonsense handbook of practical, easy-to-read, advice and information to help  artists launch or advance their careers. The final section will include short pieces of advice from over 40 different artists and art dealers. The contributions have started coming in. They are as insightful as I expected and will really help round out the content with perspective from working artists and arts professionals. I’m so grateful to have so many generous friends and colleagues willing to share their experiences and beyond excited to be able to share mine. The book will be available from amazon.com, the Sloan Fine Art online store and other retailers this summer.