Thank you Priscilla Frank and The Huffington Post for the terrific write up!
Frank says, “If you’re looking for the kind of advice that, while it may not look as great on an inspirational postcard, will help you actually sustain yourself as a working artist, we highly suggest Alix Sloan’s Launching Your Art Career: A Practical Guide for Artists.”
Check out the complete article and her list of top 12 tips from the book here.
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)
Zoë 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.
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.
My friend Rick Araluce is a Guggenheim Fellow this year. I highly recommend this inspiring and informative post on his web site about applying for grants – here.