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Making A Good Living As An Artist

I've been told many times as I've pursued a career in (traditional) art to 'not expect to earn very much money.' It's the starving artist cliche. I've struggled with myself, trying to think of ways to get past it.

Because I'm mainly a fantasy artist, I look to Brian Froud and Amy Brown for inspiration. Amy Brown, quote, 'sells hundreds of prints per month,' and I bet that's not including whatever wholesale selling she does, or whatever current licensing product she's working on. Brian Froud also, although he's been working at fantasy art for years longer, is definitely no "starving artist."

Then again, look at New York's Marla Olmstead. She's five now, isn't she? Five years old, and she's said to have made millions already...on her finger paintings!

Do you think it's possible to make a GOOD living as an artist? Why or why not? I'd hate to be a starving artist for the rest of my days...

Amy

Artist As Living Good Making

There is an old adage: "An artist is worth more dead than he is alive". I hope that is not always literally true, but it seems quite often to be the case unless you are the kind of artist that can see faces in cheese toast. However, we do have a Job Descriptions Board that covers this topic in part look here.

Making A Good Living As An Artist UFO & Writing Art Education Sciences

I think it is very possible to make a lot of money working with art nowadays but mostly it is in the advertisement industry (sadly), except for the few who rise up above the crowd, but sometimes to me it feel's almost like a lottery. I think that art is about much more then money though, I think that it is about expression and creation in one of its most awesome and powerful forms, and is to beautiful a thing to be corrupted by money. But one does need to live and it is sad to not do what you truly love for work. The starving artist is truly the unsung hero of our time. I think there are a lot of online resources to promote artist's nowadays, especially fantasy artist.

I would love to see some of your work sometime amy.

~Del

(hope my post wasnt to negative >.<)

Artist As Living Good Making

This is the reason why I made the decision to major in Art Education rather than just art alone. That, and I didn't want the pressure of having to create a BFA project . But I knew that I wanted to study art because I love to do it, I just didn't know if the pressure of trying to make a living off of it would hinder or enhance the fun of it.

And, curiously enough, I found out that I really love learning about education. That doesn't mean I'm not scared to have my own classroom, But it's SO interesting! And the more I learn how to improve my art, and more excited I get to share my new knowledge, and help others to hopefully get as excited about it as I do. And learning about education will help me to teach my own children as well.

I used to think that all you had to do to improve your art was practice practice practice. And it's true. But there's also SO much that you can learn that can help your art to improve immensely; from the basics of design and color, to tips from professionals that may have taken them years to figure out, which means saved time toward your own improvement.

If I ever make money off of my art, it would likely be through illustration. And I think you can make a good living as an artist, it simply requires a lot of work and ambition, and you can't be afraid to learn from those who are already there in galleries and such. You just have to soak it all in. Here is a website of an illustrator that appears to be making a pretty good living.

Robert T. Barrett

Artist As Living Good Making

I never thought I could of make a living in art. My father-in-law kept telling me to
learn to do screen painting and I will enjoy it and make money doing it. I finally took him up on it and learned the art. Now I paint people screens and teach in senior communities. It is so much fun and I enjoy teaching so much. I know I will not make millions but it is a great parttime job.
Anna