By Annie Strack

As artists, we exert a lot of energy figuring out how to increase our art sales, but there are other ways to use our creative skills to make money besides selling art.

I am a full-time artist; yet sales of original art is only one facet of my income. The rest is comprised from receiving numerous checks each month from multiple art-related sources — private lessons, workshops, lectures and demos, visiting artist programs at schools, writing, judging, consulting, public art projects, gift shop sales of prints ... the list goes on and on. All those little checks add up to a substantial income.

Part of my income is derived from providing art-related services to other artists, particularly those in my own age bracket: the baby boomers. This new generation of energetic retirees has the time and money to pursue hobbies and leisure activities, and many of them are joining the swelling ranks of artists. They prefer to create their own art rather than buy from other artists, opening up a tremendous market for professional art services, including education, equipment and supplies, and marketing support.

Too often, artists restrict their thinking to the notion that a “real” artist must make all of his income from the sales of original art in order to be successful; I don’t. If I did, I would be among the bulging ranks of starving artists. By using my other skills, I get a steady source of income from doing other things I like, when I want. I get to set my own work schedule and can work at whichever income-producing project inspires me at the moment. And I still have plenty of quality time to create art.

Teaching Opportunities

The most lucrative teaching venue is the artist workshop, with the average student paying hundreds of dollars or more to take a workshop for a few days. For artist instructors, a few annual workshops can add thousands of dollars to their annual income. Other part-time teaching opportunities are available through local community colleges and adult education centers, and at art or community centers. With the increase in artists looking to hone their skills, teaching classes and workshops can be a profitable way to supplement an artist’s income.

If you have the space in your home or studio, offering private lessons to individuals or small groups can also provide a steady stream of dependable income. Other advantages of teaching in your home include not having to rent a separate facility and having all the resources of your studio available during your classes.

One artist who has perfected the art of teaching in her home is Carol Creel. She devotes two days each week to teaching painting classes there. Although she has an efficient and well-equipped studio, the space is not large enough to accommodate her growing classes, so she utilizes her spacious kitchen, and has her students set up on her counters and tables.

“I started teaching in my home with one student, and over the years it has grown,” says Carol. “I now teach four half-day classes each week, and each class has seven students.”

Carol’s students pay $250 to enroll in each course, which consists of 10 weekly lessons. Some of Carol’s students have been with her for many years, including one who has been taking her classes for 16 years. With the class size limited, and five or six people on a waiting list at any given time, new students often wait a year to join her classes.

“I tried consolidating some of my classes by renting a nice big facility to teach, but after the second session my students asked to come ‘home,’” says Carol. “They like the cozy space of my kitchen, and I have to admit, I like it too.”

The limited class size gives Carol more opportunities to offer individual instruction to her students, and the convenience of using her own home provides flexibility in scheduling sessions.

Photography and Web Design

Although digital cameras have provided artists with convenience, it has not taken the place of professional services. Many artists need technical help photographing their artwork, or formatting and correcting their images for applications and Web sites. Web site design and maintenance are also growing areas for artists, as well as printing services. Artists who have the technical equipment and are blessed with the mysterious skills and knowledge to use it are in high demand.Writing Promotional Materials

One of the services that helps to boost my income is writing, not just magazine articles, but also promotional items for other artists and arts organizations. Over the years, I have written hundreds of press releases — some for me, most for others. I enjoy writing almost as much as I enjoy painting, so this doesn’t feel like chore or a job. As with painting, I can work from home and create my own schedule. Rates for writing can vary depending on the type of job and the use of the material, and may be determined by the word, the hour or a flat rate for the specific document. Many artists find writing to be a daunting task, so there is a large, under-tapped market for those that possess this creative skill.

Framing

Another example of an artist service is framing. With the expanding ranks of new artists, there is a growing demand for framing services, and many artists have found that offering their framing skills to other artists provides them with a steady supplement to their art income.

My friend and fellow artist, Pat Ward, is a successful example of this. After Pat retired from the petroleum industry, he had more time to devote to the activities that brought him pleasure: painting and woodworking. He began selling his work through art markets and festivals, and his experience with working with wood allowed him to combine his skills and expertly frame his own paintings. His frames caught the attention of other artists, and he was soon inundated with requests for his framing services. Recognizing the need for a frame shop in the area, and also wanting a consistent retail venue in which to sell his own art, he opened “A Frame Art” in Madisonville, La. Located in a commercial retail space, he now has a studio space to paint and gallery space to sell his own work and that of other artists, all in the same location as his frame shop. His art sales have increased as a result of having his own gallery, and having a studio in the same space allows him to increase his productivity. The framing business not only provides him with a steady art related income, it also boosts his visibility as an artist and increased his art sales.

Woodworking services for artists are not just limited to frames. When I lived in California there was a woodworking artist in the same co-op gallery as me, who designed and made beautiful custom furniture. I ordered several oak print rack displays from him, and other artists had him design elaborate easels and other custom furniture for their studios and displays. Soon, he had line of eager artists ordering custom studio equipment and displays, as well as fine home furnishings.

Time to Get Creative

The point is to not rely solely on the sales of original fine art, but also on other sources of art-related income, as long as you like what you do. Individually, these all are relatively small or limited sources of income. But collectively, they can provide a substantial and steady income. Being self-employed in this manner allows artists to set their own schedules so that prime time can still be reserved for creating art, while leaving time for other income producing ventures.

One of my business professors in school said something that I've never forgotten: “The best time to expand your business is during an economic recession.” Now, I don’t want to be the one to say we’re in a recession, but I’ve been hearing a lot of artists talk about lagging sales lately. If the season is slow for you, then it's also slow for your competitors. If you use can use this time to expand your business and jump ahead of everyone else, you'll start the next season way ahead of your competition.

Copyright © 2008 Annie Strack. Annie (http://www.AnnieStrackArt.blogspot.com/ ) lives in Lacombe, La. Her work is included in a number of museum and other public and private collections. Contact her at AnnieStrack@aol.com, or visit her at ArtScuttlebutt.com/Annie_S .

Art Calendar is the only subscription-driven, business-oriented magazine published specifically for visual artists. We aim to connect artists with income and exhibition opportunities, and help them build successful careers by teaching proper art marketing techniques from art professionals. Each month, we list art opportunities and calls to artists, including grants and fellowships for artists, competitions, juried exhibitions, art galleries reviewing portfolios, art festivals, artist residencies and more.

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