Can I make a living selling my art?

The image of the starving artist seems to be conjured up every time someone considers making a living from the art they make. So is this based on some kind of reality or is it just a trope?

For me, this is quite a pertinent question right now. I'm right at the beginning of this process. I'm committing serious time to improving my skills and knowledge and am really putting the hours in to painting when I'm not out doing the day job. In fact the hours I'm putting into this are equivalent to a full time job. So the big, looming, elephant in the room is holding up a calculator and asking - Is it worth it?

I guess its a matter of perspective and I'm not trying to weasel my way out of a straight answer. The straight answer is, I am making some money - not enough to pay the bills but enough to keep me in art supplies (which are bloody expensive).

The perspective bit is important though. You need to look at yourself honestly. Are you as good as the artists that are charging 10K+ for their work? If you are reading this, then probably not. So you are on an upward skill trajectory and that upward direction is leading somewhere. Hopefully it is leading you toward an improvement in the product you are creating, and hopefully it is leading to more people knowing you and your art. I suppose you could say that that upward leaning arrow - the positive direction you are heading, the hill you are climbing in terms of skills and experience is sending you in an ever improving direction. I am writing this for my own benefit too. The way I see it - my perspective is that it's all gravy. I'm a pretty optimistic guy. I am creating paintings as much for myself as I am for any kind of financial reward. If the sale of paintings was banned forever, I'd still be painting and giving them away. However, I live in the real world and if you have a family and commitments then spending hours and hours tucked away from everyone until the wee hours of the morning needs to have some sort of financial reward. It is after all a form of work, even if you do love it.

So am I good enough to be selling my work?

Here's a little story about a person I know from instagram. To me, their art is underdeveloped and a bit basic. Its colourful and full of life but its not my cup of tea. I don't want to trash the artist, they love what they do but their skill level in my humble opinion is lacking a bit. However. They sell. They've got followers and people buying their work and loving their work and that's just amazing. Its amazing in a good way. It tells me that there's an audience for every artist.

For me the simple answer is that if people like it and are willing to part with some cash in order to have it hanging on their wall then the answer is yes. It's as simple as that. I mean, don't get me wrong, I look at other artists work in instagram and Youtube and it blows my mind. Those guys really are amazing. I'm trying my best and I know I have a steep hill to climb to get to their level but I do actually like the things I paint and other people seem to too. I think we all have an audience out there somewhere. If there was a painting of mine that I thought was bad - I'd either try and fix it or it would go in the bin. Trust me, there's been plenty of those. But I guess my message to myself and you is, be confident and get it out there! The alternative is that you store your work away and never sell a single piece. At least try and cover the cost of your art supplies.

My magic bullet is Pet Portraits. I can do a decent pet portrait in pastels and that work keeps me going. I also love the fact that it triggers an emotional reaction in the people buying that work. It's their buddy up there on the wall and for some of my clients, who's pets have passed away, its a huge and beautiful reminder of the bond they had. So that work is satisfying and it pays. In the meantime I am building up my skills in oil painting and I am at a decent enough level (for me) to feel that some people might like to buy them.

I had a lucky conversation. Out walking my dog I met a feller in the park and we struck up a conversation. I was in the middle of a tough time at work and I told him I was thinking of jacking it all in and becoming an artist. He was so positive about it that it really gave me a boost. He said, Yeah, go for it! then he said, actually I need an artist. Since then I have designed his business logo, created some graphic design documents for him, designed and printed some T-shirts for his staff and then recently he said, I want one of your paintings. Do me a horse and do it big. We worked out a deal. I'd reduce the price of a large oil painting and he'd put my work up in his restaurant for sale. I mean, amazing, right?

So I've worked my socks off to get five paintings ready, I've ordered business cards and set up this website. My paintings are all framed and ready to go and I'm painting the biggest, most ambitious painting I've ever done. I'm being pushed up that slope. I'm sticking my neck out and telling the world that I'm here. He's a generous and enthusiastic soul and the timing was amazing but you've got to tell people about your work. You've got to believe in yourself first before people believe in you. (Jees that sounds cheesy - but its kind of true).

I have a pretty strong faith in strength through improvement. I think the better I get at the oils, the more sellable its going to be. I will keep trudging on, working on my drawing and technical skills and keep sharing my work and seeking my audience and the better I get, the more people will be interested. That's my theory. Call me over optimistic or naive, I don't care. I'm bloody minded enough to will it into existence.

I know there are artists around making a very good living from their art. They use social media to promote their work and they sell out, without a gallery in sight. You CAN make a living, you just got to crack on, get your head down and get better and you've got to shout about it.

Watch my story to see if I'm eating my words in a year's time. Ha!

Happy painting!

James