Color Your World with Cash

dream doodle

Whether you've always been creating art or you are just beginning I would like to offer some suggestions as to how you can do what you love- creating art- and be profitable. You can paint your way into success.

• Prepare

                      Art has many forms. abstract, fine art, illustrations for children, the list is endless. Decide what type of art you create. What category do your creations give you the best representation?

• Know your Audience

For example: If you wish to illustrate for children what age group does your work represent?

1. Ages 3-5 illustrations will most likely require full page art with few words. The artwork will be colorful with few elements drawing the child's attention to the picture.
2. Ages 6-8 a book will contain more words as a child's vocabulary increases with more detailed colorful artwork.
3. Ages 8-12 a story will be more of a chapter book with fewer black and white detailed spot illustrations. 

Your creations may be on the line of portraits which may include

• Pets
• Children
• Adults
• Architectural renderings

You decide where your work fits best. Where you are most comfortable creating. Once you've made that decision let's look at where your pieces will sell.

• Open air markets. Art Fairs
• Local venues. Restaurants, businesses with public traffic.
• Galleries
• On-line sites for Artists
• Artist freelancing

Considerations need to be given to travel, whether you are going to sell original works, prints, or both, cost and equipment purchases, delivery (which may or may not include postage and insurance).

• Pricing

Everything has a value. The value is determined by the venue from which it's purchased. For example: If you display your work for sale at a yard sale your public audience will expect to pay yard sale prices.

If you display your work for sale in a gallery your audience will expect to pay gallery prices.

Never give away what you do well.

• Marketing

Be as creative with your marketing as you are in creating your art. There are a million and one ways to market.  Exposure is "key". The more your artwork is visible to the public the greater your chances are in making a sale. Let people know what you do. Don't be painfully modest, it will not generate sales for you.

• Commissions and Contracts 

Someone wants you to paint an original.  You are filled with delight, the creative juices are flowing. But wait! Put it in writing first. 

             Be as specific as possible. Detailing the scope of the project with:

                                   Size of the piece
                                   Medium to be used
                                   Number of elements within the piece.

             An agreed upon price.
                                    Include the cost of materials
                                    An approved sketch or photo provided
                                    The time it will take to complete

            Delivery details
                                    DOC-Date of Completion
                                    Honor the deadline. Should you find you need more time contact the buyer with the new date of completion. Always be in contact with your customer.

You may obtain a sample Artist Work for Hire Contract here for free (requires Adobe Reader). Simply sign up and receive a downloadable PDF delivered to the email address you provide. It also covers copyrights and intellectual property rights.

• On line resources for freelance work

              www.elance.com 
              www.ifreelance.com 
              www.guru.com



Grab your brush and paint into your success.