"It has been very important for me to update my skills on an ongoing basis for a number of different reasons. I have had to seek out new skills to be able to produce just about everything I have ever made. The idea I have for a piece drives the materials, processes and techniques I use. Often the work, although conceptually similar with other work I've made, will bear little physical resemblance. The process of gaining the knowledge and skills to make the piece becomes part of the work itself."
   ~ Mindy Rose Schwartz 

• You add practical skills and useful knowledge to what you already know.

• While you network with other artists you may find out about places to exhibit your work.

• You can use the expenses as a tax deduction.

 

If you are curious about how to market your designs make sure to join Tara * for "How to Find and Interact with Manufacturers Who License Art"

Thousands of Blogs tell you how to make a better living making art. It's great to have so much free information at your fingertips. Isn't more information what everyone wants? Yes and No.
 
Yes, as long as you can filter what you read for usefulness to you with a questions like these:

• Does the author have experience working with artists like you?
  
  
• If the advice is about painting, will it work for you as a sculptor?
  
  
• Will the information help you solve your art marketing issues?
  
  
• Will applying the information make it easier to run your art business?
  
  
• Will this advice leave more money in your pocket?

No, if you end up in overload - the gap between how much information you find and what it takes to turn it into useful knowledge.

One of my aims is to keep you from feeling overwhelmed and to simplify the business side of art. I don't have experience in every single nook and cranny of the art world. No one does. But I want to answer all of your questions. So I collaborate with art world insiders* with deep "niche" knowledge and experience working with artists.


February Sponsored Spotlight: Art Licensing

Here are three highly recommended resources to help you decide whether or not you should license your art:

Stay warm and dry!



P.S. *FTC disclosure: When we find artists who have deep, proven experience in a topic that will help you make a better living making art, we put them front and center.  When these fine folks offer services and products that are first class, sometimes we agree to help each other get the word out to you with an "affiliate" arrangement, which means that we will earn a small commission for referring you to their resources. Those are marked with an * asterisk on our web site, in ArtMatters! and our tips.