The Beautiful Struggle: Rewards and Challenges of Life as an Artist

Being an artist can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s not without challenges. Creativity and artistic talent are traits often highly praised. However, they are also often misunderstood and undervalued. Artists may spend countless hours in the studio, reworking their creation until it's "just right." Many are perfectionists, and this can lead to creative block, procrastination, and self-criticism. It takes GUTS to release artwork into the world for all to see and judge. On top of that, the term "starving artist" was coined for a reason. There are very few professional artists who survive solely on the income they make from selling their artwork. Unfortunately, the life of an artist is full of hurdles, and a steady paycheck is never guaranteed.

The Complexities of Pricing Artwork

One challenge artists face is how to price their work. Things like materials used, time invested, and current market conditions come into play when deciding what the final price tag should say. Quality of work and reputation of the artist play a large role in what buyers are willing to pay, and not everyone agrees on value. Then, after deciding what to charge for original 2D works of art (i.e. paintings, drawings), artists have to decide how to price print reproductions. It's a head scratcher, and artists often second guess the value of their work many times before settling on a price. There is, unfortunately, no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to this.

Finding the Right Sales Platform

Next, artists have to decide where to sell their artwork. Art galleries can be pretty choosy about who they accept, especially in more densely populated areas where the competition is fierce. Artists who are lucky enough to secure space must pay a gallery fee when their artwork is sold, ranging from 20%-60% of the total sale price.

Some artists buy a website and domain for direct sales, and of course social media is flooded with artists' pages. In this digital world, those online platforms work great for accruing fans/followers and communicating to them - "hey, look at my new art!!" - and for accepting commission work, but they come with their own set of challenges: fees, scams, etc. Not to mention shipping logistics for direct sales... those can be tricky and often expensive, especially with large or fragile pieces.

In person art festivals and fairs, like Art-a-Fest, are a great way for artists to make direct sales, gain new followers, and network for future sales and commissions. Still, artists must prepare for a long and arduous day when participating in art festivals - ensuring a sufficient inventory of artwork on hand, packing artwork and equipment ahead of time, early morning set up, standing most of the day, very few breaks, and then finally packing everything back up when it's all said and done. The weather is never guaranteed to cooperate, either.

Most art festivals, especially in heavily populated areas, charge a hefty application fee AND a separate booth fee, and do not issue a refund for rejected applications. Art-a-Fest is proud to be an exception to that - our application fee is one of the lowest in the region for a juried fine arts show, we do NOT charge a separate booth fee, and in the rare event an application is rejected the artist gets a full refund.

Overcoming Mass Market Media Challenges

Once finished artwork is priced and out there for the world to see and buy, everything should be golden, right? Nope. People have to show up and actually buy stuff. On top of all the logistical barriers, artists face competition in the form of mass market media reproductions and AI generated images. Many shoppers opt to buy cheaper versions from places like Amazon or Walmart, either because they don't recognize recognize the value of unique and creative art, or because they simply don't have enough disposable income to invest in original pieces.

Community-Driven Initiatives that Support Artists

Many schools, clubs, arts centers, and other non-profit groups are dedicated to helping artists overcome these roadblocks so they can be successful. They rely on memberships, donations, and grant funding to stay operational and incentivize the purchase of artwork, often funneling money directly back to the artists whenever they can.

For example, Art-a-Fest uses funding from local/regional donations to sponsor the popular "Art-a-Fest Bucks" program - anyone can enter for a chance to win, names are drawn several times leading up to the event, and then lucky winners get "Bucks" (basically gift certificates for art) to spend during Art-a-Fest. They can buy from whichever artist they choose- it's guaranteed sales for participating artists.

Charles City Arts Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting artists

If you believe the arts are essential and want to ensure resources remain available for artists, consider getting involved. You can volunteer at your local arts center or arts festival, join the arts council, make a donation, or purchase a membership at your local arts center to help keep the doors open.

Living the Dream

Artists striving to live their dream know the struggle is REAL. It takes a lot of effort to make the creative life a successful and happy one. But there is deep satisfaction to be had by those who persevere through the blood, sweat, and tears. Successful artists often enjoy autonomy and flexibility in their work, and experience a sense of purpose and accomplishment through their creative expression. On top of that, creating art is therapeutic; it reduces stress and anxiety, and is an outlet for appreciating life's beauty. Ultimately, we tip our hats to those dedicated artists who contribute to a more vibrant and meaningful world!