For Young Artists

I got these questions from a teen artist in New York and wanted to share them here in case they can help you too!

First, how did you get into the field of art?

I've always loved painting and took classes at the Art Effect in Poughkeepsie when I was in high school. I didn't go to art school but I painted on my own all through college too making paintings for friends.

How did you turn your art into a business? 

I slowly started selling paintings to friends and then got into outdoor art fairs in the summer. I kept track of what art people liked to buy and made more of it!

How do you choose what art you make?

I like to make art that tells my personal story. I love food so I paint foods that remind me of happy memories. I only paint things that make me feel inspired and speak to me personally.

What is your current creative process like?

I like to take photos when I'm out to eat and save them on my phone for later. I put those photos into Procreate on my ipad, sketch a composition and then project it onto a canvas for painting.

Secondly, what advice do you have for aspiring artists in the growing field? 

Keep painting and learning and practicing! Even if you've already learned all the principles of painting, there's always more to learn and your art always has room to grow. Put yourself out there, but don't rush or get frustrated when it feels like progress isn't happening fast. It takes time to build an audience for your art. Your best art is still yet to be made!

Is there any advice you could give me?

Just be patient with yourself. I used to beat myself up for not selling enough art or not improving my skills fast enough and I just wish that I understand that becoming a successful artist takes years. I am 33 and I've only been doing this full time for 3 years. Before that I worked in a restaurant, at a bakery, and as a tour guide all while making and selling art on the side.

How do you turn your art into their own products?

All you need are great photos of your art. Then you can use a company like Society6 or Redbubble to create samples of your art on products! Another good website is Canvastry

Do you use companies to print and ship your work?

Yes! I use Lumaprints.com . They are the BEST. You can either mail prints directly to customers or ship to yourself. Then I order cardboard and clear sleeves for packaging on amazon and I get business cards from staples.

How can I actively sell my original art?

Original art is definitely harder to sell than prints but that's ok! I sell a lot of originals on instagram. I share the process and the price and then tell people to DM me if they want to purchase. You can also sell originals at art fairs.

Finally, since you’ve been to many art fairs and had many pop ups Is there any tips you have on how I can get started doing such a thing?  

Yes! I made this PDF a few years ago that has all the info you need. You can also search for art fairs on this website called Zapplication

I hope this is all helpful! You can email me any time with questions at [email protected]. I know it's hard being a young artist and trying to figure it all out!