It seems that business and art do not mix. An art enthusiast explained to me that an artist works during the day at a “regular” job, comes home to create at night, stores work in a closet then becomes famous when they finally die after an agonizing monotonous life. This is a common conception and I partially agree...an artist will always create no matter what obstacles are in the way. So, I encourage artists to recognize their creative talent as being a viable business because they need to know what to do with their work once created. Let me be clear...artists do not set out to create an art business. Instead, artists find their artistic passion evolves into a business after time. To keep things simple I define an artist in straightforward terms as one who creates a product and provides a service. This generalization helps break down the barrier between artists and business. We know that a career as an artist is far more complicated but this viewpoint helps ground artists providing a foundation to move toward creating an income from their craft. There is no doubt that art is a highly competitive field. The key is generating public awareness so others, including the artist, can enjoy and benefit from your unique creative abilities. Name recognition and credibility lead to sales which is the solution to successful business and that includes independent professional artists. The means by which an artist promotes the sale of their product and service is just as important as the time and labor put forth in creating. Making It As An Artist by JoAnn DePolo is available through www.joanndepolo.net and everywhere books and eBooks are sold.

Author's Bio: 

JoAnn DePolo is a contemporary visual artist and is the author of Making It As An Artist. She is the Founder/Director of Come & Create™ Fine Arts & Community Murals and a Master Teaching Artist with Young Audiences ArtWorks. She is a contributing Artist for ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition. JoAnn has held administrative positions for several arts organizations as education director organizing multidisciplinary arts programs. She is registered with the Ohio Arts Council, the Women Speakers Registry. She presently serves as Secretary on the Executive Board of Directors for Artists Archives of the Western Reserve. Widely regarded as a visionary, JoAnn’s audience extends from her hometown to the national and international amid several celebrities. Her work is included in the George Streeter Circulating Collection for the benefit of the art therapy program in Cleveland. DePolo’s achievements continue to receive media attention appearing often in news publications and painting live a number of times at the Rock-n-Hall of Fame on FOX8 Morning News. JoAnn participated in creating a mural for Extreme Makeover Home Edition in Clarksville TN which aired on December 6, 2009 on ABC. Making It As An Artist by JoAnn DePolo supports artists and the creative minded and is endorsed by professionals in the field. Visit www.joanndepolo.net