I know I’m not alone in the struggle to find the correct info to help me with my business. I’ve repeatedly said that school did not prepare me for the actual art world—I found most of the information through extensive Google searches, books, and my peers. So, I wanted to put together a short list of some of my favorite resources. These are the things I come back to all the time for reference, and I highly recommend you have them on hand for yourself.
The books above contain interviews with artists/galleries/curators, different strategies for artistic income, studio safety, tips for building professional relationships, and so much more.
My top book rec is GYST (Getting Your Shit Together). I reference this book all the time. It has tips on writing artist bios and CVs, legal stuff you wish you knew, and a section on safety when it comes to art materials.
Starting Your Career as an Artist covers the same topics as above (goal setting, exhibiting, studio practices, etc.) and includes mini-interviews with artists and curators in the field, giving it a little extra.
ART/WORK has insight into studio spaces, promotion, showing your work, how to have a sustainable art practice, and gallery representation.
The Artist’s Guide is a mix of everything above.
It’s important to give just as much attention to the business side of your practice. Without these books, I’d be sifting through Google searches, not knowing where to start.
If you’re looking for more insight into social media, specifically Instagram, these two blogs are for you. Both Later and Preview talk trends, new features, analytics, and give great creative ideas to try in stories, reels, and more. Not only are their blogs a great resource, but both are also scheduling apps (I’ll be doing another post on this in the future).
I’ll be honest, it is a bit overwhelming to keep up with ever-changing social media, so I suggest picking one or two things to focus on and reading the related posts.
ASI and NYFA are non-profits that cater to local and regional artists of various disciplines. They offer workshops, grant opportunities, mentorships, and list job opportunities on their websites. I participated in their Artist as Entrepreneur Bootcamp in 2016 and have attended plenty of panels and discussions put together by ASI.
ASI has an event coming up in January (edit: this event has been postponed until June) called CPX: Refresh. It’s a two-day mini-conference with presentations and workshops to help you refocus on your art practice. I’ll be presenting on Creating Systems That Support You, sharing tools to help you organize your inventory, create a schedule, and plan your projects and goals. You can learn more and register for the event here.
Last but certainly not least, I’m a great resource, too! I share tips and tricks on my Instagram and blog and offer coaching services to artists and creative business owners. My goal as a coach is to empower my clients by giving them the tools to create a solid business foundation built for growth. Check out my coaching page to learn more about those services.
Have any resources you’d like to share? Drop them in the comments!