Last week I talked about the fact that the only reason an artist is known throughout history is because at some point there was a market for their work.
Not sure about that?
Would artists be famous if there was no market for their work?
The only reason there is a market for any good or service is simply because it served a target market by alleviating their pain or solving their problem.
Because the inventory of historically significant art is very limited, a secondary market develops. This is where the confusion begins.
So let’s take it back to the here and now and directly to you.
If you are an artist wanting to make your living from your art, it is vital that you create value above and beyond your art itself and you must deliver this, convincingly.
You might be muttering. Those artists in history had talent that was unmatched. How can I possibly do what they have done?
Maybe you can’t. But do you have talent?
Because if you have talent and you are sincerely interested in serving others, you just might.
How?
First stop competing in the permission and scarcity based shark tank that is the art establishment.
Put your limited time and energy into creating value above and beyond your art by serving a target market by solving their problem.
Again you might be saying, “how?”
Allow me to offer you a few examples of artists who I have worked with recently.
These artists are just like you.
They are in the process of building their creative enterprises.
What problem is Portrait Painter, Kate Bradley solving?
The problem is that children are not often valued and loved for the individuals that they are and their treasured childhood years are fleeting.
How is she solving this problem? By painting portraits of children that celebrate their individuality and captures their essence in a moment in time.
What problem is abstract painter, Jenny McGee solving?
People struggle expressing their love to one another in a clear and specific way that really lands.
How is she solving this problem? By creating abstract paintings inspired by a list of reasons why one person loves another.
What problem is Painter, Marie Sand solving?
When sensitive people feel that they are not free to express their emotions, it compromises their emotional and physical health.
How is she solving this problem? Horses by their nature rely on their sensitivity and they reflect their owner’s emotions back to them.
Marie reflects her patron’s emotions back to them through portraits of their horses.
In each of these cases, the art is secondary. It is just a by-product of a greater mission.
A mission is an endeavor to solve a problem that you believe is really worth solving.
A mission is not about you or about your art. It’s about being of service to others, being devoted to a greater cause.
Each of these artists is just starting out on a life long mission. Just as they mastered their artistic craft, they now must master entrepreneurial skills.
This mastery takes time and effort but it’s easier, so much easier, than mastering one’s artistic craft. That takes many years and it demands more innate talent.
Now if you’re thinking, “Yeah, me too. That’s my mission.” First. Stop. Second, no its not.
Each artist has a value proposition that is grounded in their soul’s truth and you just can’t copy that. If you try to, it will always look like and smell like a copy.
So find your truth and define your mission and if you need help then apply for The MAKING Art Making MONEY Semester.
Note, enrollment is limited.
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