I have had success and have made much money at times.

Though, I have finally reached a place, I know that I am more creative and or productive when I am not concerned with marketing.

Having less money isn't that bad for the sake of artistic freedom, though I don't romanticize the "starving artist", I have found personally avoiding business moves keeps what I do artistically pure and without opinions which I am no longer concerned or wavered by.

Websites do not validate or make art any better or worse.

If you are only concerned with commercial success why bother with Art.

There are much easier ways to get paid.

Such as creating websites.

Best regards,

Robert Johnson

Finally a dissenting view! Thank you for saying what was on your mind.

As "the person who wrote the above article", I wanted to comment further:

Honestly, I am very sympathetic to people who are going through challenging times and can't afford something. As I mentioned in the article, I've been there a couple of times myself so I am not without compassion. But it's all about how we communicate.

Now, if that person who emailed me the comment referenced in the article had instead said something like this:

"Look – I think I might really benefit from your book but I'm a bit financially challenged right now – do you have a payment plan or any other options that might help me buy now?"

In that case, my reaction would have been completely different because I can see that they are sincere and are taking responsibility for trying to find a solution.

What I didn't appreciate in the actual email I received was the angry tone, and the expectation that I should take responsibility for their situation. Does that make sense?

I also don't mean to sound like I am dictating how people should behave – but when when this involves a product that I have put a huge amount of my personal time and energy into – something that affects my ability to survive and prosper – or not – then I do get to have a say in what I expect from people.

Hope that clarifies a little and thanks again for the comment.

Cheeers,

Daniel.

Well sorry – but that’s just not how life works. If you are an artist and you want to be commercially successful, you have to think like a business. Businesses don’t make money by asking customers or partners to feel sorry for them. They get successful by having a vision, a clear achievable plan, investing in it and executing it. That doesn’t mean that they are always flush with cash – often the challenge with a business is understanding how to grow with what appears to be insufficient capital.

Maybe who wrote the above article should take the advice of helping someone out as you may have read in a previous article.Helping your follow artist out (which also includes reductions in pricing) is a part of good business practice.

Kenneth

Kenneth Young

Two, I'm an art marketing and licensing agent (to my husband and others) and I used to offer consulting to artists.

Often artists would e-mail, call or ask me to help solve a lot of their marketing problems. But they didn't want to pay my consulting fees. I no longer offer consulting services, by the way.

I've hired many consultants over my life and I spend a lot of money on books and training programs to increase my knowledge and help me do my job better.

My question is: if you are willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on art school, why wouldn't you scrape up $98 for something that will propel your career?

It's the poor mentality that keeps people poor.

Great article and inspiring comments, too. I was notified of this blog by google alerts since Christine's post mentioned me. Glad I came over to join the discussion.

Pricing is such an interesting topic! I often work with clients who are struggling to make more money in their business. One woman in my Financial Stress Reduction Workshop complained about not making enough money for her 6-week workshops. I asked her what she charged and she answered, "$125." "Who picked that number?" I asked. That was all it took – she saw instantly that she had picked an inadequate price and she was never going to make enough money to live on with that price. But as long as she feels broke, she can't charge more money because she would never pay more than that herself, see?

I charge $2,500 for my 8-week workshop, now, but as a Tuna-in-Recovery myself, it took me 20 years to get there. I just raised my price every couple of years until I understood that there would be people who wanted what I had AT EVERY PRICE POINT! And if you charge too little, a lot of successful people with money will think you can't be any good.

So, go raise your prices, everyone! And find another place to market your wares where people have more money…

Love and blessings to all,

Chellie Campbell

Author, The Wealthy Spirit

My heart with you at this time.

This post is so wonderful because it is sincere and coming from a real place in your heart and life.

I completely agree with you regarding the Business aspect. It reminds me about something I wrote before about how artists are almost expected to be a one-man-or-woman-show, but it doesn't mean they have to do everything! If you don't know how to make your own paints, you buy them. If you can't stretch a canvas or want to save the time, you buy it ready. If you don't like numbers you hire an accountant. Same thing goes to technology – you hire the people who know what they are doing, or you buy their books, or you do the research yourself and learn from the free info out there, but it will take you longer to do… And if you plan to do it but can't afford it right now, put it on the plan for the future, when you do the funds by other means. You got to break that cycle!

Best wishes

Moshe

I really resonate with this idea… "the trick is to see your life as a great experiment, to realize that there is always a solution, and to keep your heart open and look for it."

I grew up with a lot of negative ideas about art (mostly my dad's subconscious beliefs); primarily, that it was not possible to make a living as an artist and that art had no 'value'.

After doing many other things that were not in my heart, 'just to make money' and being miserable, I finally decided to go for it and take my chance at being an artist. I am determined to disprove my father's beliefs (at least to myself) and to be a productive, financially stable, happily working artist. I have had many successes in the few years since I decided to 'go pro'. I have sold much of my work at professional rates. I am learning every day. And I know as much as anything that my love for art and my belief in my truth and my need for art will carry me… I know that I don't have all of the answers, that I do have a lot to learn, but I believe in what has been placed in my heart.

And I agree with the comment about charging the true value of the work / the artwork. It does us no good to 'dumb down' our work or the depriciate (sp?) the value of our work. If we believe and stand in the value and quality of our work, others will see it and pay accordingly. Thank you again.

I surround you in love and light during this time!

Thank you again for a wonderful and insightful article.

It is so great to hear these comments and to see all the positive thinking going on in the art community! Every word you think or say is a statement of truth for you. Your present life is a reflection of your past thoughts. Everything is an affirmation, so we all need to pay attention to what we are saying and accepting as truth for us. Maybe instead of saying "I can't afford this" the artist can say "I don't choose to spend my money on this now". Society teaches us to think that we are victims, but as artists we are visionaries…don't buy into this victim consciousness. I strongly believe that we create our own truth and our own reality, and we are only limited by our own minds! Change your thinking and change your life!!

I know this to be true!