Artists And Self-Promotion - By: Alice Shown

We all have that friend who is better at their job, or cleverer, or better looking than you would think from looking at an account of their life on paper. Most of us find it difficult to talk or write much about ourselves, but we generally cope when necessary with things like interviews, first dates and so on. Sometimes it is just necessary to promote yourself a little, because however great you or your work might be, no one will be able to appreciate that if they don't know about it to start with.

Yet artists very often have reservations, a certain shyness, regarding the promotion of themselves and their work. It is often very difficult for an artist to conceive of themselves that it is important for them to address the outside world when it comes to presenting their work. Many are shy about their creations, which are after all exceptionally personal pieces, often reflecting something deeply important to them - perhaps something they have never shared with close family or friends. This reservation is entirely understandable, but it is unwise; it is only relevant to work undertaken solely for therapeutic purposes. For professional artists, this kind of honesty is unproblematic and should not prevent making a good sale.

Others feel that if the work is good, it will naturally be successful, without further effort on their part other than the act of creation itself. Van Gogh, after all, never promoted his work, and look what happened. Yet Van Gogh also never sold a painting in his lifetime, and remained virtually unknown, artistically speaking, during his lifetime. This is not the kind of artistic career most professional artists desire, however much they might appreciate the idea of posthumous praise.

The important thing to remember is that being an artist is a job. Your work is your career. Do not let clichs like that of the suffering artist make you forget that - there is no need for you to suffer for your art (except perhaps in the form of the frustration many experience when the piece isn't going quite as planned or you're not sure where to go next). Most artists enjoy their work very much - the fact that they love to create and to express themselves through their work is generally one of the main factors that encouraged them to become an artist in the first place. If your art makes you happy, that's wonderful. Enjoy it.

Showing your work is an important part of being a professional artist. Make it easy for people to find your work - maintain a presence in the local area, in galleries on the ground, and online in places like Agora Gallery's Art-Mine. Be proud that it's out there and that people are seeing, admiring and perhaps even being moved by your work. Don't be shy about it, but put yourself and your work out there and promote!

About the Author

Find contemporary fine art for sale by Agora Gallery. Visit Yourentertainmentspace.com for more information.

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