Persistence | How We Overcame the Odds and Critical Challenges to Build a Successful Art Business

Over the last several weeks, I’ve had several conversations with artists who were feeling despondent about their business prospects. Though each had a different set of specific challenges, the general…

Artists, Where Did You Learn the Value of Hard Work?

Over the last several weeks, I’ve been writing about the hard work and discipline it takes to create art. From what I’ve heard from readers, and what I’ve observed as I’ve interacted with artists, you all are a hard-working group of individuals!

This series of posts has had me thinking a lot about work ethic and the hard work it takes to make a successful career.  I’ve reflected on how I learned to work, and I’ve wondered if I’m doing enough to instill a love of hard work in my children.

How I Learned to Work Hard

I am very grateful to my parents for instilling in me a love of hard work. My dad, who is a painter, and my mother, who has worked as his business manager since he first began his career, are two of the hardest working people I know. They have labored tirelessly to build my father’s career since the late 1970’s. Their example alone would have given me a great perspective on the value of hard work, but they went much further to teach me first-hand the value of work.

The Discipline It Takes to Create Art

  “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn Over the summer, I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with my kids. We took…

Is Creating Art Hard Work?

I’ve long been fascinated by the mind of the artist. I wonder what makes artists tick and what drives them to create. As a gallery owner, I get to interact…

Teaching Children to Appreciate Art

I have a confession: I hated visiting museums and galleries as a child. I grew up in rural Idaho, where the closest art museum was a day’s car ride away,…

Should Artists Put Their Art on Greeting Cards? | Collective Wisdom

I recently received this question from a RedDotBlog reader: I have been earning a living solely from my art for more than 25 years and much of my income before…

Five Things My Parents Taught Me I Could Live Without

As a reader of this blog, you may know that my dad is an artist and has been a full-time professional artist for over three decades. Much of what I…

Client Testimonials – Worth Their Weight In Gold

We recently received this note and the photo above from a client who purchased and donated a major sculpture to a hospital in his home area: Just wanted to let…

Practical Matters: Asking a Gallery for Artwork from Their Inventory to Supply Another Gallery

I recently received the following email from Steve, an artist in Arkansas. Steve has been working to expand his gallery representation and is in discussions with a new gallery that…

Inside the Numbers: The Costs of Operating an Art Gallery

In today’s blog post, I’m lifting the veil on a topic often shrouded in mystery within the art world: gallery expenses. As an art gallery owner deeply committed to transparency…