Posted by Paul willsea on September 27, 2013 at 8:27am
I am going back to my school after 30 years of glassmaking. I will be speaking to glass students about being a working artist. I am planning on putting an emphasis on business and balancing that with what decisions I have made with my wife about how to be in business without sacrificing creativity and the joy of the work. This is a chance for me to give back what I have learned from experience to those who aspire to make glass for a living.So, I am putting this plan out into this community to listen to what you would say. I have very specific things to cover relative to glass, but I would love to hear from all of you what you would want to share with our next generation of artists. You have until the first week of november.
I would tell a room of ART students to always follow their dreams & MAKE IT HAPPEN~not everyone is born with talent~it is NOT something you can learn in college!
I'm a flameworker. Develop your own style, people will run to buy from you. Also another income stream can really take the money pressure off. We saved and got a small apt building. A place to live, studio, and some income. Works for us.
Also, if I was a cynic I'd say "Push a bowl in everything you make, it won't fail to sell." That's an entirely different discussion. GL
I taught HS art. They will love to see you. I hope you take some work to show them. Tell them to follow their heart. But to have a plan to have an income also. They may want to be employed in a position that used their skills, or they may want to try it on their own, working their way up, or they might want to combine the two. I know many people who are full time artists, that began with shows and galleries, while still working at a 'regular' job. Why not find a job that speaks to you creatively and also work .. following your own muse, in your time you aren't working. Also tell them if they are going to study art, go to the best school they can to learn all they can. That will give them skills, connections, and help them pick direction. They also would be very interested in the process of your work.
I would emphasize not to overlook any opportunity that comes their way. There are so many ways to earn a living in the arts, teaching, creating, licensing, working with others to develop other opportunities. I'm a firm believer in multiple streams of income. I was recently listening to a podcast with an actor whose work I admire, Wendell Pierce. You may know him from The Wire, Homicide, Treme -- he was telling Tavis Smiley that he does ALL the work, voiceovers, plays, TV, interviews, anything that comes his way because you never know when the work will dry up or some small thing you do will lead to something bigger.
If anyone young asks me, I tell them to start now. Start early before you have a mortgage and nice cars to support. Start while you can still live in a walk-up apartment and eat Ramen noodles for dinner. There is so much in this business that you cannot learn until you do it. And also, buy the good tent, it is cheaper in the long run.
I suggest getting a double major of Business. Accounting is good for getting a day job, marketing is essential to building your art business and could be a day job as well. With the cost of college today, students can't afford to graduate without a back up plan.
Tell them to take an accounting class and a basic business class. They either will "get" the art or not, but if you go broke it doesn't matter how good your art is, you can't support your self.
A late friend and I gave several presentations on the business of custom saddlemaking and leather work to the Colorodo Saddlemakers Association over 20 years. My friend had a tremendous background in wholesale and retail saddler, and marketing in general (and I truly miss him). Only a few in an audience of mostly “cowboy makers” found the presentations worthwhile (lots of white eyeballs) as most just felt all they had to do was build saddles for the “working cowboy” and the rest would be manna from heaven.
I don’t know how long you have for your presentation but I would suggest emphasizing the following for glass by analogy with leather.
1. Write a business plan with analysis, not just making a list of dreams.
2. Develop a diversified income stream from the art: shows, galleries, internet, wholesale, retail etc. Focus on the winners.
3. Understand the basics of accounting and marketing. Study the marketing plans of other successful historic and contemporary glass artists.
4. Discuss the importance of developing long term relationships with suppliers. Loyalty works both ways.
5. Don’t forget to have fun, otherwise it’s not worth it.
I have been fortunate to do many Artist in Residence presentations. As much as you would like to see the entire class go into art, the reality is that most will not- afterall, it is a tough row to hoe. However, in the process they can benefit greatly. The Guggenheim Museum published a study that indicated that students who took art in schools, had a higher ability to problem solve. Relate your art to practical skills learned like the math and science of glassblowing. Good luck and enjoy the day.
Comments
I would tell a room of ART students to always follow their dreams & MAKE IT HAPPEN~not everyone is born with talent~it is NOT something you can learn in college!
I'm a flameworker. Develop your own style, people will run to buy from you. Also another income stream can really take the money pressure off. We saved and got a small apt building. A place to live, studio, and some income. Works for us.
Also, if I was a cynic I'd say "Push a bowl in everything you make, it won't fail to sell." That's an entirely different discussion. GL
I taught HS art. They will love to see you. I hope you take some work to show them. Tell them to follow their heart. But to have a plan to have an income also. They may want to be employed in a position that used their skills, or they may want to try it on their own, working their way up, or they might want to combine the two. I know many people who are full time artists, that began with shows and galleries, while still working at a 'regular' job. Why not find a job that speaks to you creatively and also work .. following your own muse, in your time you aren't working. Also tell them if they are going to study art, go to the best school they can to learn all they can. That will give them skills, connections, and help them pick direction. They also would be very interested in the process of your work.
I would emphasize not to overlook any opportunity that comes their way. There are so many ways to earn a living in the arts, teaching, creating, licensing, working with others to develop other opportunities. I'm a firm believer in multiple streams of income. I was recently listening to a podcast with an actor whose work I admire, Wendell Pierce. You may know him from The Wire, Homicide, Treme -- he was telling Tavis Smiley that he does ALL the work, voiceovers, plays, TV, interviews, anything that comes his way because you never know when the work will dry up or some small thing you do will lead to something bigger.
If anyone young asks me, I tell them to start now. Start early before you have a mortgage and nice cars to support. Start while you can still live in a walk-up apartment and eat Ramen noodles for dinner. There is so much in this business that you cannot learn until you do it. And also, buy the good tent, it is cheaper in the long run.
Emphasize the importance of good customer service (at Art Festivals, on the phone, online, etc.)
Tell them to take an accounting class and a basic business class. They either will "get" the art or not, but if you go broke it doesn't matter how good your art is, you can't support your self.
A late friend and I gave several presentations on the business of custom saddlemaking and leather work to the Colorodo Saddlemakers Association over 20 years. My friend had a tremendous background in wholesale and retail saddler, and marketing in general (and I truly miss him). Only a few in an audience of mostly “cowboy makers” found the presentations worthwhile (lots of white eyeballs) as most just felt all they had to do was build saddles for the “working cowboy” and the rest would be manna from heaven.
I don’t know how long you have for your presentation but I would suggest emphasizing the following for glass by analogy with leather.
1. Write a business plan with analysis, not just making a list of dreams.
2. Develop a diversified income stream from the art: shows, galleries, internet, wholesale, retail etc. Focus on the winners.
3. Understand the basics of accounting and marketing. Study the marketing plans of other successful historic and contemporary glass artists.
4. Discuss the importance of developing long term relationships with suppliers. Loyalty works both ways.
5. Don’t forget to have fun, otherwise it’s not worth it.
I have been fortunate to do many Artist in Residence presentations. As much as you would like to see the entire class go into art, the reality is that most will not- afterall, it is a tough row to hoe. However, in the process they can benefit greatly. The Guggenheim Museum published a study that indicated that students who took art in schools, had a higher ability to problem solve. Relate your art to practical skills learned like the math and science of glassblowing. Good luck and enjoy the day.
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