How To Be An Artist
I’ve written blogs about selling art, but I haven’t yet written about learning art.
With so many options to learn about art out there, it can feel impossible to uncover the right ones for wherever you are on your art-learning journey! If you are wondering what books to read or classes to take to be an artist, the answer is this– there will always be more to learn. Here is a curated list of resources for the beginner and expert, alike.
Whether you want to learn how to sketch human proportions like a pro, or train your artistic eye, or even run your own art business, this list is full of variety to inspire you.
Next time you’re at a book fair or perusing online, look out for these great resources. These aren’t in any particular order – have fun exploring!
Mysteries In Colour by Mazarine Memon (yes that’s me!)
Link: https://amzn.to/3xNgvnM
Price: $44.59 CAD
Why is it a good resource: An adult colouring book with a difference – No lines and patterns to colour within! It uses inkblots and Pareidolia (per-ˌī-ˈdō-lē-ə), the psychological phenomenon to engage your imagination so that you can be fully present. An Art Workbook for practicing Mindfulness through creativity.
Fun fact: Different people see different things in the same inkblot (think of the Rorschach inkblot test).
What’s your excuse for not Succeeding as an Artist by Deborah Henry-Pollard
Link: https://amzn.to/3iImFzt
Price: $18.83 CAD
Why is it a good resource: In this book (part of the very popular What’s Your Excuse? series) Deborah takes a look at the reasons you might feel stuck and why you might not currently feel able to progress to the next level. She offers simple, practical advice and ideas to help you move forward.
Drawing Course by Charles Bargue
Link: https://amzn.to/3BhOd74
Price: $101.09 CAD
Why it is a good resource: An art classic, this book features 200 lithographs of human features. For anyone interested in studying the human form, this book is not a coursebook as we know it, but rather, a reference to develop a person’s taste and eye for proportions by copying with practice.
Personal story or attachment to it: It is said that Van Gogh did it twice.
Steal Like An Artist, Keep going, Show Your Work by Austen Kleon
Link: https://amzn.to/2TqsBEy
Price: $ 15.67 – 17.77 CAD
Why are these a good resource: These little books are quick reads and I have them on my kindle. However, they do sell as an audio trilogy and I would highly recommend them.
You don’t need to be a genius, you just need to be yourself. That’s the message from Austin Kleon, a young writer and artist who knows that creativity is everywhere, creativity is for everyone.
Each book is a quick and unique takeaway for all creatives.
The Little Red Book by Jeffrey Gitomer
Link: https://amzn.to/2UYHPRk
Price: $ 25.59 CAD
Why is it a good resource: I am quite certain artists and creatives simply HATE the word SALES. But if you are an artist and creative entrepreneur, then sales are going to be a big part of your business. This is why I would completely recommend the ‘Little Red book of selling’. It’s sweet, short and to the point. And it’s packed with answers that any creatives are searching for in order to help them make sales for the moment―and the rest of their lives.
The Practice and Science of Drawing by Harold Speed
Link: https://amzn.to/3zadX3e
Price: $ 22.28 CAD
Why is it a good resource: This is one of the first definitive books written on the subject of drawing. Anyone interested in the art of drawing as well as the mechanics behind the art form would do well to start with this classic!
The Practice and Purple Cow by Seth Godin
Link: https://amzn.to/3BhOAhY
Price: $ 25.41 CAD
Why is it a good resource: I have loved listening to Seth Godin as well as diving into every book of his!
His latest book – The Practice will help you get unstuck and find the courage to make and share creative work.
Most of his books have been like guides for me, they push me to take the risks worth taking and I have slowly learned that procrastination which comes from fear, and to work with consistency will allow you to form the habits needed. He also reminded me that if I am experiencing ‘imposter syndrome’ then I am a well-adjusted human being.
The Abundant Artist
Link: theabundantartist.com
Price: Ranging from free online resources to $300 per month for small group coaching, to one-on-one coaching for a $2,000 six-month commitment.
Why it is a good resource: This website was made to dispel the notion of the ‘starving artist’. It was a great way to teach artists alternative methods of making a living from their art. He’s taught artists how to market and sell their work since 2009. From online classes to his blog, Cory offers artists savvy advice on social media marketing, selling art online, finding the right artist community, and how to succeed in the business of art.
Fun fact or what is interesting about this resource: Started by Cory Huff, who has been helping artists sell their work online since 2009. He also has a Harper Collins published book: How to Sell Art Online: Live a Creative Life on Your Own Terms.
Artsy Shark
Link: artsyshark.com
Price: Course prices range from $97-$147
Why it is a good resource: This site is filled with valuable advice to help you build your art business, including how to create a marketable portfolio to launch a sustainable career. As the Executive Director of the Arts Business Institute and an art world veteran, the founder Carolyn Edlund writes from a business perspective on art marketing, licensing, galleries, and publishing your artwork.
Fun fact or what is interesting about this resource: Artsy Shark features and promotes artists by publishing individual portfolio articles four times per week.
Artsy
Link: artsy.net
Price: Course prices range from $97-$147
Why it is a good resource: Artsy strives to make the art world accessible to everyone through auctions, partnerships with galleries, sales, and a beautifully curated blog. As an artist, you can meet collectors, receive art world news, build auctions, and get inside the head of a collector. Learn what collectors are looking for, so you can build relationships with art lovers and make sales.
EmptyEasel
Link: emptyeasel.com/art-business-advice
Price: Free!
Why it is a good resource: Shares art business advice for artists by artists. You’ll learn where to sell fine art online, get strategies on how to market your art successfully, and find out which art websites are better at selling original art versus fine art prints. Besides learning which art-selling websites are the best, you’ll also find complete art marketing guides, tips for how to sell art at art fairs, and step-by-step instructions on using your email list to build a successful career from selling art.
Fun fact or what is interesting about this resource: They featured various artists, making it a great place for potential exposure.
Stuart Davies’ YouTube Channel
Link: https://bit.ly/3z6TZGO
Price: Free!
Why it is a good resource: Stuart Davies is a British artist living in France. He’s an oil painter whose specialty is creating the illusion of detail without actually painting detail. Most of his videos are real-time with voice-over, and he talks about what he’s doing and why. They are a great way to learn new methods and techniques from an acclaimed teacher!
Fun fact or what is interesting about this resource: As he is painting, he will often tell fun stories of his college years.
Lisa Clough’s YouTube Channel
Link: https://bit.ly/3iuBKUP
Price: Free!
Why it is a good resource: Texas-based artist Lisa Clough’s multi-media channel features weekly live streams. Every Wednesday evening, she works and chats with viewers, giving instruction along the way. She’s also recently returned to vlogging with topics such as scheduling, copyright issues, and pricing art.
Fun fact or what is interesting about this resource: As he is painting, he will often tell fun stories of his college years.
Andrew Tischler’s YouTube Channel
Link: https://bit.ly/36Lw2se
Price: Free!
Why it is a good resource: Andrew Tischler is a transplanted American artist living in New Zealand. He is an oil painter and many of his videos demonstrate his methods for painting portraits, pastorals, mountains, and animals. His video collection also includes such series of videos as Sketch Endeavor, which documents his practice of sketching for two hours every day. He also has produced videos on technical subjects such as how oil paints are made, how to use painting mediums, varnishing oil paintings, and the Golden Ratio and how it changed his paintings. While Tischler’s paintings are quite advanced, his method of teaching is very down to earth. Even if you’ve never tried oil painting before, you’ll find a wealth of basic information on this channel. And if you are a more advanced painter, you’ll be inspired to push yourself and your work a little further.
Fun fact or what is interesting about this resource: He also has a podcast, Creative Endeavor, which interviews creative professionals!
Artpreneur
Link: artpreneur.org
Price: Free!
Why it is a good resource: From videos and articles to resources lists and interviews- this website has it all. It has the perfect balance of creativity and business tips (like ‘Tax Tips For Artists’).
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artists
Link: https://amzn.to/2Uq8Op2
Price: $44.28
Why it is a good resource: This book offers working artists a collection of personal stories from people who have been there. It shows the reality of how a professional, contemporary artist sustains a creative practice over time. The forty essays collected in Living and Sustaining a Creative Life are written in the artists’ own voices and take the form of narratives, statements, and interviews. Reading through their experiences you get a sense of the practical and nitty-gritty side of making a living as an artist. These stories validate the artistic struggles we all face and also inspire us about the possibilities that await. The diverse perspectives of the artists are at once brutally honest, aspirational, and funny.
Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch
Link: https://amzn.to/36NLWCw
Price: Free!
Why it is a good resource: If you’re facing a creative block, this is the book you need. David Lynch’s Catching the Big Fish provides a rare window into the internationally acclaimed filmmaker’s methods as an artist, his personal working style, and the immense creative benefits he has experienced from the practice of meditation.
Fun fact or what is interesting about this resource: The author David Lynch is a famous filmmaker as well as a painter, nominated for several Golden Globes.
Side Arts
Link: sidearts.com
Price: F$74.95 annually
Why it is a good resource: This is a calls-for-artists listing service that provides useful information on local, national, and international exhibitions, competitions, proposals, residences, vendor events, and grants for various artists and crafters. Side Arts is regularly used by businesses, local governments, galleries, non-profits, and promoters on the lookout for qualified artists.
Fun fact or what is interesting about this resource: Side Arts Founder, Todd Hestand, started the idea with a neighborhood club of visual artists with regular meetings, BBQs, and Friday night karaoke.
Artist Opportunity Monthly
Link: artopportunitiesmonthly.com
Price: $49 annually
Why it is a good resource: Through email sign-up, they will send you optimized opportunities every month. The list on this platform includes public art commissions, residencies, juried shows, fellowships, and grants for artists.
ZAPPlication
Link: zapplication.org
Price: Free Registration
Why it is a good resource: This platform is the place to go if you want to apply for an art fair, show, or other such festival opportunities. You don’t have to send in any images by hand since everything is done online. You can register for free while a juror will score your work. You will be informed via email regarding the status of your entry as well as any other relevant details.
Cafe
Link: callforentry.org
Price: Starting at $475
Why it is a good resource: This allows you to apply to various opportunities and national calls. The platform has a large variety of different listings such as residencies, solo shows, proposals, national and international juried exhibitions, and more. Every listing will display the entry fee, deadline, dates, and the full list of details.
Art, Inc.: The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist
Link: https://amzn.to/3irmV5z
Price: $12.84
Why it is a good resource: This is a guidebook that is extremely practical, and written by professional artist Lisa Congdon. She walks you through how to make the most out of your art as a business —through illustration, licensing, fine art sales, print sales, teaching, and beyond. Including industry advice from such successful art-world pros as Nikki McClure, Mark Hearld, and Paula Scher.
The Art Guide
Link: theartguide.com
Price: Free
Why it is a good resource: This is a great resource designed to support and promote the art community. Here you can find exhibition listings, event listings call for artists, and international events. It’s basically a one-stop-shop for finding where to submit your artwork.
Art Biz Success
Link: artbizsuccess.com/business-consulting-for-artists
Price: $147 for 45 minutes
Why it is a good resource: This website offers business consulting for artists, and a blog with plenty of helpful tips on creativity, marketing, and pricing.
Fun fact or what is interesting about this resource: This website is managed by Alyson Stanfield, who has more than two decades of experience working with artists. She also has a podcast and book, where you can find more art career inspiration.
The Skinny Artist
Link: skinnyartist.com
Price: Free
Why it is a good resource: This is a collaborative blog, where an entire community of artists shares their experiences and knowledge on all matters regarding art business strategies. Anyone in the field is free to join the conversation and share their thoughts.
Society6
Link: society6.com
Price: Commission Based
Why it is a good resource: Here you can sell your art and design in a wide variety of ways. The team will handle everything by turning your artwork into different products such as gallery prints, stationery cards, smartphone cases, and more. They only use high-quality materials and will sell the products on your behalf.