Multiple Streams of Income - Multiple Venues

I once read in a finance-related book that you need multiple streams of income. I believe that is true today. It is not wise to rely on only one source of revenue. Having lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, an artist community, one becomes aware of just how difficult it is to be successful. It is difficult to survive on only what you make from selling your art. I can't tell you how many people I met who had two jobs or who had a job to provide a living and health benefits and did their art in whatever spare time they had. I have seen many shops and galleries come and go as the economy improved and then declined. Who wants to buy art, a luxury item, when it is difficult to put bread on the table? So, it is helpful for an artist to consider different ways to provide income. It is good to have representation in several shops or galleries. It is also a smart artist who has an online presence. There are many websites who host emerging artists. There are also websites like eBay and etsy where you can list and sell your paintings for a small fee. Of course there are other ways to sell your work. You can have giclee prints made or greeting cards made of your art and sell those at a more affordable price than an original painting. Some people who ordinarily could not afford your art will pay for a print of it. You can hang your art in coffee houses or small shops with contact information for selling your work. You can sell your work at arts and crafts fairs. You can join an artist co-op and sell though them. Be creative. I am sure that even though your art may not be selling right now, times will improve and just having your art shown in more places will improve your chances of making a sale.

Re-Inventing Myself and My Art

Being an artist in this economy can be very challenging. We sometimes have to "re-invent" ourselves in order to make our art interesting and to appeal to a new group of potential buyers. I recently decided to start a blog of my art and my current projects and ideas.
I love to travel and I love to paint, so it seemed logical to paint scenes from my travels. I was fortunate to find a small French furniture store that has sold paintings of mine of cafe scenes and lavender fields of France. The store had three locations and I have paintings in all three. Current problem: two of the three locations are going out of business. Current challenge: to reinvent myself once again. I plan to experiment with different mediums and different techniques and take advantage of this current situation. I am enjoying the freedom of experimenting and trying something new.