Selling Artistic Expression

I read a twitter the other day asking why the really good artists don't get the recognition they deserve.  I can answer that question, and I'm qualified to answer it as well.  Being a really good artist doesn't have anything to do with "making it big".  I know great artists, musicians, writers, dancers and actors who will not only never make it big, but will probably never make a dime off of their talents, and the reason is, they are not business people.  Being an artist may be a calling, but if you aren't willing to expose your work and try to sell it, then it's a hobby.
I have worked over 2000 art shows across the United States, been an art show director, owned an art gallery, been an advisor to artists, and was president of a company that produced film on artists and their arts.  In my spare time I wrote seven books of poetry that sold in the numbers to make each one a best seller many times over in the field of poetry.
Scattered throughout my successes are also many failures, even though I hate to use that term.  My theory is the only way you can fail is by not doing anything at all.  Failures are often the greatest teachers.  I have often call a failure 'a trial run'.
Every successful artist I know - let me qualify that - who makes $100,000 or more a year, are not necessarily great artists.  Some are good and a few are great, but every single one of them are very good business people.  They always keep their mind open to opportunities, most often 'thinking outside the box'.
Opportunities constantly present themselves, but if you don't look with an open mind and relate them to the world around you, those opportunities will  pass you right by without ever being noticed.
I suggest you don't shoot for being a star. Shoot for being a working artist who makes a living at it. Not only are the stars great business people, they have a little luck to go with it, plus they are they very few among us, the very many.  If you can make a living as an artist, you have succeeded.  Getting paid for expressing your soul is far more than most people could even hope for.  You are an artist.  That's what you do.  Open your mind to an exploration of the world around you as an outlet for your work.  See your opportunities and act upon them.  Who knows, it might make you a few hundred or a few thousand dollars.  It may last a week or a few years as an outlet.  Don't pass up any chance to display and sell.  Do your best and display it well. That's what the successful artists do.











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