I welcome any one to both give advice and ask questions on how to promote our art work and also post anything related to promoting your art. For example I was recently interviewed by a news paper and I'm including my first ever feature article concerning my portraits.

I do this purely as a hobby. The pleasure I derive from having no deadlines or targets to meet is reward enough for me! I have sold a few paintings in the past! But I treat this as a bonus and not a calling! Therefore! The only 'promotion' I do is here!

congrats to you mr. burcham..

I have always been hesitant about getting too commercial and have tried to keep my art as a semi-hobby. Now that I am retired I try to do only what I love doing. I do however recieve a reward when others see my work and appreciate it. I find that I must promote my work so that more people can enjoy it and perhaps be inspired by it.

bobby

You've done a great job with this article Bobby, congratulations. There's nothing better than local press coverage - well except national press coverage!

Many people do use art as a hobby, others take it to another level and enjoy the pressures that go with deadlines and the challenges of commissions. I have legs in both worlds. And depending on the amount of work you want to put into it, you can turn it into what you want.

The first rule to realize is that no one will come looking for you. You have to look for them and make yourself known. And that is very hard work, very time consuming and full of rejection. That's where the pleasure part of doing what you love comes into it, because with out that, you'd give up at the first hurdle.

There are so many opportunities to offer your artistic talents and Bobby's highlighted just one of them. Local newspapers and magazines love good news stories these days instead of the usual doom and gloom. Contact a local paper and offer a sample article. Put an ad in the classifieds if you draw bald cats for instance - or the vet - or the animal groomer's.

In these times of recession and fewer dollars for luxury (which is often what art is) look for where the money is being spent. Is it horse racing, sailing, retirement homes (those downsizing may like a keepsake drawing of their old house). Establish what you're good at drawing/painting, find the market to support it and be prepared to work very very very hard to make your money.

Congratulations, Bobby! I'm proud to have one of your drawings, it's framed and displayed in my home.

I'm taking a break from drawing to get some schooling out of the way, but I'm dying to get back to it! Someday, someday...

I am not surprised at all by your success ....one thing I am dissapoointed in is I wish the artical was bigger so I could read it .. I am proud of you and you have come a long way with art and self development ...You are a inspiration to many .

Bobby, I am so excited for you. How wonderful to be in the paper. I truly think you should be famous all over the world. I love your art.. Congratulations!!

Always love your art and each of your portrait is beautiful and amazing.
lily

Excellent, Bobby - nice article ! You deserve every success!



This is all very true - I suspect that the vast majority of artists have difficulties with self-promotion - most of us just want to get into our workspace/studio and draw and paint, and wish all the networking, publicity, selling, etc side of it could be done for us by someone else. Self-confidence issues seem to be very common, perhaps to some extent it goes with the creative artistic temperament? One has a lot emotionally invested in work, and being rejected, with the implication that it wasn't liked or wasn't considered to be good, is potentially painful and upsetting (especially when its being judged by people who couldn't do what you can do!). Persistence is important!

I saw a lovely quote the other day:






Dave

That's fantastic news Bobby! The article is great and will hopefully bring you much more business. How did you go about having an article like that done? Did someone come to your house to interview you, or did you go there?
Basically what I am asking is how does that whole process go? It will be interesting to hear if you are getting much business from this articles publication.

I guess the beginning of the process was when I purchased an ad in the newspaper that ran the story. A little while later the editor called me and invited me to visit him and said he would introduce me to some people that he felt I would be interested in meeting. He also gave me the names of a few of them. Well, this was just before Christmas and I was extremely busy so I didn't visit him at that time. But after my portraits slowed down a little I did visit one of the men he told me about. I showed him my portrait album and he invited me to assist him in his free art classes and promised he would try to get me some exposure.

A few days later a reporter for the newspaper where I bought the advertising space called me to set up an interview.

I'm not sure how to go about approaching an editor either but I'm hoping to learn more.

I have got at least one portrait because of the story and it was only a week ago.

Bobby.

Thank you Bobby for explaining. It seems like a good idea to post an ad in the paper. Maybe one day I'll work up the nerve to do that too. ;o ) It seems also important to make connections to help one get to where you want to go in the art business. Like everything else in life, I suppose. Thanks again! Let us know how things unfold, and if more will come of it.

Don't be shy to bring out talent and show your skills. I would encourage the idea of showing your work, it brings self-fulfillment.

Congratulations little brother, but seem like I have to come here to learn what is going on in your life. E-mail me more! Got hurt at work and haven't work but very little since last July. I'm not as fast as you and it hurt to sat at my desk very long so I haven't drew anything lately.
And Kim,depending on which Browser you are useing, after clicking on his thumbnail you should be able to zoom in my pressing "Ctrl" and "+" key.

Bobby,

Copngratulations!!! You will have commissions galoure!!!!

Beautiful drawings in the article...I really wanted to see the one with all that lovely swirling hair but I couldn't find it in your gallery yesterday!!! Impressive gallery by the way!

Laura

By clicking bottom RH screen, where it says 100%, you can increase the size, so the artical is quite easily read.

Well done, Bobby, it must be nice finding a 'new' career after retirement.

Thanks Laura, and very glad you are back with us. I know it's a poor excuse but I am so busy I don't reallly know what to do next. he he he. So thanks and we need all the help we can get here, drawspace is growing and it is very exciting to be a small part of it.

I will may post a larger version of the pics and the article later. At the present I have people asking, "Where's my portrait?"

No excuses "baby" brother, you can even draw laying in bed. .

I treasure my piece of Bobby's talent in my home, and am very happy with the recognition of his merits.
After a lifetime of drawing and art, fame and success sure comes to the gifted.I am glad that the article points to the fact that Bobby looks for the soul of his portraits and makes people come alive in his renderings.
Many more happy years of wonderful art and portraiture, dear Bobby.

Thanks for the warm welcome glad to be back! Yes, please do post the swrirley haired portrait when you have time....I'll wait forever if I have to...looks to be worth the wait...hehehe...just tell them that any masterpiece takes time!

Laura...hehehe