Art Business Basics
Published: June 5, 2025 Updated: June 25, 2025
Artists are making art and that's where their love lies. Understandably, not every artist has or will work in the corporate world and may not know some of the ins and outs of the art business, the written and unwritten "rules" or perhaps just don't have basic computer skills needed. Or there are artists that are just plain new to the 'business of art' and need tips and info to get started. This page is devoted to 'the basics' in many art business topics with additional links to blog posts previously written on Artistry Spin or other links available to help with the topic at hand.
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This presentation from the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) targets our artists and area (Prince William County in Virginia) but with some tweaking, this page should work for an artist anywhere. These are some very basic ideas with examples to help learn the lingo. More sections coming soon so check back!
Safety First!
Let's start with safely being online and answering email. This is what you need to know when emails do land in your Inbox from people you don't know as well as people's names you do know. This is an important post to help learn how to spot the scammers.
Protect Yourself and Your Art - be aware of phishing, scammers, hoaxes, fake emails, fake art buyers, etc. Read this first to be on the lookout for potential hackers and scammers.
- Do NOT share your passwords with anyone.
- Create not just passwords but strong unique password phrases. Nearly every website wants a mix of letters, numbers and symbols.
- Keep your personal information private.
- Use multi-factor identification on your accounts. Sure, its annoying, but its safer to have an email, a password, and a secondary text message or phone call to verify that it is you.
Build Your Brand Basics
How to Build A Brand As An Artist?
Art Portfolio Basics
How to Make an Art Portfolio That Stands Out in 5 Easy Steps
How to Create a Professional Art Portfolio - Step-by-Step Guide and Examples
An art portfolio is how you showcase your best artwork. Quality over quantity. Your portfolio will change over time as you update to newer works, perhaps better emphasizing your focus and technical skills that you love to create.
Artist Bio Basics
How to Write an Artist Bio with Tips and Examples - this is a very good article to read and covers artist statements, artist profiles, and biographies for self-taught artists too.
Your Own Website Basics
Do the research to find the best fit for your needs and budget. Can you do the work yourself or do you need to hire someone? What features do you need - do you want to make sales directly from the website? How about ready-made templates, flexibility?
You'll also need a Domain Name which is part of your artist brand. The Domain Name will go on your promotional materials, your email, etc.
Home page - you need a great one, its your introduction. Keep it easy to navigate and include CTA - Call to Action (a marketing prompt that encourages the reader to do a specific action - could be to signup for your newsletter, make a purchase, come to your show, or a link to something).
About page - who you are and what you do. Intro to your brand. You'll need a short bio and include a picture of you, and perhaps your studio. Sprinkle your best artworks in the design.
Contact page - for your fans, potential clients, and subscribers to your opt-in newsletter.
Blog - you can use a blog in many ways. The Blog is your SEO food for your website. Tell the stories behind the art, you can introduce new works and art series, you can have short and long articles on various art topics. Your blog can show the pictures from all the art events and receptions you are in and people you meet, show the people that purchase your art and so much more! And absolutely - you want the pics of any art ribbons you might win!
How to Start a Blog and Make Money in 2025
Testimonials are huge and could be on the blog and/or website.
Press page - if you have been featured in an interview or publication, gather those press clippings for this page. It's all a part of building trust and your story. (optional)
Publications - any books, exhibition catalogs, catalog raisonné, artist editions, etc. (optional)
Exhibitions - an overview of ongoing, upcoming, past, projects and/or events to let fans and followers know when and where your artwork will be on display next. (optional)
E-Commerce section - this is the commercial area of your art business, where viewers can see your artwork and purchase it if desired. Your artwork store can be presented in various settings like room mock-ups, and they can commission work from you too.
Be sure to include the title, size (and weight), and info on framing and matting options if the services are offered. The price should be clearly displayed as well as any shipping information.
It is good practice to offer 3 sizes of prints - small, medium and large.
Include your social media links and a sharing button.
Watermark Basics
About Watermarks on Your Art Online
When posting your artwork out on the web, it is advised to use a watermark to help deter artwork theft online. But don't use a watermark when submitting artwork to a Call for Art.
Art Documents Basics
Artist Documents - What Do I Need?
Be prepared with some documentation to help with your daily, weekly, monthly, and annual paperwork as well as special documents and contracts you may very well need.
How to Write an Artist Contract: Learn to Protect Your Creative Rights
- Licensing Agreements
- Commission Agreements
- Collaboration Agreements
- Exhibition or Gallery Representation Agreements
- Work for Hire Agreements
Insurance Basics
Extra Coverage for Your Art, Explained
Ultimate Guide for Handling Your Damaged Art
Business Plan Basics
"Failing to plan is planning to fail" - Alan Kakein
Business Plans for Artists: Here, I did it for You!
An Artist's Guide to Making a Business Plan (In Just 6 Steps)
A Comprehensive Guide to Creating a Business Plan for Artists
Your business plan will include:
- Your Business
- Mission Statement
- Define Your Vision Statement
- Realistic Goals
- Your Customer
- Research Your Competitors
- Your Finances
- Expenses
- Funding
- Pricing
- Create Your Marketing
- Marketing Platforms
- Where to Sell
- Your Story
- Make a Sales Plan
- Your Process
- Catalog Your Work
- Photograph Your Work
Business License Basics
Do You Need a Business License to Sell Your Art?
Bank Account Basics
Your art business should be separated from your personal account, which is a separate checking, debit and/or credit card of course.
Point of Sale Basics
POS is a decision to make well before your first solo art show, craft show, or festival. What are you going to do when someone hands you a credit card or wants to pay by check? Do you need Wifi? You will need to buckle down and do the research to find what will work for you, has the features you need, and understand the charges.
Best POS System for Craft Shows: Start List of the 2025 Race
- Paypal
- Square
- Stripe
- Wix
- Shopify
- Cash! Have about $200 to get your cash-box or fanny-pack started
- Sales Receipts Books
- Bags to fit your merchandise
- Do I need to say it? Business cards
- Potentially bubble-wrap (bubbles OUT!), wrapping paper, tape
You MUST add Sales Tax and the amount depends on where you live.
Point of Sale Options for Selling at Art Shows / Square / Stripe /PayPal
15 Best Point-of-Sale Software for 2025
Tax Season Basics
A Short Guide to Doing Your Taxes as an Artist
Taxes for Artists - What You Need to Know to File Like a Pro
Art Inventory Basics
Keep an inventory of your artwork. ALL of your artwork.
Digital Library
Your artwork is you intellectual property and having a digital library of your works is our copyright protection in case of infringement.
Photography Basics
Beginners Guide to Photographing Art Like A Pro
You will absolutely need great photos of your art - not only for art prints, but to submit to Calls for Art, and to include in your Digital Library. High quality photos are needed for your E-Commerce store as well.
Art Pricing and Commissions Basics
The Fear of Putting A Price on Your Art
Request for Commission for Your Artwork
Easiest of all is one price is set for each artwork size that you create. For instance, if you have a 16x20x1.5 Canvas and each artwork you create in that size in one price (no matter how easy or difficult it was to create that art.
Fair Pricing - what I mean by fair pricing involves that the hosts for the art show or gallery that you are submitting art to want to make money. They may even be raising money for their organization, church, a cause, whatever. There are times an artist may enter artwork to a show that put the price up very high because they want to show their art, but they don't necessarily want it to sell. And that is not fair to the hosts when artwork does not sell, nor didn't have the remotest chance to sell. Miracles happen but rarely.
Art Display Basics
I would say that nearly every single art show in about every single place that PWAS has hung art, that AT LEAST ONE ARTIST has shown up with art that we have absolutely no way to hang. Occasionally, more than one artist because they did not read the show or gallery requirements. Then the mad scramble to find the right tools and supplies to get the artwork corrected begins before the art drop off ends.
Realize that not every gallery, art show, popup show, etc has the same hanging system. Typically on a canvas with wooden supports, a D-Ring and Wire are the most common display requirements. Some frames, especially metal, may have alternative options so its imperative to know what will or will not work for the show you wish to hang art in.
A recent gallery we showed art at requires a D-Ring, pretty much no questions asked. The artwork does not hang from the wire, but hangs from the D-Ring and depending on your hardware, their hook may not fit to your hardware. The hanging system at the gallery and your artwork is definitely something to check before you leave the house.
At home, you are welcome to hammer in a nail and hang your art as you see fit. Fine art NEVER hangs from a saw-tooth hanger!
Typically at a juried art show, gallery or exhibition space, the show organizers will create the art label that is public facing for uniformity. The artist is responsible for the label that goes on the back of the art piece.
Calls for Art Basics
The number one mistake I see happen ALL the time is artists do not read the Call for Art requirements in full. Don't you realize that if a Call for Art requests specific art dimensions for an art show, that if you submit art that is under or over those requirements, you have already lost entrance to that show? I'm not sure how else I can say it.
I
do suggest having a variety of artwork sizes available for the variety
of art shows and galleries with Art Calls that come out. Some
preplanning on your calendar will be needed to know what artworks will
be submitted to which shows, for which periods of time.
How to Apply for a Call for Art
What is a Jot Form? A Call for Art?
Juried Art Shows: the Few, the Proud, the Chosen
- Submit your BEST art
- Have multiple price points in your art inventory
- Have multiple sizes in your art inventory
Fee Basics
Yep, there are fees to enter many art shows as well as commissions taken out of your art sales...
Commission - READ the Calls for Art, art show submission requirements, gallery contracts, etc. There is a percentage of the sale that will be taken by the organization or gallery when your artwork does sell. How else do they make money? Commissions can vary - typically here in the PWC area we see 30-35%, but have seen lower, and some galleries can be 50% +. I'm leaning toward examples like Washington DC and NY galleries being the higher commission percentages.
In the art world, there are 3 meanings for the word "Commission".
- Someone may approach you and ask for a specific artwork from you, be it a portrait of their dog or a vacation photo from a favorite location. The person will pay you a commission price that you set for the service you are doing for them.
- If your art is in a gallery and that artwork sells, you will pay a percentage to that gallery because they are hosting and selling that art piece (for you). And they will take out their percentage before they mail you your check.
- If you happen to work with an agency, and they find your artist then give them the job, there will be a commission % for filling that job.
Art Show Submission Fee - in order to enter some art shows, there are often charges associated for entry. That does not necessarily equate to an artist being accepted into that show. Submissions can range as per artwork entered or more commonly 3, 4, or 5 artworks for $25 - $35 +. Occasionally, shows can be first entered, first served until the show submissions reach whatever their capacity is. And of course, the commission if artwork sells is applied as well.
Even in your art group, although you pay for membership, there can be art show fees to enter and obviously commission percentage fees. They have to pay their organizational fees which occur even if they are a nonprofit art group.
Membership Fee - an annual fee to join an art organization, nonprofit art group. Prices can vary and may or may not include a 'gallery page'.
Booth Fee - art shows, festivals charge for a space. Most of the ones I have seen, like in Occoquan, is 10x10 and depending on if you are part of a nonprofit group, and individual or other business, the fee can vary.
Jury Basics
Let's cover Juried and Unjuried Art Shows here and there is not a court involved.
Jury, Juror, Juried, Judged Art Shows - a Juried art show means that there will be a person OR group of persons that will select what they deem the best fit for the art show they are populating. Selections can be based on theme, composition, size, etc. The gallery / show requirements will inform the artist what is expected, in detail, but the underlying main fact is that the juror(s) selects based on their personal opinion of the BEST of the submissions.
The art wall space of the gallery, winery, etc may have a top number of artworks that they have the ability to hang, thus depending on the number of artists that enter, the number of art pieces, and the sizes of the art, there will certainly be a limit as to what will be selected.
Judging an art show is more typically referring to an art competition where ribbons, cash, and/or prizes are involved to selected "winners". A juried art show or competition may also have judging involved. It is the judge's opinion and sometimes preferences for his or her selection of the winners.
A Call for Art means that an organization, gallery, or event has advertised that they are having an art show of some sort and want artists to submit art to show for their event.
Unjuried Art Show means that there is not a filter for which artists can show, but there could be a maximum number of entrants for the space allocated to the show. This is typical for art group popup shows, festivals, craft-type shows, etc.
Not a rule of thumb but the artist should realize that quite often, in an unjuried art show this is typically not where you would enter your most expensive art. Occasionally there are exceptions, but more often than not, the less expensive art, art prints, art merchandise has a better chance of selling. Ask your art show coordinators what typically sells.
Art Show Basics
I have a lot of info on Art Shows as there is a lot to learn about being a part of them.
Art Shows, Art Galleries - Showing Your Art
Managing an Art Show for an Art Group
Prepare Your Own Art Show Go Bag
Transporting Art to Art Events, How Do You Roll?
Lessons Learned at an Outdoor Art Show
A few take-aways for entering art shows is to:
- always submit your best art
- be aware if that show wants repeat art or not
Who is Who Basics
Who might purchase your art? Who runs a gallery?
Clients - potential buyers of your artworks and commission requests
How to Find Your Ideal Art Client: A Comprehensive Guide
Patron - an art patron is an organization or a person that supports artist(s) with commissions, resources, or financial assistance and plays a crucial role in the stability of the career of that artist.
What is an Art Patron? - The Figures Behind the Works of Art
Sponsors - a sponsors motivation in supporting an art exhibit or event with donations of resources or money is to also be recognized with their company's logo, branding, advertising, and promotion.
Benefactor - similar to an art patron, benefactors help fund (usually) up and coming artists.
Art Curator
Art Curators: Who Are They and What Do They Do?
Art Agent - an art agent is the middle person between the artist and the client.
- Artist Business Manager
- Illustration Agent
- Fine Art Agent
- Sales Agent
- Distributor
Art Business Consultant - this type of consultant helps the artist to develop the skill sets for organizing, managing, and marketing their art business.
Art Consultant - this person finds the art for specific projects.
Art Enthusiasts - the purchasers of art for the LOVE of art.
Interior Designers - designers purchase art for the spaces they create to not only reflect the homeowner's personal style, but to create focal points and to enhance a theme.
Mentorship - patrons that also provide advice and guidance because of their experience of real-time art world knowledge and relationships.
Art Collectors - collectors are individuals that procure works of art for the pleasure, and often as an investment. Some collectors offer their art collections on loan and for private displays. Some call art collectors the backbone of the art market.
What is an Art Collector, and How Do You Become One?
Art Advisor - the art advisor works with collectors to select art acquisitions.
What Does an Art Advisor Do? The Art Advisory Process Explained
Philanthropists - these individuals or groups support the arts with donations of resources or money. They have a passion to promote and support cultural enrichment in their area and may fund certain art exhibits or sponsor art events, and provide grants.
Why and When People Buy Art and How Marketing Works to Sell It
Who Buys Art Paintings? Insights Into Insane Collectors, Designers and Enthusiasts
Plein Air Painting Basics
Plein Air Painting Equipment and Supplies
Art Print Basics
Photographing Your Artwork to Make Prints
Use one of the printing platforms to create for yourself an "Art Book". You can print one if you like but use it to show off your art. I have used Shutterfly for this and have done it biannually so far. Just look for a good sale when you are doing it.
Gallery Basics
Again, I will say that I may have had a better chance to get my art in a gallery because of being part of an art group than I may have had on my own. True, I have been part of an art group show and not an individual / solo show...but then again, as a beginner artist I also needed to build up my inventory to have enough to have my own art show.
Many galleries, libraries, wineries or optional art location spaces may have a form to fill out (even online) with samples of your art, and if accepted, you may be on a waiting list to show for months if not at least a year out.
For the most part, getting in a gallery is about building relationships - in person and online. Elevate your exposure to be seen - both YOU and your ART. Enter competitions, calls for art, hit the artist receptions, MEET, GREET, REPEAT. Start being recognized. Join your local arts council and be a part of your local art culture. In the meantime, create a body of work (that WILL sell) in preparation for the space provided.
First Steps to Getting Your Art in a Gallery
10 Things to Know About How to Get Your Art in a Gallery
How to Get Your Art into a Gallery: A Guide for Artists
How to Get an Art Gallery to Showcase Your Work
- Exhibition Spaces - artist(s) rent a space for a day, week, or alternative and organizes every aspect of the exhibition / showcase. Sometimes called a gallery, there isn't a curated gallery program.
- The Commercial Art Gallery - the most common gallery, charges a commission on the sales or artworks.
- The Mega-Gallery - the mega-gallery blurs the difference between a museum and commercial gallery by representing a number of prominent artists, is populated with a large staff, is influential, and may operate multiple locations.
- The Vanity Art Gallery - charge the artists to exhibit and to promote their art. There is not a curated gallery program.
- Artist-Run Galleries - two or more artists or an artist collective (art group) collaborate and manage a gallery or exhibition space independent of a commercial art gallery.
Art / Artist Reception Basics
Art Reception Check and Suggestion List
The Artist Reception - A Social Event or a Business Opportunity
I'm not saying every single gallery opening must have an art reception but every single gallery opening would certainly benefit from having an artist reception.
- Brings attention to the gallery, the show, the artist and the art
- Builds relationships
- Benefits the artist in talking about his or her art
- If open to the public - marks that space as a cultural experience to look forward to
Art Storage Basics
Nearly every single artist that I have run into has said they are running out of room to store their artwork. That's something I believe will happen at some point because we must keep on making art and whether the artists offers their art for sale or as gifts, the size of their inventory may grow while perhaps the sales volume doesn't keep up. Hence the need to plan for where and how are you going to store your artwork.
When your wall space is full, your stairwells are hung, and floor space is not ideal, what is an artist to do?
The Internet Basics
It is a fact that not all artists are computer savvy. There have been times where some artists have struggled to understand the wording used so here is a brief on those.
Web Browser - a browser is an application for accessing websites. Examples are Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla, Opera, Microsoft Edge, Duck Duck Go
Domain Name - a human-readable address to identify a website on the internet with a (hopefully) easy to remember name . An example is 'princewilliamartsociety.com'.
URL - is Uniform Resource Locator which is the address of a website. An example is 'https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/aboutus' which would take you to the specific About Us page on the Prince William Art Society website.
Website - a website is a location on the internet with a URL which is a web address (https://princewilliamartsociety.com) made up of web pages that should allow navigation to find out more about that website via it's menu navigation.
Links - or a hyperlink is a digital reference that when clicked on directs the user to a resource on the internet.
Search Engines - a website that allows you so search for info. Good examples are Duck Duck Go, Google, Bing, Mozilla. When you look for a Key Word or Key Phrase, the search should give you the results you are looking for. Search boxes on a website also allows the user to search for data on that specific website. For instance the search on Artistry Spin Blog.
When you are looking up info, especially if its got a timestamp of when it was posted or written, its a good idea to try to use the info provided in a more recent post. For example, if you were looking up how to setup an Outlook account, you wouldn't want to use reference materials from 4-5 years ago. All of these applications are constantly being revamped and updated so the data from an old article may not be as accurate as what the application has in it today.
Keyword - type in 'art' and you get all kinds of results about art. But what if you want to find an 'art group'? Type that in and see your results.
Key Phrase - to help narrow down your search, you could type in 'art groups near me' or 'art groups in Prince William County'.
Keywords, Key Phrases - how you find info on the internet. The better keywords and key phrases you use, the better results that will be displayed. Keywords are imperative in everything you do online, thus making it so important to describe what you are presenting with the best words so that it can be found.
Content is King - the entire Internet works on searches, it thrives on good, fresh, meaningful CONTENT. Content that is often clicked on, shared, and updated is pure search engine food.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - SEO is a process of improving a website's placement, thus its visibility in a search engine's results. The goal is to rank on the first page of a search.
When you are looking for info and search on Google or Duck Duck, how many pages do you sort through to find what you want? Probably not very many before you change your search wording to filter down to what you want to learn.
On your website or when talking about your artwork on social media or posting on a blog or Facebook, be sure your title and description use optimal key phrases so visitors will find you and look at your art.
Do a search on 'art" on Google.com. Gazillions of results. Do a search for "PWC art group" and in placement one and two I see https://www.pwcartscouncil.org/ and https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/ - exactly what I wanted to find.
And very importantly, do not consider that something said on the Internet, in email, in a group, on social media, on a website is anything like the saying of "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". The Internet is often permanent. People take screenshots and re-post things faster than you can say "X". If it's something you wouldn't say to your Grandma, don't say it and don't type it.
The other part of that is humor is cultural and the Internet is universal so what is potentially meant as a joke by one culture or country may not relate well elsewhere. "Humor is the best medicine" is a great quote and often true, just be cautious in how and when you use it.
Email Basics
Email - a way to send and receive messages across the internet world. You can send emails to your art fans and they can send inquiries to you about your art.
Sending and Replying to an Email
To: Who all needs this email and its contents? Remember, most people get a lot of email so only include those whom the subject matter is important for them or can answer your question.
Contacts - do the research to find the correct person to send your inquiries to in an organization. This is proper procedure.
For example: https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/board
Add a subject - A very important title of the email helps to find this topic later. AND it is IMPERATIVE that the emails under this email thread stay on topic - on subject! I am constantly using the email search feature to find emails - either from a person or on a topic.
Email Thread - a series of related email messages grouped together that show the conversation history in chronological order.
Attachments - can be documents or images that you pin to our email when you send it out or reply.
A good idea is to KNOW who ALL you will be replying to BEFORE you answer - or send - the email back.
Reply - responding ONLY to the name(s) in the TO: line
Reply All - responding to every single email in the TO: line and the CC: line. Realize that not every single person needs or wants to read every single email reply, especially if its a congratulations, a 'LOL", or something very simple that isn't really adding to the conversation. Use Reply All carefully and considerately. You can adjust who you are replying to if the other person's don't need to hear your congratulations on a job well done by removing the unneeded emails.
CC - carbon copy will include the people that do not necessarily need to reply to the conversation, they just should be aware or observe the subject being discussed.
BCC - blind carbon copy is for the recipients to see the contents of the conversation, but they will not know who else received the message. When PWAS sends out group emails that are important for everyone to know about, use BCC so that everyone's emails are not flying out there in everyone's faces. Its a cleaner and more professional way to send email for your art group.
Embedded - there is a difference in Attaching a photo (or document) and embedding a photo in your email. Please learn the difference and to follow the requested format.
Tips to Organize Your Art, Art Group, Art Business Emails
Not Necessarily Art Notes, but...
Back Up Your Data Basics
Your computer, your iPhone, your laptop or tablet - they will all die at some point. So where do you store your artwork photos, your artwork inventory, your templates, documents and other archived art history? Make sure you SAVE it all somewhere!
Art Promotion Basics
Unless you have an especially dear friend, a devoted spouse, an art group promo person, or a computer savvy and helpful child, you have to do your own art promotion. You can also pay someone OR pay for advertising of your art (but do the research to know what you are doing before you start dishing out the $). Or you can use the many free resources online.
Whether you scroll for hours on end or only use social media for promoting your artwork, the Internet is 24/7. The opportunities to promote you and your artwork, show your skills, attract sales, commissions, and new clients, the ability to teach and inspire is online all the time.The Internet never sleeps. If your artwork is in a gallery, it doesn't have that.
Social Media - a way to share information, which for us artists means, what we do, where we will be, selling our artwork and merchandise - all around sharing our content.
A necessary evil? I vote yes. If only for letting the public know what you are doing as an artist - your art shows, your accomplishments, etc. You do you of course but select which one(s) appeal to you and be consistent with your brand image. Also, for the best effectiveness, find your target audience that your art style would appeal to.
- Your logo
- Banner photo
- Share photos and videos with a similar style
- In your social media post, use the same tone
Getting Your Art Out There: Social Media, Your Art, and Your Art Group
1. Build relationships - people are more likely to purchase from you through engagement and trusting who you are.
2. Build brand awareness - visitors learn who you are and what you do.
3. Increase traffic - to your blog, your website, your pages for more visibility.
Good reasons to post:
- People need to know about what gallery exhibits you are in.
- People need to know what popup shows you will be at.
- People need to see what new artworks are on the easel, off the easel and to learn about the series you are creating.
- People enjoy watching what you do - post a video or a reel.
- People would love to learn something from you so show off your expertise.
- People would like to know more about you so if you have great blog posts or write great articles of interest to them, let people know!
- People like seeing what your artwork would look like in a home.
- People LOVE seeing what your art studio looks like. (I sure do!)
- People ADORE when you post pictures of you with them at the art event they attended! Tag / Hashtag them when you can.
- People enjoy it when you also make it not just all about you all the time so feature other artists and events that you find fascinating.
How to get started on Social Media?
Your Art Group Basics
Unless you are a total badass and LOVE to do absolutely everything by yourself, I do suggest finding an art group (or several) you like near you to get involved with. Attend a few meetings and get a feel for what they do. Have a look at their social media and their website to see if they are into what you are interested in.
- Find a Mentor either in your art group or outside of it. Some say find a muse.
- Get involved - you learn faster!
- Build friendships!
- Volunteer!
Understanding Your Nonprofit Art Group
Getting Involved in Your Local Art Group
Nonprofit Art Group Committees
I simply must add this here. To join the Prince William Art Society, go to the Membership link here https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
Artist Need to Know
Art NTK An ongoing list of things artists need to know.
Take a Break Basics
Don't we all occasionally have burnout? Be it from the canvas, from the computer, from the palette knife...there are times when staring at a blank canvas for hours and looking for inspiration gets to us all.
Artists Share Their Advice on Preventing Burnout
Creative Burnout and Improving Artist Mental Health
Perhaps before someone puts police tape across your studio doorway, it might be time to take that vacation even for a day and take in the ocean, a walk, a forest, or even remember that you do have friends and family that may have forgotten what you look like.
Inspiration Basics
Closely related to the above "Take a Break Basics" is stop to smell the roses, literally, to get inspiration.
12 Ways to Find Inspiring Sparks as an Artist - Creative Flair
Technique Tuesdays: 10 Tips for Finding Inspiration
How to Find Art Inspiration to Expand Your Creative Skills in 2025
Joy and Negativity Basics
I see some artists that must wake up every day with the joy of creating art in their hearts and heads and they go forth and multiply. Of course with family and work or other priorities, not everyone can create every single day, but never forget your joy in the creative process.Whether its early in the single-digit morning hours or the late-night art shift - enjoy and keep your joy in being creative.
Wow, that satisfaction of getting that art piece just right! We get in our own little worlds and time just flies! And then...
Everyone has an opinion about art and on the internet, it is far too easy for people to be rude, judgy, condescending, and disrespectful with their likes and dislikes. Or they just want to try to ruin your day.
Ignore the ignorance but do realize when you are reading constructive criticism. That kind of response to your request of "What do you think about my art" can be invaluable.
I'm putting this reference here called "Artwork Rejection". You will not get in every art show your apply for, even if you did pay a fee to enter said show. Don't let any of that ruin your creative joy.
Those Really Cool Extra Step Basics
This section will include notes on wonderful ideas I see artists do that take their artwork to another level - just plain GREAT ideas.
1. At the PWAS Best of the Region Show at the ARTfactory in Manassas, VA June 3-15, 2025, PWAS Member Zee Berrios showed an art piece that included information about the art piece on the back, and a ribbon that the piece had been awarded. Like he said, "its a part of the history of the piece". What a pleasant surprise for the person that purchases the artwork!
Please let me know if you found this page helpful in the comments below and what other topics should I include?
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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, specializing in acrylic
painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects.
Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.
I may not teach...but maybe this blog is how I share what I've learned.
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