The Business of Being an Artist

The fifth edition of this updated and expanded classic provides visual artists with an in-depth guide to developing and building a career as a professional artist. Veteran art writer Daniel Grant weaves the words and experiences of dozens of practicing artists throughout this informative volume to describe their real-life challenges and the solutions they found to overcome them. Grant covers everything from art gallery etiquette to the legal rights of artists, including chapters on:

Making the transition from school to the working world
Searching for funding through grants and fellowships
Developing relationships with art dealers
Handling criticism and rejection
How to stay safe in the studio
Finding a variety of ways to get paid in the new economy

New to this edition are expanded sections that look at utilizing exhibition venues from sidewalk fairs to regional biennials to national parks, selling in other countries, talking with collectors about your art and yourself, avoiding the perils of defamation, transporting and travelling with art, using “greener” materials, and the experience of becoming an artist later in life and of artists’ children. The Business of Being an Artist is an invaluable resource for art students, aspiring artists, and professional artists who want to learn all there is to know about successfully navigating the world of art.

Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.