The myth of the long-suffering, tormented and starving young artist might not only be a myth if you talk with a few aspiring artists trying to make it in this competitive field. Join us on this special podcast on art sold on the street. Marketplaces and small stalls on the street, that’s how you might get your foot in the door. But is it enough? What is the next step? What are the latest stirrings of the art world at the moment? Is it possible to make a good living and also make good art at the same time? How could you turn your career up a notch if you are already making ends meet but still not a household name or even close? Stay tuned for more. // 1
It’s not easy to delve deep into the creative mind and extract a perfect work of art in the process. How good do you need to be at what you do? What will sell? How about can bad people create great art? Is great art always a product of a good, pure mind? Degas, renowned for his fragile ballerinas, for instance, was a famous anti-Semite. While praised for warmth and humanity in his art, he held very stark views of his fellow man. So, if art history is anything to go by, you don’t need to be exemplary or even above par, just be the imperfect human being that you are. // 2
Various settings promote selling art on the street in different ways. In New York, for example, you don’t even need to have a vending license. Nevertheless, there are certain restrictions pertaining to place, time and manner of selling. All art vending stands must be located at least 20 inches from a door, 10 inches from a corner and must not touch or in any way be attached to a fire hydrant or another item on the street such as a parking meter, traffic sign, light pole or telephone booth. // 3
Selling art on the street is challenging. You might want to prop up your work on an easel to stand out from the other works on display. Try not to have your work under a parasol or similar, it changes the light and the tones in your work. Direct natural light works the best. If your work is sandwiched between many others, it will not promote your work in the best possible manner so try to avoid dense exhibits. // 4
Have you ever had a painting really touch your soul? Really speak to you. So much so that you ended up buying it on the spot and taking it home? Street art or not, worth every dollar. And then a friend of yours came over and said: “What an interesting piece. Where an earth did you find a painting like that? The frogs seem so lifelike. It would make me so jittery to have them hang above my bed in my bedroom. So interesting. But of course, I’m not a true connoisseur like you. // 5
As an artist, what’s your favourite medium? Acrylic paints, charcoal or perhaps etching? Paints lend themselves to powerful and expressive brushstrokes, really making your feelings and thoughts heard. You can attack the canvas with your brush and let it feel your power. Make use of a rich rainbow of shades and tints at your disposal. When you are done, discard the brushes and you will feel cleansed. You and the end result will next face the world and the critics. // 6
