"Professional Artist"
 

I would like to pose a question. How does one know when they have become a "professional" portrait artist? Is there a non-professional portrait artist? Is the criterion the amount of money one receives for a portrait, or the number of portraits completed? Would being a "professional" portrait artist denote that that is your sole occupation and source of income?

The local art guild states that if you have received a total sum of $1200.00 in your art career, you are now listed in their opinion, as a "professional".

Just curious what others may think about this.

Who is worthy?
 

I'm sure this question will elicit a wide variety of responses. I think the problem with this type of query is that those responding might be tempted to come up with a reply that may tend to be on the side of self-justifying. The reason for this is that many want to be considered professional and it is can be argued that those who receive money, and are able to live on that income are indeed professional.

However, I would like to raise the bar and differentiate between a professional and what I would term a "true" professional.

I'm sure we've all paid money to have a task performed, and have been disappointed by the result. We inevitably say this is not a professional job! We may ask for a refund, choose to be bitter, or even engage legal counsel.

To me however, a professional is someone who delivers a consistent product every time. One who meets or exceeds the expectations of their client. Someone who refuses to leave things to chance. Someone who is willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to get the job done to the best of their ability. The key is consistency. Ultimately this attitude must be coupled with consummate skill if we are to define one as a

Professional?
 

Marvin, well said.

For once I don't feel the need to add a thing except agreement. And that is saying a lot from me, as my long posts on this Forum will attest.

Marvin,

You are so eloquent. Beautifully expressed from a true professional. I do wonder, with all the wonderful artists to pick from, what is it about William McGregor Paxton that you so admire? Why he above all others? I understand that you consider him to be the ultimate true professional, but what specifically do you so admire? Can you share with me and with others your favorite writings on this artist?

True professional artists therefore are no different than any other true professional. It all boils down to what comes from within. Calling upon an inner spirit to accomplish the difficult and not settling for the mediocre. I can relate what you said to my experience in the operating room. Thanks for clearing the fog. I can see clearly now.

W. M. Paxton
 

Alicia,

Thank you for your kind words. I'll gather some thoughts about Paxton and post them on the Artists of the Past string.

It is my experience that true professionals in all walks of life are very rare indeed.

Paxton post
 

Alicia,

I just posted a little homage to Paxton in Artists of the Past.

http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...=7479#post7479

Professional vs. Amateur
 

AMATEUR
PROFESSIONAL

Hmm. For myself, although I have sold over 1,200.00 in paintings, I would consider myself neither an amateur nor a professional. I fit somewhere in between.

I am a professional Gemologist. Heck, why be humble, I am an expert in my field. I am also a painter, an enthusiast who happens to make money at it. Until I trade shingles I will identify myself as such.

ENTHUSIAST

Thanks for doing that, Marvin.

:thumbsup: [QUOTE]To me however, a professional is someone who delivers a consistent product every time. One who meets or exceeds the expectations of their client. Someone who refuses to leave things to chance. Someone who is willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to get the job done to the best of their ability. The key is consistency. Ultimately this attitude must be coupled with consummate skill if we are to define one as a

Horrors! This sounds like something that those darn "misguided" school guidance counselors say to the talented kid who just wants to grow up and paint for a living.

Don't forget that people who paint for a living can also make money in peripheral ways, like teaching. Some of us also sell landscapes and still lifes between portrait commissions. I also hear that there is a big print market out there.

Heck, you don't even have to have a lot of talent or skill to make money as a painter (i.e., Kinkade).

There are buyers of art out there who have lots of money, and taste is no object. :)

Oh, Karin, here we go again on Kinkade! I thought we put that one to bed in the Pepsi thread? :)

As for making a living as a painter, or in any other profession, it is simple.

1. First you must believe you can.

2. Then you must do what it takes to become what you believe.

3. And last, you can't give up on that belief the first time you fail.

Oh course the second part the "doing what it takes" is where I could get into all kinds of controversy. But I won't, I'll just leave that up to each of you to figure out what that means. Since we are all at a different starting point, that part will be different for each person.

Or as in my case, the second time I failed, the twenty-second time I failed, etc..

In the area of painting, having the personality of a pit bull doesn't hurt, i.e., "I CANNOT FAIL IF I DON'T EVER QUIT." I am convinced that I wasn't born with much talent, just desire and a strong will. And for me, that has made a difference.

I do not think that "success" depends on "markets," or really anything outside of ourselves. I personally do not think of "success" as a particular amount of money (unless, of course, you choose to define it that way).

Poor ole' Kinkade sure takes a beating, doesn't he? In his favor, I do think that he understands the nature of light and can visually manipulate it. It is just his taste that lowers the artistic standard and allows us envious (and $$ poorer) types to take pot-shots.

I am always flabbergasted by those who say they deserve to "make it" because they have "tried hard enough." Do they really understand how many long hours are required at the easel? The intense personal study of art required? (And I do not mean just going to art school and taking a "workshop" or two.)

Karin,

My comment was a weak attempt at humor, and I hope that I didn't flabbergast you. I suppose I had better stick to painting and give up my underlying desire to be a comedian. Ha! Alicia,

Well put, and I totally agree with you that it comes from within. Unfortunately many judge or measure professionalism by the dollar sign.

What would others feel, if posted on this Forum, was a fantastic web gallery in which the art was comparable to the talent of the old masters, and yet the price was $250, instead of $250,000. Has that person still "made it" ?

Aww, the plot thickens. :sunnysmil

Patt,

Oops! I did not mean to direct my comments towards you personally, and your remarks did make me chuckle. But don't dump your day job in art for a career in stand-up comedy! :)

Something else, however, was on my mind. I spoke to a fellow two weeks ago who complained bitterly that he hadn't made it in portraiture. And after all his "hard" work, he deserved to be "on top" and was surprisingly angry about not being there. I have a good idea of the time he puts in, and we obviously define "hard work" very differently. I also remember what it was like after art school graduation. Too many of my classmates seemed to spend more time complaining about the "lack of jobs" when they had hardly even looked. BTW, those people generally did not stay in the "art" business.

Persistence always pays off.

Patt,

As for the artists that are painting comparable old masters for $260.00 instead of $260,000.00, I would say they have made it, but must be living in a cave and don't know it.

True story: a doctor I worked for told me this story. He knew a plastic surgeon who didn't particularly like doing facelifts (they take a long time to do). This surgeon decided he was at a point in his career and didn't need to do any more facelifts. He would rather do other procedures. So, he raised his fees on facelifts to an exhorbitant amount, thinking people would go somewhere else for this procedure. Instead of that happening, he had more people wanting him to do facelifts then ever before. Moral of the story is the public thought that since he was charging so much, he must be better than anyone else doing them. People were traveling from out of town to come to him.

The public perceives price for quality. I think Kinkade (sorry) figured this out.

So THAT'S the secret!
 

Thanks for the story, Alicia. I've been looking for an excuse to raise my prices! :)

:oops:

I did it again, Karin. It is I who needs to explain. I must be having a slip back in time and feeling a bit"moody" for lack of a better word to explain. I will try to stop being so SENSITIVE.

I think that a portion of my unfortunate misgivings about my working are from comments that I still hear about artists locally and even my in-laws in New Jersey, California, etc.. Once again, it is an education need and informing them that FINE ART IS NOT THE SAME AS PAINT BY NUMBER.
Alicia,

Thanks for your story. It sure LIFTED my spirits today and it is so true. I have seen that happen. When it happens around my "neck of the woods" others' comments are "and who does he/she think they are" and "this isn't New York, you know."

p. s. The above comments are not necessarily those of the writer of this thread.

Thanks again out there. This site is such an inspiration.

Me too, Karin! Now we've got a reason.

Although my studio was built as dedicated space, and is 100% devoted to my art, I have a family member who will not refer to it in any way other than the "back bedroom".

Patt,

Sorry, I didn't get to finish my story. My husband was home today and accused me of ALWAYS being on THAT web site. Can you imagine that!!! What I should have said to him is yes, and thank God For It. Instead, I went to cook.

I wanted to tell you to go to the Biz and Resource Center on this site and download the eBook, "How to Become a Famous Artist and Still Paint Pictures" by W. Joe Innis http://www.portraitartist.com/resources/. If you haven't already read it, you should. Very funny, practical and enlightening.

Administrator's note: Or, you can purchase this book at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ex...strokeofgenius

Don't feel bad about what the "locals" say or your family members. There might be more than a bit of jealously involved there. I have donated enough art to my family. They time to time mention they'd like to have a portrait, they just don't want to pay for it.

There are people out there willing to pay for your experience and talent. You need a patron. Read the book.

Thanks, Alicia, for all of that pep talk.

I admit I needed that. I won't go further for fear of turning this thread into a "Dear Abby" one. But I can relate to what you are telling me. I will check out the book you told me about. I thought I was beyond that self-help book stuff. I know all you are saying in my heart of hearts and I am not usually this way. My family is very supportive about my work but for the REALIST in the family and he keeps doing reality checks. Unfortunately, it is his interpretation of reality not mine. My painting has held my life for many years and will as long as I can do it.

Whew-w-w-w-w.

Now, a deep breath, and a great thanks again for this site and all of you here who give a boost when needed.

And Chris, with that I can relate too, they all looked at me when I wanted my studio outside of my house. I built it practically by myself with as much help from hubby as he could give. (Most of the plan was his). I mean literally, too. OOPS!!! I believe woodworking and painting was in another thread. I will never regret it either, even if I do have three extra bedrooms. My studio/gallery is my haven into another realm. I feel so lucky.

Thanks to all

Pro vs. Success
 

It seems to me there is a confusion between the terms successful and professional. They are far from interchangeable. There are many successful people who are not even in the realm of being professional in either their working procedures and approach. They can usually be spotted (but not always) by the flaunting of their materialistic trappings that come along with being successful. They must validate themselves somehow, so this is the easiest way.

Professionals are, by and large, more apt to focus on the means to which they achieve their ends. Fortunately many can claim title to both categories and that's the way it should be. Maybe I'm just being idealistic, but I like to believe that a professional has a much better chance at becoming successful in the long run. Although sometimes I have to scratch my head and wonder.

As someone fairly new to the craft of painting, but not new at all to the arts (grew up in Rome, Italy, come from a chef/writer background, after college worked as a museum installation specialist), I have to say the most useful mantra I've heard is Peggy Baumgaertner's advice: "Fake it till you make it."

I interpret this way:

1. You have to paint miles of canvas to understand the medium and its potential as a language (means of expression).

2. You must realize any creative process comprises both the creation and the critique of the work. Without its nemesis, creation is wallpaper, and critique is a murderer.

3. If you want to make a living at art (and it seems good and bad painters do), then you must treat your art as a job, report to duty in a consistent manner, maintain focus, and embrace all aspects of the job (from marketing to cleaning brushes to client relations).

4. Titles are just labels to help humans communicate.

Not to nitpick, Marvin, but the term "professional" can be used just to signify that you earn your income within a profession. And can have nothing to do with the quality of that person's work within that profession. Of course, a certain amount of credibility is assumed when the term is used, although I do prefer your distinction of a true professional vs. one who just carries the title. So, if I might be so bold as to make a statement to all who do or wish to hold the title of professional: Let us live up to that title by conducting ourselves with professionalism. I feel that that includes a certain amount of professional courtesy for others even if we should disagree with their views. To criticize others for success that we feel is underserved, I feel, is not in keeping with professionalism.