Street Artist

Judson Eneas · 06-19-2006, 09:00 PM

How do you market yourself as a street artist? I am talking about drawing customers with your little set up easel for $15.00 a pop for fifteen minutes each. Where would be a good place to start such a business?

Linda Brandon · 06-19-2006, 10:19 PM

Judson, I admire your tenacity. I'm delighted that you're thinking of doing this life sketch work. Before you think about doing this, though, I really recommend that you can draw three apples in a bowl in a convincing manner in 15 minutes. (Not terribly easy to do.) Go ahead and post it on this thread and I can coach you from there.

Judson Eneas · 06-20-2006, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linda Brandon

Judson, I admire your tenacity. I'm delighted that you're thinking of doing this life sketch work. Before you think about doing this, though, I really recommend that you can draw three apples in a bowl in a convincing manner in 15 minutes. (Not terribly easy to do.) Go ahead and post it on this thread and I can coach you from there.

What I am talking about is a simple head portrait without extravagant detail. To draw a bowl of three apples would understandably take hours.

Dianne Gardner · 06-20-2006, 02:02 AM

Judson,
Do you have practice doing this? I assume you do because you say you are ready to market yourself. If so, I suggest either getting a space at a festival or any public market and just start doing it. I spend a good portion of my summer doing this same thing, only I take 30 minutes and do 8 X 10 character sketches in oil. They are very popular, it is a very lucrative business and often I am commissioned to do a more formal portrait in the process.

All you have to do is just set up and start painting and have patience. Eventually word will get around.
I know someone who paints children's faces at the library for free. That too is a way to get known. If you have some portraits on display while you are doing your quick sketches, than that helps all the more.

Good luck on this endeavor. Its tons of fun!

Dianne

Mike McCarty · 06-20-2006, 08:24 PM

Quote:

To draw a bowl of three apples would understandably take hours.

Judson:

You can paint apples in a bowl in 30 seconds, or 30 days. I think Linda's generous offer would be very informative to your endeavor. I believe that Linda has done this sort of public drawing in the past. I'd listen up.

However, if you choose to pass, maybe Linda would lend her expertise to some other Pilgrim who recognizes the opportunity.

Judson Eneas · 06-20-2006, 09:41 PM

I am greatful for her advice.

Dianne Gardner · 06-20-2006, 09:44 PM

Quote:

However, if you choose to pass, maybe Linda would lend her expertise to some other Pilgrim who recognizes the opportunity.

I certainly would and will when I have a spare 15 minutes if that offer is open to some other Pilgrim!

Dianne

Lon Haverly · 08-19-2006, 05:26 PM

I have been a "street artist" for 33 years. However, I don't like the term. Even though I have always paid rent for my space, I am called a "street artist," as if I were a vagabond or a pan handler of art.

I started at the Saturday Market for a few weekends to get the feel. Then I went on a vacation to Sacramento, and asked a local mall if I could draw there a few days. There were no leases for kiosks then, so we had to improvise an agreement. After a couple of months, they canceled my rent and let me draw for free. There two years. I did well, and I was earning more than I did as a laborer doing what I love. I find drawing from life much more pleasant and energizing then painting. Painting is work. Drawing is fun. I can draw all day and not be tired. I can only paint a few hours and I am spent.
I was very professional, had a very nice setup with very nice signage. Then I set up at a Public Market in Eugene. Five years. Then a mall. 23 years. Now at another mall - 2 years. I now have an in-line store with a full service frame shop and art gallery where I display my oils and watercolors.

I feel that drawing is my best work. In my community, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would pay for a high end oil portrait, even if they could afford it. Trying to be a high priced painter is a bit of a long shot for most artists. But you can make a living at drawing and still enjoy using your talents.

I do not do caricatures. I can charge more for portraits.

It does work better if you are in a tourist city. However, in cities where there are tourists, you will find that your costs are much higher, and your style of living cramped by traffic and costs. So, I am contented to draw and paint here in Eugene-Springfield area of Oregon.