Artists and Writers Learn More When They Help Others to Learn

Create a Group to Bounce Ideas Around

I am somewhat of an instigator of things and always thinking of ideas to talk to other artists about.

I have been told I ask the hard questions and also start some deep thinking discussions.

Here is an idea that you might try in your area

Find a way for a group of artists to come together to share ideas. If you are a writer, do the same thing.

What is it you want to learn? Do you have a goal and a timeline? Why do you want to involve others in the journey you are taking?

There are many groups that get together as book clubs. There are garden clubs for the same purpose. The members are learning from each other because each of them comes at it from their own perspective.

Remember to work at it consistently and always with the idea of positive thoughts. Momentum comes when the ideas flow, and ideas are exchanged, igniting more ideas!

Have a person to facilitate each meeting

Your meetings may have an agenda each time. It may be that some meetings are structured and some might be very relaxed.

You may talk about techniques, although there are many other things an artist has to do that could be discussed. Being an artist is not just doing the work and selling it. There is so much more to being an artist, right?

If you are working for yourself, you know the big item is about marketing!

You can apply this logic to writing. I think it is a good idea! I am thinking of creating a small local group for writing. Since I did one for my artwork a few years ago, why not for writing?

I’ve done this once before for my art

There were comments we needed a meeting of artists for the purpose of discussing only the business side of our careers. Well, you guessed it. I finally planned one, invited artists, and held the first meeting several years ago.

It was a wonderful group of local artists from the Atlanta area and surrounding towns. Over the course of a few years, we met once a quarter! I hosted the first meeting at my home. We had 13 artists at this meeting.

We planned to meet at different artist’s homes each time. By doing this, a person who has to drive a distance will hopefully be different each time.

I called it a roundtable discussion but joked that I really did not have a “round” table. We did have somewhat of a circle! We all sat around the room in various chairs and sofas.

We introduced ourselves, told the medium and what we wanted or needed to know. It should be the issue you need the most information about. Of course, since I put it together, I knew all the artists except one that came with a friend.

I put together some questions and e-mailed a Word document to all those on my e-mail list that might attend the meeting. I created several blank lines after each numbered question so notes could be made.

Those questions were compiled from years of reading various blogs, articles, and talking to other artists. They are good resources for ideas, questions, and make you think about things to help your goals.

Getting to know the artists next door

It is a wonderful way to meet artists you don’t know personally. You might know artists that would be interested in this type of group. Maybe you moved to a new area and don’t know any artists there. This is a fantastic way to meet them.

Visit a gallery or two and write down names, and maybe mention to the gallery owner what you want to do. Tell them you want to meet artists in the area for the purpose of sharing ideas!

Being an artist is sometimes such a solitary undertaking, and finding like-minded friends can be just the break you need from working in your studio alone.

Your sharing of thoughts and issues is productive as it helps you, and it helps your fellow travelers realize you all are not feeling things that are unusual.

One thing you will quickly find out is there are others in your field who totally understand the emotional side of what you do, as well as the marketing and technical sides of creating art.

I’m thinking the same idea can work for me and writing.

The plan for the round table group!

Topics of conversation were sales, newsletters, blogs, websites, prints, studies, workshops, classes, galleries, organization (inventory, computer programs, photos). Do you have others you would want to add to this list?

Here is a list of the questions I hoped would be topics for discussion:

1. How many of you do active marketing of your work? What is your favorite method?
2. What online venue are you showing your work on? How many venues?
3. Do you have a brochure and business cards? Are they professionally done, or do it yourself?
4. Do you have an artist statement, updated bio, etc.?
5. Do you sell at an online venue? What is your rate of sales?
6. Do you have a newsletter? How many times, or at what intervals, do you send out your newsletter? How do you accumulate addresses (e-mail or physical)? Are these addresses by an “opt-in” method on the computer?
7. What are you doing to find new clients/customers?
8. Do you have a set of questions you ask potential customers? These can be instrumental in getting to know your clients or possible potential “target” client.
9. Do you track the sales: who is the client, what income level, how did they find you, did they sign up for newsletters or notices?
10. Do you target a certain audience? If so, how did you come up with this audience? Who would buy your art… most likely?
11. Do you send thank-you notes/cards after a sale? Or do you have some other follow-up procedures?
12. Have you ever been involved in a studio tour?
13. What is the most innovative way you ever sold a painting?
14. How much have your sales dropped with this economy?
15. Are you creating a body of work while sales are slow?
16. Do you have a sales tax ID number? Or a business license? Or what is your reason not to have one?
17. Do you make goals for yourself each year? If so, what do you think is the most important?
18. Are you entering shows and competitions?
19. Are you targeting any galleries for yourself? Or do you think you would rather be your own advocate somehow?
20. Do you belong to art organizations? Which ones, if you do? Do you get involved? Do you receive benefits (what?) from them?
21. Are you willing to share your information on sales techniques? Do you offer a payment plan? Do you offer any discounts? If so, why and when?
22. How do you support other artists? Do you think this helps you in your own journey?

Feel free to use these for yourself, or your group. You may think of others we did not! This group was several years ago. I know I have learned more in the years since and there would be other topics I would be interested in exploring!

Maybe I need to start a new group!!! I might want to create a new list that would have things I know now that would be important.

We were successful

A major positive outcome was in getting artists to know they were not alone in the issues we have. Several planned to write goals or write accomplishments. Many found how to think of a better way to be organized.

They knew they had people they could call!

I knew they would think about it all and bring those questions to the next meeting. At our next meeting, we planned to zero in on just one or two topics to discuss in depth. Our group met for maybe a couple of years before our lives and family time changed, or some artists moved out of our area. There was a wonderful bond between the members of the group. It was never meant to be an exclusive group, but a group of like-minded artists.

If you start one, I would suggest that it be a fluid membership. People should be welcome to come and go as their lives demand. Life is better when we have friends that share it with us. Being an artist is wonderful and having artist friends, fellow travelers, is the best!

I need to explore and find friends for a writing group in my locale.

And I think I will start up the artist “round table marketing” group again as well. It can’t hurt!