I work with many creative folks and some of them struggle to find the connection between art and making a living. But it CAN be done! Check out these resources for practical support and inspiration.
I welcome your ideas for adding to this list, either via the comments box below or via email.
On this page, I am featuring three local artists who helped me create this list. Click on the image for more about the artist.
Local Resources and Groups for Western Massachusetts
- Assets for Artists (in Massachusetts) – helping artist-entrepreneurs; has extensive listings of resources
- Artisans of Western Mass
- C3 – A Creative Community Collective
- Dana Wilde, Artist & Creative Catalyst – Dana has her finger on the pulse of the local artist community, opportunities, and beyond. She helped me create this list.
- Easthampton City Arts
- Fostering Art & Culture in Franklin County
- Northampton Arts Council
- Paint & Pixel Festival – for Western New England’s comic artists and book illustrators
- Valley Art Share
- Western Mass Illustrators Guild
More Support for Artists
- Art Biz Coach/ Alyson Stanfield – support groups, workshops, coaching, resources
- ArtHome – financial resources for artists
- Awakening Artistry/ Tama Kieves – inspiring books, blog, weekend workshops, and career coaching
- Caroll Michels – career coach, artist advocate, and author
- Graphic Artists Guild
- Kickstarter – place to solicit funding for creative projects
- Planet Sark
- The Right-Brain Business Plan
- TEDTalk video: Elizabeth Gilbert: A new way to think about creativity
- Unconventional Guide to Art & Money – downloadable “workshop” for purchase
Books
- I’d Rather Be in the Studio: The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion by Alyson Stanfield
- How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist by Caroll Michels
- This Time I Dance by Tama Kieves
- Making Ideas Happen, by Scott Belsky
- The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron – practically the Bible for nurturing the artist in you
- Do the Work, by Steven Pressfield – concrete steps to conquer the Resistance
- Artist’s and Graphic Designer’s Market
- Graphic Artist’s Guild Handbook: Pricing and Ethical Guidelines
Podcasts/Audio Shows
- The Doug Foresta Show – fostering creativity in all forms
- Creative Living with Jamie – great interviews with artists and other creative folks and how they’re making it work
Inspiring Blogs for Making It Happen
Online Portfolios
- How to Create an Online Photography Portfolio (with potential to sell directly online)
- Portfolio services: Flickr, SmugMug, Parade, Carbonmade, Behance ProSite
- Behance – a popular network for creative professionals to post a portfolio and get found
