Cheri Downey, a ceramic artist originally from Northern California, is currently live in Huntsville, Alabama. Cheri began working with ceramics in 2014 in high school classes. Cheri has had home studios since after college and has owned a commercial studio for the last year in Tennessee. Cheri focuses on dinnerware sets, mugs, and luminaries.
It all starts with really simple steps and it think it starts with buying your wheel used. (laughter) Just starting really small and getting connected with a local studio, setting up a little home studio, and figuring it out as you go. I don’t know how else to explain it.
How significant is belief? How significant is it to believe you can do it?
I guess it’s less so belief but more so passion for me. So figuring out how passionate you are about something leads to that belief. I feel like all this started with a little bit of imposter syndrome. Am I really an artist? Did I really just make this mug? But I don’t know, it just takes practice and it just takes time and it takes commitment and I think what drives that is passion.
What kind of safety nets did you have in place in case it all fell through?
That’s a good question. I honestly don’t know if I had a safety net. I mean, my husband works full-time. He’s an engineer. He made enough, let’s say, to pay the bills. What I made was anything outside of that. My safety net would probably have been to go back into the mental health field if this wouldn’t have worked out.
Is it important to be ready to pivot? To test and pivot?
I think one hundred percent, yes. Because the tides are going to change at any moment in my opinion. For all careers but especially, I think, for pottery. You kind of have to take the next opportunity as it comes.
I’m curious. What is your dream developing into next? Another way to say this is tell me what it’s going to be in five years?
This is something I am still thinking on doing as well. Well, this might not be a super short answer, Paul. (laughter) I will try.
Give us the nutshell.
Have you ever heard of Mid-South Ceramics in Nashville?
It sounds familiar.
It’s a super large pottery community. Multiple potters rent out spaces. It’s just awesome. It’s incredible. Well the eventual goal, maybe not five years, maybe more, would be pretty much to have a miniature Mid-South in maybe Huntsville or where ever we end up in the next five years. And what’s cool about that is Jordan also has that dream so there maybe a partnership there in the future. That’s all I will say about that.
The art industry has significantly evolved in recent years, particularly with the growth of remote employment options. Artists are free to expand beyond physical venues or traditional studio facilities. Instead, many people are using remote work to launch successful art careers. Whether you work as an illustrator, traditional or digital artist, you may now make a full-time remote living off of your creativity. Here is how.
Finding Remote Artist Jobs
First, you need to know what you’re good at and what you need to learn or accomplish to reach your artistic goals. Don’t take a random job that sucks your soul out. Your future job must help you build your skills and resume. So search for jobs that excite you! You want to be a great contributor to their business with your expertise and passion. Make a list of jobs you’d enjoy doing, tailor your resume to each specific job offer, and start your search. Fortunately, there are many sites where artists can post their resumes and apply for jobs.
Best Platforms for Remote Artist Jobs
There are websites made especially for artists who want to work remotely. These networks put you in touch with potential clients and present you with projects that fit your expertise. For instance, many remote artist jobs advertisements are available on Jooble.com, including opportunities for graphic designers, digital illustrators, and more. Furthermore, websites like Freelancer, Fiverr, and Upwork are great for finding freelance jobs. You want to build your skills and interests and these “small” jobs could grow into a nice creative career rather quickly.
Photo by Rachael Gorjestani on Unsplash
Creating an Impressive Online Portfolio
A beautiful but functional online portfolio is crucial for attracting prospective customers and employers. Your online portfolio should demonstrate your proficiency in working in a digital setting besides the traditional one.
Key Elements of an Effective Online Portfolio:
People judge us quickly, therefore, it’s essential to make a great impression instantly. Consider using websites such as Behance, Dribble, or your personal website with a portfolio to display your best and coherent work. Ensure it’s visually beautiful, simple to use, and thoroughly explains your job procedure. If you have different volumes of work, categorize them for easy access and presentation. Look at other sites and artists for possible ideas. Understand what makes their portfolio look great to inspire yourself to put your best foot forward with your artwork.
Tips for Your Portfolio:
Curate your best work to reflect your unique style.
Include a short bio and contact information so potential clients can reach you easily.
Update your portfolio regularly with new projects to keep it fresh and relevant.
Please be quick answering your email and phone! No one is going to deal with you, if it takes you a week to reply to a simple email request. Check your spam folder often as many emails go in there and you might miss out on opportunities because of that.
Networking in a Virtual World
It’s crucial to socialize and network with others in your field! Even if you plan working remotely, online communities help you build social standing and friendships. Participate in online forums, social media groups, and virtual exhibitions besides going to in-town gallery openings or art fairs. People work with people and this skill is a must to master in today’s busy world.
Best Platforms for Virtual Networking & how to grow your network
Start with sites like the Reddit art community, Instagram, LinkedIn, DeviantArt and other platforms. On these platforms, you may interact with other artists, present your work, and make connections with possible customers. Instagram benefits visual artists, LinkedIn facilitates business relationships, and Reddit offers insightful user comments. Don’t be annoying, rather make thoughtful comments or messages that can build a future relationship with a key figure of your choice. So engage in dialogue, comment on other people’s work, and offer your perspectives. You may want to publish your art portfolio in free magazines to build authority. You can also take part in online competitions and challenges but refrain from the paid ones as it could be a money-sucking pit. If you just start out, use free calls for art on Submittable platform. Some of them even pay a little bit of money for covers, writing, etc. These are some of art marketing methods for gaining recognition and connecting with other artists or possible customers. Overall, be proactive in your creative career and don’t wait to be discovered. This is one of major mistakes artists make.
Mastering Time Management as a Remote Artist
Finding the right balance between creativity and time management is one of the main issues artists face. Working from home or studio can make you inefficient and sidetracked. Remote artists must create their own methods for maintaining productivity and fostering creative energy. Know yourself and stick to a work schedule you can manage and enjoy. It’s more about building efficiency as opposed to working long hours.
Practical Time Management Tips
Set clear work hours: Create a workday-like plan weekly. Set start and end times to signify “work mode.” to yourself and others. This prevents work from leaking into personal time and promotes work-life balance.
Prioritize tasks: Start your day with the most urgent deadlines or projects. Start with the most complex or urgent tasks. After these high-priority duties, you can focus on personal creativity or smaller jobs. Trello and Asana can organize your workflow and prevent mistakes.
Take regular breaks: Working incessantly might deplete your creativity. Take breaks by briefly walking, working out, or leaving your desk to rejuvenate your mind.
Create a dedicated workspace: A workspace helps your brain associate it with productivity. Reduce distractions. Create a beautiful work space you want to live in. Have a window, house plants and your favorite objects to inspire you daily.
Use time-blocking techniques: Time-blocking allocates time to tasks. For example, you might dedicate mornings to client work and afternoons to personal projects or marketing. Leave evenings for painting. This method reduces multitasking by keeping you focused on one job.
Incorporate creative downtime: Read, explore outdoors, do yoga or try new painting techniques for creativity boost.
Set boundaries with clients and personal commitments: Remote artists often blur personal and business time. Set availability hours with yourself and clients. Never miss your deadlines and response times.
Monetizing Your Art
Artists working from home have various earning options besides working for clients. You can sell prints, license your art, or open a Patreon page to finance your initiatives. It takes time to see the results with these ideas because you’ve got to build a community around your vision and art first.
Exploring Different Revenue Streams
Beyond client work, artists can make money in other ways. Popular choices include:
Selling digital art: Etsy and Gumroad let you sell digital copies of your art, letting people buy and utilize it immediately. These could be pdf files or high-quality digital prints that people can print off of their printer. There is no shipping cost involved that eats into your profits. Look at top best-sellers on these platforms for inspiration and see what you can offer with your creative skill set.
Offering online classes: Teach others via pre-recorded videos or live workshops. Use Skillshare or Udemy to expand your audience without paying a dime for files storage.
Creating a passive income stream: You may make money by licensing your artwork for use on goods like phone covers, t-shirts, or prints through websites like Redbubble. Once again, it’s smart to look at best-selling artists to pick up on their strategies, etc. Building a fan base is crucial to sell merchandise.
Conclusion
A successful remote art job demands imagination, self-control, and astute financial acumen. Those who are proactive and are prepared to adapt have many opportunities. Because of the digital world, artists can now expand their professions, connect with people worldwide, and monetize their work in new ways.
The contemporary art world is a dynamic space where innovation, creativity, and competition meet. With the rise of digital platforms, accessibility, competition, and global art fairs, today’s artists face an increasingly complex landscape. Navigating this world can be challenging if the artist is not social or outgoing or lacks important connections in the art world. Art agents have emerged as allies for these artists, providing services that let painters succeed faster in the highly competitive art market.
Javier Bellomo, Coria face, Art Miami 2017
What is an art agent’s role in contemporary art?
An art agent is a professional who represents artists in the art world, handling key aspects of their career, such as promotion, sales, negotiations, and career strategy. While art agents share some similarities with managers, they typically focus more on the artist’s presence and success in the contemporary art market. Unlike galleries, which may also represent artists but focus on sales and exhibitions within their spaces, art agents work across multiple platforms and manage various stakeholders, from collectors and curators to exhibition spaces and online marketplaces.
Art agent benefits for painters include bridging the gap between the artist and the external art world. They are adept at understanding the unique needs of individual artists and aligning these with opportunities in the broader art scene. Depending on the specific goals of the artist, the art agent can help artists with negotiation skills for better deals, networking opportunities for artists, exhibition opportunities for painters, career advice, and so on. With their guidance, artists can focus on their studio work while art agents build the business side of things, being deeply embedded in the art community.
Art agent services for contemporary artists
One of the most significant ways art agents empower contemporary painters is through marketing, networking, and promotion. In an era where visibility is crucial to success, a good art agent creates exposure for the artist in upscale venues and private circles. They often direct marketing strategies and campaigns for artists, ensuring that the right people see the artist’s work— top critics, curators, and collectors. Through art agents, painters can access media outlets, get featured in art publications, and even be invited to prestigious art fairs or gallery openings.
Art agents also create and manage the artist’s social media presence, crafting the story around the artist’s brand. By positioning the artist in the right circles and enhancing their public image, agents ensure that painters are seen and recognized as significant contributors to contemporary art. Art agent networking opportunities for artists are crucial for the connection to the right audience because that’s how new artist’s work is noticed and valued.
Peter Anton, Art Miami 2017
Art agent’s role in negotiation and representation
Art agents are experts at negotiation, particularly in dealings with galleries, collectors, and other stakeholders in the art world. Their ability to handle sales and commissions on behalf of artists allows painters to focus on their creativity. Art agent financial management for artists includes price negotiations and fair compensation for their work. They also help determine commission splits or arrange exhibition contracts.
Art agent collector connections for artists are skilled negotiations with large-scale gallery exhibitions or top art collectors. Art agents for painters manage these relationships, protecting the artist’s interests and ensuring that they’re not undervalued. In addition to securing sales, art agents provide financial management for artists that include brokering deals for long-term representation, licensing opportunities, or museum acquisitions, thus ensuring the artist’s career remains financially viable.
Art agent’s role in career management
Art agents make a substantial impact in effective career management and artist’s long-term success. Art agents work closely with contemporary painters to develop a strategic vision for their career, advising on the type of work to create, where to exhibit, and what artistic directions to pursue. Art agents maintain the artist’s reputation across multiple platforms, helping them avoid common pitfalls that can derail an art career.
Art agent career advice for painters includes long-term planning, helping artists build a lasting legacy. Whether through curating exhibitions that span several years or ensuring that the artist’s work remains relevant in shifting art trends, agents are often integral in guiding the artist toward sustainable growth. Their skills in navigating the art market help artists make decisions for critical and financial success.
Art agent benefits for painters in building and expanding networks
Networking is a key factor in an artist’s career, and well-connected art agents can excel at facilitating valuable connections. Through their established relationships with curators, art critics, collectors, and galleries, agents can open doors to opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach for contemporary painters. Art agents are the art world’s gatekeepers, connecting artists to influential figures who can help propel their careers.
Additionally, agents leverage their connections to ensure their clients are introduced to new opportunities for collaboration or exhibition. Whether it’s an invitation to a prestigious international art fair, a private showing at a gallery, or a chance to collaborate with other artists or brands, art agents provide their clients with a network of powerful contacts. By expanding these networks, art agents not only help artists gain recognition but also ensure the right eyes see their work.
Art agent financial and legal advice for artists
Artists often fall behind on pricing and negotiations. There’s not much interest or knowledge about financial management for artists. Art agents provide crucial support in pricing artwork appropriately, ensuring that the artist’s work is valued correctly based on market demand, the artist’s reputation, and the uniqueness of their creations.
In addition to pricing, art agent gives legal advice to artists, including contracts, intellectual property rights, and copyright issues. They ensure that the artist’s interests are protected, helping them navigate the complexities of licensing and sales agreements. Art agents often negotiate exhibition terms, give proper attribution of the artist’s work, and provide legal protection for artists.
Art agent’s fee for artists
More established and successful agents may charge higher fees than emerging art agents. As an artist, you must be aware of the provided networking and marketing opportunities, time frames and results that would determine your willingness to pay for this service or not. The scope of services the art agent offers can also influence the fee structure.
Common Fee Structures:
Hybrid model: This combines elements of both commission-based and retainer fee models. The agent may charge a retainer fee for ongoing services and a commission on any sales made.
Commission-based: This is the most common fee structure, where the agent receives a percentage of the sale price of the artwork. The percentage can range from 10% to 50%, with an average of around 25%.
Retainer fee: This is a fixed monthly or annual fee that the artist pays to the agent for their services, regardless of whether any sales are made.
Artists must be aware of many other additional costs that could include shipping, handling, and insurance costs that require negotiations with art agents before purchasing their services.
Art agent future trends in the art market
As the art world continues to evolve, so too does the role of the art agent. The rise of digital platforms and social media has significantly shifted the way art is marketed and sold, and art agents are adapting to this new environment by incorporating online platforms into their strategies. Social media, virtual exhibitions, and online galleries offer new opportunities for contemporary painters to showcase their work, and art agents are at the forefront of these developments.
Additionally, the global nature of the art market means that art agents are increasingly acting as global representatives, helping artists expand their reach beyond their local markets to international audiences. This evolution opens up exciting possibilities for the future, where art agents could have even more influence in shaping the global art scene.
Famous art agents and their artists in art history:
In the past, art agents combined their interests and served as art collectors, art gallerists, and even socialites in elite art circles. These are a few famous art agents in art history.
Chicago art institute, Georgia O’Keeffe, the white skull
Paul Durand-Ruel: Represented major Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists, including Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, and Cézanne.
Ambroise Vollard: Represented Picasso, Matisse, Cézanne, and other major artists of the early 20th century.
Alfred Stieglitz: Promoted American modernism and represented artists like his wife-Georgia O’Keeffe, Marsden Hartley, and Arthur Dove.
Peggy Guggenheim: Supported and collected Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist art, representing artists like Jackson Pollock and Marcel Duchamp.
Leo Castelli: Represented major Pop Art and Minimalist artists, including Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and Robert Rauschenberg.
Mary Boone: Represented major contemporary artists like Cindy Sherman, Eric Fischl, and Ross Bleckner.
By handling marketing, negotiation, career management, networking, and financial support, art agents provide artists with the tools they need to succeed in a highly competitive and complex art world. As the art market evolves, so too does the importance of art agents for painters, who remain essential to navigating this evolving art landscape and achieving long-term success. Through their expertise and connections, art agents empower artists to focus on what they do best—creating impactful, inspiring works of art.
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