5 Tips for Fine Art Students That Have Heard the Term, ‘Starving Artist’
So you’ve enrolled into a Fine Art degree program and you’re heard of the term ‘Starving Artist’ but you are driven to be a Fine Artist anyway. And you still just feel like it’s a ‘calling’. Why does this term, Starving Artist exist? Aside from its philosophical meaning, perhaps its the fact that the educational cost for an artist to obtain a Fine Art degree is expensive - costing upwards toward $80,000 in attending a four year BFA degree and then the cost again for completing a 2-3 year MFA degree, which is the educational level generally recognized in the art world for museum quality work. Living expenses and art supplies also need to be taken into account for an art student and then as a working artist after graduation. A graduating Fine Art student is trained to be an academic and learns to create ‘high art’ that poses intellectual thought for viewers. It’s an elusive career position and schooling for this generally won’t educate you for a particular paying job or profession. Therefore making a viable living as a fine artist is a gamble and even in the luckiest of times it may take years to get established after school; so whilst you’re in art school here are 5 tips to consider for getting an early head start:
- Start networking and meeting not only many other art students but students outside of your department that maybe studying Art history or Curatorial Practice. If this is not offered at your school then find other colleges and universities and attend their social functions by researching the school’s website. It is through meeting people that may hold a connection in the future toward showing your artwork in events to promote your work professionally.
- Begin in your first undergraduate year to have group shows outside of your school’s institution. It doesn’t have to be first rate, and you will probably be using pop up stands instead of actually mounting your work on the walls, but you will gain valuable knowledge on how to do shows and work with others. Also this allows you to start a CV of exhibitions.
- Build a professional website showcasing your artwork. This is the new ‘business card’ to refer people to your work quickly.
- Write an artist statement with a few paragraphs. As your work evolves so must your artist statement. Critical writing is a way to help articulate your contextual ideas and communicate them to others. If you find critical writing difficult, ask a friend to assist you. With a Fine Art degree critical writing is an essential part of the course and certain art students excel in this, find out who they are and perhaps they can write something for you.
- Visit art galleries and private views. Research and understand about the owners, directors and the individual curators. Determine how a gallery environment may support your work. Are there similarities to your artwork in a visual and contextual sense to the work being exhibited? What is the history of a curator, are they contracted by galleries? How is the gallery organized? When you get the chance to meet an art curator, start by simply becoming an acquaintance; visit their private views of exhibits. Invite them to your degree show or your art studio when your artwork warrants, remember an art curator work is his or her business and their time is valuable. Most curators will work with artists if not only they like your work but if there’s a mutual dialogue, respect or a rapport.