Comments on: The Social Part of Being an Artist < Deep Thought Thursday

By: David

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:53:26 +0000

I think if you’re going to be a rude arrogant artist, you have to hope an audience assembles that loves rudeness, arrogance, and your product. That seems like a long shot, so it makes more business and personal sense to be nice to your audience.

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By: Wijnand de Groot

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:05:03 +0000

Being social on the web!! Add value not only through what you make but also who you are. It’s all about content and being transparent, a feeling of meeting the artists on the web.
With this in head I formed my mission statement
Mission statement:
Art is for everyone. That’s why “BB Art” brings artist end consumer together. We offer not only an online gallery of affordable art. With us you meet your favorite artist.
Watch and listen to the story of new Dutch talent for a personal experience of your favorite image or picture.

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By: greg

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 03:22:27 +0000

interesting article thanks for the info

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By: ODwayne

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 05:32:17 +0000

As some who is trying to jump start his art career, I can definetly this convo.. I have seen it time and time again with artist who turn the chummy on certain collectors or local celebrities, I have always kinda been turned by that behavior and seen it as a bit kissassy. But then again my personality painfully leans towards introvert.But as I gather from Kathryn’s post, it pays to put yourself out there socially. Maybe the recession has killed the brooding artist stereo-type.

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By: Nancy Colella

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:23:45 +0000

A little enthusiasm goes a LONG way!

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By: Tina Mammoser

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:48:21 +0000

Social is perhaps the wrong word? You can be personable, or approachable. In my open studios I find I can secure a sale better than a gallery can because I can connect with the buyer on some level – we clearly share a love of both art and the sea or the conversation wouldn’t have begun. People like a sense of where the art has come from and the person behind it. A bit of accessibility as an artist doesn’t necessarily mean social. I’m pretty hermit-like, so my friends all know that after something like an open studio I’m at breaking point with exposure to people (not even talking to them necessarily) and need a few days alone in a room to myself. My hermitness doesn’t mean I’m not friendly or, I hope, likeable in the rarer moments when I do go out into the world with my art.

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By: Kathryn

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:23:07 +0000

I once watched one of those news shows like Dateline where a con artist was staged to blatantly rob houses in particular neighborhood in plain daylight. He used a huge ladder to the second floor window and an unmarked van. He even told the neighbors that he was robbing the house. He asked them odd questions about the people who lived in the house while being as sweet as pie to everyone. Yep out of all the many hundreds of people in different neighborhoods who walked by and talked to the man only one called the cops. He was so nice, but everyone overlooked the furniture being moved out of the house, and blatant signs a robbery was taking place. The con turned police trainer stated that his number one tool is being nice.
Unfortunately all signs point to people thinking someone is good and nice if they are nice to them. Who really knows if the nice artist has dead bodies being stored under the floorboards of his house and the seemingly nasty person is really generous and well-intentioned. Our “intuition” can’t possibly be wrong. “Yes officer, he was such a good neighbor, I can’t believe he would do that.”
Unfortunately, buyers will care about your personality unless your dead and famous because then the investment possibilities will be more important than you smiling and making them feel good about themselves. Lots of supposedly nasty dead famous artists throughout history.
So either you enjoyed my odd post or were shocked by it. My point is not to sugar coat your personality, but realize if your not social, you’ll need to recognize and deal with this by possibly working a little harder to compensate or maybe find the right market. Most people who buy art are artists themselves and many will buy the work because they like it while never meeting who created it. If your not a very good artist and are not very nice, then hmm — maybe someone from your family?

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By: Dora Ficher

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:32:46 +0000

I believe that niceness will always get you much further than arrogance or rudeness. You want to develop a relationship with folks who admire or want to talk about your art. I really think that one of the fun things for me about being an artist is sharing and talking about my work with others. It has happened to me as well that I have met the artist of some works which I liked a lot, and ended up being totally turned off by their attitude and rudeness.

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By: Philip Koch

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:19:41 +0000

Don’t be a jerk. Carry yourself with dignity and give the same to others you come in contact with. It goes a long way in life and at art receptions.

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By: Patty

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:56:45 +0000

In reply to Amantha Tsaros.

Love your response Amantha!

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