Kevin Hayler: Professional Wildlife artist, author, and traveler.
Being a working artist is nothing like what people imagine. It’s far from romantic, it’s a constant struggle between the need to express yourself with the cold realities of having to make a living. In this post, I will reveal the truth about what it’s like to be an artist.
Being an artist brings joy, despair, success, and failure. Artists are adored, dismissed, respected, and ridiculed; they are praised, criticized, envied, and ignored. Life as an artist is an emotional rollercoaster.
I’ve been a full-time artist for over 20 years and these are my thoughts and experiences of being in the art business for so long. Let’s get started.
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The Myths of Being an Artist
We all start with a dream, right? We have a fantasy image of ourselves giving up the day job, painting in a romantic location somewhere, and selling our art to an adoring public.
If only life was like the movies.
Like all dreams, they are good until you start to live them. Reality kicks in pretty soon. Let’s go over some of the popular myths about being a full time artist.
The Freedom Myth
Let me break this to you gently, freedom – what freedom? It’s an illusion!
You are no freer being an artist than you are going on holiday. You know it will all end in 2 weeks’ time, and you’ll be back to the grind. Making art is not dissimilar.
If you’re intent on making this lifestyle sustainable you’ll have to face up to the cold reality of finding clients willing to part with their hard-earned cash for your artwork. All your creative passion means little if no one buys your art.
Read this Post: 22 Myths About Artists: Misconceptions Debunked
Of course, you can enjoy the creative process as a hobbyist and give your art away to friends and family who love what you do. That’s easy, but tell me honestly, would they have ever paid for it?
Freedom comes with money. It’s the bottom line. If you’re lucky enough to have sufficient funds to explore your creativity without worry, you hardly need my advice, but for the rest of us, earning enough cash is make or break. It’s the only option.
An independent artist is self-employed. If you want to glamourize the job description you can call yourself a “freelance” artist or illustrator. However you model yourself, you’ll be obliged to balance the expectations of your customers with your creative vision.
That’s right, you’ll have to compromise. Most artists choke at the very idea that they should violate their creative freedom, but hang on, it’s not such a dirty word. It’s just life. The art world is not a special case.
I’ll tell you a little secret, pleasing others is more fulfilling than just pleasing yourself.
Remember that when you’re commissioned to draw yet another recently deceased pet. Think of the joy you’ll bring to your client.
Check these out:
- How to Draw Pet Portraits for Money and Start a Business
- How to Find Art Commissions: A Selling Guide
- How to Price Art Commissions: Your Art Pricing Guide
Freedom from the 9 – 5 is also a myth. I left a factory line to start my art career and had to work longer hours for less money.
I also traveled around the world making art to fund my travels. I was my own boss. That’s freedom, right? Well sort of, yes and no.
I lived hand to mouth when I first began traveling and couldn’t escape the need to make money and that limited what I could do. Subsequently, when I sold my art at home, I made sufficient money to finance my travels abroad.
Read this if you want to copy what I did: Traveling Artist: How to Sell Your Art and Travel the World
That segues nicely to the next myth.
The Starving Artist Myth
Art can be very profitable. It’s a complete myth that fine artists are all in poverty. I was an artist for over 20 years because I made money, and you know what? I didn’t do any commissions, didn’t work in winter, and didn’t care if I sold my originals. That’s right it can be done.
Successful artists have thrown away the stereotypes that hold them back, ignored the advice from well-meaning people who don’t know what they’re talking about, and just got on with it.
Art pays when you treat it like a business, and business is bloody HARD WORK!
Self-employment is insecure, it’s 24/7, and unstable. That’s the reality of any business. There is no escaping that truth. Nothing is guaranteed, you make your own luck, and you adapt to circumstances.
I think you’ll enjoy this book, “Real Artists Don’t Starve” by Jeff Goins
The only thing that separates an artist from other professions, is production. Anyone can buy and sell a product, or offer a service, but creating works of art and selling them is a lot harder. There’s hardly enough time in the day to do everything.
I expanded on this here: 22 Myths About Artists: Misconceptions Debunked
First and foremost, a creative must find the time and space to actually create their own art. Then there’s marketing and social media, that’s almost a full-time job in itself. Then there are prints to be made, sold, and posted. The days are long.
The key to making art pay is to scale the business with reproductions. Make one original and sell hundreds of prints. That’s how I made money.
Plus I was prepared to compromise. I drew animals that people wanted to buy. I didn’t wait for inspiration or the right mood. I treated it as a job, drew iconic animals, and I turned up for work regardless of how I felt.
The Tortured Genius Myth
I’m halfway there, I’m tortured at least!
No seriously, listen up, forget Van Gogh, he was a failure. There’s no romance in mental ill health. The tortured artist myth is a harmful trope, and so ingrained in popular culture that it completely distorts the truth. No one needs to suffer for their art, that’s bunkum.
And just as Vincent was disregarded in his lifetime, your hidden genius doesn’t mean anything to people either. Sorry, but they couldn’t care less about you or your art. No one will beat a path to your door. Life isn’t like that.
Speaking for myself, I’ve never produced my best work when I’ve been depressed. Far from it, depression destroys your creativity. If you can’t crawl out of your bed in the morning, how can you produce great art?
There’s everything to be said for a well-balanced outlook. Being miserable is not a prerequisite for making meaningful art. Having an active, stimulating life is far more productive, more fulfilling, and more financially rewarding.
The image of the tortured artist working feverishly into the wee hours, sacrificing everything for his art, and trading his masterpiece for a meal in a local cafe is pure fantasy, yet it endures.
No wonder family and friends are convinced that making art for a living isn’t a real job. This stuff sticks like mud.
What Makes A Successful Artist?
Success is subjective, it means different things to different people. I have my definition and goes like this:
Success is making enough money from your art to meet your needs.
That means more than living hand-to-mouth, it means covering expenses, with a small profit to save for a rainy day.
I set out originally to travel the world and pay my way by selling my art. I achieved that goal, and having succeeded, the goalposts moved. My next aim was to earn enough money at home to finance winter trips abroad. I succeeded in that too.
I set out to do certain things and that was enough for me. I never had any interest in “making it” in a conventional way. I certainly did not care about recognition or fame. I had a goal in mind and focused on that alone.
This is how I made a living as an Artist for 20+ years
I wanted enough cash to finance my lifestyle. I could’ve earned far more money, but at a cost I wasn’t prepared to pay.
To earn more money I had to stay where I was and forget about travel. In other words, I had to give up the very reason why I worked so hard in the first place. We all talk about work/life balance and this is what it means to me.
Material goods have never really attracted me so much. I’ve been at my happiest when I’ve had fewer material things to worry about. Ironically I would be the last person to buy my artwork, where would I put it? I live on a boat.
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm”
Winston Churchill
The trick to staying satisfied is setting the bar low and having goals within your reach. Why aim to be a star? that’s delusional and destined to fail.
Try finding a niche in your local area or community instead, and if that takes off you have room to grow – if you wish.
I have also found success in combining my 3 main interests in life to make a living, namely wildlife, art, and travel.
My wildlife art finances my winter travels looking for more wildlife. I return to sell my art in the summer. I draw my new wildlife art to attract new customers and that finances my travels the following winter, and on and on it goes.
Read this as a taster: How Do Wildlife Artists Make a Living? Copy This and Get Started
I rely on tourists who buy on impulse and I’ve built a small community of collectors and fans over the years. It’s enough to keep the cycle going.
Most artists will be trying to sell their art online. That’s the reality so let Kelsey give you some tips
Being an Amateur vs Professional Artist: What’s Better?
Turning your art hobby into a business changes everything. It’s the difference between writing a diary and writing a novel. The former is personal and the latter is public. They serve different purposes and follow different paths.
Amateur art is about expressing yourself through your art and exploring your creative side as a form of self-discovery. Its primary purpose is pleasing yourself. The results don’t need to satisfy the rest of the world. Who cares what others think?
If the world likes what you’ve done it’s a bonus, not a requirement.
Professional artists have to think about their audience and cater to their needs and expectations. The scope for artistic expression is far more limited. On the whole, a customer is buying your art for their own personal reasons. It’s not about the artist, it’s about the buyer.
Ignoring the frame sizes, color schemes, media, titles, and subject matter, will vastly limit your sales.
These related posts will interest you:
- How to Name Your Artwork: Find a Title That Sells
- What Kind of Art Sells Best? The Popular Subjects Revealed
- What Size Art Sells Best? Prints and Frame Sizes
- 12 Wildlife Art Bestsellers (Use These Subjects to Make Money)
- How to Price Art Commissions: Your Art Pricing Guide
Professional artists must market themselves as a brand. The public wants to know what kind of artist you are, your theme, and your style. They want to pigeonhole you into a box. I’m a photorealist, if I switched to expressive abstract art I would lose my audience and my living.
There’s also an elephant in the room. Are you an artist if you don’t sell anything?
In my way of thinking the title “artist” is a loaded term. I feel more comfortable with the word illustrator as a label. I think it’s up to others to determine who’s an artist or not. Self-proclaiming the title has connotations. It’s a bit presumptuous.
That’s only my opinion, others will disagree, but I have met many people describing themselves as fellow artists, who have no body of work to back up their declaration, and what’s more, never sell anything. It’s hard for me to relate to them. We are worlds apart.
Can you be an artist if you have a different career and only produce occasional work?
You can be an aspiring or an emerging artist but using the title suggests a career to me. When I ask someone what they do, I’m interested in what they do for the bulk of their time for a living. I’m not asking what someone does in their spare time.
Perhaps I’m being harsh. I see many “fellow artists” who self-identify as an artist and it means a lot to them. It raises their self-esteem without having to prove it with sales.
I suspect hobby painters get a great deal more pleasure from their art than someone who sets out to sell their art professionally and gets nowhere.
In short, if you want to enjoy your art to the full, I’d say keep it as a hobby. If you want to make money, be prepared to compromise and please others, it’s an entirely different approach.
These are some of the disadvantages artists discover when turning professional:
- Pressure to Perform: When you create art for a living, there’s pressure to perform at a consistently high standard. Your art must meet the expectations of your customers and in the case of commission work, this often means imagining what your client is imagining!
- Loss of Creativity: The commercial world is all about being able to work to a brief. That involves tight deadlines, reworking, and constant compromises. There’s little room for taking risks and experimentation.
- Financial Pressure: Running an art business can be unpredictable and financially insecure. The need to earn a living from your art can create pressure to play safe and stick with what you know. It’s very tempting to rinse and repeat your art.
- Admin: Running a business requires paperwork, things such as bookkeeping, marketing, and managing stock. There are calls to return, emails to answer, and orders to fulfill. This takes time away from creating art.
- Burnout: Creating art as a business can be emotionally and mentally draining. There are times when your creative spark is so low and the tasks so overwhelming, that you will wonder why you bother.
There is a lot to be said for keeping your own art as a hobby. You run the very real risk of losing the joy that attracted you in the first place.
There are positive reasons to be a professional artist, such as the following:
- Pursuing a Passion: If your style, type of art, and subject matter, already fills a niche, you can transition your hobby or sideline into a business with little extra effort. I turned my love of wildlife into a dream job.
- Loyal Customers: Building a fan base is very enjoyable. You get to meet your admirers and experience the pleasure they take in your work. It’s a humbling experience and pleasing your audience is a joy.
- Being Your Own Boss: Life as a sole trader is straightforward. It’s just a matter of recording expenses and expenditures, two columns on a spreadsheet. The taxman has never bothered me. You can also take time off when you need to.
- Status: It shouldn’t matter but there’s real pleasure in revealing your profession. You cross the class divide and everyone takes an interest in you and your work. It didn’t happen when I worked in a factory that’s for sure.
- Selling Originals: All the angst falls away when you sell an original for the right price to the right person. It affirms that your hard work was worth it and it reignites your passion to make more.
The major advantage a hobbyist has over a professional is the freedom to choose what to paint, when to paint it, and in what style. There’s no pressure to deliver. there is, however, a dichotomy. Without direction, limitations, and constraints, an amateur typically gets nothing done.
In my experience, most artists procrastinate, the best time to paint is always tomorrow. The fear of failing is such an overwhelming issue, that the dream of making your next painting is far more comforting than actually making a start. Amateurs waste so much time getting into the zone.
It helps if you know where you’re going. Listen to Kelsey
How Do Artists Deal With Rejection, Critics, and Fear?
Sadly being rejected and learning to deal with the consequences is part of an artist’s life. If you put your art out there into the public realm and welcome the praise, you can hardly complain when someone expresses the opposite opinion.
Not everyone will like what you do, and unfortunately, some people will let you know. Very few are being deliberately unkind, they just don’t realize how personal your art is. To a stranger, your art is just another picture in a world full of great pictures.
Many people have a disconnect between what they see and the person who made it.
Some people react viscerally, it’s just a gut response. It’s as if images appear mysteriously out of the ether and they are either good or bad, It doesn’t occur to them that anyone made it, or indeed, the skill level involved.
When I first traded my art prints, I was bewildered at this attitude but as time went on, I learned to brush it off. It doesn’t mean anything. As long as there are enough people who respond positively, a few negative bunnies hardly matter.
Artists must develop thick skin to survive professionally. While negativity is demotivating, there are different ways to cope. These are some examples:
- Change your mindset: Instead of seeing rejection and criticism as a personal attack, view it as market research. Listen and learn. If you hear the same comments made over and over, you know something must be addressed.
- Accept Constructive Criticism: Not all criticism is negative. Seek out feedback from the people you trust and act on their opinions.
- Put Things into Perspective: It’s easy to get bogged down by rejection, but it’s important to remember that criticism has a disproportionate effect. A good day can be spoilt by one unpleasant remark. Remind yourself that most people admire what you do.
- Take Regular Breaks: Sometimes, it’s necessary to step back from your work and do something else. Artists are in their own world and it can be unhealthy. Take time off and come back to your work with fresh eyes, a clear mind, and renewed energy.
- Find the Humor: Seek out and engage with like-minded people who share your experiences and have a good bitch about things. A problem shared is a problem halved. Take note of some of your more preposterous encounters and laugh at life. Laughter is your safety valve.
Fear of failure is a powerful emotion and will stifle creativity if you let it. It’s the easiest thing in the world to put off difficult tasks. We all do it to a greater or lesser degree, but professional artists must confront their inner fears face-on.
Read my related posts. They will help you:
- Creative Burnout: What is it? and How to Recover
- Is Being an Artist Lonely? Read The Truth
- Shy Artists: How to Succeed When You Are Introverted
- How Do Artists Handle Rejection? 6 Ways to Cope With Critics
- How to Motivate Yourself to Draw and Make Art: 11 Kickass Ways
- How to Overcome Self-Doubt for Artists (Imposter Syndrome)
No artist can take their art to the next level if they refuse to take any risks. That’s easier said than done where money is involved, I appreciate that, we all have bills to pay. I’ve been there. Once you’ve found a reliable “earner” it’s very tempting to churn out potboilers to make ends meet.
That’s why, every now and then, it’s important to push the commercial world aside and just play around with ideas. If you don’t experiment you’ll stagnate. That’s not good for your art, and it’s not good for your self-esteem.
Besides when you make a breakthrough and take a leap forward the high can last for days.
What Does an Artist Do Everyday?
I can only speak for myself but as far as I’m concerned I treat my art practice as a job. It’s why I get up in the morning.
I maintain a routine and that means doing the same things every day, at roughly the same times. It’s the best way to get things done. It gives you structure and discipline.
I can focus on the job at hand only if I know what I have to do every day.
I’ve never met an artist, one who relies on art for their income, who works only when they’re in the mood, that’s nonsense. It’s an indulgence for the wealthy and for hobbyists. The rest of us get up, go to work, and just get on with it.
It’s no different for any self-employed professional. Art is a business and you must be self-disciplined and reliable.
In my case, my normal day as a working artist went something like this:
- I’d rise at 8 am for breakfast and load my van before 9 am,
- I unloaded everything at my market pitch and bought a coffee to start my day,
- I gave myself an hour to set up my stall and was ready to start by 10 am,
- I’d start drawing my unfinished project to attract the attention of passers-by
- I aimed to draw and trade until about 1 pm. An arbitrary cut-off time.
- I’d buy another coffee to break up my day and have a snack.
- I’d work until 4 pm for another coffee break
- I’d stay at my stall and continue to work until 5 pm or 6 pm depending on how busy it was,
- I’d get home between 6 and 7 pm and have something to eat.
- After dinner, I’d restock for the next day, do any repairs, and package any online sales,
- I’d finish by 8 – 9 pm. Ready for work the next day.
I took days off only when the weather dictated my day, even then, I often used the time to prepare new drawings, organize prints, or do the mundane chores in life.
Very little time for socializing. The key to my success was to make hay while the sun shines.
That’s roughly what I did for 6 months every year, for over 20 years running. I packed up shop at the end of October when the clocks changed, and used the money to travel abroad for the winter. I returned when the clocks changed back in April.
I used the winters to wind down and seek out wildlife subjects to draw the following season. All tax-deductible expenses.
I’m talking in the past tense only because the pandemic interrupted my lifestyle. I switched to writing about making a living selling art and now I sit down every day to write until about 2 pm every day. Same thing really.
I started this blog, read about it here: Should Artists Have a Blog? Art Blogging Pros and Cons
Is Being an Artist a Meaningful Job?
I’ve wrestled with this question for years. Let’s face it, art isn’t one of life’s essentials, it’s a luxury. If you have any money worries, buying art should be low on your list of priorities.
On the other hand, who wants to live in an artless world? The poorest people may not buy art but they certainly still make it. Art seems to be hard-wired into the human condition. There is a need to express oneself creatively, which applies to every culture.
Given that art is an essential component of society, it figures that some artists obtain great status, fame, and wealth. We revere and idolize some artists and their work remains a cultural legacy for 100s of years beyond their death.
That’s all very well for the greats, but what about your everyday jobbing artist who is never going to experience stardom? Is art meaningful on a workday level?
Speaking for myself, I make representative art as a collectible decoration. I describe my wildlife art as illustration, it’s more down to earth. They are what they are, if you love elephants, you’ll like my work. If you look for metaphors you’ll struggle to find any.
I’m not deliberately sending out a message beyond celebrating the joy of the subject and showcasing my artistic skills. If there is a message it’s a subtle one. My work demonstrates my love for the natural world and hopefully, some of that passion and concern is passed on.
Meaning has to be in the eye of the beholder. I’ve drawn pictures for no reason other than to construct a pleasing composition, and been astonished at the subsequent reaction. People have seen metaphors that I never intended and only made by accident!
Being an artist can certainly be a meaningful career for those who are passionate about creating and sharing their work to support a cause. Art has the power to evoke emotions, challenge social conventions, and provide a unique perspective on the world.
That’s one approach, I admire activists, but there are alternative ways to find meaning with your art.
My approach is to present my wildlife art to the public and promote their conservation. I’m knowledgeable and want to share what I know. At the same time, I donate my art prints to various fundraisers and charity auctions. It gives me some added purpose.
Regardless of where you are coming from, as an artist, you have the opportunity to create something beautiful and thought-provoking, that can resonate with people on a deeply personal level.
If your art gives pleasure to people, it’s reward enough.
How Are Artists Regarded in Society?
While artists are often revered for their creativity, they are also dismissed and undervalued in many ways. There’s a curious contradiction going on.
Artists have both high and low status at one and the same time.
On the one hand, artists are often seen as creative visionaries able to capture the beauty of the world in a way others can’t. They are admired for their talent, passion, and their dedication.
On the other hand, artists are often dismissed as dreamers and wasters who should get a real job. They are ridiculed, pitied, and patronized in equal measure.
Having traded by selling my prints face-to-face for so many years, I encountered these contradictory attitudes on a daily basis.
I’ve had to learn to accept that I represent different things to different people. For the most part, I let it go. You have to, but every now and then someone hits a nerve and you react.
I don’t enjoy being pitied by the “What a waste” brigade. It irks me that I’m making plenty of money, working only half a year and still I’m seen as a failure.
That’s bad enough, but gushing praise can be harder to handle. Some people get carried away and throw compliments at you that are wildly over the top. Accepting the praise is conceited and playing it down leads to jibes of false modesty. You can’t win.
Your social standing is all contextual. If you have gallery representation, you’re seen as legitimate, even if you can’t pay your way. In contrast, if you’re trading in art fairs or markets and making good money, you’re a sad wannabe who never “made it”. There’s no justice.
Read this article it might surprise you: How to Sell Your Art in Galleries: Is it Worth it? The Truth Told
The great advantage artists have now, as opposed to life 20 years ago, is the internet. You can now project the image you wish to convey. You can be anyone you like. That’s an improvement.
Is Being an Artist Worth it? Does it Make You Happy?
I realize that this is almost impossible to answer fully, it all depends on the individual and their circumstances, but there are recurring themes that you begin to notice over time.
Most of the artists I meet are not extroverts They tend to be quiet, introverted, and self-reflecting. Art is a way of hiding from the world. Visual artists are not showmen and women. The ones that seek out celebrity, are the exception, not the rule.
That being so, being the center of attention is in many ways the secret of success. Self-publicists get noticed. If you’ve ever wondered why some artists reach the top with mediocre work, now you know why.
Making art suits shy people. Art is an expression of yourself and it compensates for the inhibitions that prevent so many artists from standing out from the crowd.
The problem occurs when you are too shy to promote your own work. It’s easy to cut yourself off from society. I’ve spent a great deal of my life on my own and it’s not healthy. The longer you stay isolated the harder it is to break out of it.
Being an artist is challenging. It involves facing rejection, loneliness, and financial instability, especially in the early stages of an art career. It’s not a path to be chosen lightly.
For those who are passionate about their art and willing to navigate the obstacles, being an artist can bring great rewards.
These are some of the benefits of an art career:
- Fulfillment: Many artists find deep personal satisfaction in expressing themselves creatively and sharing their vision with the world. The act of creating art can bring a sense of purpose and joy. (source)
- Communication: Art allows artists to form connections with their fans, fellow artists, and the broader community. It’s a way of reaching out while staying within their comfort zone.
- Personal Growth: There are rich rewards in developing new skills and experimenting with new ideas and challenges. It satisfies the need to develop and push the boundaries of what’s possible in a practical and emotional sense.
- Validation: Receiving praise, recognition, and financial rewards is incredibly motivating for artists. This acknowledgment can help boost their confidence and fuel their passion for creating new works of art. It’s a dopamine hit.
- An Income: Although it takes time and persistence, some artists are able to generate a good income from their art. Independence allows them to focus on their creative life full-time and enjoy the added freedom and flexibility that comes with it. (source)
It’s perfectly possible to turn your talent into a career, but does it make you happy?
I can only speak for myself. I don’t think it makes you any happier than you are already. I don’t think it’s the answer to an existential problem.
Making it in the art world, however you interpret that, is like being the winner of a lottery. After the initial high, you settle back down to your normal level. Life goes on as it always has, it’s full of ups and downs.
There’s a perception that making art is an altered state of blissful mindfulness. That’s not my experience.
I don’t think making art is a relaxing thing to do. It’s frustrating, complicated, and almost always falls short of your hopes and expectations. My artwork is finished only when my corrections are ruining what I’ve done already.
When people ask me what’s the best part of making a new work of art, I honestly answer that it’s the finish. The process takes a lot of time and it’s hard work. I take most pleasure from the reactions of others.
My best piece of work is always my next one. I don’t get precious about my past work because I always find faults and room for improvement.
Turning the question on its head and ask myself what would make me happier, working in a fridge factory or being an artist? then I prefer being an artist, naturally. It has given me so much.
My art has enabled me to:
- Travel the world
- Be proud of my work
- Make a living
- Please others
- Work with wildlife
Not so bad when you think about it.
What’s it Like to Be an Artist? Final Thoughts
It’s a double-edged question. There’s what it’s like to be an artist emotionally, and what it’s like to be an artist professionally. Having made a living selling my wildlife art prints for such a long time I know the ups and downs all too well. In many ways, it’s been a great job.
I’ve managed to beat my own path and do most of the things I set out to achieve, and that’s without formal education or a fine arts degree. I’ve done pretty well. I’m living proof that you can make a living as an artist.
Looking back has there been a cost? Yes I think so, it hasn’t made me a better artist, I’ve played safe. I chose my niche and then became bound to it. I thought I would evolve and move on to other mediums and styles, but it didn’t happen like that.
Neither did I realize how being a professional artist is all-consuming. It’s very hard to switch off.
It’s also a very solitary line of work and I have undoubtedly missed out socially. I’m able to make money on my own and consequently, it’s a lonely life. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have workmates and a place of work, separate from home. You need company.
Most Artists Fail! not because they aren’t talented, or capable of running a business, it’s because they are cut off from the world and unable to cope.
My solution was to sell art prints from a market stall and draw between serving customers. I had other traders around me, regular visitors stopping by to say hello, and customers to chat with. It was good for me and gave me the drive to succeed.
This is one of my drawings. I photographed it in Kenya and drew it while sitting at my market stall
If you like the way I draw and want to try things for yourself, this is my basic kit
If you’re intrigued about how I manage to make a living selling my art, why not follow my blueprint? I tell you everything
If You Want to Sell Your Art
Check this out!
Psst…it’s only $12.99!
These posts will also help your creative journey:
- Can You Copy Art and Sell a Painting of a Painting? I Found Out
- How to Make Prints of Your Art: A Complete Printing Guide (2023)
- How to Start an Art Blog and Make Money for Beginners
- How to Get Back into Drawing Again After a Long Break
- Is Your Art Good Enough to Sell? You Need to Know This…
- Art Block: What is it? Its Causes, and How to Overcome it
- How to Know When Your Drawing is Finished: Don’t Ruin it!
- How to Find Your Drawing Style: In 8 Practical Ways
- How to Find Inspiration to Draw and Beat Art Block
- Tracing Art – Is It Good or Bad? When Is Tracing Cheating?
Get to Grips with your Art business with Katy on Domestika
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Hi, I’m Kevin Hayler
I’ve been selling my wildlife art and traveling the world for over 20 years, and if that sounds too good to be true, I’ve done it all without social media, art school, or galleries!
I can show you how to do it. You’ll find a wealth of info on my site, about selling art, drawing tips, lifestyle, reviews, travel, my portfolio, and more. Enjoy