Written by: Tang Kai Xian

In our market survey, the Top 3 Challenges faced by artists are - 1. Difficulty to monetise artworks for income, 2. Hefty commissions charged by galleries 3. Fragmented social media platforms/low conversion rates. Being an artist, surrounded by the archaic notion that artists die poor, is not encouraging. 

In the context of a turbulent macroeconomic environment and the lack of know-how to navigate the less-travelled road of a career as an artist, MeetArts hosted a webinar on How To Establish Your Career As An Emerging Artist with established artists - Benedict Yu and Justin Lee. Here are our 6 key takeaways: 

1. Experiment, Experiment, Experiment

As William Blake aptly put it, “The true method of knowledge is experiment”. Experiment with styles, themes, techniques, size, mediums. If you have been drawing geometric shapes, try realism. If you have been painting acrylic, try coloured pencils.

Some experiment to find their style. Others experiment to keep their work fresh and interesting both for the artist to create and for viewers to appreciate. 

2. Be patient

Be patient in your art journey to find your style. This eureka moment is often an arduous process. It is therefore imperative to persevere and stick to the course. By broadening their perspective by practising different art styles, artists eventually discover their ‘signature’ style through the process of elimination. 

Be patient in finding the right audience for your art. Art is a very personal thing. Many feel the need to connect with the artist and the meaning behind their work before they purchase a piece. Out of 100 people you talk to, as little as two may be interested in learning more about your art. 

3. Be bold and take the step out of your comfort zone

Art galleries and Museums are not the only platforms to exhibit art, other fields to try out include architecture firms. In fact, this was a key part in our speaker Mr Benedict Yu’s art journey. While artists might feel that people on those alternative platforms will not appreciate their art, this is a form of self-censoring. Sometimes, you need to be thick-skinned to succeed. 

Enrolling into art residencies, especially overseas ones, can change your perspective about art. By stepping out of your comfort zone, artists can learn to appreciate art through another lens, learn more about art in another culture and absorb new design principles. Through our speaker Mr Justin Lee’s residency in Japan, his artist style has become more simplified.

4. Network

Networking is a term often confined to the business world. It is important in the creative industry too. While you do not have to be a social butterfly, making sincere connections with others through shared interests such as your art style, can be a useful referral for future art jobs. For instance, your friend working in Fashion might recommend you for a Fashion project.

5. Hard Work 

There is no such thing as a free lunch. In this regard, a career in art is no different from other careers. Whether it is hustling to complete 10 pieces in time for an art exhibition or scouting for new opportunities, artists have to work hard. Sometimes this may involve lifelong learning, going back to school to study art in greater depth or taking art classes to refine your painting skills. 

6. Check out NAC (National Arts Council Singapore) for resources to develop your art career

Singapore is one of the few countries that gives out grants to help artists. 

The NAC’s mission is to champion the arts in Singapore by nurturing creative excellence and supporting audience engagement. They support the arts through various means such as grants, partnerships, industrial facilitation and even arts housing. 

Check out our YouTube page for the recording of the webinar here: https://youtu.be/c-5oGRrG2cY