Recently a neighbor knocked on the door asking to borrow an electric drill. Frustration read across his face. I asked him what he was working on and he sheepishly replied that he had been trying to hang blinds with hand tools. So far he’d succeeded only in making gaping holes in his walls.
We had a good laugh because let’s face it, we’ve all been there in one way or another. I found my drill and he got the job done.
Having the right tools for a job can truly mean the difference between getting it done efficiently the first time and finding yourself with a much bigger problem on your hands than you had when you started. Hanging blinds with a hand-held screwdriver isn’t going to get you very far.
In much the same way, every artist needs the right tools, too. And don’t be fooled into thinking that this means just the right materials to create, your artist toolkit is so much more than that.
As a professional artist you need to be able to:
- Write a grant
- Navigate web design and social media
- Run a Kickstarter campaign
- Write bios, artist statements, and press releases
- Understand your financial picture
- Manage your time
And these are only a handful of the practical skills. There’s also art theory to contend with, and keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of the art world itself.
In essence, you must be able to access a wide range of skills in order to run your career in a way that offers you a fighting chance at success.
Don’t get overwhelmed, get help!
If this all sounds like too much for one person to handle, I have good news!
You don’t have to go this alone.
Praxis Center is a suite of eight courses designed to give artists the toolkit they need to succeed in the art world and the art business world. Our team of experts ranges from gallerists to grant writers, curators to editors. We are here to help you understand what you need to know to get ahead and for just $40/month you enjoy unlimited access plus a community of peers.
Having the right tools for the job is essential to getting it done correctly. Don’t leave any details to chance, join Praxis today and make sure you have the right equipment to tackle whatever lies in your path.