Aspiring Creative.
I live in a very sports oriented, industrial town. I work a full-time plus job that is high stress and physical labor, and demanding of my life even outside of work. I have great benefits, and that's one of a very few reasons I endure the dehumanizing job. I have been looking for employment elsewhere for the past few months, but because of the market I'm in it's proving to be a challenge. I did have to go to the next city, 30 minutes north of me to get the job I have currently. I've been at my job almost 10 years and have become a senior tech, because of my company's turnover rate is ridiculous. Anyone that's lasts more than 3 years is not a common thing. Anyway, I'm still on the search for a job in the creative arts field. I would like to do inventory, setup displays at museums, or even just find a art manager that could help me get my work into more major galleries and museums across the globe. I'm very passionate about art, and have had a few major successful achievements in my career, but I'm having a hard time staying in that flow because of my current day jobs demands. Are there any other artists/creatives on this site that are trying to pursue their creative passion? Are there any curators that I can reach out to on this site? I have credentials by experience, but I did go to school for fine arts.
Hi Errick, I checked out your work on FB and I have to say that you have developed a very cool and interesting style. Definitely dig where you are headed.
The art world is a tricky thing indeed, and showcasing your work in galleries requires getting to know the right people and a lot of persistence. You can do it, you just need to put yourself out there and cultivate relationships. I'm afraid I don't know much about the gallery scene in Ohio, but are you a member of any artist guilds? How often do you approach small galleries or submit to shows? The more you do, the better your chances. It's a tough call to know if or when you should take that leap of faith and sock more time and effort into it. I have a couple of friends that are full-time artists and it's not the easiest road – but can be very fulfilling.
As for working at a gallery, you may want to approach gallery management as a part-time volunteer first. Just tell them you are looking to understand how galleries operate, and would appreciate the chance to learn first-hand. I realize that working for nothing isn't a good long-term solution – and I wouldn't necessarily quit your day job yet – but making contacts and learning the ropes part-time might be worth trying. Large companies also have nice art collections that they need to curate. I would be on the look out for those opportunities as well. And sometimes they hire art management companies to help them take care of their collections. That might be worth investigating too.
Lastly, spend lots of time on your craft. There is no doubt that the successful artists I know have spent countless hours getting really good at what they do. The more you spend time, the better you get, and the greater your ability to take on new challenges. Cheers, Matthew