what do you do to promote your art?

[mopinko]

and how do you find out about these things?

[Forkboy]

1. I don't, and have always shied away from people wanting to do it for me.

Nothing against people promoting their art or anything, I'm just uncomfortable asking for money for my art. I get far more joy doing something for someone on a personal basis and then just giving it to them. I sold a handful of pics to a hunter I knew who wanted me to do everything from a wild turkey (I never knew turkey wings required so much detail!), a mountain goat, a bear, a deer, etc. I didn't really like the guy much so I charged him $50 a pic, which worked out to about $3/hour. Now I know why they call us "starving artists". :)

Anything I post here or on my Myspace page is free for anyone to use in any way they want. Once I'm done with it I don't care who does what with it.

[old mark]

2. I was a member of a co-op gallery for a while and I am still a member of another

small non-profit gallery, although I have not shown any work in maybe 12 years or so. I really dislike the "gallery" thing, don't care for the owners' attitude and don't care to be judged by members of the public who fancy themselves knowledgeable about art.
I don't rely on anything creative I produce for my living, and never have. I don't like the feeling of being constrained it gives me, and, honestly, the money's not there if you're not already famous.
I have published around a dozen written pieces, articles, poems, photos etc,as well as paintings, and have never made an income that was above the bad joke level. I have paintings and a few photos in private collections in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York, but I am very selective about who gets them.

I have been painting for over 30 years, and feel better about it now than when I tried to do it for real money.

But, hey, good luck - it may work out for you.

mark

Added: I do have a self-created web page www.mschmidtfineart.weebly.com but I have not yet bothered to finish it or advertise it. Weebly provides free do it yourself web pages.
I just checked the link - I really need a new portrait - I lost weight since that terrible pic was taken.

[mimitabby]

3. living from doing art or living from selling art

Yeah, it's an interesting situation, I am at the end of a long career in an office and my artistic side is finally jumping up and down and asking for front center.

The thing about selling art is that people value it more. It's true; in fact, once you sell a few pieces, the people you GIFT your work to seem to appreciate those gifts more too.

However, you can get turned around; suddenly people are wanting you to paint for them, and if it means you are no longer painting what you want to paint, it becomes labor instead of passion. Right now I am wandering through this very maze, and wondering where I will come out.

And I have gotten some really good promotion, both here at DU and in the NYTimes.