What should I do with my art and how should I do it?

[expatriot]

I drew the following for my sister-in-law who is recovering from a fractured skull and bruised brain (she seems to be alright).

It is on a 9"x12" sheet of Bristol and is colored with watercolor pencil. For more of my art, check out manicprogressivemedia.com.

You see, I have never done anything with my art except that I currently am displaying some of it at the county library. I am 28 years old and got my degree in English Lit and never took any art classes in college. I taught fourth grade and English in high school before realizing that I was killing myself slowly if I kept repressing my love of art. So what should I doif I want to pursue my art?



detail:

[cleofus1]

1. some ideas...

develop some characters and a storyline and do a comic book....

do some finished work and sell it online...make it available as screensavers for a small price downloadable on line...

put together some slides and images and take those and one or two hard copies and hit the gallerys...

start attending gallery openings and meet the people who go there...that's the best way to meet a patron...

[expatriot]

4. thanks for the ideas

[mopinko]

2. a good book

"how to get hung" by molly barnes.
be aware, tho, that very, very few people make any money as artist. and it costs a lot of money to do it. if you do not have a good, professional looking portfolio, you will not get your foot in the door. i live in chicago, where there is a decent market, and i know a handful of people who do not have a day job, or a spouse with a good job. it is especially hard without formal education.
the real secret, tho, i knowing the right people. that's just how it is.

[expatriot]

5. I am actually second cousins with a certain person

that is currently very very "big" and "hot" on the online art market (fantasy paintings). I won't say her name just to save me the embarrasment since I have not approached her yet, we haven't seen eachother since we were children but there is definitely a connection. I keep telling myself I am going to approach her when I get a more developed portfolio. Maybe she'll at least give me some good tips or networks.

[cleofus1]

3. you have to have a narrative

isn't there a story here somewhere?