Professional or Non-Professional?

[Myles Murphy]

How would you define a professional artist?  I would love to hear from anyone with an opinion on this subject.

It has always been an issue with me as to how to define my own status in the art world.  At one time I was told that to be a professional, one needed an MFA (or at least a BFA) and had to be a career person through working commercially as an artist, or full time as a self employed artist selling work through any means including gallery representation-or being a professional through teaching.

As I think about it, this is quite a narrow field of participants.  There are so many people I know, both here and in Ireland, who have been wage earners for a considerable portion of adulthood in everything else but art.  Drawing and painting may have been a hobby or not even that until around retirement age.

I know from observation of pleineire.com that the vast majority of members are very enthusiastic artists, but for many-even most, their enjoyment is hindered by the painful reality of either winning bread or raising a family.  That "paint at every opportunity" checks off one of the most important boxes on my list.

My criteria would be

Commitment, Work Ethic, Participation, Membership, Continuing Education.

My recent art post was a result of a first place in a local plein air paint out, where I changed my status back to non professional after spending five years trying "to do everything right" with a registered business with tax number, web site, business cards and participation in many shows, but lots of expenses exceeding earnings, finally requiring changing tax status back to non professional.  In the USA , as far as the Internal Revenue Service is concerned, art is either a Profession or a Hobby.

I want this blog to be about everyone-not me.  What has been your experience or have you even given it a thought?

I actually enjoy snapping at the heels of some great artists in the professional groups.  If you want to improve your game, play with someone better.

I don't think in artistic terms that makes me a non professional, provided I stay committed and continue to participate and to learn.  What has been anyone else's experience?

Here are some steals off various blogs or sites, which may give food for comment:

Professional Artists (as defined by the Ohio Arts Council)

Persons who devote a major portion of their time to creating, practicing, performing or teaching any of the arts. As defined by the Ohio Arts Council

Professional Artists (as defined by The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA))

NAVA uses the following combination of characteristics as a way of determining a professional artist for eligibility for our grant and Professional Membership programs (please note no single indicator is determinative):

Professional artists are:

• seeking to build a reputation as a professional artist
• making regular attempts to bring his/her work to the public or relevant market
• having regular public exhibitions of his/her art work
• offering work for sale, or selling art work
• having work acquired for public or private collections
• securing work, commissions or consultancies on the basis of his/her professional expertise
• undertaking arts projects
• securing residencies, teaching, lecturing or giving public talks
• eligible to apply for or has been awarded government grants
• seeking philanthropic patronage or sponsorship
• carrying out work in a businesslike manner (e.g. keeping financial records, having formal written contracts or agreements, having a written business plan)
• regularly participating in activities designed to promote his/her work including establishing a website and other marketing activities
• achieving industry or peer recognition through published works, critical texts or media profile
• building industry contacts
• renting, leasing or owning space dedicated for art purpose
• professionally qualified or has equivalent experience typical of others in the industry
• a member of a professional association or union (like NAVA)

Being a Professional Artist
By Jack White  http://jackwhiteartist.com/

I detest the titles amateur artist, emerging artist, starving artist, beginning artist and struggling to become an artist. Fellow artists, you don’t want an emerging or beginning cop to answer your 911 call. You want a professional to show up for your protection. My argument has always been the moment you sell grandmother your first painting for $5 you have become a professional artist. There is NO difference between those artists selling $1,000 a year and G. Harvey, who sold his last commission for 1 million dollars.  You are both professionals, only G. Harvey has figured out how to sell his work for a tad more.

What do I consider the tenants of being a professional artist? What is the charge of the occupant of the name?

1. A professional artist will freely share all information they have learned with those lacking in knowledge. Those who hoard their knowledge are not fit to be called professional. I call them knowledge hogs. As we share what we’ve learned we have additional  room to learn more. None of us got where we are independently without the help of others. I helped a 85-year-old sign painter when I was in college. I used what I learned from him about gold leaf to invent an art process that earned me several million dollars. Without what he taught me I never would have invented a unique form of art.

2. A professional artist will conduct themselves with honesty and honor at all times. We, who by good fortune have reached some financial success, must never forget where we started. I sold my first painting for $10. Mikki made out much better, I sold her first painting for $200 in a frame that cost her $160.

3. A professional artist will strive to improve their entire career. I did a portrait of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s. Ray told me, “Jack, when you are green you are growing. When you get ripe you begin to rot.”

4. A professional artist learns to step to the easel whether their spirits or down or they are sky-high and produce consistent work. We get up and go to work. Some days we may not be “in the mood”, but we still paint/sculpt. Suddenly, as if by magic, we are filled with inspiration. When we lived on the Big Island of Hawaii, Mikki and I met a group of artists who invited us to go to the volcano. I asked, “Why?” They shocked us. “We are going to sit by the lava flow and get inspiration to paint.” I’m sure they could tell by our faces we were confused. A guy with a pig tail asked, “Where do you get your inspiration? Mikki smiled and answered, “FedEx!”  She stunned them. “What?” Mikki followed up, “We get our bills from the mainland twice a month in a FedEx envelope. Seeing bills we have to pay gets us inspired.

5. A professional artist keeps his/her word.  Lying has no place in the life of a professional artist. A pro is never late on a deadline. Most of us have worked all night to finish a piece for a client. A professional artist communicates with their client and gallery. Misunderstandings occur when we fail to converse. A pro paints/sculpts what the client desires, not what the artist thinks is great. This is true if you expect to earn a living making and selling art.

Now that you know you are a professional artist, assume the role. Talk professional, joke like a pro, laugh like a pro and deliver what you promise like a pro.

Would love some feedback.

Myles Murphy

[Jack O'Loughlin]

I like that  but I am  in no place to offer any  weighty opinion  I'm afraid. Suffice to say that I agree with all that you have said. I regret not being able to give more time to painting. So, professionalism is  fine but notions of professionalism demote one to  amateur status it seems. I will keep an eye on this. Thank you Myles.

[Etain Feeley]

Hi Myles,Speaking as a relative new comer to Plein Eire,in my humble opinion,,any one can set their selves up, as a so called professional artist, its easy to give yourself a title. As, for degree's that is debatable, sometimes to much knowledge can be restricting.  I agree, the term Emerging Artist can be misleading and does not convey the overall scenario all in all., however, unfortunately in the sales world it is used extensively by those in marketing professions and is part of the sales pitch.

Art/Sculpture, is a full time skilled occupation and should be respected as such.

 A professional artist will strive to improve their entire career. I did a portrait of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s. Ray told me, “Jack, when you are green you are growing. When you get ripe you begin to rot.”

[Dick Donaghue]

Hmmm! I regard myself as an Artist, plain and simple. Sometimes I sell. Sometimes I don't. Always depends on the economic climate. I don't paint all the time. I also worked as a signwriter and as a graphic artist and did so for a living for many years. And painted pictures when I wanted to as well.  I think like an artist and work like an artist. And often got paid as an artist. The word "professional" never bothered me: never came into the equation. Painting, drawing, designing, etc., is what I think about and what I do. So I simply think of myself as an artist whether I get paid or not. 

"Note" Was Vincent van Gogh a professional artist? He never sold anything during his life. Or Chaim Soutine. Don't think he did either. But they were 100% committed. I think it is the commitment that make one a professional or not.