Many artists find it difficult to market themselves. However, if you are to reach people outside of your comfort zone of friends, family, and colleagues, you must promote yourself to a wider network.

The kind of effort required for promoting yourself is different from the isolated creative energy most artist feel in their studio. Many of us find this to be the single most fearsome and difficult part of our jobs. It is demanding and requires developing a different set of skills.

It is uncomfortable because as artists we are used to being in control of our situation while in the studio, but when tempting to promote ourselves, we must depend on the decisions and opinions of others. Here are a few steps to help be prepared.

• Identify goals for your practice
• Have a good amount of works to show
• Have written materials discussing accomplishments
• Use friends, peers, and colleagues to help promote you
• Be prepared to discuss you work eloquently and with passion
• Research venues
• Research art professionals with whom you wish to be associated
• Clearly define your place in the art world

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