Essential guidance and resources for recent graduates, self taught, and other emerging artists/creatives
Start your CV / résumé ASAP
CV stands for “curriculum vitae” (vitae rhymes with mighty). Your CV is a record of all your professional activities.
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This is a record of ALL your education, accomplishments, exhibitions, residencies, etc.
You will use the information from your Master CV in your opportunity applications. See Tips and Resources below.
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Some applications will call for a CV and some for a résumé. You will tailor the information from your Master CV to each opportunity.
Document your work
Take GOOD picture, and keep track of your pieces and their info.
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This creates a record of all your work, and an easy way to copy and paste the info for each piece direcly into applications.
Claire uses a Google Doc like THIS
Whatever format you use, include:
An image of the piece
Title
Year
Materials
Size
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Most people who encounter your work will see it online. You should find a way to create or obtain professional-looking photographs of your work.
If you are about to graduate from an institution, we highly recommend you utilize any resources there to document your work - education, cameras, lighting, professors, other students as models, etc.
Photo Guides coming soon!
Create a website / online portfolio
You will need a way for people to see your work online, and learn about you and your practice. It is more professional if this site is different from your personal Instagram.
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Here are our favorite platfoms for artist websites:
Squarespace - easy to learn, affordable, very flexible.
Showit - Best for visual creatives who want total design control and WordPress blogging power.
Adobe Portfolio - user friendly, useful Adobe integrations, free with Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, but has limited functionality.
See more suggestions and examples of good artist websites in our Website Platform Guide
Keep making work!
It can be challenging to maintain your studio practice outside of certain educational, social, or financial structures.
Networking and self promotion
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Go to everything! Art openings, parties, events, etc.
Make sure people know what you do: work it into conversation naturally and authentically - don’t be pushy or too transactional! Be curious about others and they will be curious about you.
Build and maintain a community of peers - this is a superpower for artists. Your peers will help inspire and guide you, as well as send opportunities your way.
Help others - they will likely help you in return.
More guides
Coming Soon:
Resources by Discipline
More Professional Practices
Staying Organized
Financial Matters
Working With Galleries