The post How to Write an Artist CV in 10 Steps is the most popular in the history of The Practical Art World. Some of the most frequently asked questions people have after reading it are “What if I don’t have an exhibition history?” or “What if I didn’t go to school?”
For new and emerging artists, creating an artist’s CV can be a bit of a Catch 22. You don’t have much or any experience to put on your CV, but to apply for “experience” in the form of exhibitions, grants, and schooling, you are asked to provide a CV.
Fortunately, there are ways to tailor what relevant experience you have into an artist’s CV format. Just remember: don’t lie, and don’t make up anything that doesn’t exist. Just tell the truth, shaping it a little (creatively– it’s what you do best, right?) into the established CV format. If you haven’t already read How to Create an Artist’s CV in 10 Steps, start there. Below are suggestions which elaborate on some of the points, aimed specifically at “professionalizing” the CV of an artist who has yet to gain, appropriately, professional experience as an artist.
Refer to point 1 in the original article. As I mentioned, many established artists keep this section quite short. However, if you don’t have a lot of other material and experiences to add to the rest of the CV, this is a good opportunity to tell your reader about yourself. Adding a very brief bio / artist statement can be good if you would like to talk about experiences which don’t fit into the rest of the CV. If you are going to do this, just remember to keep it brief and concise.
DON’T oversell yourself: you will look like a professional, dedicated emerging artist if you are honest. You will look desperate if you pretend to be something you are not.
Example of bad contact details:
Vincent van Gogh~Sometimes called the world’s most famous artist~!!!Check out my work here http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/gogh/Email me! fancypants@yahoo.com<
Example of good contact details
Vincent van GoghBorn March 30, 1853Currently lives and works in Paris, France
vincent@vangogh.com | www.vangoghgallery.comVincent van Gogh is an emerging artist, working primarily in oils. He often employs bold colours and emotive tableaux in a post-impressionistic manner.
EDUCATION
Refer to point 2 in the original article. Many emerging as well as professional artists are self-taught, and yet for some reason the education section of a CV tends to be intimidating for all but those who have a Masters degree. It doesn’t have to be that way.
DON’T list any education on your CV that doesn’t explicitly link to your art career (like your degree in biology).
Example of a good education history, for those who did not attend “art school” or university
Education
Studied under:
Lynne McLaughlin
Tom Backlund
Geoff Parker
Example of a bad education history, for those who did not attend “art school” or university
Education
One hour workshop with Lynne McLaughlin
Informal classes with Tom Backlund
Has received feedback from Geoff Parker
Bachelor of Science, Biology major
EXHIBITIONS
Refer to point 3 from the original article.
One way to add exhibitions to your CV is to list any which are forthcoming. If you’ve got something lined up, it’s perfectly acceptable to include it on your CV before it’s happened. Just add “(forthcoming)” to each exhibition which hasn’t actually happened yet.
Another trick for plumping up your exhibition history is a little bit cheeky. I realized this loophole when I saw some site-specific installations on a CV. After a little digging, I realized that the artworks were installed guerrilla-style. In other words, someone made art and put it somewhere without invitation or the formal facets of a traditional exhibition. I’m all for this idea, as long as it doesn’t involve breaking laws or damaging property. It’s a great idea to show your artwork (though, you might not be able to get it back), and certainly an artistic project that can be added to your CV under your exhibition history. Just make sure you classify it properly, as to not mislead anyone!
DON’T make anything up.
Example of a good exhibition list
2014 Group exhibition, Vancouver Art Gallery (forthcoming)
2012 Site-specific installation, “Alleyway”, Vancouver, BC2010 Solo exhibition, Moon Cafe, Vancouver BCExample of a bad exhibition list
2016 Planned gallery exhibition (forthcoming) <– if you don’t have any solid details, don’t include it2012 Solo exhibition, Museum of Modern Art, NY <– you made that up!
COLLECTIONS
Refer to point 5 from the original article. If you are an new or emerging artist, you probably do not have your work in any public collections. Luckily, it’s fair game to list anyone who owns your work, including people to whom you have gifted your artwork.Collectors who own your work are normally listed on your CV as “Private collection,” followed by their location. You should not actually name someone unless they have explicitly agreed to be listed as a collector of your work, and / or if you have some other reason to do so (for example, they are a very well-known collector).
DO make a list of people who own your work, even if they didn’t actually purchase it; most of these you can convert to “Private collection,” followed by location
DON’T put your Mom’s name on the list, or anyone with the same last name as you
DON’T list a city more than once if more than one person owns your work thereExample of a good collection list
Collections:Private collection, Vancouver BCPrivate collection, Winnipeg MBPrivate collection, New York NY
Example of a bad collection listCollections:Anna van GoghTheodorus van GoghElisabeth van GoghTheo van GoghPrivate collection, Paris FrancePrivate collection, Paris FrancePrivate collection, Paris France
FINALLY, IF YOU HAVE AN ESPECIALLY SHORT CV AND THINGS ARE LOOKING DESPERATE
You can think of some creative ways to visually enhance your CV:
- Include an image of your artwork (not usually recommended, but between that and the blank page, one image is better).
- Center your text with large margins. Yes, this is cheating when you’re writing an essay. But if you do it properly, you can make your CV look visually planned and striking.
- Include an artist statement and CV on one single page. Often these are asked for separately, but if you are able to combine them, it’s a great way to make your presentation look great.
Images:
Spring Cleaning for Art Studio Happiness and Efficiency
When the outside world begins to warm up, it’s a great time to open your windows and get some serious cleaning done! Although avoiding creative work by focusing on housework is a cliché, sometimes, you really do need to get some serious cleaning done. Also, having a well-organized and harmonious space can be great for your creative mind. Below are some suggestions for cleaning up your workspace to improve efficiency and happiness in your studio.
De-clutter by creating four piles: keep, throw away, donate, sell.
Keep: See “Reorganize” below
Throw Away: Superfluous clutter can easily grow if you let it! Reassess the items you don’t use and which aren’t worth selling or donating. Have you thought about using them in the last year? If not, it’s probably time to throw them away. If throwing away any paints, solvents, or other materials that are hazardous or not accepted with your local trash collection, visit websites like Earth911 to find recycling options near you.
Donate: Donating your unused or gently used art supplies is a wonderful way to help out other artists who are unable to purchase their own materials. Search online in your area for schools, community centers, or groups who accept donations of art and craft supplies. In Vancouver, we have the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre.
Sell: The cost of art supplies can add up quickly. You can sell your gently used unwanted items and recoup some cash by listing them for free on websites like Craigslist, Kijiji (in Canada), or your local free online marketplace website. If you have a bunch of random assorted items, you could even sell them as one lot instead of individual items. This saves you a lot of administrative time: one buyer, and you’re done!
Reorganize
Having an unorganized studio can be bad for several reasons: you can’t find things you need and re-buy them, you can’t find things you need and slow down your creative process, and in general, you can’t find things you need! Organizing your materials is an excellent way to improve your working environment—it also often leads to finding items you forgot you had. With all your supplies readily available, your have your studio working for you. If you are looking for inspiration, there are tons of ideas and photos of organized and beautiful art studios on Pinterest and Apartment Therapy.
Reassess the artwork you forgot about
So do you have some extra room now? Pull out all those works you tucked away and forgot about. It can be helpful and clarifying to reassess your artwork after a nice break from it; a little distance can give you great objective perspective.
Image of Georgia O’Keefe’s studio from Flavorwire’s 10 Famous Artists’ Stunning Studios
New Years Resolutions for the Artist
1. I will take advantage of feedback from others, but above all I will trust my own judgement.
2. I will set aside time each day to make art or think about art. The amount of time is not important.
3. I will set concrete goals for myself, and then take the steps to reach them, even though it will be difficult and scary.
4. I will write down a list of things I have avoided doing (example: showing artwork in public, calling a gallery to see if they are accepting submissions.) I will do these things.
5. I will not be self-deprecating when speaking about my art. While I can recognize a need for improvement, I will also honor the labor and vision of my art.
Image: Igor Novosel
The Best of The Practical Art World
I’m very happy to share that this November, The Practical Art World surpassed 200,000 visits! Over the past year and a half, we have enjoyed your generous feedback, emails, comments, and questions. We love hearing that the articles posted here on the site have helped you as professional artists, so THANK YOU!
In honour of the first 200,000 visitors to The Practical Art World, we’ve compiled a list: ”The Best of The Practical Art World.” For those of you have been with us since the beginning, consider it a trip down memory lane. For new friends, enjoy a look back at some of our most popular articles.
10. Which Gallery Should I Submit To?
8. How to Build a Contract for Commissioned Artworks
7. Editioned Prints and Photographs: How Many, What Value?
6. Choosing Hardware to Hang Artwork
5. Wrapping Artwork for Shipping: Paintings on Canvas or Panel
4. Art Gallery Submissions: How to Prepare and What to Send
3. How to Create a Press Release for your Art Exhibition
2. How to Write an Artists CV in 10 Steps
1. How to Label Artworks in an Exhibition
What Should You Include in a Portfolio Submission (Which Artworks, How Many)?
It can be daunting to choose a certain number of your artworks to include in a portfolio submission. Do you pick your favourites? Do you pick other people’s favourites? Do you only pick new works? Read the tips below to help chose your absolute best selection of art works for any submission.
Pay attention to what they want
This is the #1 golden rule of submissions! Sending a submission that does not comply to guidelines given is a quick way to make yourself look unprofessional, and could get you ignored. If guidelines state they want 5 images only, do not send 10 thinking they should see more. Choose your best 5 works and present them in a professional manner.
Avoid redundancies
In the interest of keeping your submission interesting and fresh, avoid sending in multiple images which are very similar to each other. Your portfolio will end up looking much more engaging if you avoid this.
Quality over quantity: only send your best work
If you are asked to include 10-20 works in a submission, remember that quality is more impressive than quantity. If you have works you are no longer interested in showing, don’t like anymore, or don’t represent where you are as an artist, don’t include them. It’s much better to send 10 outstanding works, than 10 outstanding works and 10 mediocre ones.
Ask other people what they think
You may have an idea of what works you want to include, but it never hurts to get a second (or third, or fourth!) opinion. Borrowing some fresh eyes can give you a different perspective on your selection of images, and which ones might work best for your submission.
Compose a selection that represents your practice well
Chose your images carefully to make sure your portfolio makes sense as a whole. This doesn’t mean everything needs to be from the same body of work, in the same medium, from any particular time period, or any other cohesive grouping; it just means that each piece should represent an element of your artistic practice which is relevant.
Do you have any strategies for choosing images for a portfolio submission? What works and what doesn’t work for you?
Image credit: Rainer Topf
5 Places to Find Free Art Education & Inspiration
1. Art Supply Manufacturers
Many artist-grade product manufacturers offer loads of free information about how to use their products. Much of this information can be applied to your studio practice in general, even if you don’t end up purchasing their product. The highest quality artist materials manufacturers tend to have the most in-depth and thorough material; their commitment to artists is obvious.
Winsor & Newton
Winsor & Newton makes a large assortment of artist-quality paints and painting accessories. Visit their Resource Centre for instructional videos, Continue reading
10 Weeks to Improve Your Artistic Career – Week 10
Week 10: Connect with your community.
One of the greatest assets we have as working artists is each other. Sharing experiences, asking questions, and learning from what we see and enjoy are all ways to greatly improve artistic practices and careers.
I hope that the 10 week project has sparked some ideas for you, or motivated you to do something that you love. While I was planning these 10 posts, I wondered, which would be most useful? Which made the most sense?
In the spirit of this week’s project, I reached out on Twitter and asked, “What is the single most important thing that has improved your artistic career?” The replies I received were inspiring and insightful, and I’m happy to say a lot of us agree on the best ways to improve as an artist. Many thanks to those who took the time to tweet a reply. A simple example of “ask and you will receive.”
Here is some wonderful advice from your peers: Continue reading
10 Weeks to Improve your Artistic Career – Week 9
Week 9: Exhibit your work
Exhibiting your artwork has endless benefits for your artistic career. You could say it is the most important things in building a solid practice! When you exhibit your artwork:
- it is viewed by peers, clients, potential clients, fans of art, writers, curators, friends, etc
- usually an exhibition involves working with other artists, and / or galleries, curators, or professionals in the artistic field and can give you excellent experience
- you learn from your mistakes
- you engage in dialogue about your work
- it adds credibility to your CV. With exhibitions on your CV, you stand a better chance for receiving grants, scholarships, exhibition opportunities, residencies, and more.
Strangely enough, exhibiting their own artwork is one thing that a large number of artists do not do. There are many excuses why not to pursue exhibition opportunities for yourself, such as: Continue reading
10 Weeks to Improve your Artistic Career – Week 8
Week 8: Take a class
Whether you are a self-taught artist or have earned a degree in the field, there are countless benefits to enrolling yourself in an art class. There is obviously the distinct possibility that you will learn new skills or methods of working, but there are other benefits to being in a classroom setting, such as:
1. It forces you to work. Expectations and deadlines are great motivators, and taking a class is an excellent way to make your art practice a regular part of your day.
2. You meet other artists. Art can be a solitary endeavor. When you enroll in a class, you will have the opportunity to meet like-minded people and perhaps even collaborate with them. Taking a class also usually gives you an intimate view of how other artists work, which is invaluable information to you as a practicing artist.
3. You discuss your work. If you are lucky, Continue reading
Application Deadline: Vancouver Art Gallery | Art Rental and Sales Program
May 31, 2012
The Art Rental and Sales Program at the Vancouver Art Gallery is currently accepting submissions of artwork from Canadian artists. Work accepted into the program is consigned for rental or sale, with partial proceeds going to the artist and partial proceeds benefitting the non-profit Vancouver Art Gallery.
The Art Rental and Sales Program is an excellent opportunity for exposure as well as possible sales. To request an application package, they ask that you email artrentalandsales.submission@gmail.com. General inquiries can be directed to manager@artrentalandsales.com.
Full information on submissions can be found here.
Image credit: Geoff Richardson, http://www.loose-marbles.com
