Building a career as an artist involves so much more than creating art. Networking, marketing, writing, and curating are all critical concerns, as are the complexities of securing funding and showing one’s work. The list of hurdles can quickly become overwhelming, however, this comprehensive guide walks artists through every step they must consider as they launch their professional lives.
Margaret R. Lazzari packs each chapter with detailed, accessible advice that artists can immediately put into practice. How-to guides cover the speci cs of resume writing, contract drafting, and more; exhaustive checklists address everything from website setup to exhibition preparation; and artist interviews at the end of each chapter are invaluable examples of professional artists overcoming the same challenges that face every newcomer. This book includes an extensive appendix of organizations, agencies, and services to further guide the artist.
This third edition includes updated artist interviews and information on the most important digital skill sets, such as networking through social media, creating web-based exhibitions, displaying media works, and more. Lazzari writes with every type of artist in mind, providing a truly comprehensive guide to building a successful art career.
Reviews
As a first-generation African American college graduate, I had very little knowledge of how to get started. Looking back at the notes I scribbled into its pages, I realize just how much of The Practical Handbook I have incorporated into my own teaching over the last 20 years. Margaret's books offered that practical guidance as well as how to see art making not just as a career, but a lifelong journey.
— Edgar Arceneaux, Artist, Writer, Director and Professor
Margaret Lazzari's Practical Handbook for the Emerging Artist is a treasure trove of concrete advice and information about getting an art career going. Including interviews with important contemporary artists and a range of advice on personal (how to get yourself motivated and develop a practice) and professional (how to get others interested) issues, this is an invaluable handbook outlining the interfaces between the artist and the work, and the work and the world.
— Amelia Jones, Robert A. Day Professor of Art & Design, USC Roski
Contributors
Margaret Lazzari
Author
Margaret R. Lazzari is a professor of art at the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Art and Design as well as a working artist. Her paintings and drawings have been shown in numerous museum and gallery exhibitions, and are included in several public collections across the United States. She is the author of Exploring Art: A Global, Thematic Approach.
