Reality Check, Please

Veteran art writer Daniel Grant has the answers to the questions you haven’t even asked yet. They’re in the fifth edition of The Business of Being an Artist, an in-depth guide to developing and building a career as a professional in the arts. Grant and I recently had a phone conversation in which he urges artists to manage their expectations and learn how to communicate, market and network — but not necessarily in that order.

Grant is a contributing editor of American Artist magazine. He is the author of six books including The Artist’s Guide: Making It in New York City, How to Grow as an Artist, and The Fine Artist’s Career Guide (all published by Allworth Press). His articles and essays have appeared in such publications as ARTnews, Art in America, the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New Criterion, Art & Auction, and Art & Antiques, among others. He has taught courses and lectured on career issues for visual artists at numerous colleges and public arts agencies in the United States. He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.