| |
| |
|
Creativity Information |
|
|
|
Art, Artists and Money
Practical money tips for people in the arts. 1. Sock it Away If you are in the arts there is no such thing as a steady paycheck. Money usually comes in spurts with no money, often for months, many months, in between. Don't make the mistake of thinking that spurts of income will happen on a monthly basis. When you get money from selling paintings at a show, a role in a play, an advance for a book, any art project--sock it away in a very safe place, CD's or bonds or a savings account. Rainy days always come in the arts and hurricanes happen. 2. Live Under Your Means. Don't even think about "keeping up with the Jones's." Live under your means. Forget the fancy car, the country club, designer clothes the expensive house, fancy vacations and private school for your kids. That doesn't mean you can't do nice things for yourself and your loved ones in a reasonable way now and then, we all need to do that. And if you happen to make millions and become independently wealthy as an artist, then fine-go for all that later on. But, if you have to have that expensive vacation home in the most desirable location, then maybe being in the arts is not for you. 3. Your Rainy Day Fund It is recommended that people with a steady paycheck put away eight months of income in case they loose their job. In the arts, it's a good idea to try and put away three years worth if you possibly can. Not an easy task, but if you can achieve it, you'll sleep a lot better at night. 4. Saving For That Rainy Day Fund How to save for that desired artistic rainy day fund? If you can put a little bit away each month and leave it in a safe place, a place that adds interest-bonds or CD's for example, you will be amazed at how much you can accumulate. Forget any quick short cuts, they almost always backfire, and it will sabotage your art career. 5. Forget That Credit Card Nothing can kill a career in the arts faster than credit card debt. If you know you can't pay for it when the monthly bill comes, then don't buy it. 6. Keep Receipts On your taxes declare your art income and your art expenses. Keep receipts because if you are ever audited, you will need proof of your expenses. If you have an accountant that does your taxes, that expense can be written off next year, and he or she will probably know how to do your taxes a lot better than you do. 7. Pay Quarterlies When you do receive income as an artist, put a third of it away for taxes. You not only pay the IRS, but state taxes and Social Security. Social Security tax is 15%, as an artist you pay it all, you don't have an employer to pay half. Pay Quarterlies, which means as an artist you pay a partial amount towards your taxes four times a year -- ask your accountant about this. If you make a lot of money that year, you won't get a huge tax payment that you hadn't planned on. If you don't make a lot of money that year you'll get a very nice tax refund. Both you and the IRS will be happy. (You can put the tax refund in the rainy day artist fund, instead of putting it towards that red Ferrari). 8. Health Insurance Try and get health insurance. It's a luxury many artist's feel they can't afford, but it's important. In many cities there are art organizations that you can join for a nominal fee, which have group health insurance. If you live in a smaller area you can often get reasonably priced group health insurance by joining your local chamber of commerce. 9. Vocation All of these tips assume that being an artist is your vocation. A vocation has been described as "something you can't not do." © Mary Baker 2005 Mary Baker is a contemporary realist painter, whose studio is in Newburyport, Massachusetts. This New England city, north of Boston, has been the inspiration for the artist's realistic oil paintings. Mary Baker is a professional artist and has shown in New York art galleries. Mary's art work has passion, depth and beauty, capturing moments in time that many people pass by. You can visit Mary's website, Mary Baker Art, at http://www.marybakerart.com , see her beautiful paintings and read her comments on creativity, the creative journey, the creative process, Art, Artists and Vocation, Tips on Breaking the Creative block and creative space-the illuminating silence.
MORE RESOURCES:
Creativity - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Make Yourself Creative: Two Easy Idea-Generating Methods Here are a couple of exercises to force yourself to come up with some brand new ideas. These methods can be used to give your business an edge, to overcome creative blocks, or just for fun - to prove to yourself that you can have some great ideas. Self-Care for Creative Artists: 5 Ways to Start Today Self-care is the path to creative expression. By paying closer attention to your self-care, you can have easier access to your creativity, to your muse and to your inner strength and resilience. Unlock Your Creative Secret Weapon It seems like this week a ton of people have been asking me how they can become more creative. I even had one client jokingly accuse me of being in cahoots with the Devil in trade for my creativity. Riches Through Creative Thinking! When solving problems after you have exhausted the normal means of coming up with the solution, think in terms of unorthodox methods. Vary your thinking and try to solve the problems by creating something completely new and irrelevant. Brainstorming Effectively BRAINSTORMING: The basic tool used in generating many possible solutions to a problem is brainstorming. To use the brainstorming process effectively requires following a prescribed set of rules very closely. Produce Creativity: 4 Ways To Motivate Your Melon It was 8:00 PM and I'd hit a creative wall - hard. But there was so much work to be done! And I just had to get out of the office or else my article would never get finished. Connect with Your Inner Artist In the "Roadblocks to Creativity" e-course, we look at the 7 most common things that block our creative expression. So, if we're "blocked" when we're facing those things, what are we like when we're free of them?Well, certainly we're connected to our "Inner Artist". Top Ten Brainstorming Techniques for Business Success We experience creativity every time a fresh idea pops into our minds. We recognize creative imagination in everything from a pastel painting to a business plan. Creativity: The Key To Getting More Done In Less Time If your to-do list seems as long at the end of the day as it did at the start (or worse yet, longer!) then you could definitely use an injection of creativity in your work day.Here are five simple ways of using your creativity to improve the quality of your day:1) Stop banging your head against the wall -- A good chunk of the time people waste in a day is due to stressing over the same problems that face them day after day. I Want To Create... What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a successful life, a good life, a sculpture, a piece of art, a book? What is it that you would like to create? Whatever you want you can achieve it. All you have to do is follow your natural compass. 5 Ways to Enhance Your Creativity We're born creative. However, this innate characteristic becomes buried as we get older. Are You Creative? Have you ever heard the saying, "The harder I work, the luckier I get?" Guess what? That's the way it is with creative inspiration too.Don't Wait For Creative InspirationGraham Green, the famous English writer, attributes much of his success to a simple habit: He forced himself to write at least 500 words daily, whether he felt like it or not. Should You Quit Your Job for Your Dream? The next time you're moodily sitting in your office, wishing you were living your dream instead, answer the following questions? or answer them now! They'll give you a sense of whether or not now's the time to make the break.My job is making me crazy; so crazy I'd do anything to quit. Mindfulness and Music: Things That Go Hmmm Shhh.. Creativity and Broken Eggs In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.They offered the enormous prize of 200 gold florins to the architect whose genius could span the unfinished dome of the Florence Cathedral. Becoming More Creative -- What We Can Learn From Disney When you think about the legacies Walt Disney left us, do talking mice and a multigizillion dollar company come to mind? Actually, those are only the products of his prodigious and rich creativity - dig deeper and you start to realize one of the most intriguing heritages Disney left was his processes.Disney was a creative and problem-solving genius. 10 Ways To Boost Your Creativity Creativity is your birthright - but can often be hidden in the everyday. To facilitate your personal development and self growth, here are some creativity tips you can use to resurrect, refresh and enhance your creative faculties. Its Time to Get Out of the Box "It is never too late to be what you might have been. "(George Eliot)I have found that truly successful people surround themselves with the support that makes them excel. Creativity and Innovation Management : Why Products Fail! There is no sure fire route to commercial success but the probability of success can be increased. This is important for at least two reasons:a) Resource Management. Turning Obstacles Into Blessings "Your capacity to be creatively alive in virtually all life circumstances will depend in large part upon the kind of attitude you choose for yourself."- Dr.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
