7 Essential Pieces of Advice for Artists

Whenever I interview an artist for my blog, I always ask what their advice is for artists just starting out. When I asked Danna Fruetel (here's a link to her Artist Interview) she replied that she could write a book on the subject, and I replied with... That would be great!

A guest post written by Danna Fruetel. The views expressed are solely hers, and may not represent the views of Red Stone Art Studio.

Any advice for artists just starting out?

1. New artists must get out of their studios and meet the art centers and galleries in person. We live in Iowa, not California or New York. The owners and directors want the personal touch in Iowa. They want to meet you and talk about their business and learn about your art. 

This means you should be able to carry on a pleasant conversation. Also, remember to let them talk. They want to know that you are interested in what they are doing in their business. Ask for a tour and ask about community programs that they do. Do you feel that this gallery is a good fit for what you create? If this is a gallery that you feel good about become friends with the director. Visit them regularly. Offer to teach a workshop there. 

2. Be professional when presenting your creations. Also, make sure your creations look professional. If you desire to be taken seriously as an artist you need to look like a serious artist. Walk into every gallery with contact information, and social media information (i.e. website, Instagram, Facebook). Be sure your own appearance is pleasant. A brochure about you with images of your art is a wonderful tool. (see image) Have an artist's resume. Be on time for appointments. Artists have a reputation of being unreliable, don’t reinforce that opinion. 

Be sure when you show your art that it is displayed in a professional manner. I’ve been involved with many shows and more than once someone's piece has fallen apart due to a cheap frame. A nice frame can make all the difference in making the sale or not. 

3. If you don’t believe in your own self-worth and the value of your art then why should you expect an art gallery to believe in you? Confidence comes from inside you. Don’t expect someone else to give it to you. Galleries will hesitate to invest in you if they don’t feel they will make money out of the arrangement. They aren’t there to make you feel worthy. They are there to sell your art and make money. Artists forget that it’s a business too, not just a creative outlet. For a gallery, profit is the end goal. Many galleries are struggling now and you can help a lot just by being secure in yourself and the “product” you have produced. 

4. Discover who you are as an artist and define your style. Finding your niche in the art world can take years of searching. Give yourself permission to play with mediums. (see image) Look at a lot of others' art. What speaks to you? Narrow your focus bit by bit. Do what brings you the most joy. Within that bring your style out.

Styles change over the years. They should change as you change and grow in your medium. It grows boring to you and your audience when you continue to produce the same type of art year after year. 

5. Learn the “Business” of art. I know for many of you bookkeeping is not your thing. Learning how to handle money and doing your own advertising can save you money in the end. When I speak with young people who say they want to be artists I always recommend that they take business courses as they are getting their art degrees. I never discourage them from chasing their dreams. Add a bit of practical knowledge to that dream. 

6. Know how to price your work. There are many factors when pricing your art. You need to take a look at the area that you are selling in. You need to take into account your own skill level. A new painter can’t expect to get what a master painter gets. Learn to be honest with yourself about your skill level. Don’t ask friends and family to compare your work with a master's. Odds are they will say “You’re just as good as they are, you should get what they get”. It takes many years to build up to the skill level to demand a large price tag. 

7. Being around other artists who share the same passion for your chosen medium is vital. If there is a group for your medium join it and become involved. Get to know the masters of your medium. Their knowledge is a huge tool for you. Find those that you click with and become friends. Go to conferences and workshops for your medium. Become part of that community. These artists already have a lot in common with you. You need to make the first step towards them, they won’t make the first step towards you. 

There are groups for a lot of mediums. Within those groups, many of them have levels that you can work towards. Working towards these levels only helps with your resume and shows galleries that you are serious about the art you do. It also shows your peers that you value the medium and spend time working with it. 

In conclusion, it is your choice to be an artist. You stepped into it knowing that it’s not an easy road to travel. More than likely you are on your own to make it happen. Talk to the artists that you admire and ask them how they got to where they are. Learn to do things for yourself. Learn to speak up for yourself. Step out into the world and be proud of what you create. 

Artist Interview: Danna Fruetel, Centre for Arts and Artists

Danna Fruetel, of Newton, IA, is the first scratchboard artist I’ve had the joy of meeting in person. Scratchboard art utilizes an artistic technique of engraving, where a surface is layered with different materials/colors, usually with a dark color (like black) on the topmost layer. When the surface is scratched with a sharp instrument, it reveals the color (typically white) underneath. Once the engraving is completed, it can then be colored with paint.

“A Little Wild Thing”, 8”x10” scratchboard

“Many have said that my scratchboard work looks like embroidery,” Fruetel said, “and I am perfectly OK with that description of it. I am certainly an artist that thinks out of the box and I’m not one to follow any trends. My art comes from within and flows out of my hands.” Beautifully expressed! 

I can practically taste this piece.

Fruetel is known for her scratchboard art, and while that is her “serious” medium, she also paints in gouache (opaque watercolor) and acrylic. “When I just want to have fun outside painting (something scratchboard doesn’t work well for) I do gouache. It’s so portable and with my disability, that is important to me. When I want to do a larger painting in my studio I’ll turn to acrylic paint. It’s not as easy to work with as gouache but for larger pieces, it’s a better choice.” 

This one feels very bio-mechanical to me, what do you think?

I haven’t personally used scratchboard as a medium yet, but if you are interested in it you’re in luck because Fruetel teaches a number of different classes! “I do teach workshops on both scratchboard and gouache painting and I’ve also taught a workshop on creating mandalas. These are 3-hour introduction workshops. For my gouache class, I bring all of the supplies and we do 3 paintings, the final one is a master’s study of the student's choice. Master studies are a great way to experiment with a new medium.” Fruetel plans on teaching 2 gouache workshops this summer, one was on June 3rd at Art Domestique in Washington, Iowa the other will be held on August 12th at the Centre for Arts and Artists in Newton, Iowa. “On July 15^th at The Left Bank, I will be doing a scratchboard demo during the opening of my scratchboard show. I would like to plan a scratchboard workshop somewhere in the NW corner of Iowa but I haven’t done that yet.”

Currently, Fruetel is working on some long-term projects. One of them is her Master’s Certification in the Scratchboard Society. There are 4 levels in the Scratchboard Society and she is currently a Signature Member. “I feel I’m close to the master level,” she said. “But my technique isn’t as polished as it needs to be. That is my biggest focus at the moment.”

Check out this intricate repeating pattern!

She’s also working on a large series of gouache and scratchboard mandalas (large geometric designs, usually in a circle as the word “mandala” in ancient Sanskrit means “circle”.) “The gouache ones go much faster so I can do a couple in a month.” For these pieces, she’s taking her inspiration from both nature and industrial things. “Each one is hand drawn and it takes about a week to draw out my design.”

“Awakening of Color”, 16”x20” colored scratchboard

Her scratchboard art will be on display from mid-July through August at The Left Bank in McGregor, IA. Fruetel also has two summer shows this year of her mandalas. One will be in June at Art Domestique in Washington, IA and the other one will be during the month of August at Cafe Deim in Ames, IA.

Stunning work!

“Every year the scratchboard society has an exhibition somewhere in the world. The next one is in October and it will be in Arizona. I am working seriously on my entries for that exhibition. Scratchboard is not a fast medium and one piece can take easily over a month to do.”

“I’m also the President of Iowa Artists and that of course is a focus in my life for another year. My favorite part is connecting artists around Iowa with the art centers and galleries that need them. I’m putting together a spreadsheet of artists that are ready to teach a workshop or hang a show. This will be shared on the website so that others can reach out directly to the artists.”

Fruetel’s go-to “sharp things.”

I ask every artist I interview what their favorite tool is for making art, and I laughed when I read Fruetel’s answer: “I like sharp things. Hardware stores are a great place to find them… When I color my scratchboard I use Bombay Ink because it is the most lightfast. My favorite gouache paint is Holbein Artists Gouache. I don’t buy expensive brushes.”

“Family Treasures”, 5”x7” colored scratchboard

I also ask every artist about a struggle or stumbling block in their artistic journey. But Fruetel replied, “I’m not a person who focuses on stumbling blocks as everything is there to help me grow.” I mean, I ask because it’s so easy to think that the finished pieces we post on social media are created with ease when in reality we all struggle with something… But what a positive outlook and great answer to the question!  

“A couple of years ago my biggest issue was figuring out what I really wanted to focus on. I had stopped working and I had the time to do what I wanted to do, I just had to figure out what that was. By keeping an art scrapbook (see video above) I learned what I really liked and started heading in that direction. I made sure that I kept the artist's name with the inspirational art and began to follow each on social media. Many of them have followed me back and continue to inspire and encourage me. I also meditate every morning and that helps me keep the distractions away. The best way to describe the old me would be to watch the dog Dug from [the movie] “Up” when he yells ‘Squirrel’.”

What a scene; I love it so much!

Her experience working with other artists has taught her so much she wrote a whole list when I asked her what advice she would give to emerging artists. I’m saving that list for a guest post later on (link to come), but she did say this:

“Remember that being an artist is your dream and you are the one that is responsible for making it come true. Don’t count on others to show you the way. Carve your own path.” Well said!

If you’d like to see more of Fruetel’s artwork, check out her website at DannasDesigns.Weebly.com, or on Facebook. She also manages IowaPleinAirevents.com.