How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself without Selling Your Soul (Seventh Edition)

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Allworth Press, Apr 10, 2018 - Art - 999 pages
“Michels explodes the romantic notion of the starving artist.” —The New York Times

“Michels is a tough but compassionate advocate, savvy in the ways of the world and the demands on artists in this materialistic society.” —The Miami Herald

Written for fine artists ready to launch their careers as well as experienced artists who wish to relaunch their careers, How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist, Seventh Edition, an acclaimed guide, empowers artists to take control of their careers to create a fulfilling life and earn a decent income. In this newly revised edition, Caroll Michels continues to demystify the inner workings of the art world and challenge the status quo. New chapters discuss such topics as:

  • New business models for artists: Going to the extreme
  • The use of social media and website development as marketing and publicity tools and what does and doesn’t work
  • The confusion between the “art-buying public” and the “general public” and their differences
  • New suggestions for establishing and calculating prices for artwork
  • Neighborhood gentrification and the growing challenges of securing a reasonably priced live/work space
  • How dealers find artists, how to negotiate with dealers, and how to understand a dealer’s agenda


  • Using her own experiences as an artist as well as the experiences of her clients, Michels crafts a must-read guidebook for anyone interested in embarking upon a successful career as an artist.

    About the author (2018)

    Caroll Michels is a career coach and artist-advocate. She has helped thousands of artists launch and sustain their careers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and South and Central America. Her artwork has been exhibited in museums, including the Georges Pompidou Museum in Paris, Haus Am Waldsee: Internationale Kunst in Berlin, and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Michels has received numerous grants, including those awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the International Fund for the Promotion of Culture/UNESCO. Michels lived in Manhattan for more than twenty-five years and is now based in Sarasota, Florida.

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