The Painted Word by Tom Wolfe. St. Martin’s Press, reissued 2024. A controversial book filled with many humorous pages of ridicule about the modern art world, including an attack on “art speak,” the nauseating language used by critics and artists alike. Wolfe smugly suggests that in today’s world, visual art only exists to illustrate the Read more about The Painted Word[…]
How to Survive & Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself without Selling Your Soul by Caroll Michels. New York: Allworth Press, revised 2018. Written for fine artists ready to launch their careers as well as experienced artists eager to relaunch their careers. “Michels explodes the romantic notion of the starving artist.” —The New York Times Read more about How to Survive & Prosper as an Artist[…]
The Artist’s Guide to Public Art by Lynn Basa, Mary Jane Jacob, and Barbara T. Hoffman. New York: Allworth Press. Second Edition, 2019 Presents information on how to find, apply for, compete for, and win a public art commission. Includes interviews with artists and arts administrators experienced in the public art field. The new edition Read more about The Artist’s Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions[…]
Guide to Getting Arts Grants by Ellen Liberatori. New York: Allworth Press, 2006 Provides artists (and arts groups) with information on facts and skills needed for grants applications in the arts, including formulating budgets, mastering the intricacies of the application process, online resources and application opportunities, insights into understanding the selection and review process, and Read more about Guide to Getting Arts Grants[…]
Licensing Art & Design by Caryn R. Leland. New York: Allworth Press, revised 1995 Contains advice on how to license creative images with information on protecting ideas using copyrights, patents, and trademarks; maximizing royalties; finding manufacturers and distributors; and licensing in cyberspace. Includes a model licensing agreement. Click to order from Amazon.com
Legal Guide for the Visual Artist by M.J. Bogatin and Tad Crawford. New York: Allworth Press, revised 2022. Covers copyright, contracts, sales, taxation, estate planning, and many other legal issues of importance to artists and their work. The new edition includes a discussion of new media and electronic rights. Click to order from Amazon.com
Aphorisms for Artists: 100 Ways Toward Better Art by Walter Darby Bannard. New York: Allworth Press 2024. From Amazon.com: “Why do young artists struggle to find their voices? Walter Darby Bannard, a renowned teacher, critic, and internationally exhibited painter, contemplated that question for more than two decades . . . Bannard set down his thoughts Read more about Aphorisms for Artists[…]
Business and Legal Forms for Fine Artists by Tad Crawford. New York: Allworth Press, revised 2014 Contains ready-to-use forms with detailed instructions, including artist-gallery agreements, and contracts for sales, commissions, and limited editions. Includes a CD-ROM to print out the various forms. Click to order from Amazon.com
Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See by Bianca Bosker, New York: Viking, 2024 “ . . . Bianca Bosker’s existence was upended when she wandered into the art world—and couldn’t look away. Intrigued by artists who hyperventilate around their favorite colors Read more about Get the Picture[…]
The Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing: How to Find Funds and Write Foolproof Proposals for the Visual, Literary, and Performing Artist by Gigi Rosenberg. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 2010. Empowers artists with the tools they need to find and win funding. Includes time-tested strategies, anecdotes from dozens of funded artists, and tips from grants officers Read more about The Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing[…]