Con one make a living out of art?

hi, I am a aspiring young (i guess 33 is young) artist, picking up oilpainting and drawing again after a pause of 10 years. I quitted my job to do illustration, but to be honest i actually hate advertising and all of its community, plus advertising agencys here in Belgium dont want to pay something decent for a illustration, it almost always has to be photograph (not to offend annyone but personal feelings). I know my heart goes out to painting like SARGENT, PAUL OXBOROUGH, new impressionism. As a kid those where the people i wanted to be. Several people told me it is impossible to make a living out of fine art and maybe murals. One told me that maybe only 1000 people can live of there art. Can someone help me out what to decide, there personal experiences, etc. I know this is a vage question, but i am floating at this moment and some reality check would do me good.

Thanks in Advance

Don't give up your day job! Or at least, find one that will give you more pleasure than you seem to be deriving from illustration. I know artists who do both quite satisfactorily, but of course, they all aspire to make their living doing 'fine' art. I do make a living wage with my art, but it didn't happen overnight. I would have starved long before I reached this point without outside help. The flip side is: when you work to sell, it really does become work, and if you are easy on yourself, you don't work as hard (less product) if you are hard on yourself, you begin to dread the studio, the work, the deadlines, the requests, the assumptions. And sometimes the paycheck isn't in the mail. It's not all roses.

L.

given your background, it doesn't sound like you were exactly 'married' to your love of art. very good artists don't just leave it for ten years.

so yes, you will find it very difficult, though not impossible. and if there is not the love of art to drive you to improve, it will be MORE difficult still. i find that buyers are very discerning about the effort you put into your art. they can see the bullshit.

being a professional is also a business. you'll have to find your

I also tried quitting work at 33 to paint full-time, but ended up having to get into graphic design to survive. I was in the advertising industry for 15 years, and hated many aspects of it too. I slowly built up painting sales over the years but some of my early encounters with slow paying or even non-paying galleries convinced me of the need to embrace the business side of art. At art school you accept that the natural process seems to be poverty in the beginning until your paintings begin to sell. In reality, I found, even when paintings begin to sell you have to face many other business challenges. Just like any other business.

But, yes, I do believe that it is possible to paint full-time successfully; I have several friends and acquaintances who do so. Build your reputation through art competitions; always seek to expand the number of good galleries that represent your work. Keep promoting; keep working. I'm currently doing a small business course, which has helped a lot. I have mapped out a business plan that will get me to where I intend to be within the next few years, by age 50. It's been a long haul, but it will definitely be worth the effort.

Regards, Glenn Miller

you need to live in a country where people spend money,the good ole USA.you have to be good. let me see your work and i will tell you if you have the potential. portraits,stillife,landscape?what is your focus?you need to know how to market your work. you need to understand cost vs sale price,working with gallerys etc. think big. deal with negetive feedback.deal with positive feedback with humility and class.post a link to your work.as a working artist,i will give you an educated unbiased opinion