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Art Money & Success: A complete and easy-to-follow system for the artist who wasn't born with a business mind.
FINALLY MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT YOU LOVE Why is it that some artists are wildly successful, while others just barely squeak by? It may seem like an unfathomable mystery, how some are earning six figures while other, more talented artists, are struggling. Maria Brophy has dedicated 20 years of her life to researching the specific strategies that successful artists follow. After applying these strategies to her husband Drew Brophy’s career, Maria grew his art sales to multiple six-figures yearly. In ART MONEY SUCCESS, Maria tells personal stories of her own business deals, successes and failures, while sharing non-conventional wisdom that will explode your art sales. With the exercises and worksheets included, you can apply the insights to your own business for immediate results. The tools inside will help • Connect with your right buyers • Increase your $$$ income today • Sell art easily and negotiate nicely • License your art and get paid multiple times for one artwork • Implement powerful money and business practices • Trust your own creative intuition There are worksheets in the book, designed to help you get immediate results as you work through it. Free, printable downloads of the worksheets are available in an ART, MONEY & SUCCESS Companion Workbook at Maria Brophy's site. The worksheets are designed to be used alongside the Kindle Version of the book, so that you can write with "pen on paper" as you follow along through each lesson. If you are interested in generating more money and success from your art, then ART, MONEY & SUCCESS is for you! Find buyers, get paid fairly, negotiate nicely, deal with copycats and sell more art.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2017
185 people are currently reading
460 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 4, 2021
There is a lot of advice about licensing, making contracts, commissions, red flags to be aware of. But this book is written from the perspective of the marketer, she is the one doing the business side of her husbands art (while he makes art all day) and sure that is how a lot of businesses out there run these days, one doing the art, one doing the technical stuff. They started a long time ago, before internet sales were a big thing... they collaborated with local brands, galleries, did some cold calling. It's easy to start selling online once you have already build your network.
But what if you are a starter and you need to do it all because there is no budget for an assistant, or you have a partner who can not get involved. There is no advice for newbies, there is nothing on how to balance work vs all the technical stuff. What if you live in a place without multinational brands and galleries which attracts dozens of new clients... how to start with nothing, with no help and only the internet? Those questions are not answered.
This is the book you would give to your spouse if they want to help out with your business. There is good advice in this book, don't get me wrong! Just know this book is heavily focused on merchandise and licensing... how to make a painting once and keep earning money from it for years to come. It's not exactly a how to, because basically the way to do this is licensing or turning the art into merch - there is no step by step, but the examples of red flags (about companies) and how to protect yourself with contracts, is very useful. IF you go down that road of course.
Will this help you out with your society6 or redbubble shop? Not even close. Does the book teach you how to expand your online network? Absolutely not. But they do write about the mistakes they made, so you don't have to.
So in short, it's a pretty good book if you are into licensing and turning your art into merch, but only if this is specific to your niche and you were searching for a book with professional advice.
But what if you are a starter and you need to do it all because there is no budget for an assistant, or you have a partner who can not get involved. There is no advice for newbies, there is nothing on how to balance work vs all the technical stuff. What if you live in a place without multinational brands and galleries which attracts dozens of new clients... how to start with nothing, with no help and only the internet? Those questions are not answered.
This is the book you would give to your spouse if they want to help out with your business. There is good advice in this book, don't get me wrong! Just know this book is heavily focused on merchandise and licensing... how to make a painting once and keep earning money from it for years to come. It's not exactly a how to, because basically the way to do this is licensing or turning the art into merch - there is no step by step, but the examples of red flags (about companies) and how to protect yourself with contracts, is very useful. IF you go down that road of course.
Will this help you out with your society6 or redbubble shop? Not even close. Does the book teach you how to expand your online network? Absolutely not. But they do write about the mistakes they made, so you don't have to.
So in short, it's a pretty good book if you are into licensing and turning your art into merch, but only if this is specific to your niche and you were searching for a book with professional advice.
June 10, 2017
I certainly wasn't born with a business mind, much artistic talent or any inclination to surf. So this most Californian of how-to books that focusses on how the author went about selling her surf-loving husband's art should have rubbed me – a cynical Old World Brit who merely dabbles in water colours when he's had too much to drink – up the wrong way. And yet, despite the odd mix of woo-woo spiritualism and crass Yankee commercialism (you have to emanate true love for other people before you can close the deal) I found myself, dare I say it, agreeing with her. After reading this personal guide to negotiating the choppy waters of making a living through creating art I was inspired. OK, I don't have the talent (yet) to make a living from my art, but I do have the tenacity. Put a cork in the wine bottle, and get to work. Business and art don't have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, as you realise the further you get though the book, good art and good business go hand in hand. The bottom line? If you have any desire to make a living from your art, I recommend you read this practical, inspirational book.
Download my starter library for free here - http://eepurl.com/bFkt0X
Download my starter library for free here - http://eepurl.com/bFkt0X
April 13, 2019
There is soooo much good, practical advice in here! It’s not vague at all (they even discuss pricing with numbers! Gasp!) I’m gonna go back through it with a notepad and finally get things on a better footing.
March 14, 2024
Written by the wife and manager of artist Drew Brophy, this book gathers decades of knowledge she gained about selling and licensing her husband's art, with pitfalls to avoid and many operational avenues to explore to sell and promote your art as well as possible income streams to turn our art practice into a profitable business.
I am very grateful that Maria Brophy took the time to put this book together and share insider information about the art business, as it gives a lot of starting points, including commercial and sales advice that is generic (doesn't only apply to selling artwork) but is worth mentioning, especially for artists who have no knowledge about communication or sales techniques at all.
However, there was content I was expecting as an artist who is trying to make money with my art, and didn't find in this book, perhaps because the author is the artist's wife and not an artist herself, so there are some fundamental needs or blocks that she isn't aware of ?
No in-depth content about mindset : how to allow myself to show and sell my art, to treat it as a business, to overcome the limitations specific to artists when it comes to money and self-promotion (which is very different from most other industries). She says we have to adopt such a mindset, but doesn't really give any ideas as to how to cultivate said mindset when it doesn't come naturally.
No advice on how to manage time and prioritise all those promotion and sales strategies : when we are just starting out, time is very precious, as many of us still need to work on the side to make money so the time dedicated to art is already short, and then most of that time is used to make the art itself, so when we can't afford an assistant or don't have a helpful spouse with enough free time to do it for us, how do we manage our time and energy? How do we prioritize where to start promoting our art among all this advice ?
No global strategy with steps or a timeline : the advice in the book seemed to be piled up by chapters in a random order, without a global structure as to where to start when we are at the beginning of setting up our art business. There is no particular hierarchy among the pieces of advice, and some chapters arrived curiously late.
For example the chapter about treating your art business as a business arrives 19th at page 140, whereas it seems to me that it should be one of the very first things to say, before talking about calling 5 clients a day or attending events or sending newsletters and press releases. And the chapter about creating without fear is the very last chapter, when I'd think creating your art to be the very first thing to do before selling it.
There is precious little about online strategies - it shows that the book was written by someone who started their career in the 90s, when artists where fewer and in-person networking was much more impactful, and living in an affluent region where it is possible to locally reach wealthy buyers. But now in 2024, when Internet and social media have allowed so many new artists to share their art (which is awonderful thing), how do you get visiblity ? If you live in a region where there aren't really any local galleries, or clubs and charities, or physical events where our "right buyers" are supposed to meet up, how do you get started ?
Also, while some of the advice is very generic, much of it, on the other hand, only applies to artists similar to her husband, so illustrative artists who sell expensive originals and have an art style that goes well with licensing and merchandising.
So, in conclusion, I think it's a good book to start with if you think to build a business around your art practice and have no notion about the various options a visual artist can have in this market. There you will find many ideas with detailed operational tips to get familiar with.
But if, like myself, you consume art business content and already are a little bit informed about the industry, communications and sales techniques etc., this book might feel disjointed and outdated, with information you'll already have come across elsewhere, while not really offering any useful strategies for starting out alone in this day and age with little time or money.
I am very grateful that Maria Brophy took the time to put this book together and share insider information about the art business, as it gives a lot of starting points, including commercial and sales advice that is generic (doesn't only apply to selling artwork) but is worth mentioning, especially for artists who have no knowledge about communication or sales techniques at all.
However, there was content I was expecting as an artist who is trying to make money with my art, and didn't find in this book, perhaps because the author is the artist's wife and not an artist herself, so there are some fundamental needs or blocks that she isn't aware of ?
No in-depth content about mindset : how to allow myself to show and sell my art, to treat it as a business, to overcome the limitations specific to artists when it comes to money and self-promotion (which is very different from most other industries). She says we have to adopt such a mindset, but doesn't really give any ideas as to how to cultivate said mindset when it doesn't come naturally.
No advice on how to manage time and prioritise all those promotion and sales strategies : when we are just starting out, time is very precious, as many of us still need to work on the side to make money so the time dedicated to art is already short, and then most of that time is used to make the art itself, so when we can't afford an assistant or don't have a helpful spouse with enough free time to do it for us, how do we manage our time and energy? How do we prioritize where to start promoting our art among all this advice ?
No global strategy with steps or a timeline : the advice in the book seemed to be piled up by chapters in a random order, without a global structure as to where to start when we are at the beginning of setting up our art business. There is no particular hierarchy among the pieces of advice, and some chapters arrived curiously late.
For example the chapter about treating your art business as a business arrives 19th at page 140, whereas it seems to me that it should be one of the very first things to say, before talking about calling 5 clients a day or attending events or sending newsletters and press releases. And the chapter about creating without fear is the very last chapter, when I'd think creating your art to be the very first thing to do before selling it.
There is precious little about online strategies - it shows that the book was written by someone who started their career in the 90s, when artists where fewer and in-person networking was much more impactful, and living in an affluent region where it is possible to locally reach wealthy buyers. But now in 2024, when Internet and social media have allowed so many new artists to share their art (which is awonderful thing), how do you get visiblity ? If you live in a region where there aren't really any local galleries, or clubs and charities, or physical events where our "right buyers" are supposed to meet up, how do you get started ?
Also, while some of the advice is very generic, much of it, on the other hand, only applies to artists similar to her husband, so illustrative artists who sell expensive originals and have an art style that goes well with licensing and merchandising.
So, in conclusion, I think it's a good book to start with if you think to build a business around your art practice and have no notion about the various options a visual artist can have in this market. There you will find many ideas with detailed operational tips to get familiar with.
But if, like myself, you consume art business content and already are a little bit informed about the industry, communications and sales techniques etc., this book might feel disjointed and outdated, with information you'll already have come across elsewhere, while not really offering any useful strategies for starting out alone in this day and age with little time or money.
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May 16, 2025*Art Money & Success* by Maria Brophy is a practical guide designed to help artists transform their creative passions into sustainable, profitable careers. Drawing from over two decades of experience managing her husband Drew Brophy's art business, Maria offers actionable strategies to navigate the often challenging intersection of art and commerce.
The book addresses common obstacles artists face, such as:
* **Lack of clarity** about personal goals and definitions of success.
* **Viewing art as a hobby** rather than a viable business.
* **Self-doubt** regarding the ability to succeed financially through art.
* **Scattered focus**, leading to ineffective marketing and sales efforts.
To overcome these challenges, Maria provides a step-by-step framework that includes:
* **Identifying and connecting with the right buyers** for your art.
* **Implementing effective pricing strategies** to ensure fair compensation.
* **Negotiating deals** confidently and professionally.
* **Exploring art licensing opportunities** to generate multiple income streams.
* **Establishing solid business practices**, including contracts and copyright protections.
* **Cultivating a positive mindset** to support ongoing growth and resilience.
Each chapter concludes with exercises and worksheets, allowing artists to apply the concepts directly to their own practices. This hands-on approach transforms the book into an interactive coaching experience, guiding readers toward immediate and tangible results.
Maria's conversational tone and real-world examples make complex business concepts accessible, especially for those without a background in entrepreneurship. By demystifying the business side of art, *Art Money & Success* empowers artists to take control of their careers, build confidence, and achieve financial success doing what they love.
The book addresses common obstacles artists face, such as:
* **Lack of clarity** about personal goals and definitions of success.
* **Viewing art as a hobby** rather than a viable business.
* **Self-doubt** regarding the ability to succeed financially through art.
* **Scattered focus**, leading to ineffective marketing and sales efforts.
To overcome these challenges, Maria provides a step-by-step framework that includes:
* **Identifying and connecting with the right buyers** for your art.
* **Implementing effective pricing strategies** to ensure fair compensation.
* **Negotiating deals** confidently and professionally.
* **Exploring art licensing opportunities** to generate multiple income streams.
* **Establishing solid business practices**, including contracts and copyright protections.
* **Cultivating a positive mindset** to support ongoing growth and resilience.
Each chapter concludes with exercises and worksheets, allowing artists to apply the concepts directly to their own practices. This hands-on approach transforms the book into an interactive coaching experience, guiding readers toward immediate and tangible results.
Maria's conversational tone and real-world examples make complex business concepts accessible, especially for those without a background in entrepreneurship. By demystifying the business side of art, *Art Money & Success* empowers artists to take control of their careers, build confidence, and achieve financial success doing what they love.
June 19, 2023
Art Money & Success is a comprehensive book on marketing strategies and management of an art business. There are examples of potential pitfalls and traps and detailed explanations of dealing with tricky situations in the industry. I found it insightful and interesting and am re-reading it to absorb and reinforce some of its ideas. Maria Brophy is transparent and objective, and the book is enjoyable and enriching.
However, it is clear that the author is her husband's manager (Drew Brophy), and she is in charge of negotiating his art fees and contracts, sales, promotion and more. While I wholeheartedly admire their partnership, artists rarely have partners that can do the managerial/administrative work for them. It would be highly appreciated if the author could have included ways in which artists can balance their creativity and production endeavours alongside business management.
It is highly recommended for art businesses interested in sharpening their managerial and promotional skills, as well as those new to the art business, to familiarise themselves with some industry best practices, challenge some of them, and learn how to deal with common professional mishaps.
However, it is clear that the author is her husband's manager (Drew Brophy), and she is in charge of negotiating his art fees and contracts, sales, promotion and more. While I wholeheartedly admire their partnership, artists rarely have partners that can do the managerial/administrative work for them. It would be highly appreciated if the author could have included ways in which artists can balance their creativity and production endeavours alongside business management.
It is highly recommended for art businesses interested in sharpening their managerial and promotional skills, as well as those new to the art business, to familiarise themselves with some industry best practices, challenge some of them, and learn how to deal with common professional mishaps.
May 13, 2021
What a FANTASTIC book - it is exactly what I was looking for when I have been searching for art business books. As someone who wants to become more serious about her art business, I didn’t know who to turn to because I didn’t know anyone professionally who I can ask for advice or how to even get more exposed outside social media platforms. Maria is a friend I didn’t have in the art world and helped me navigate the art world through this book with actual, tangible and applicable advice - thank you for making me understand the value of my work and what to expect moving forward. The book was so vital in understanding how the art business works, from “vanity galleries” to what does licensing mean or even how to negotiate a contract. Thank you for helping artists such as myself to understand what is out there and how to navigate it!
September 11, 2021
A must-read for any and all artists trying to learn more about art-specific business information written in positive and clear language.
Too often, as artists, we read books about art or books about business, trying to gain some insight or make or work out how those two meld together. This book is the answer to this, and topics range from figuring out which "art market" you want to be in and pricing your work to copyrights and everything in between. Scattered throughout are personal anecdotes and worksheets to help you sort out your own personal insights.
Highly recommended, and as a side note, Maria has also begun a YouTube channel and there are some excellent interviews of her online as well.
Too often, as artists, we read books about art or books about business, trying to gain some insight or make or work out how those two meld together. This book is the answer to this, and topics range from figuring out which "art market" you want to be in and pricing your work to copyrights and everything in between. Scattered throughout are personal anecdotes and worksheets to help you sort out your own personal insights.
Highly recommended, and as a side note, Maria has also begun a YouTube channel and there are some excellent interviews of her online as well.
January 2, 2024
This is an excellent book. It’s full of extremely practical advice and information. I do think it is geared more towards a more commercial artist than a fine artist, which is why I take away a star, because I would have loved to have gotten more information in the fine art realm, such as getting galleries, collectors and working with designers. But the thing I like about Maria Brophy is that she writes from her unique perspective honestly and clearly. That is her niche. Overall, this book was extremely helpful and I will be using all of the techniques this year.
September 5, 2017
A very handy book, with a lot of usable information. Some areas are harder to apply directly as an oil painter and a typographer have vastly different art styles, so the section on doing live events is harder to apply to the latter. A good go to book over all, I'll see how the advice works in action.
October 17, 2019
I've followed Maria Brophy's blog for a long time. And she knows her stuff! This book is a must-have for every artist who actually wants to make a living doing what they love. I'm currently working toward that goal myself and Maria's advice is invaluable. I take every word she says to heart and I hope you will too. Wishing you success!
April 27, 2019
Very Informative
Lots of useful info on making a living as an artist. I bookmarked and highlighted more than a few pages, and will be referring back to them.
I'll have to come back and give this book a proper review once I've applied some of the tips within.
Lots of useful info on making a living as an artist. I bookmarked and highlighted more than a few pages, and will be referring back to them.
I'll have to come back and give this book a proper review once I've applied some of the tips within.
June 9, 2020
Thank you Maria Brophy for writing this book! I will read it again, probably very soon!
I made my money back from the cost of this book in one conversation I had selling one painting from her advice on how to sale art! And we are only beginning.
I made my money back from the cost of this book in one conversation I had selling one painting from her advice on how to sale art! And we are only beginning.
June 23, 2020
The book I needed in 2005 to take my art business to the next level. Fifteen years later, this book has inspired me to retool and reopen again.
The first half of the book I lived. The second half instructed me on what I need to learn and practice.
Solid business advice!
The first half of the book I lived. The second half instructed me on what I need to learn and practice.
Solid business advice!
February 22, 2021
Where was this book when I was going to school for art?
This book has taught me more than ten years of struggling as an artist with three degrees...and a mountain of debt. This is an absolute must read for every artist!
This book has taught me more than ten years of struggling as an artist with three degrees...and a mountain of debt. This is an absolute must read for every artist!
January 16, 2022
4 starts because it's very informative and can helps tons of artists, but the strategies are not applicable to every type of art and every artist. It's more helpful for people doing commercial art than fine / conceptual art.
September 5, 2018
Must-read for artists
Worth every penny! Every page is full of valuable information. It’s the perfect guide book for artists. This books deserves six stars.
Worth every penny! Every page is full of valuable information. It’s the perfect guide book for artists. This books deserves six stars.
September 27, 2019
Fairly succinct, very useful read.
August 24, 2022
Inspiring and extremely informative. Full of practical and detailed advice for the artist who wishes to earn money through their work. I will be reading this again.
March 31, 2023
Wartosciowa pozycja dla każdego artysty, zarzadzajacego wlasnym biznesem.
November 25, 2023
Not a great book for artists wanting to self start a business. But if you have a person in your life that has nothing else to do but run your business… this book is for them.
January 6, 2024
If you’re an artist and need a “you can do this!” along with a “here’s how…” this book is PERFECT.
April 3, 2024
Very helpful.
November 14, 2024
It offers practical advice, overcoming the feeling of inadequacy and step by step how to make money from art. Very eye opening for someone who enjoys art and wants to make money with it.
September 22, 2024
Dieses Buch rettet dich nicht.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews