Author Topic: Seriously Considering my own Aviation Art Business (Read 1199 times)

RedDg · « **on:** May 16, 2003, 12:11:09 AM »

First off, I believe everyone has at least one great talent, or gift that goes unused. I also believe that deep down everyone has a ‘caged tiger’ inside them that is waiting for the right moment to come out. All my life, I have doodled and drawn all over everything I could get my hands on. This is especially true when I am very bored (all through school).

I’ve never studied art, nor care particularly about art history. One thing I have been amazed with is aircraft, especially fighters. After 11 years in the Air Force (got out right before 9/11) and finishing college, I’m finding myself driven to pursue my real dream. All of us have something fun we know we could do all day if we could just get paid for it (sims anyone?). The thing is, I need information and I’m hoping I might find some here.

I want to know how successful aviation artists fair in the real world. I’m not saying that I want to be able to quit my day job in 30 days, but I don’t know where to go to find out if an artist with talent can make it in their own business. What does it really take? How does one get prints made? Marketing? How does one show their work? Maybe at a booth at an air show or something.

Let me also say that I’m not afraid of work. I have lots of drive and passion for what I’m talking about here, but I have no business knowledge for the art market yet. I have good business sense in other areas and catch on very quickly. Is there someone who would share what they know. I would be very grateful. See you all in the skies.

By the way, all these are hanging in my son’s bedroom. to my little wingman. All are drawn with a pencil, charcoal, and pastel chalk.

"Nevada Gunfighters"

"Dark Thunder"

oboe · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2003, 06:35:01 AM »

You've got a nice style there. Very good work!

I would think a search on the Internet might yield some helpful results. I think the Air Force has an Art Program, too. You might be able to find out more about that through some contacts.

Good Luck with your dream!

Eagler · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2003, 07:07:17 AM »

very nice but you forgot the props

seriously - get a website

cheap way to start and you can write it off your taxes

put one or two up for bid in ebay, put links in newsgroups & other avaition related online forums. anything to get the word out ...

print up some business cards and hand them out at airshows, etc..

you have a talent - exploit it

gl

Ghosth · « **Reply #3 on:** May 16, 2003, 07:25:34 AM »

My advice

Spend a day or 4 at an art gallery or Museum. Take your time at each piicture, make notes, what did he use that you can learn from?

Or go to art school, but you seemed more like a hands on kind of guy.

I think the talent is there without question. Like any muscle it needs to be trained, flexed, & used to be effective.

OIO · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2003, 12:22:37 PM »

Start easy.

Like, you could start making custom-ordered drawings in these games (AH, IL2, WW2OL).

Would Frenchy pay 25 bucks for a drawing of his P47 with his name on it & a 109 burning in the background?

Would some WW2OL geek pay to have his H75 drawn in a vulch run on a german airfield?

Eagler · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2003, 01:08:09 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by OIO
Start easy.

Like, you could start making custom-ordered drawings in these games (AH, IL2, WW2OL).

Would Frenchy pay 25 bucks for a drawing of his P47 with his name on it & a 109 burning in the background?

Would some WW2OL geek pay to have his H75 drawn in a vulch run on a german airfield?

heck I would .. a nice 12x12 pencil/charcoal Eagler 109

what ya charge for something like that RedDg?

post some prices ... me thinks it'd be more than $25

Steve · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2003, 02:04:47 PM »

Wow! you drew those? Count your blessings, lad. It's a gift indeed to have a talent like that.

muckmaw · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2003, 02:09:55 PM »

Some of the guys are on to something here.

Get a websight, and post some of your better work.

I used to get a free websight from Geocities..sucked but...well, it was free.

I would inquire with HTC about getting some banner space too.

The idea of drawing players' favorite rides would sell.

I would be more interested in if you could do something where you actually drew ME next to, or sitting in my favorite ride.

If you work in oils, E-bay is good. I make good money buying no name oils at garage sales for 5 bucks. I get anywhere from $20 to $200 for them on e-bay depending on the quality.

Theres alot of Aviation enthusiats out there. If you've got the talent, why not?

muckmaw · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2003, 02:14:07 PM »

If I may offer some constructive crisitcism, too...

The lines are great, but the pictures you displayed need more detail. Theres not much going on in the backround, and the planes need markings, panel lines, etc.

Check out some of the work on Art.com.

I paid $30 for a print of a spitfire from Barrie Clark. An original oil would fetch much more.

http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/ui--8D06C75A1A714347B73D458D03DF820D/PD--10027899/sOrig--CRT/sOrigId--2333/Spitfire.htm#

CMC Airboss · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2003, 02:29:09 PM »

See if you can attend a business and marketing class or two. The SBA (Small Business Association) has a fantastic website with lots of resources. You might also want to obtain a business loan application - not so much to get a loan, but it gets you thinking along the lines of what it takes to run a business.

If starting a business doesn't interest you, check out local Co-ops that are owned and run by other artists. You'll have an opportunity to display and sell your art while collaborating with other artists. Contact other aviation artists directly by email or phone. Most are very personable and are happy to share what they've learned. There are also online distributors of aviation art, such as Brooks Aviation Art (http://www.brooksart.com/) and Fox Gallery (http://www.framingfox.com/faqabavart.html). That page at Fox has a great description of Aviation Art and some of the products you could consider providing.

MiG

Curval · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2003, 02:49:06 PM »

Reddg

I'll commission a drawing right now. I need a drawing of a Swordfish..the old torpedo bombers...used on the Taranto raids.

Seriously. I want it so that I can get a vet who flew one to sign it.

E-mail me at mrwolf_riaz@yahoo.com.

OIO · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2003, 03:12:20 PM »

"Wow! you drew those? Count your blessings, lad. It's a gift indeed to have a talent like that"

Indeed!

Ive always wanted to be able to do cartoonist work. Unfortunately the artistic side of my brain is dead. I cant draw a stickman without screwing it up.

Yet I know a girl who never took art class, never had any interest in drawing or cartoons...and she can draw anime PERFECTLY using a pen and without using a roughdraft.

un-believable.

I hate her.

Scootter · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2003, 03:26:00 PM »

Nice Job Dog

One word try Ebay get a feel how much people will pay and won't cost ya much to try.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3520834050&category=360

as an example

Leslie · « **Reply #13 on:** May 16, 2003, 04:10:53 PM »

Hiyi RedDg:

I'm an artist and have been doing some research into doing some offset prints of some of my artwork.

My best advice is, take your original work to other artists for their critique. Your work looks very competent from the pics. Join your local art museum and arrange an appointment with the Director. See what he thinks. If you're a member of the museum, he may send some business your way.

Show your work to aviation museums, and become a member of the museum. This will help you get some "exposure." Enter the work in aviation related art shows...the Director could probably help you with locating them. You might even try looking for them on the Internet (Aviation Art shows.)

Being in shows helps build up your resume...and you need that to get started. Plus, it's good to meet other artists and get to know them. They can help you as far as joining local art associations if you are so inclined.

Always get involved with the local art scene.

............................. ............................. ............................. ..................

Offset prints are expensive to have made. I've done it before on a 500 edition poster of a Confederate soldier I painted. Because I did it on speculation, and had no agent to help sell 'em, I now have a lot of birthday presents...LOL.

It's nice to meet you RedDg You didn't say what size the work you posted is. I imagined the first one as a large oil painting, and how neat that looks.

Les

-EnVY- · « **Reply #14 on:** May 16, 2003, 04:23:04 PM »

Reddog,
A couple of things to keep in mind for more realism:
Objects in the foreground of a composition generally have higher contrast, the lights are lighter and the darks darker. Also, I noticed immediately that the cast shadows(in your first image) are very black. This tends to deaden shadow, and unless your doing a Frank Miller/Sin City thing, try to steer away from too much black. You can create black by mixing blue, green, and red. this may be alittle difficult to accomplish at first with pastels, so if you have to use black, try to use some other color in there as well, possibly a cool color(blues, purps)