BECOMING AN ARTIST BASED IN NEW YORK

New York is there for you if you are a passionate art lover and have always dreamed of becoming a painter, sculptor, photographer, or any kind of artist. You don’t have to have a degree in one of these arts. New York is full of self-educated artists who are brilliant at their work. Since that is the case, you might want to be cautious of the competition. Although talent is essential, and a degree is not a requirement, remember that having a degree from one of the best art colleges in America can open many doors for you. It is more likely your degree, combined with your talent, will open the heavy doors of the Gagosian Gallery.

With its rich art history, New York draws many artists each year. Glamorous and romantic stories of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and many more still have an impact on artists of today. What artist doesn’t dream of a spacious loft filled with natural sunlight that shines through the enormous windows? However, as mesmerizing as New York City can be, dreams are not all that it takes to live as an artist in New York City. There are numerous everyday things you need to take into consideration. You need to think about:

• Finding a place to live and work – an essential part when you want to live in New York City
• Hiring a representative – an agent might help you to launch your career in the art world much faster
• Getting inspired – New York City has many wonderful art places you can visit to get inspiration

WHAT IT TAKES TO FIND A PERFECT PLACE TO LIVE AS AN ARTIST IN NYC

When you first move to New York, to make it there as an artist, you will need to find a place for yourself to live and work in. Therefore, you might want to wait a bit with that spacious loft-like that of Andy Warhol’s. Leave that for when you become a famous artist. Most people start small when moving to NYC. That means, if you are relocating alone, it’s best to look for renting a studio since this type of apartment has the lowest rental price. And if you are not a street artist, it will serve you well for any work you must do.

Unless you already have a place to stay, for example, with family and friends, you will have to pay rent. For a beginner artist, it’s not uncommon to have a job in addition to being an artist in New York City. Until your career in the art world launches, it’s best to have a secure income. That way, you can concentrate on your art and not stress about your everyday needs.

HIRING A REPRESENTATIVE FOR ARTISTS

If you are serious about having a career as an artist, you may as well consider hiring an art agent. Without a doubt, it is the best way to help yourself. If you can afford the fees, we highly recommend you take the services of an agent. An art representative is there to find you an audience, promote your work, negotiate exhibitions, find potential buyers, and sell your work. Keep in mind that it is best to find someone with experience. Look for proof of the agent’s credibility. Research and find out who the artists that agent has previously worked with are.

NEW YORK CITY IS THE BEST PLACE FOR AN ARTIST TO GET INSPIRED

It is no secret that every artist can experience creator’s block occasionally. But the most important thing to do when this happens is not to stress about it. Leave your work, pick up your coat, and stroll through New York City’s beautiful streets. You may soon find yourself in front of one of the most incredible places for art lovers in NYC – the Metropolitan Museum of Art or popularly known as “The Met.” If you go inside, you can gaze upon some of the greatest works in art history. Is that a chance an artist would want to miss?

Besides the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with its collection of over two million works of art, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City offers plenty more places for artists and art lovers. If you feel overwhelmed by extensive art collections, you may visit some of the city’s most famous art galleries, like the Gagosian Gallery. They tend to exhibit the most popular contemporary artists. And if nothing like that interests you at this period and you just need to relax, you can visit the Columbus Circle Holiday Market and see that you don’t have to be famous to live as an artist in New York City. There you can find numerous anonymous artists selling their work. If nothing, their pure love for art will surely be an inspiration to you.

Author’s Bio: Jessica Pattison is a freelance writer who adores all forms of art. She has been engaged with many companies, and most recently she has been creating content for roadwaymoving.com. Jessica’s preferred niche is art and culture, but she also enjoys writing about interior design and landscaping. In her free time, Jessica enjoys to read and play with her two cats.

The post What it Takes to Live as an Artist in New York City appeared first on Art Business News.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and why fine art photography is your path?

A: Being an architect and a very visual person, I found my artistic expression in photography. Since my college time in Europe, I started exploring black and white photography and participated in many National Geographic competitions. During my exchange year in Marseille, I got inspired by the magical light in the south of France and spent hours in the darkroom developing my black and white photos. In 2014, I moved to New York City, where I attended several photography classes at the International Center of Photography to deepen my knowledge and experiment with photography. In April 2015, I had my first exhibition Street Photography and Urban Landscape at Columbia University. Last year, when New York City became the epicenter of the pandemic, I started my photography project on Instagram called S.O.S – Save our Spirit with the message that while the virus is strong, our New York spirit is stronger.

Q: Why did you do this project?

A: There were few reasons to create this project. First, I wanted to avoid depression while being alone during the pandemic. Second, I wanted to capture this unique moment in history. Third, I wanted to share my photography with the world.

Q: How long did this project take?

A: I started my project on March 1, 2020, when the first Coronavirus case was detected in New York City. It’s a visual diary of the Pandemic where I matched the news of the day with a relevant photo, mostly in a symbolic way. I have been posting one picture per day for 16 months now. This project became my main occupation during the pandemic and kept me busy and creative during these difficult times.

Q: What are the sizes of the images?

A: All my pictures were taken with my iPhone and their sizes are between 2-6 MB.

Q: What is the purpose of the project?

A: The purpose of the project was to document the pandemic time. When New York City became the epicenter of the pandemic, life suddenly disappeared. I was out every day capturing this surreal situation. It gave me very mixed emotions — I felt happy and sad at the same time. The City of Silence was beautiful from an artistic point of view, but it was painful to see my favorite city so empty and deserted.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish by doing this?

A: Besides the artistic aspect of my project, I wanted to keep up our spirit and support New Yorkers during this time of crisis. I felt the need to share my photography with others, while spreading the good energy and keeping up the New York spirit. We were all in this together, and everyone contributed in one way or another. I used my photography skills and my passion to deliver uplifting messages every day and show how strong and resilient New Yorkers are.

Q: Which photographers influence you and how did they influence your thinking and photographing?

A: I was always inspired by the big masters from Europe, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Doisneau. I loved their black and white street photography in Paris and the unique moments they captured with their cameras. During my classes at ICP in New York, I also discovered Vivian Maier who was a secret street photographer. I started seeing the city life in frames and was looking for those special moments which make every picture unique.

Q: What motivates you to continue taking pictures economically, politically, intellectually, or emotionally?

A: For me, photography is about capturing the moment and showing the Magic of the World. New York City is a magical place, and it changes constantly. I love the energy of this city; it drives me and inspires me every day. I’m looking for magical moments to show our diversity. My photos are mostly emotional, with a very esthetic component.

But last year I also delivered a strong message for equality and justice. I documented the City of Silence during the lockdown and participated in ten bike protests for Black Lives Matter, called Justice Rides. This difficult pandemic year was a breakthrough for me as a photographer. As a result of my hard work, I was honored to show my photography in three exhibitions in New York. Two pictures from Black Lives Matter bike protests have been featured at the Museum of the City of New York and at the Women Street Photographers group exhibition. The third picture from the Lockdown was selected for a virtual exhibition about the Quiet City at the Sembrich Museum in Lake George.

Q: Which image of the series is your favorite and why?

A: I chose a selection of my 7 favorite photos to show the diversity of the covered subjects and the development of the turbulent times during the pandemic and BLM protests. My absolute favorite picture is Hope is in the Air which was featured in one of the exhibitions. It shows the empty Ghost City covered in fog and a stop sign at the light as a symbol of a forbidden zone. The famous HOPE sculpture delivers a message of hope, but the mood of the picture is very mysterious. The lost bike stands for loneliness and confusion, while the Chase signs remind us about not giving up and chasing our dreams. It is the perfect picture to express the isolation during the pandemic time.

About Anna: Anna Jast is an architect by education and photographer by passion. She grew up in Vienna, where she graduated in Architecture at the Vienna University of Technology. In 2009 she moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where she discovered her talent for organizing shows and worked for Baselworld, the famous Jewelry and Watch Show. Anna has over ten years of international experience in event management on various interior design and exhibition projects. She strongly supports the arts and culture, while volunteering for various art shows and cultural institutions. Due to her multicultural background, Anna is fluent in four languages.

Instagram: @SaveOurSpirit_NYC

Email: annajast@yahoo.com

The post Save Our Spirit: An Interview With Anna Jast appeared first on Art Business News.

Q: Introduce yourself – who are you and what do you do?

A: My name is Danijela Spitzer, but I present myself as Dani Ropi. I am a photographer in love. My work is based on photography, but I take pictures in sketch form. My specialty is technology, so I apply my images in different programs and paint them digitally. I believe in the future we will stop using our hands, therefore I spend my free time exploring different programs. After I print my work, I caption it with a quote I believe represents each particular piece of art, or I paint some parts of the picture. Usually, it is mixed media, but I love to refer to myself as an art journalist. Every piece of mine has a long story behind the colors I use and the quotes I apply to each image.

Q: What is your background?

A: I was born in Croatia on the Island of Pag. At the age of six, I took my father’s suitcase, packed it with my favorite outfits and snacks, and wrote a letter to my parents saying I was unhappy and was leaving to go on a mission to find my happiness. I was not an easy child. I was raised on a small island where I felt like I was suffocating. There was no room to explore or be creative. My country was at war, I was confused, angry, and aggressive towards everyone. I spent my time on the streets. My twenties were spent living all over Europe – Parma, Italy, Bilbao, Spain, and London, UK. I studied in London but never finished college even though I attended three different schools. College never fit with me, the big hooligan inside of me always had a problem following the system. I learn better by educating myself, listening to my heart, and traveling. 

Q: How do you work?

A: I work in the streets. The street is my beginning and end, filled with people, energy, and action, all of which are variables that inspire me to work. 

Q: What art do you most identify with?

A: I identify most with modern and contemporary art. I like to mix old with new. 

Q: What has been your favorite experience so far as an artist?

A: Leaving everything behind, coming to America, and starting from scratch in New York City. I came here three years ago, when my art did not even exist yet. In just three years I grew, created, learned, and transformed myself into a completely different person, a person I always dreamed about. That is why most of my work is dedicated to my beautiful New York City. Leaving was the hardest thing I have ever done but I didn’t give up, even though I wanted to.

Q: Who inspires you?

A: I am not inspired by one person, but rather streets, cities, traveling, breaking the rules, politics, and plain old good conversation. It depends on what mindset I am in, my art is very personal and everything comes from the emotions I am feeling during that time. That is why I call myself a photographer in love. 

Q: What is the best advice you have received?

A: NEVER GIVE UP.

Q: When you are not working, where can we find you?

A: I am lucky to say that work doesn’t feel like work. I go from a state of euphoria to complete stillness. I like to view this as regeneration, like a Phoenix. I can stay at home for months, enjoy myself, and delve into my emotions simply through cleaning or healing my inner circle. This gives me the energy to go back on the street and create my magic again!

Q: Have you been inspired in a new way since the shelter in place orders? Anything new? A recipe, an exercise recommendation?

A: Definitely, this time gave me an opportunity to think, feel, and create. In the middle of everything, I found myself in Tampa, Florida creating new pictures. I also saw how people can react so differently to the events happening in our country. The news of George Floyd has started a revolution. We live in the most inspiring time and I hope we can become the ones who design a new system, a new world. For an artist, that is magic. 

The post Meet the Artist: Dani Ropi appeared first on Art Business News.