Can an artist make a living in the area? (Greenville: homes, buy)

[artriotnow]

Do people spend money and buy real art over $100, $500, $1000?

[skittle24]

Hmmmm....I'm sure they do but to what extent I don't really know. Greenville has a few art festivals during the year downtown as well as art galleries. I know that Asheville is a mecca for artisans. You could always take it there to sell it. Sorry, not much help here!

[innovator82]

There is a pretty active artist community in Spartanburg. It has developned over the past several years with new galleries opening, etc. There is a monthly Art Walk of the various galleries and venues downtown. Here is some more info on what I'm talking about.
http://www.downtownspartanburg.com/i...k%20Poster.jpg
http://www.spartanburgspark.com/2008...allery-reboot/

There is also a thing called Hub-Bub which does artists-in-residence and puts on shows, etc. I think they focus on alternative artsy stuff or whatever, but they also do art shows.

I know a guy in Spartanburg who is a watercolor painter and sells pieces locally from anywhere from $500 to $5000. He usually averages somewhere around $1000 for a piece.

He says that being in the Spartanburg art community and also in-between the Greenville and Asheville art communities has worked well for him.

[MichelleEllyn]

Yeah, I highly doubt you'd be able to make a living here on artwork alone, but I could be wrong. There are a few photographers, musicians, and artists here that make their living teaching, and sell/play gigs for extra money.

My husband is a musician that tours all over the world, but there isn't a venue within an hour and a half that will pay enough for his band to play it. This is his hometown, and even HE couldn't make a living playing locally.

[Skyliner]

Greenville's art community is much larger than Spartanburg's and Anderson's at this point, although it is great to see the creative growth happening all over the Upstate. There are plenty of people living in the area who collect expensive pieces of art for their homes and businesses, and there are lots of people from out of town who purchase work from local artists. Yes, there are lots of very talented artists making a living here in the Upstate. Check out some of the many art studios and galleries already established in Greenville for reference:

• Pendleton Street Arts District
• Village Studios & Gallery
• The Art Bomb
• Art & Light Gallery
• Art Crossing at RiverPlace
• Midtown Artery
• Artist Guild Gallery of Greenville
• The Jared Collection
• Christopher Park Gallery
• Portland Studios
• Julia Peters Studios
• Llyn Strong

For more information about the arts community, contact the Metropolitan Arts Council and Upstate Visual Arts.

[artriotnow]

It sounds like this would be a nice area to work as an artist. I am from midwest and I cant recall when I've seen folks buy a painting for $1000 or more locally where I am from. I hope with a little elbow grease I can make a living off my art and exhibit.

[ga2email]

skylaner,

Just talk about how nice Greenville's art community is instead of talking about much bigger it is than Spartanburg and Anderson's.

[MichelleEllyn]

Originally Posted by ga2email

skylaner,

Just talk about how nice Greenville's art community is instead of talking about much bigger it is than Spartanburg and Anderson's.

I don't see why we should be that censored