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This is my 2 thread on this forum. I will be moving to NJ by the end of the year from central Europe. After lot of internet research and short trip to US we have a list of 3 potential places to live (Summit, Chatham or Ridgewood).
Apart from being a business coach/trainer I am also a painter (I've been painting for couple years). I would like to develop my skills and art career in US.
I do not have formal art education, however I have attended painting courses in Europe for last 3 years.
Any tips, suggestions about organisations, art communities I should join ?
Do you have any Idea where I could search for renting cheap art studios in the area ?
Any other things I should know about ?
This is my 2 thread on this forum. I will be moving to NJ by the end of the year from central Europe. After lot of internet research and short trip to US we have a list of 3 potential places to live (Summit, Chatham or Ridgewood).
Apart from being a business coach/trainer I am also a painter (I've been painting for couple years). I would like to develop my skills and art career in US.
I do not have formal art education, however I have attended painting courses in Europe for last 3 years.
Any tips, suggestions about organisations, art communities I should join ?
Do you have any Idea where I could search for renting cheap art studios in the area ?
Any other things I should know about ?
All your tips and suggestions will be appreciated
Thanks
I know the Ridgewood area best. Here is one resource.
"Art" and "Career" are 2 terms that rarely go together, especially in a state as expensive as NJ. And you mentioned that you don't even have formal art training. The only real viable career for artists around here is teaching, which means you would need to go back to school to obtain a teaching certification, in addition to the formal art degree. And even then, teaching jobs are very difficult to obtain unless you know someone.
"Art" and "Career" are 2 terms that rarely go together, especially in a state as expensive as NJ. And you mentioned that you don't even have formal art training. The only real viable career for artists around here is teaching, which means you would need to go back to school to obtain a teaching certification, in addition to the formal art degree. And even then, teaching jobs are very difficult to obtain unless you know someone.
Have you really thought this through?
Hi,
Good to know. Thanks. Well, maybe "career" is not the right word, to describe what I am interested in. What I have in mind is continue painting, developing my skills and trying to exhibit (I am open to different venues) and sell my works. As I have mentioned I hope to have my other day job (part time), so there is no big pressure to earn a lot of money from my art. Do you think my plan is doable without formal art education or having an art degree is a must ?
Good to know. Thanks. Well, maybe "career" is not the right word, to describe what I am interested in. What I have in mind is continue painting, developing my skills and trying to exhibit (I am open to different venues) and sell my works. As I have mentioned I hope to have my other day job (part time), so there is no big pressure to earn a lot of money from my art. Do you think my plan is doable without formal art education or having an art degree is a must ?
Yes. There are obviously many, many artists, the majority of whom will never make a living with their art, but who will pursue their art for its own sake. There are a lot of artists with advanced degrees in that same category, and there are artists like you painting right next to them. I don't know how much art can be taught.
I paint like an 8-year-old. I went to one of those "paint-and-wine" nights and produced a painting that looks as if it was done by a 10-year-old. Progress!
BUT--the artist who came up with the fun night out idea now owns a chain of such places, so THEY made a career out of it, just in a different way.
Cheap art studios in those areas are going to be difficult, not because there's no art or that artists can't support themselves, but mostly because the costs per square foot for ANY kind of space are high. So you might need to drive a town over and find yourself some room, like Madison or . Depending on your subject matter, getting an extra bedroom in the house is probably the least expensive way to go about it.
That said, the main thrust you might have noticed from everyone here is that "it's impossible!" but the better way to say it is "it's difficult." Most of it has to do with a series of different costs in comparison to Europe. Health care, public transit, and a lack of government art grants are the major things you'll notice. However, our gasoline is cheaper.
Your best bet is to get here and find a local art shop, depending on your medium. I like Jerry's (https://www.jerrysartistoutlet.com/new_store/) but it's a bit of a drive from any of those towns. But once you find a decent art store they'll probably have a lead on some local studio spaces. Given NJ's history as a manufacturing giant who has seen light manufacturing leave we have a lot of buildings that people are re-using, you just need to find one local to where you'll be: https://npstudios.wordpress.com/
Good to know. Thanks. Well, maybe "career" is not the right word, to describe what I am interested in. What I have in mind is continue painting, developing my skills and trying to exhibit (I am open to different venues) and sell my works. As I have mentioned I hope to have my other day job (part time), so there is no big pressure to earn a lot of money from my art. Do you think my plan is doable without formal art education or having an art degree is a must ?
A family member of mine graduated from a 4 year "art college" in May.
She is now "formally educated/trained" & pretty darn good as far as my un-trained eye is concerned.
She's working two part-time jobs, in retail, because she has to pay the rent.
This is my 2 thread on this forum. I will be moving to NJ by the end of the year from central Europe. After lot of internet research and short trip to US we have a list of 3 potential places to live (Summit, Chatham or Ridgewood).
Apart from being a business coach/trainer I am also a painter (I've been painting for couple years). I would like to develop my skills and art career in US.
I do not have formal art education, however I have attended painting courses in Europe for last 3 years.
Any tips, suggestions about organisations, art communities I should join ?
Do you have any Idea where I could search for renting cheap art studios in the area ?
Any other things I should know about ?
All your tips and suggestions will be appreciated
Thanks
I live in Morris County (That's the county Chatham resides in). I live two houses away from an artist (painter mainly), but she was a stay at home mom who didn't need to work for money since her husband is a doctor in Kentucky and makes probably all the family's money. I'm not sure if she got paid, but she was the one who painted a whole bunch unique stuff at my elementary school in town.
Art Factory in Paterson has art studio rental space or photography studio rental space. That place was ghetto in my opinion, since I went their for an interview, but it has a good reputation.
Cheap art studios in those areas are going to be difficult, not because there's no art or that artists can't support themselves, but mostly because the costs per square foot for ANY kind of space are high. So you might need to drive a town over and find yourself some room, like Madison or . Depending on your subject matter, getting an extra bedroom in the house is probably the least expensive way to go about it.
That said, the main thrust you might have noticed from everyone here is that "it's impossible!" but the better way to say it is "it's difficult." Most of it has to do with a series of different costs in comparison to Europe. Health care, public transit, and a lack of government art grants are the major things you'll notice. However, our gasoline is cheaper.
Your best bet is to get here and find a local art shop, depending on your medium. I like Jerry's (https://www.jerrysartistoutlet.com/new_store/) but it's a bit of a drive from any of those towns. But once you find a decent art store they'll probably have a lead on some local studio spaces. Given NJ's history as a manufacturing giant who has seen light manufacturing leave we have a lot of buildings that people are re-using, you just need to find one local to where you'll be: https://npstudios.wordpress.com/
Thanks
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