We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Carini a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michael , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Art is something you do for the passion. You don’t do it for the money. That being said, it can also be a career, and you can make money in this industry. Art is my career and my sole source of earning. Unlike most industries though, art does not have hard and fast rules that can almost guarantee success. At times, being an artist is an absolute roller coaster ride. You can have the highest highs, followed by the lowest lows. Even if you understand the industry, and I have decades of experience doing this, you may still experience all of these things. I know I have.

This past couple years have been rough on the art industry, the past 12 months in particular. When times get tough, one of the first things people cut out is art. because it is viewed as a luxury and not a necessity. As cost of living has hit San Diego in a brutal way, it’s really a double blow for artists, because while the costs are going up for living and business expenses, people are not buying or supporting the arts as they once did. What we are currently dealing with in this industry is a reset, and I know my best shot is to just keep fighting and outlast it.

One of the biggest keys for me to make my living as an artist was to burn all bridges to a backup plan. When there is no going back, the only way is forward. One of the keys to moving forward has always been sustainability. For me, that means living a really basic, simple life. On top of that, I’ve learned to diversity my income channels and add passive and secondary sources of income. Though the value of my work has risen over time, I can’t solely depend on that, particularly with the current market struggles and the lack of art purchases I have seen in past years. Some of my additional sources of revenue are social media, licensing, speaking engagements, teaching, artist mentoring, and brand partnerships. I’m having to lean into some of these more right now, and also search for new and additional channels. Luckily, for artists, the possibilities are endless.

The truth is that if you go into business for yourself, there are going to be obstacles. There are going to be times that those obstacles even seem unsurmountable. As an artist, I’m blessed in that I’m a person accustomed to finding creative solutions.

Michael , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I like to say that I am my art and my art is me. As an artist, I really am my brand, and I am unapologetically me. One of my big focuses as a neurodivergent artist with Tourette’s is artist support. I know that for much of my journey, I simply didn’t have the support I felt I needed. I know how that felt for me, and I want to do my part to help those coming up behind me on this creative journey. I put out a lot of tips and tutorials for artists. I share my successes, but I also share my failures. I think one of the ways I really stand out is how much I put myself out there to help others, even during my struggles and as I continue to fight to find my own voice. Most of what I do is completely candid and authentic. I don’t do a bunch of scripted or polished stuff. I show people the real me, and try to let them know that it is okay for them to be who they are, whoever that may be.

In terms of services, there really isn’t anything I can’t do. I find creative solutions as I continue to fight to live my dream life. I show with galleries across the country, and have art headed to Art Miami right now for Miami Art Week. I’m currently on the lookout for new gallery partners in other markets. I’m also looking for interior designers and brands to build a relationship with. Right now my focus is on adapting to the difficult times and finding a creative solution for sustainability. What that looks like today may be different from how it looks tomorrow.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Artists really need your support right now. I understand many are operating with limited resources, but there are still ways you can help artists and small businesses like me. Word of mouth is huge. Referrals and shares go a long way. Interaction on social media is also helpful. Not only is it encouraging, many artists, myself included, earn from engagement. It’s getting tougher and tougher to be an artist. We really need community support to keep doing what we’re doing. If the artists can’t sustain, many will start to disappear. I don’t even want to imagine what these times would be like without the art and the artists.

For anyone interested in my work, I try to work with people to make it a win/win. I will work with people on price. I can ship anywhere. I offer installments. It’s often much easier than you think. If you like my work, reach out. If there’s another artist whose work you like, reach out. Even small orders make a huge difference for us.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That you should be practical with your dream and that those in your corner are looking out for you. The truth is that your dream should be a little, if not absolutely ridiculous. You also have to remember that it’s your dream. It’s not your mom’s dream. It’s not your sister’s dream. It’s not your friend’s dream. The harsh reality is that they may not understand. There’s a good chance they won’t. Don’t let that stop you. People will try to hold you back for a number of reasons, sometimes even because they think they’re protecting you. This is your dream, and it’s up to you who or what you will allow to stop you.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://cariniarts.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/acrylicalchemy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CariniArts/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acrylicalchemy/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/acrylicalchemy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CariniArts
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/carini-arts-san-diego-4
• Other: http://linktr.ee/michaelcarini

Image Credits

NA