We recently connected with Crista Cloutier and have shared our conversation below.

Crista, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Artists are always doing work that’s meaningful. It’s part of being an artist. We imbue our work itself with meaning. 

My job is to help artists bring that sense of meaning-fullness to their professional practice as well their creative work.

I’m interested in helping artists to answer these questions:

• How do I best promote and represent my art?

•How do I achieve more sales and success?

I love helping artists to bring more clarity to their professional practice and to guide them on that journey. That’s why I created The Working Artist, which has been one of my most meaningful projects to date.

Crista, 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 have had a big life in art, working in and around the world of contemporary art throughout my career. I’ve marketed artwork and made sales for hundreds of artists internationally. I’ve curated dozens of global exhibitions. My professional files are now housed in the American Art Archives at the Smithsonian Institute.

But for the past decade, I’ve focused on mentoring artists. I work with blue-chip names as well as those who are just starting out and want to sell locally or online. 

Every artist is different and there is no cookie-cutter strategy. But there is a path that every artist must take, and dues that every artist must pay.

The truth is that the Artist’s Journey never ends. We always aim higher and think about the ‘next’. We never rest on our laurels, and I’ve certainly never met an artist who’s retired.

Because being an artist is about who you are and not what you do.

The Artist’s Journey is the most meaningful path you’ll follow in your life. The more you achieve, the more you’ll yearn to grow, constantly challenging yourself creatively and professionally.

Sometimes artists get stopped or stuck.

• Maybe you don’t know what to do next?

• Maybe you don’t know how you can possibly achieve your vision?

• Maybe you haven’t found the right people who believe in your work?

This is where I can help. This is my work.

For those who don’t know me, my name is Crista Cloutier and I’m the creator of The Working Artist. I work as a consultant, coach, business trainer, and mentor for visual artists.

In addition to my background in the art business, I’m an artist too.
I went to art school. I got the degree – and the big fat debt. I had to get the ‘real job’ to pay off my student loans.

I got lucky. I landed a job in a prestigious art studio where I was trained to sell art. I developed such a talent for art marketing and sales that within a year, I’d been promoted to director of the whole company.

My job was to sell art to galleries, museums, interior designers, and private collectors. I had to do everything that artists do, only I did it for dozens of artists: in every medium, every price point, and all over the world.

I share this because I know how difficult it is to work as an artist.

But I also know how artists can be their own worst enemy, getting in their own way and making the same mistakes over and over. Through The Working Artist, I help artists to get past blocks and into the marketplace.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

People often ask me this question about what society can do to help artists thrive. I understand the question and like everyone, I have a lot of ideas.

But I think there’s a far more important question: What can artists themselves do in a society that attaches little value to their work?

This question forces us artists to take responsibility for our own work.

Rather than wait for society to understand the importance of art, we’ve got to show how important creativity is by valuing it ourselves first.

We must stop looking for outside validation. We must learn to first value our work and our worth for the joy and meaning it offers. We must reject claims that an artist’s worth equals a number in their bank account. We must reject outworn labels and myths about artists.

We must show the value of the art business by engaging in it to the best of our ability:

• Understanding our finances.

• Placing the proper prices on our work.

• Making meaningful connections with our audience.

• Investing in our work ourselves.

This is how we change the world, we start with changing ourselves first.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Ten years ago, I ran away from home.

After spending years developing an international reputation as an arts dealer and curator, I quit. I walked away from a big glamorous career so that I could reconnect with my own creativity and work as an artist once again myself.

I moved to England. I shared the art I made and the lessons I learned as I put my new life together. Along the way, I taught thousands of artists how to do the same when I created The Working Artist Program.

Today, I live in the South of France where I write, take photographs and work with artists worldwide.

Has it been easy? Hell no.

Has it been worth it? Hell yes.

I’m preparing to publish my first book and will be launching a Kickstarter campaign soon. This is the next step in my own creative journey. My plan is to have a global book tour where I can connect with artists in person. 

I’d love to meet everyone who is reading this! I invite you to join my email list at www.theworkingartist.com.

I’ve created some powerful free resources there. You’ll be inspired and empowered to improve your professional practice, to achieve your own dreams.

As artists, we must remember that our art is not here to support us, we are here to support our art. Let’s do it together.

Contact Info:

• Website: theworkingartist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cristacloutier/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/crista-the-artist-whisperer-b95a0217
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuRilkCHrIwDyq0xwCA9RJg

Image Credits
All photos by Crista Cloutier