How to be a FULL TIME ARTST (A work in progress)| Narrowboat artists | Ep24

Welcome to Art in the corridor !!!!!!
If you would like to buy us a coffee to help support our channel,
you can do that here www.buymeacoff...
We are Ant, Hannah and Mabel the pup, full time artists living and working from our narrowboat home "The corridor" We have spent the last 9 years exploring the rivers and canals and the last two making and selling art from the boat.
IN THIS WEEKS EPISODE we give a tongue in cheek guide on how to be a full time artist. We draw on our experiences over the past 4 years and give a quick step by step guide on how we've managed to keep ourselves afloat
#narrowboat #boatlife #art #artists #narrowboatlife #offgrid #tinyhome #illustration #watercolourpainting #printmaker #linoprint #love
ANTS ITEMS AVAILABLE HERE
www.antsavagea...
Ants Instagram
/ ant_savage_art
To view Hannah's previous work or enquire about a commission message her here
/ floatingteap. .
Hannah's Instagram
/ thefloating. .
HANNAHS MUSIC AVAILABLE HERE
hannahsavage.b...
INTRO MUSIC
LOST TUESDAY SOCIETY
losttuesdaysoc...

[@DavidBarker-ke2on]

It occurred to me, some years ago, that a lot of Artists make a lot of money by running workshops. A small group of people, 2 to 6, paying £75-£150, for 1/2 - 1 day workshop, could make it worthwhile hiring a Village Hall. Just a thought. Only recently discovered your Channel, loving it and your Art.❤

[@Artinthecorridor]

Yes agreed. It’s something Ant has considered. It’s what I used to do as part of being a dance artist and it’s worth doing. I think it will be something we have a go at, at some point with ants Lino work. I think it’s just about having the confidence. Thank you for joining us 🙏

[@DavidBarker-ke2on]

You both come across as very confident, relaxed and, I imagine, easy to get on with. What could go wrong?🙏

[@traceysavage4654]

Great as always . Happy belated birthday Ant x

[@KoolKookyKreatures]

My Sunday morning treat - watching you two lovelies! Your happy and positive videos are an absolute tonic :) ❤

[@onelastdancehere]

Thank you for joining us ❤ I've just started watching some of your videos, it's all so fascinating. I think I may become addicted 😊

[@ThePattiw]

Very well put together video! Enjoyable. One of the tips I heard was when you hashtag on Socials hashtag things like illustrators of UK or illustrators international. or design, because the people that work for those types of companies check those hashtags to see artworks and see if the artists that make them are making consistent work. You can tag companies if you give them credit, or if you use something in your print like a shop or cafe then tag them. That way they can see the work and they may be able to commission you to make something specific for them. Good luck!

[@Artinthecorridor]

Thank you that’s very interesting and helpful. We’ve tapped into this idea a little, we probably need to do a bit more. Thank you for joining us ❤️

[@tinasavage674]

Great video ant and Hannah hopefully your experience will help someone else 😊

[@coraclouden2506]

👋🏾 Hi. The "Fire" reprint I ordered arrived today and I'm really pleased with it. Maybe have t-shirts which feature some of your designs? There is a company which I think is called Spring and they print the image on the t-shirts and post them out directly ( for a small fee). That is one way you may be able to expand. There may also be companies who can print/post things like coasters with your designs. And maybe also a calendar? Also, maybe an online print making or watercolour tutorial. It is pre recorded and is automatically sent out on payment. All you would need to do is review/update the content annually

[@Artinthecorridor]

Hi, so glad it arrived and you are happy ❤ Thank you. Yes we have both done calendars before. We will be doing one again come December for next year. I’ve also had totes, note pads and coasters made. It’s quite expensive unless you can order hundreds. That is a fantastic idea regarding a paid tutorial video… hadn’t thought of that. That would work well for Ant I think. Thank you for that suggestion ❤ And thanks for watching

[@Artinthecorridor]

Ps, thank you for getting to the end to answer our question 🙋‍♀️ 😊

[@catherinemcconnell3670]

Really enjoyed this video, with lots of really good tips! I would love to be a full time artist, but not quite ready for that plunge yet! 😅 Also, I think both your artworks would look brill on tshirts and cups ect. If you're still in contact with holly the cafe boat, they'd be great to talk to, as they have a cook book out and they sell the front image of that book on tea towels. They also have a copy of the book in a little shop that Jo, I see sometimes looks after. I only came to know about you guys through holly the cafe boat, when you did a print for them and they put that image on cards and cups aswel. 😊 The tv programme Heartbeat always gave me that sinking feeling of school in the morning. 🥴😅

[@Artinthecorridor]

We are indeed. I think the problem with us at this stage is cost and storage. We are not in position to order huge amounts just yet, but that’s something for us to work towards for sure!!! But always wanted to do a lovely mug. Jo and vics mugs were lovely! We would need to have a think about the design so it wraps nicely I think . Bendy boat would work well 😂 Thank you for your thoughts and for watching ❤

[@stevenjohnparker6538]

Hi Ant, a really interesting and informative video that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. Shared to my canal groups.

[@Artinthecorridor]

Thanks Steven very much appreciated

[@jacquelineryde7339]

Just found you both, love your art and thank you for the vlogs xx

[@Artinthecorridor]

Welcome ❤ thank you for coming along and watching 🙏

[@Samantha_tookey197]

I started with the esdee kit and wooden spoon, I use an x cut machine with the long bed kit now as burnishing by hand is too much for me, and I invested in the Phiel tools, good gouges are worth the investment

[@katecragoe4488]

Great video ... really interesting! What about trying to get into all the canalside souvenir shops with pictures, cards, t-towels, coasters etc. and canalside pubs x

[@Artinthecorridor]

Ant wanted to do a tea towel, I like the idea too. Just need to find the right printing companies and the right image too. I’m thinking of creating images specifically for those items, rather than trying to use existing images. Might work better. Thank you for your ideas, we appreciate it 🙏 and for watching ❤️

[@jennybourne309]

Tee shirts may work for some designs. And I think you would enjoy screen printing. There are so many print studios in UK, and probably screen print shops that would let you hire the studio to print your own. Your problem though will be storage!! The print on demand process usually involves a transfer (digital or screen print) that is applied to the chosen garment. Means having a stock of garments and a heat press, or easy access to them. You could consider using a site like red bubble or spoonflower, where you post your designs and customers choose the product. But most of the money goes to the platform. You do need good digital photography and skills in resizing images to the dimensions of the product. Cards in shops along the canals might be a goer for you. And if that works perhaps those shops would take other merchandise like tees, then you don’t have to store them! I loved “ask an artist podcast” when Laura Boswell was doing it, lots of tips there for running your art business. She never made cards using a whole image of a print, she always crops them so that only the people that buy the originals have the originals. I do recommend that podcast.

[@Artinthecorridor]

Thank you for this, some really good advice and ideas. We are putting our thinking hats on and looking around for independent print shops etc… thank you for taking the time to comment ❤and of course, thank you for watching

[@mariaetheridge8343]

You are living my dream! Keep doing what you are doing - it seems to work for you. Tip: divide your income into different pots, i.e. one for food, one for clothing, one for equipment, one for emergencies AND DON'T STEAL FROM THE POTS! The pots will often fill up without you noticing - a bit of magic 😊

[@Artinthecorridor]

Some good tips there, thank you. Thank you so much for joining us again. ☺️😊

[@lady_w_joanna]

I think we share a birthday Ant. Really enjoy both your art. Friends & family like receiving your cards and lino cuts. Thank you

[@Artinthecorridor]

Thank you so much 😊 for watching and your support. Ants is the 28th phew just missed bring a leap year birthday. Belated Happy birthday x

[@lady_w_joanna]

I'm 27th and missed by two days, several years before Ant, though.

[@mbtaiji]

Interesting perspective, thanks for sharing. Glad that you can support yourselves and it probably helps that both of you are selling your work and not relying on just one of you as a breadwinner. Back in the days of print magazines [1980s & 90s] I tried for five years to earn money as a free-lance writer and that only worked -- sort-of -- because my wife had a well-paying job and I had part-time employment in the real world. As Hannah said at one point "you don't do this kind of artistic work to make money" ... only the fortunate few ever get fame AND fortune and most give-up or are satisfied with the occasional sale. That's not so bad because the urge to dance, or make prints or write short fiction and articles will often insist on being done... whether one is a commercial success or not! [P.S. sorry about the long comment]

[@onelastdancehere]

We love a long comment and we appreciate you taking the time to write It. Its an interesting topic you raise. Fame and fortune has never crossed our minds, it's unfortunate that this ideology is attached to being an Artist. As if the success or definition of being a professional artist is determined by a romanticised idea of popularity within a commercial setting. As a contemporary dance artist I would get asked what I do, only to be faced with..."oh one day you will make it, are you hoping to be on TV" one day When the reality of the job was performing, touring professional contemporary work in theatres, lecturing, workshopping and teaching across the country, completing a masters degree and getting funding and touring projects. And that is a Dancer working and making a living. It does help that we are both at it, and like minded. I made more money dancing/lecturing, it was my life and identity. It has always been about doing things that make sense to me and being able to live from it is a bonus, but also necessary. I feel very grateful that I got to work as a dance artist for as long as I did before injury. I'm very proud of that part of my life and feel very lucky. Nowadays I'm happy to do my bit, to continue to create stuff and pull in some pennies where I can. But also champion Ants work as I'm happy that he is now getting to make a living from something that he absolutely loves, like I got to do within dance. I'm also realistic and if I need to take on a few months part time work here and there I will. It's all about balance for me these days 😊 Thank you for your comment, beautifully written. And thank you for watching. Hope you still write?

[@mbtaiji]

@@onelastdancehere It's hard to give up performing due to injury or health issues... I've had to face that a well as an old man in terms of my other interest in practising and teaching martial arts. I continued to write for many years but in the form of blogs when i was still teaching the martial arts. Writing short fiction I gave up on after having published only a handful in five years of trying. Thanks again for sharing in your videos; I enjoy your offerings and your travels on the waterways of England.

[@onelastdancehere]

@@mbtaiji oh wow, that's super cool. I always wanted to try martial arts. I was a gymnast as a kid/teen and I wish I'd learnt martial arts. Later at dance school we would dip into some of the principles of various martial arts (not combat) it's fascinating and also satisfying to watch. It is a tricky thing to accept, but new doors and all that. Thank you again.

[@Suiseki]

Great video lots for people to think about in that one.....loved some of the older stuff you both had done in the sketch books made me go look at mine....I need to do more. Inspiring as usual.....Ellis

[@Artinthecorridor]

Thank you Ellis for joining us again. I’d say watching back we still very much are learning. It’ll be interesting to look at this in 5 years time and see if we are still going or have found something else to do with our time 😂

[@AdyJohnsonVideo]

Thanks for the insights you two! Some parallels with the music making world here - and all creative ventures I guess!? How about some T's? I know a company that could possibly get you a reasonable deal on a small run. I'll buy one! x

[@Artinthecorridor]

Thanks Ady. Yes, I’m sure, I think the main thing is that you just do it, despite everything, do it anyway. You were born to make music, and we are grateful you share it with the world. Ant has been thinking about T-shirts for a while, I guess it’s finding the right people to print them and how they would transfer/look on a T. That would be very cool if you know someone! Thanks for watching Ady and of course your amazing music ❤️

[@fabricartUK]

Yay were the first like for you

[@Artinthecorridor]

Wahoo. Thanks for watching and the 👍

[@robinhirst9740]

Awesome vlog , so much good advice, absolutely love both of your art styles. 😊

[@Artinthecorridor]

Thank you Robin 🙏 thanks for watching

[@maryanneblackman8236]

That was interesting, thankyou 😊

[@Artinthecorridor]

Thank you. ❤ thanks for joining us this evening x

[@fabricartUK]

I first read Crows Crap Store....and had to re read it! 😂😂

[@rebeccathomson6005]

Brilliant Vlog guys as usual very informative

[@onelastdancehere]

Thank you Rebecca and for being here ❤

[@DiJamieson-c3z]

Send your cards to CRT and get them to sell them or NABO.

[@sueg1530]

Excellent video. Best advice is don't give up your day job. If you can gradually move over to doing art as it becomes more financially viable then that would make good financial sense.. I guess with you guys Covid had a part to play in your lives as full time artists? Tutorials would be good and maybe some lino printing kits if that is possible? How about sketch books with one of your pieces as front cover? xx

[@Artinthecorridor]

Thank you Sue. Yes the pandemic most definitely played a part, on Ants side definitely. I think the pandemic gave people the opportunity to try something else, either through being locked down or out of necessity. That time showed just how important the arts are. Thank you for watching again ❤

[@sueg1530]

@@Artinthecorridor ❤

[@richardreynolds4108]

Hello Ant and Hannah, I really enjoyed your video. Can I ask what the music is at 22.40 ? Best wishes to you both.

[@Artinthecorridor]

Thank you 🙏 glad you enjoyed. I can’t remember what it’s called, but it’s just a free instrumental from KZbin studio. Thank you for watching 🙏