This is a review of the e-book by Chris Guillebeau and Zoe Westhof titled “The Unconventional Guide to Art and Money: Thriving As an Artist Without Selling Out.”

Note: If you are unfamiliar with e-books you can catch up by reading this Wiki page on what they are.

A guide for artists, no selling out required?! Call me intrigued. The premise is ideal for me: an artist of all kinds with terrible marketing skills. So how does one thrive without selling out? Is that even possible?

Of course it’s possible! This guide will tell you exactly how to set up a successful art business in the modern world. And by “modern” I mean: using the internet to leverage your career and share your art. No selling out required; you will learn from this guide that connecting with people (your potential customers) now requires honesty and transparency. Interaction and connection. It’s all about being even more connected to your customers.

The internet is now a powerful tool and complete game changer for artists.

Your art is no longer this “one thing at the gallery” or this other “thing.” No more one-dimensional, flat, boring, gallery presentation required! Guillebeau shows the reader how art now has space online to be dynamic, ever-changing, flexible, imperfect, and real. People connect with that. We as people just love stories!

This guide will teach you how important stepping out of the old persona of a “hoity-toity artist”, with only other artist friends, and deep psychosis* is paramount to the new game of art and money. This guide teaches you how to be more real, and avoid selling-out. It’s setup in a very easy to read format and I enjoyed skipping around to different parts that interested me at different times.

In total there are four sections:

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: Strategy

Part 3: Tactics

Part 4: Putting It All Together

There are many real life success stories and advice from some of today’s most successful artists. The artists you will get to know in this guide are using the internet as their leg up and main platform to promote and sell their work.

Overall I give this guide a 4 out of 5 for artists. It would be most valuable for artists new to the idea of selling art online or those with limited experience in the online art world. However, there are great tips and individual actions laid out for any artist to follow no matter what stage your at. Both will benifit from this well written e-book.

Interested in reading more or making a purchase? Click here for more information and how to buy!

*The whole tortured artist thing will not sell more of your art, and it’s not necessary to drive yourself crazy to make great art.

---

Disclaimer: Yep, these links are affiliated links. Meaning if you do decide to make a purchase a portion of the proceeds will come back to The Unmapped Path for maintaining the site. The review is honest however and I have absolutely no interest in promoting products I don’t like or haven’t used myself.