![\"Art](\"http:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/4310.jpg\" "\\"Art")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
We have a new teacher coming on board for Camp Pikaland and it’s none other than Alexandra Hedberg \u2013\u00a0an artist and teacher based in Sweden! Read our interview with her about her new self-study class, Art as a Business<\/a> to find out about her journey and how she made her art practice into a solid, thriving business, and how you can too!<\/p>\n ———-<\/p>\n Hi Alexandra! You talk about art business over at your blog<\/a>. Can you tell us a bit more about your background and how you’ve reached the stage you are at now?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I studied art (painting, printmaking, art & technology) for seven years and art history for two years, but not at any of the Fine Arts schools that really count here in Sweden (something I later learned would have made it much easier for my career as an artist).<\/p>\n In 2004, while finishing my master in Art & Technology, I made my first public commission (a mural) and started my own business as an artist. 2004-2009 I made ends meet giving evening classes in art (lousy pay), exhibiting regularly and getting occasional commissions. I made some efforts now and then to advance and got some results, but I mostly felt that I was reacting to urgencies (read: just managing to get a new income before running out of money) and never managed to do any long term planning. It was more like outbursts of efforts sometimes and not much following up. I wasn\u2019t drowning but it wasn\u2019t like I was sitting in the boat steering either; I wasn\u2019t exhibiting in as good galleries as I wished to, I worried about money and I didn\u2019t feel I got the calm concentrated periods of studio time that I needed to develop artistically. In summer 2009 I felt it was time for a change \u2013 and decided to get in charge. To put extra pressure on myself I started a series on my blog where I wrote about my experiences so far as an artist and shared some of my goal setting and progress reports.<\/p>\n When I\u2019m now summing up 2011 I really feel that I have reached the part-goals on my way; I finished a monumental commissioned art piece (exactly as I wanted it!), had two good separate exhibitions, was guest-teaching art (screenprinting) at University level, made an interesting art project with children, spent a week in a guest studio and another week taking a concrete course, managed to get altogether five months of concentrated studio time and got myself a little economical buffer. This only making a living as an artist \u2013 also counting guest-teaching. I still have a way to go to reach my final goals, but I feel I\u2019m getting there!<\/p>\n Can you tell us a bit more about your new self-study class \u2013 Art as a Business<\/a>? Who is it for and what knowledge would you seek to impart to those who take the class?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n My self-study class is for artists\/illustrators at any level feeling stuck.<\/p>\n Being talented isn\u2019t enough to get somewhere as an artist or an illustrator. Sure \u2013 some people actually do get lucky, but this isn\u2019t something you should be counting on as a career strategy. So instead of waiting for the prince to come and rescue you -or being angry with yourself for not getting anywhere – you could follow my self-study class! I\u2019ll share my own knowledge from the last seven years and the structured systems that have worked for me. I\u2019ll be asking questions that will make those taking the class define their goals better and I\u2019ll teach them how to map out their own master plan and give them the tools to do so.<\/p>\n Read the entire interview<\/a> at Camp Pikaland where you can also sign up<\/a> for Alexandra’s class!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Art](\"http:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/4311.jpg\" "\\"Art")
<\/p>\nAlexandra mounting watercolors on the wall in her studio<\/h5>\n