Now What?
A Field Guide for Working Artists

Artful Innovations Book 4

A practical decision-making guide for the moments that shape an artist's career.

Author: Evan Stuart Marshall

Format: Hardcover • eBook

About the Book

Every artist reaches moments that can shape an entire career. Should you enter that exhibition? Accept that commission? Raise your prices? Approach a gallery? Build a website? Say yes—or no?

Now What? is a practical decision-making guide designed to help artists navigate the countless choices that arise throughout a creative life. Rather than offering abstract theories or one-size-fits-all advice, the book examines real-world situations artists face and provides clear, thoughtful guidance for making informed decisions.

Drawing on more than five decades of experience as a literary agent, author, artist, and arts advocate, Evan Stuart Marshall explores the opportunities, challenges, and unexpected dilemmas that accompany an artistic career. Each chapter is organized around a specific situation, offering practical insights, checklists, and considerations that help artists think through their options with confidence.

Whether you're just beginning your artistic journey or have been creating for years, Now What? is a trusted companion you'll return to again and again whenever your next creative decision begins with the words, "Now what?"

Perfect for emerging and established artists alike, this indispensable reference belongs on every creative person's bookshelf.

What You'll Find Inside

• Organized by real-life situations artists actually face

• Practical advice drawn from decades of publishing and art experience

• Clear checklists and decision-making tools

• Easy to browse whenever questions arise

• Helpful for artists at every stage of their careers

• Encouraging, realistic, and jargon-free

Table of Contents

Introduction

How to Use This Book

In the Moment - How to Think When Something Happens

The Artist's Decision Tree

SECTION I—THE SITUATIONS

When Opportunities Appear

When Someone Wants Your Work

Exhibitions and the Art World

Professional Relationships

When Things Go Wrong

Pricing and Selling Your Work

SECTION II—WORKING AS AN ARTIST

Working With Galleries—What to Expect and How to Respond

Selling Your Work Directly—What Changes When There Is No Gallery

Studio Visits—What to Expect and How to Prepare

Commissions—When Someone Wants You to Make Something Specific

Art Fairs and Open Studios—What They Actually Involve

Online Platforms—What to Expect and How to Choose

Working With Collectors—Building Relationships Over Time

Working With Other Artists—Collaborations, Groups, and Shared Spaces

Studio Habits of Working Artists

Recovering From Setbacks—Moving Forward

Opportunities That Look Better Than They Are—Evaluating What's Worth Your Time

Periods of Doubt—What to Do When the Work Feels Uncertain

Working Artist Field Notes—What Experience Teaches You

Real Situations—How Artists Navigate These Moments

Final Thoughts—What Working Artists Learn Over Time

SECTION III—REFERENCE AND TOOLS

The Artist's Toolkit—A Practical Reference for Everyday Decisions

Common Mistakes Artists Make (And How to Avoid Them)

Resource Guide for Working Artists

A Working Glossary of Art World Terms

Appendix—Practical Tools and Templates for Artists

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Index of Situations and Topics

About the Author

Evan Stuart Marshall is an author, artist, and founder of Eagle Rock Books. Drawing on more than fifty years of publishing experience, he writes nonfiction, children's fiction, and practical books for artists and creative professionals. Through Eagle Rock Books, he continues to create carefully crafted books designed to inform, inspire, entertain, and endure.