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The Business of Sculpture
Having a second job as a sculptor doesn’t necessarily mean giving
up on sculpture. There are some jobs that deal with sculpture and art
that don’t directly involve creating sculpture. Artists work in art supply
stores or warehouses, museums, galleries, and as
auctioneers
. Second
jobs can actually help sculptors get a better understanding of the art
world and get more contacts that can help their businesses grow.
A SCULPTOR’S CAREER IN ACTION
In an interview with The Art Career Project, metal sculptor Bruce Gray
explained that he was always interested in sculpture, since he was a kid.
He started building things as early as first grade, and he made his first
artistic sculpture in middle school. Later on, he took woodworking and
metal shop classes in high school, and in college, he earned a Bachelor
of Fine Arts (BFA) in design.
Make Connections
Sculptors usually work in some kind of studio. Lots of sculptors
have their own studios at home, or in a group studio space. A
sculptor who creates small clay sculptures might have a space at
a pottery studio. A wood sculptor might have a home studio set
up in his garage. Sculptors who work with metal or glass have
to have special equipment that isn’t normally found in the average studio!
Glassblowing involves a large glass kiln, special benches and safety equip-
ment, and torches. Very successful artists might have their own studios, while
others who are just starting out share studio space with other metal and glass
sculptors.