Crista Cloutier
the artist 's
master class WITH STYLE
I first notice Crista online. I found her intriquing. Here was this attractive woman selling her knowledge about the art world for what I consider a bargain. I was curious to make contact and see what she's all about. Whether she would be someone that you the reader would want to know. Surely if I was interested you would be too. We connected by email several times before I could set up a phone conversation. Crista was in France and London, teaching, writing and photographing. We talked for about 40 minutes and I found her to be open, refreshing and serious about helping artists find their way towards being a success in whatever way they wanted to be. I was hooked and I am currently takingher Master Class. This interview is the first of a two-part series with her.
An Interview with Lon Levin Arists are typically not very good at promoting themselves and getting work. Now, you're offering them a way to do that. Yes. Over the years that I've been selling, a lot of artists asked me if I'd represent them, and took it personally when I couldn't. They didn't understand everyone who sells art has their own mission and their own set of clients. I was specializing in politicalart. It was hard for me because I had to say no and would try to expain why. But when artists hear "no" they hear "not enough", "not good enough", "not enough experience". They never really understand it's not
It made me feel bad because there were a lot of artists I wanted to support, but I absolutely couldn't help everyone. I was helping hundreds of artists already. So what did you do? I started the Working Artist, and I really did it with an open heart. It gave me such joy because I wanted to support the creative impulse. I don't care if an artist is just starting out and painting kittens or an artist is museum quality and at the top of their game, I give them both the same amount of myself. It's up to the market to decide who's in and who's out. I don't want to be in that position. What I'm doing is offering the artist tools of what they can do.
