The Real World of Art

The following article appeared in The TULSA WORLD
on 04/24/05

Artist and novelist Paul Dorrell has written an insider's book on living the life of an artist. On Saturday from 1-3 p.m. he will sign copies of his book, "Living the Artists Life: A Guide to Growing, Persevering and Succeeding in the Art World" (Hillstead Publishing, $16.95), at Steve's Sundry, Books and Magazines, 2612 S. Harvard Ave.

The book is written in a conversational tone and draws on Dorrell's lifetime of experience taking an artist's journey with its lows of self-doubt, highs of inspiration, dealing with years of rejection, and finally structuring a viable career that is based in perseverance, realistic goals, and aesthetic achievement.

Each chapter of advice is filled with the author's passion and revealing anecdotes. He covers how to photograph artwork, how to get your first exhibits, how to price your work, and how to get it into a gallery. He also discusses many famous artists from the past, and debunks myths about their careers and the galleries that represented them. The owner of a gallery, Dorrell discusses his own gallery's shaky start, and his failures, successes and dealings with New York agents and publishers as a novelist. This book is as inspiring to read as it is amusing, and very real.

A Guide to Growing, Persevering, and Succeeding in the Art World