Starving Artists

The following article appeared in The Milwaukee Shepherd Express
on March 15, 2005

by Julie Wichman,
Book Critic

You pour your soul into your art, but few people see your creations. You work harder than anyone you know, but you're usually broke, and you're about to chuck all your dreams just to preserve your sanity.

It would be too easy to tell an artist to "just keep going, you'll make it someday," so Paul Dorrell doesn't indulge in platitudes. His book, Living the Artist's Life (Hillstead Publishing), is a useful guide to persevering and succeeding as an artist in any discipline-a detailed map for the creative journey's potholed roads.

Useful, practical advice includes how to market and sellyour art, but it's not the typical artists' survival book. Dorrell's wise and funny firsthand insights include stories about his work as a gallery owner, artists' promoter and aspiring novelist. He's a "champion of the artist who feels ignored," and those who take his words to heart might increase their chances of being noticed and not forgotten.

7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, Borders Books & Music, 8705 N. Port Washington Road.

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