Diaries of a Young Artist

What are the daily challenges, pleasures, obstacles and practical issues of being a successful working artist today? What issues do artists struggle with the most? This pocket-size primer, a companion to the best-selling Letters to a Young Artist of 2006, offers a candid peek into the thoughts of two dozen artists between the ages of 30 and 40 who have dealt with–and continue to deal with–the questions that consume those just starting out in the art world, and that are so rarely addressed openly within it. Some of the contributors make humorous observations about the protocols of the art world and the artist’s place in it, while others take a more critical stance–of the market, their peers or the role of the dealer. Some share personal stories about their work and lives (Terence Koh: I remember my first studio visit… in my tiny tiny apartment in Chinatown), while others candidly record moments of self-doubt (Ellen Altfest: My mind drifts between disappointment, relief and thoughts of what I’m going to do next. Could I trust another model?). Contributing artists include Simon Evans, Ryan Gander, Katy Grannan, Sterling Ruby and Zoe Strauss. A selection of these diary entries was first published in artonpaper magazine. This book expands considerably upon that project. Diaries of a Young Artist offers honest, valuable lessons that will inspire and affect artists-at-heart everywhere.