THE ARTSMART METHOD + THE ARTSMART TRIANGLE

At business school, we learned about the famous ‘Iron Triangle’ (aka the Triple Constraint). It goes like this: if you’re making something, ideally you want it to be done fast, cheap and good. But you can’t have all three. Any given project is a balancing act of time, cost, and quality.

For example, If I want something that is good quality quickly, it’s going to cost money. I gain quality and speed, but it’s expensive. Fast + Good = Expensive, ie rush fees that are charged to push your print job ahead of others. It costs money to take priority.

The Iron Triangle of Cheap, Fast and Good doesn’t directly translate to the world of the artist, but the patterned thinking does. Once you start looking at your projects strategically and making decisions based on potential losses and gains, you’ll start to see your priorities, your potential, and your power to persuade in a different light.

Support + Money + Exposure

I’ve come to understand that an artist needs three things to thrive. First, an artist needs support; to be upheld by allies, peers and mentors who provide new ideas, materials, environments, safe-spaces, love and a sense of self-worth. Second, an artist needs to earn money making art. Like anyone else, artists want to get paid for what they do; they want opportunity and stability. Third, an artist needs exposure in order to make an impact and find audiences. Artists want their work to be recognized. I started to see the artist’s pattern and how the gallery fit into it.  

Support is about your wider network and the company you keep.

Money is about resources, funding and financial opportunities.

Exposure is about making an impact and leaving an impression.

All three impact the scope and trajectory of an artist’s career, and all three overlap.