Know the potential dangers of the materials you use Many of the chemicals found in art supplies are carcinogenic, and can present health risks if not handled properly.
Some are potential skin irritants (some Acrylics contain a small amount of ammonia or formaldehyde), some should not be inhaled (pastel dust is very nasty), while others are highly flammable (turpentine).
Most art supply manufactures are extremely safety conscious, and publish full details of possible risks associated with their products.
Don't be complacent: take the time and effort to find out what the health risks are for the materials you, and observe any recommended precautions.
Do you visit clients in their homes? If you visit clients in their homes, never visit anyone without leaving details with a friend or family member.
Tell them who you are visiting and where you are going.
Let them know what time you expect to return home, and arrange to phone (if necessary) when you return to confirm that you are safe.
If possible, take a friend with you the first time you visit a new client.
Do you allow clients to visit you at home? In today's compensation culture, when accidents happen, some people look to blame others.
If you allow clients to visit you at home, you have a duty of care to ensure their safety, and there is always a risk they may trip or fall, which could prove very costly.
If you need to meet clients in your home (for example, you may teach from home), then you need third party public liability insurance.
Do you publicly exhibit your work? Similarly to the above, if you exhibit work, it is always worth checking whether the event organisers have obtained appropriate insurance.
You may be required to make your own arrangements.
Public Liability Insurance, protects the policyholder in respect of their legal liability for injury or damage to third parties arising out of, and in course of, their business.
Networking The work of an artist is generally solitary, and anyone engaged in this occupation should consider the occasional need to network with other artists.
The benefits of networking There are a number of benefits to networking, but briefly it allows the sharing of ideas, knowledge of best practice, and prevents feelings of isolation.
For example, you might need occasional technical advice, want to know how others deal with routine administrative tasks (say packing and posting pictures), or maybe just let off steam - to someone that understands! Internet forums for Artists There are a number of different means by which networking can be accomplished, but the simplest, and most accessible, is to find and join an Internet artist's forum.
When choosing a forum, there are two broad considerations: the size and activity of the membership, and the forum's focus.
The number of members, and number of posts, is usually detailed at the foot of the forum's home page.
A sizeable membership (1000s) is normally an indication that the forum is a lively hub.
Small memberships (a few 100) tend to indicate a less thrilling and responsive community.
Membership of a forum with a reasonable level of members/activity, and a narrower focus, can be the most gratifying.
You are more likely to feel a kinship with, and derive a benefit from communicating with people who share your particular branch of art.
Conversely, with a more general forum there is a greater possibility of meeting people with radically different ideas, who may fail to have much empathy with you (the realist and the abstract expressionist struggle to share ideas, or knowledge of best practice).