In this book, author Sean Moore imparts at least thirty years of wisdom as a working artist, teacher, and marketing professional to help others achieve financial success while maintaining their artistic integrity. Moore has displayed his paintings in a variety of venues in New England and in other parts of the United States. He has taught at a number of schools, including the University of Connecticut, the Art Institute of Boston, the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University, and Tufts University. Drawing on his knowledge of the art world and his own experience in marketing his paintings, Moore provides seven strategies for artists to promote their work and become successful.

Divided into seven chapters, the book describes approaches that artists can employ to ensure success. Each chapter explores one of these tactics in depth and provides concrete examples and resources for obtaining assistance. The first chapter focuses on creating an effective marketing package and outlines the artistic and biographical components that should be included in the artist's promotional materials. In the second chapter, Moore gives the reader tips on finding gallery space, evaluating potential galleries, and avoiding common pitfalls. In addition, he suggests less traditional but still effective venues for displaying art, such as office buildings and public libraries, an approach that may benefit the fledgling artist. Gaining more visibility by joining artists associations, networking, and volunteering at art events is discussed in the third chapter. The next chapter stresses the importance of gaining exposure and credibility by entering juried shows. This section also gives advice for entering and displaying artwork. In the fifth chapter, Moore helps the reader access free or inexpensive advertising. Finding representatives to help artists promote their work is the sixth strategy outlined in the book. The seventh chapter guides artists through methods of reproducing their work and increasing its accessibility to the public. Finally, an appendix of marketing resources for the individual artist serves as a gateway for more in-depth information. Since the book was published in 2000, the reader may find that some of the Internet resources are outdated.

The strength of the book lies in Moore's ability to cover a wide scope of information without overwhelming the reader. He writes in a straightforward and conversational style that is easy to absorb yet informative. Also, the book is well-organized. Newer artists could read the book from cover to cover, whereas more-established artists could easily find information that they could use to benefit their careers even further. The book takes a topical approach, but Moore gives specific examples and lists resources for further study. He gives tips on creating artistic statements and press releases, and outlines research and networking strategies for obtaining gallery space. In the section on juried shows, he discusses details such as transportation of artwork, lighting for exhibits, and how to display information on labels. Overall, How to Make Money as an Artist is a great initial resource and quick reference guide to help artists in developing a marketing plan.