Are you a “Professional” Artist?
I’m not talking about if you have a corporate sponsorship or whether or not you are earning the big bucks. I’m not even talking about quitting your day job, if you have one, and living on ramen noodles and Starbucks (because even if you’re poor you still need your Cafe Mocha) What I’m talking about is changing your attitude and the way you think about your art. What you’ll discover is that more often than not people will take your art about as seriously as you do.
So what are some of the warning signs of an Amateur Artist?
1) Amateur Artists wait for Inspiration
While a professional artist will make a point sit down and work on their art every single day no matter what, an amateur only works on their art when the “mood” is right.
Professional artists/writers/musicians know that you can’t just work on your art when inspiration strikes them or when the moon is in the seventh house of Aquarius, the true creative professional shows up and does something every single day. It may not turn out to be that great and it might eventually find its way to the dumpster or recycling bin, but a professional shows up and works no matter what.
2.) Amateur Artists work until something else comes up
A professional artist does not simply sit down for an hour and write half a chapter or paint a few strokes on the canvas and call it a day because Work of Art is starting in ten minutes. A professional artist/writer/musician continues to work until their Muse has used up every last bit of creative energy in their body and then keeps on working just to make sure that nothing is forgotten or left behind. A professional knows that the first hour or two of work is simply a warm-up exercise until their fickle Muse finds them worthy of her attention.
3.) Amateur Artists are constantly changing their focus
A professional artist knows that it takes years if not decades of experimentation and practice to perfect their craft. While an amateur tends to change their style or medium as the mood strikes them, a professional artist knows that a “jack-of-all-trades is a master of none”. Even though professional artists have been known to change their focus as their work and skills evolve, they do this only sparingly and often only within their chose medium. In other words, painters continue to paint, writers continue to write, and musicians continue to play. Of course there have been professional painters and musicians who are also very good writers and vice versa, but they are the exception rather than the rule. The vast majority of us would be far better off focusing our time and energy practicing and honing our chosen craft rather than risk diluting our creative power.
4.) Amateur Artists believe that if they build it, you will come
A professional knows that there is more to being an artist then simply creating art. They know that there is only so much macaroni and cheese and spaghetti their family will eat before they will be dragged down to the employment office to get a “real” job. Professional artists never get too attached to their artwork because they know that someday they will have to sell it in order to have the opportunity to create more art.
Professional artists understand that they not only need to know how to create their art, but they also have to know how to market and sell their work as well. They make a point to find out who their potential customers are and where they hang out. They also know that they need to develop a relationship with these potential customers before they ask them to pull out their wallets. Professional artists understand that in the 21st century they will need to create and build their reputation as an artist online as well as in the real world.
5.) Amateur Artists believe that success will happen quickly
While an amateur artist believes that it will only take a year or two to create their reputation and have their career take off, a professional artists knows that this process will often take much longer than they imagine so they understand the importance of getting started immediately.
For a professional artist, art is not a hobby or a pastime, it’s a business which is why they insist on treating it like one. They not only show up everyday and work at their job, but they also know that they will need to work their way up from the bottom just like they would in any other profession. They are in it for the long-haul and are willing to work on all aspects of their business (creating, networking, marketing, consuming) a little bit each day because they understand that true success will arrive in years not weeks.
6.) Amateur Artists believe that real artists don’t need schedules or organization
While the amateur artist embraces the idea of the artist as a hippie free-spirit who doesn’t need to follow society’s rules, the professional artist knows that one has to be organized and disciplined in their life in order to be reckless in their work.
A professional artist knows that it’s important to honor their creative productivity time and save routine time-sucking tasks like answering e-mail and updating their Twitter and Facebook accounts to a later time. They know the importance of scheduling their activities, organizing their work space, and avoiding distractions can have on their creative productivity.
7.) Amateur Artists never finish their work
An amateur artist is always busy editing, revising, reformatting, redoing, and re-recording their work to ever consider it finished. This not only keeps them from moving on and working on the next piece or art, but it also keeps them from having to release it to the world. They tell themselves that they are simply “perfectionists” and with just a little more time, they could get it right.
“The seed of your next art work lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece. Such imperfections are your guides–valuable, objective, non-judgmental guides to matters you need to reconsider or develop further.” ~David Bayles
Professional artists have learned that their art is a process and nothing they create will be perfect. They have learned to accept this and they continue to put their work out there anyway knowing that some people will criticize and not understand it. They understand that the sooner they finish one piece the sooner they will be able to begin work on the next piece. Each work therefore becomes not a destination but simply a stepping stone on their journey. They don’t make the mistake of overly identifying with a piece of art or making it part of their identity as an artist. They simply let it go, knowing that the experience will have taught them what they needed to know.
8.) Amateur Artists are too busy learning to do anything
Amateur artists are often so busy reading books and attending workshops that they rarely have any time to create art. Professional artists know that there will always be more to learn but that does not stop them from making the mistakes and learning as they go along. They know that the best teacher is almost always experience, and the faster they make these mistakes, the sooner they will learn what they need to know.
Books, classes, and workshops are great as long as they don’t prevent you from actually creating your art. A professional doesn’t worry about knowing every technique in the book and doesn’t get bogged down by the “what-ifs”. They simply learn the basics and then get to work discovering what they need to know as they go along.
9.) Amateur Artists isolate themselves from the artist community
As artists/writers/musicians etc.. we are not only creators but we are also consumers. We must surround ourselves not only with the work of others artists in our field but also the artists themselves.
If we are writers, we need to read other people’s work. If we are musicians, we need to listen to other people’s music. If we are visual artists, we need to look at other people’s art and photography. We don’t do this in order to become envious or to start another round of pity and self-loathing. We do this because we need to get outside of our own heads and see the world from a new perspective.
We also need to connect with other artists and the larger arts community. Far too often amateur artists tend to isolate themselves from other artists because they either feel envious of their success or unworthy of their attention. We have talked extensively on this site about the power of artist peer groups and about the importance of going out there and connecting with your artist tribe. Specific strategies on how to connect and build valuable relationships with other artists is a topic that we have covered in detail throughout our latest Skinny Art School Series “How the @#$%! Do I Get More Traffic to My Website?!” as well.
Being a Professional Artist means. . .
Being a professional artist means, above all, taking your art seriously. If you want to become a professional artist, writer, photographer, musician, or any other type of creative genius; you need to do what the professionals in these fields do. Being a professional is not about having fancy business cards or making lots of money (although that’s pretty cool too!). Being a professional simply means that you have decided to take this creative obsession of yours and make it into your career. Let’s face it, we create our art because we want and need to. We don’t do it for the money, but we also have to realize that without the money, we won’t have the time or energy to create our art.
Strive to learn from those who have gone before you, do what you have to do, and always Live Your Art!
What do you think it means to be a “professional” artist?
Here are some other articles you might enjoy:
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
After talking to several of you on Twitter and Facebook about this post, I was curious about which numbers seem to be giving you the biggest problems?
For me personally, I definitely need to work on #6, #8, #2, and #1 probably in that order. Not that I have any of the other numbers mastered by any means but these seem to be my biggest issues currently.
Which numbers do you think you may need to work on the most?
Great post and I absolutely agree. Art is a passion and has no age barriers. As passions go, it is all consuming with time, thought and energy. You can’t be feint hearted but you have to persist! Keep the fire burning within
Hi,
I can surely identify with ALL the numbers as I have dipped in and out of them over the years. I know I have to stay disciplined and enjoy the journey, through the highs and lows.
No. 9 is a good for me as it’s good to be part of this artist community.
Great though provoking post Drew. Thanks Sonia
Twitter: twisttheleaf
says:
My biggest issue is the social aspect of #9.
Not being a particularly social person combined with my day job schedules (3 part time jobs plus the online selling of my work) combined with my rather demanding significant other…. sometimes socializing just doesn’t get as much attention as it probably should.
Terrific post, btw, Drew. I really enjoyed the read and it was very interesting as well as educational.
- Twist
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
You’re right, It is really hard to find a healthy balance with all of this stuff without blowing something else off in the process. Like most people, I find it hard to accept the fact that I’m never going to get everything done that I think should be done when I think it should be done. My goal these days (and you already know my feelings on “goals” in general) seems to be to simply try and move forward a little bit each day and not worry about when or even if these things will get done. Thanks again for the smiles Twist!
Great stuff Drew..thank you…most definitely #6 for me .. i am working on it..thanks for reminding me…
I could write pages in regards to this wonderful post, but for now I will leave it at this:
Almost all but primarily #3.
Focus, discipline, tapas…whatever you want to call it, I have serious issues with finding “my path” within the art world. It’s calling to me – I just have to decide when I’m ready to answer.
Thank you for a very thought-provoking post!
Lucky number 7… Well, letting go is an issue sometimes, thank goodness there are tough deadlines often enough so I’m forced to practice
Yet it feels weird when someone loves a piece I think is unfinished, not “perfect” or can’t be good because it was “completed” very quickly (in my terms).
Great post, although I think there might be more than 9 signs…
Great post, I printed it out to keep on hand as a reminder. #1, #2, and #6 are the ones I need to work on the most. I spend way to much time waiting for my muse to show up and lead me to the studio.
Fantastic post! I struggle with #3 mostly. I’m like a magpie and new, shiny things tend to grab my attention. I need to focus my work. I have made great strides in this area over the last year, but I still need to work on it.
#9 used to be a problem, but I am slowly working on coming out of isolation.
Well, all of them at some point, but I felt truly trapped by #1 for the longest time. And, ahem, pesky #6…sometimes a struggle. Darn enjoyable social networking!
Drew, for me #3 is the culprit. Because I function best, creatively, with many irons in the fire. Yes, #3 would definitely be the one I would need to work on. When I have a lot going on I am inspired, but then I lose my original focus. Thanks for such a great article with so many good tips, reminders and so much good information!
Painful at times but true. It’s not just an adventure, it’s a job, J-O-B. Still, the rewards are so far beyond monetary compensation, it’s kind of ridiculous at times. Excellent piece, Drew.
Twitter: artbySDonaldson
says:
Hi Drew! I’m gonna chime in on this one and say #3 for sure. Often my style bounces around because I’m trying to fulfill my own artistic vision, appeal to the general public, and respond to commissions. Maybe one day the three will find common ground. ~ S L Donaldson
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Wow! Thank you all for sharing your numbers with us
Sometimes when I write these kind of posts, I often wonder (in retrospect) what the hell I’m thinking telling everyone about how I can’t seem to get my act together. Usually the biggest problem I have with writing these posts is limiting them to a manageable number, but I figured that if I wrote the 62 reasons-Drew-doesn’t-have-a-publishing-contract-yet post, it would end up being a pointless and sleep-incuding exercise.
Who else has got some numbers to share??
Very interesting post. For me it is definitely number 3 that is the most difficult one, I keep changing focus.
Number 6 used to be difficult and can still be but I am able to switch off completely when i am in the studio – alone. At home it is a different thing…
Well this post has kept the cogs clunking since I read it yesterday. #1 and #6 continue to challenge me. I find working through low energy days can be disasterous and have to find a balance whereby I can still work without backwards. And when it comes to #6 – well I absolutely have work to do! #3 remains a conundrum for me however. I understand that from a marketing point of viewpoint – having a focus is a key to finding your audience.
From a more personal view, however, I find that focusing my creative energy on one skill set can leave me feeling trapped and uninspired. I think that one creative pursuit can help develop and feed another – like flexing your creative muscles. As an individual I feel like I need to keep doing this, even though it might make it harder in the long run to market myself as an artist.
Thanks for a great article that got me re-evaluating my commitment and direction.
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
You two bring up an interesting point with #3 — It’s hard to find your niche without exploration and experimentation, but the rules (and even Buddha himself) tell us that we need to focus our attention and energy if we are ever hope to achieve mastery of our subject.
So when and where exactly do we draw that line? When is it time to stop exploring and start focusing? And isn’t focusing simply another name for exploring more deeply within a smaller area?
Rebecca makes a good point when she says that sometimes her personal and professional creative needs differ–which one are you supposed to listen to? Is variety really the spice of life or is it simply another distraction?
I certainly don’t have any of the answers to these questions, but if any of you would like to share your thoughts on this, I would love to hear what you think!
great article. i found myself nodding a few times, and considering new ideas while reading. so, thanks!
Really good post, Drew, thanks for being so open.
I think there’s two qualities that underlie all the issues you’ve identified: confidence and commitment. Both can take experience and time to establish, and I imagine they wax and wane for artists as we grow into our art (they certainly do for me). I’d like to believe eventually the amateur cycle will stabilize, though of course new issues arise with growth. #9 is my downfall, I know it will take a lot of effort to work through.
I try to balance personal v. professional creativity by painting for myself when the wild need calls me. Focus is important, but so is exploration. I don’t see why my art can’t be means to a hobby *and* a profession, as long as I can clearly identify my body of professional work.
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Thanks Lisa!
I think you’re exactly right when you say that it’s often a matter of confidence and commitment. In order to succeed, we need to find the confidence to get started and then we need the commitment to continue following the dark path wherever it leads.
Like you, I do see my level of confidence and commitment to my writing change far too frequently. I’m hoping that you’re right and eventually things will begin to “stabilize” and even out these highs and lows. Time will tell. In other words, if I’m still bitching about this in thirty years, please find me and take away my keyboard!
Drew,
I just discovered your blog. It’s just what I needed to help me keep going. It affirms that “the dark path” is dark, but it’s a path and will lead somewhere light. I have to just keep going, keep moving forward. Thank you for the encouragement and the advice. I’m also glad that I’m not the only one out there.
warm regards,
Kyle
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Thanks Kyle
I think sometimes just knowing that you’re not alone and the fact that other artists may be struggling with a lot of these same issues is helpful. So many of us work alone in our studios or with our noses buried in our laptops that we forget that we aren’t the only ones who are struggling to find our place out there.
We all tend to hear about the ones who struck it big in the media, but at the same time, there are thousands of artists like ourselves who might be just as good, but for whatever reason they just haven’t reached their “tipping point” yet.
It’s good to hear from you Kyle and I hope to talk with you again soon.
-Drew
This might very well be the BEST art blog I’ve come across in, well, forever.
It’s like I pushed all my swirling thoughts out into the universe and someone was kind enough to pick them up and put them into words. Thank you for your eloquent teachings.
I get so many emails and msgs each day from artists asking questions about how to make a living as an artist…from now on, your blog will be one of the first places I send them for research! So happy to discover you Drew!
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Thank you so much Chandra for your kind words
I was kind of wondering where all those swirling thoughts had come from, so thank you for sending them my way! Since you’re obviously my swirly muse, I would really appreciate regularly scheduled updates of inspiration, preferably on weekdays during working hours due to the fact that I can no longer interpret my middle-of-the-night inspired scribblings
Thanks again!
Good stuff, Drew! I’d like to think I stopped being an “Amateur” many years ago, but some of these points STILL seem a little too familiar.
I love to learn almost as much as I love to create, so I still wrestle with #8. I also think #1 is essential (and challenging) – Sit down and DO the work, regardless of whether or not you’re feeling inspired.
Glad I discovered your blog. Look forward to connecting on Twitter and Facebook, as well.
Best, Nikolas Allen
@artbrandplan
Wow. I am going to confess, this is the first of your posts I’ve ever actually read. I have a talent, I am damn good at what I do and it has a huge market potential, but I have been guilty BIG TIME of the working when I feel like it. This was the wake up call I needed to act like the professional I should and can be.
Thanks so much! I will stop ignoring these invaluable posts!
-Jamie Noel
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Hi Nikolas–Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us!
I think we would all like to think that we’ve stopped being an “amateur” at some point in our lives, but at least for me, I always seem to regress back to amateurville on a regular basis. Maybe it’s just nature’s way of keeping me humble
Thanks again Nikolas, I look forward to hearing from you again soon!
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
You know what they say, Jamie that confession is good for the soul. . .
I love your attitude and self-confidence! I know that their would be a huge market potential if you could somehow bottle that and sell it to the rest of us self-loathing and overly-critical artistic souls. Perhaps you will be our motivational leader here in the Skinny Artist community – kind of like the Jillian Michaels of the Art world.
Keep smiling
(and working)!
These are great reminders! I struggle with each of them, but I’d have to say the worst one is anti-#2: I work on everything ELSE and THEN I make some art. Why does that suddenly sound like I’m in college, avoiding studying?? Ha! But at least I’m catching myself doing it and trying to turn it around.
Thank you for a great site! I’m seeing lots of posts that catch my eye and resonate with my situation. I’ll get some art done just as soon as I’m done reading…
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Thanks Liz for stopping by and sharing your numbers and thoughts with us!
I know at least for myself, that I struggle with most of these on a daily basis. I think you’re right, however, that even if we just “catch ourselves doing it”, we can start making a conscious effort to “turn it around”.
So keep reading and working (in that order)
and I hope to hear from you again soon!
I’m going to have to disagree with #3. Picasso, DaVinci, William Morris, Michaelangelo, et al worked in many, many mediums. I know the popular trend is to believe “jack-of-all-trades is a master of none”, but that is a contemporary view which has been propogated for the last 80 years, not the historical view of the artist. In fact, just producing art in the same medium with the same style can limit in ways that are crushing to the soul for the artist and only “allows” these certain kinds of obsessive artists to flourish in the limelight of the art world.
I have been determined my whole working life to turn that limited 20th century “vision” of the successful working artist around for myself and for my (and other artists’) clientele. I purposely promote myself as a multi-dimensional artist more in keeping with the vision of the artist of the days of yore. Although I am not in a trendy gallery in NYC (and don’t care if I ever get noticed there), I have been successful in branding myself as an artist who works in many mediums and is open to all kinds of inspirations and it has worked enough for me to keep going down the path.
For me, inspiration happens all of the time, more than I can keep up with, just not in the same medium and in the same style. A truly “human” life is like that: we are built for many tasks.
I’ve enjoyed reading your site today and glad I stumbled upon it!
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Hi Lise!
Just so you know, disagreeing with me on this site is strictly forbidden
I do agree, however, that there is also more than one way to look at this issue of “diversifying” as an artist. Obviously there have been numerous examples (yourself included) of successful artists who have transcended the bounds of one particular medium.
Now having said that, I have also seen far too many artists who constantly shift their focus from one thing to the next and never quite reach the depths of any particular medium. I’m not just talking about visual artists here — but this includes writers, musicians, photographers, and any other type of creative soul as well.
Keep in mind that I’m not talking about a painter who is simply shifting from oils to acrylics here — I’m talking about those people who go from writer to photographer to crafter to potter (and back again).
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for trying out different things out especially when you are young and I’ve certainly done my share. Sooner or later, however, I truly believe that you’re going to have to focus your attention if you ever want to become truly proficient at something. In other words, there’s simply not enough time to become great at everything.
Rebecca made a good point above (and you echo its sentiment here) that a “truly human life” does not like to be limited. Sticking to one skill set can often make a person (especially a creative one) feel “trapped and uninspired” As you mention inspiration happens all the time and does not necessarily limit itself to one particular medium and I completely agree.
In the end, I guess it’s more a matter of finding a healthy balance that allows you to both develop your primary talent fully while still allowing yourself the opportunity to explore creatively.
So of course we’re both right!
I am an artist who is trying to re-enter the “art world” after six years of being absent. All I will say about the six years is that it was a dark time and whatever kind of work I would have been doing would have suffered, including doing art. However, that’s past. The time out did give me time to think about the direction I would go with my art once I did return to doing it – and I always knew I would return. I am happy with the new direction that I’ve taken with my work, even if others aren’t. Before stopping work six years ago, I did not feel satisfied with where I was at with my work. It had grown stale and boring in my opinion, even though the gallery I was in kept wanting me to paint the same things over and over. Art is supposed to be something the artist needs to express. Instead, it became about trying to please others and express what they wanted to see expressed the way they wanted to see it expressed. I have shown in a number of galleries and am now at the point where I want to please myself first and express what I need to express in the way I want to do it. If someone can look at my work and see and feel what I’m communicating to the point they may even want to buy it, okay; but if not, that’s okay too. I don’t care at this point about galleries, or recognition or any of that. Showing my work at small shows is just fine. If a gallery likes my work and wants to show it – fine, too, but I don’t need it. Been there, done that. This time, for now, is simply for me.
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Thanks Rebecca for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us!
I think that if you took a poll of working artists/writers/photographers/etc.., I think you would discover that so many of us (including myself) have taken countless detours and unplanned sabbaticals along the way.
For whatever reason, life just doesn’t seem to be set up to allow the creative professional a smooth career path. Whether it’s parental disapproval, financial pressure, family responsibilities, or simply career indecision; we all seem to bounce around a bit before we are able to accept who we really are and really understand what kind of sacrifices that requires.
Your comment about your gallery wanting you to paint the same thing over and over is not uncommon. This kind of thing seems to happen all the time and is certainly not limited to visual artists. It’s similar to a publisher (or their reading audience) expecting an author to follow the same formula for every book (Nora Roberts, James Patterson) or a music label expecting their bands to make an album that is eerily similar to their previous release.
In the end, of course, galleries/record labels/publishers are in the business to make money not foster creativity. It’s up to the individual artist to hold their ground with these business partners and give themselves the freedom to grow and evolve as artists. As you said, you’ve “been there, done that.” and “This time, for now, is simply for me.”
I couldn’t have said it any better myself. . .
Excellent write up. All the stuff I knew already but had to hear.
My art is a hobby for me but I want to make it a part-time job (ie, continue to improve and get to professional level, even if it always remains second-fiddle to my full time work). This was the kick in the pants that I needed.
Cheers and thanks again!
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Thanks Kristi for your kind words!
I think to some degree, we all have the same crazy thoughts and fears running around inside our creative little heads, and sometimes it’s just nice to know that we’re not going through any of this alone.
I wish you all the best on your journey as you continue to grow as an artist and discover your own path. Also, feel free to stop back by here anytime because creative kicks in the pants are always free
Love the name of your site by the way!
haha! I probably fall into most of these categories. But am I a “Professional Artist”? HELL YES!
Just to add…
Unfortunately most artists are not blessed with the unerring confidence of people like Damien Hurst. We are riddled with self doubt and an unsynchronised relationship with the world. That’s how it is. No quick fixes. No 10 steps to the right path. This journey is ours and our work marks the way. Trying to categorise artists amateur or professional is wrong, in fact trying to categorise artists is wrong in any way. That’s the whole point art is what it is and we are what we are. Some of us will find favour and possibly make money others may not. But we must do it, as a hobby, a job or a way of life.
Don’t get me wrong I like the idea of making artist recognise what they are and their value to the world. Just not the way this will feed into the artist’s psyche.
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
I think you’re right Tony that most of us aren’t blessed with the type of unerring self-confidence of Mr. Hirst, but then again, who knows what exactly goes through Damien’s mind as he searches for his next provocative bit of livestock to display. . .
My point here is that I think we all face these personal demons of fear and self-doubt, but few of us are willing to admit and debate them in an open forum such as this. I also think there comes a point in your career where you’ve invested so much of yourself into your art that to admit any type of self-doubt would perceived as a show of weakness to one’s peers and a “turn-off” to one’s fans. After all, no one likes a whiny celebrity. It reminds of that old Robert Benchley quote:
Of course you’re also right that there is no “quick fix”, or really any fix at all, to solve these problems. Unfortunately for whatever reason, it appears to be hard-wired into our DNA that we tend see ourselves as less capable than others.
For me personally it’s kind of the “better the devil you know than the devil you don’t” type of thing, where if we can recognize these as universal problems and not something that’s unique to us individually, then perhaps we can confront them head-on knowing that these fears will never completely leave us.
I’m pretty much guilty of all of these.
Aside from believing that success comes quickly that is. That’s only a bit of wishful thinking. The real world unfortunately doesn’t work in such ways.
I’m the worst when it comes to time management as I tend to switch between tasks whenever I want to. My attention span doesn’t tend to lend itself to sticking to one project and seeing it through to the end. As for isolating myself from an artist community, I try not to. However even online I tend to be a bit shy (which tends to be the opposite from many people as the interwebs grants a level of anonymity that allows people to be a bit more outspoken). My school is pretty much the only art community that I’m a part of. Though I’m a member on deviantart, I have a habit of not commenting a lot. I could work on that a little bit more.
What I really need to work on is finishing what I start. There’s picture, upon picture, upon picture…just so many documents on my computer (as I’m mostly a digital artist) that I’ve started and for one reason or another I stopped and never started on them again. Or I might work on them sparingly. Usually it’s the pictures that I know take a long time to finish that never get finished. The bad thing is I like them all and they’ll look fine when they’re done. I have a terrible habit of just getting frustrated with the process of actually drawing/painting/animating something. I like starting projects and I like them when they’re done. That entire bit in the middle tends to annoy me. It really makes no sense…
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
I know exactly what you mean Ashley, time management has always been a bit of a problem. For me, it’s not so much the following through on a particular project, as it is ignoring all the other shiny objects along the way.
In fact this is the reason why I had to remove TweetDeck from my computer. You see every time it dinged in the background, I instantly felt the need to see what was going on just in case there was an urgent matter in the Twitterverse that needed my immediate attention. As if that’s not bad enough, I have also had to turn off my e-mail notification “ding” because I’m apparently like some kind of rabid Pavlovian dog that just can’t help himself from reacting every time the damn bell rings. It’s quite sad actually. . .
Well I agree with almost all of it.
My big criticism is the idea that a professional artist works ‘every single day’. Perhaps it was just sloppy wording on your behalf? “While a professional artist will make a point sit down and work on their art every single day no matter what”
Even professionals are allowed to have weekends, etc. I haven’t met an artist yet who works ‘no matter what’…..illness, hospitalisation, vacations, there are things that crop up that require attention over our careers from time to time.
The belief that ALL professional artists must work ‘every single day’ is a rather outdated viewpoint that precludes those who have any intrusion into a 24/7 art practice (“sorry you’re a parent of a young child?, no you can’t possibly be a professional artist”).
Yes artists do work a lot, and you are absolutely right that waiting for inspiration is not a sign of a professional artist. But surely there is room for flexibility in career practices (as we see across all professions in 2011) Perpetuating the nonsense that anything less than every single day is not enough to be a professional artist discredits rather too many excellent professional artists.
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
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You’re not the first person to notice this bit of hyperbole on my part. Of course, nobody is required to work 24/7 in order to call themselves a “professional artist”. Other than being an obvious poor word choice on my part, it was intended less as a literal truth and more as an explanation of what it means for an artist to be “living their art”. . .
To me, an artist who is living their art doesn’t necessarily mean that they are chained to their easel or word processor 24/7. It simply means that they are approaching their world from a unique perspective. It means that even when they are not actually painting, writing, or creating their art — they are still out there gathering ideas, playing around with new concepts in their imagination, and closely observing the world around them. They encounter the world as an artist — searching for unexpected beauty, searching for unintended meaning, and searching for a way to translate and incorporate all of these slippery ideas into their creative work.
I think what I intended to say with the “every single day” comment was that when you become a professional artist, even if it’s only in your mind, you stop “clocking out” when you put down your paintbrush, turn off your camera, or shut down your computer. Instead when you are “living your art” it is always with you, it becomes a part of you and it affects the way your approach the world around you. The final step of translating your art onto that blank canvas or piece of paper is only one step in the larger creative process.
Twitter: _victor_taylor
says:
Brilliant, thanks. The bit that struck me the most was that art is a process and nothing you create will be perfect… I knew this but it definitely helps to hear someone else say it – I always see flaws in even my best works but of course there has to be. Just this thought will help me be more free and natural in my work.
… I’m even re-re-reading that paragraph I just wrote, to make sure it’s perfect and perfectly gets across what I mean, and perfectly portrays a correct image of me… It will take work but I will be trying to be less concerned with perfection and just get on with it!
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
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You’re right, perfectionism is a killer. It not only stops your momentum and your ability to move forward to the next work, but it also gives you a perfect excuse to go back and revise/redo/rework endlessly because you want to “perfect” your work.
You can blame it on your high standard of quality, or you can say that it’s simply not done yet — but whatever you choose to call it, in the end it’s only an excuse not to move on and face your next empty canvas or blank page…
No offence, but I think this list describes a BEGINNER artist. Beginner artists, kinda like myself, experiment on different styles, work until something else comes up and when inspiration strikes, never finish work, and are too busy learning. It’s, honestly, a bit rude for more experienced artists to treat beginners/amatuers like they’re something you don’t want to be when they should be helping.
My definition of amatuer is someone who claims they’re an artist when they’re only beginning. 9, 6, 5, 4 are stuff an amatuer artist, I think, probably does for I don’t have those.
Rushing amatuers and beginners isn’t very helpful. Amatuers will not be 9, 6, 5, or 4 eventually and beginners are just learning and just practicing.
i guess i would be considered an amateur artist because im still a student. in general, people dont take students seriously, not in the sense as a professional. i can see why, because most of us are constantly changing and evolving, thus not having a quality of ‘certainty’ and ‘reliability’ both in our work and manner towards working. not to mention i do fall short on a lot of things on that list.
but i dont think this list is being rude or rushing people who are starting out, but rather teach beginners how to operate on a system that you can function as an artist at a steady pace, producing work on a regular interval and also finding commissions/sales in the long haul. i think the earlier you feel comfortable and learn to grasp on functioning as a professional, the earlier you are on the road to being a successful artist.
i used to not finish a lot of my drawings and took a lot of time perfecting everything, spending so much time on one thing made me bored and move onto another without completion. but lately i create and finish work without thinking about it too much, treating what i illustrated as work and not as hobby (enjoying it along the way of course) that i create some of my better works that people respond to very well.
i get ideas and inspirations and i jog them down (un-organized-ly) but when i start creating them, i try not to over think and really just finish what i set out to do without distraction. i can always carry on that last bit of inspiration to my next illustration.
there is one thing that i enjoy about my way of working is that, once i decided i finished one illustration, i dont want to go back and edit or change it even if i see things i don like. i move onto improving my next piece instead.
I agree with all of this with the exception of number 7.
I myself am an terrible artist. I could not draw myself a bath if I had to.
BUT when I do draw I spend hours on a single piece until it looks good, untill I cant make it look any better than it looks.
I find that I remember my mistakes better and remember what I did to fix them if I spend more time working on a single artwork as apposed to pumping out lots of really crappy ones,
I’ve don’t that before and I just move on to the next art piece without really remembering what I did wrong with the old one.
so for number seven I respectfully disagree with the author.
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
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I agree with you Jacob that there is definitely something to be said with spending some time with a piece and continuing to work on it until you feel like you’ve done the absolute best you can with it. I do think, however, that creative artists, and especially writers, sometimes tend to hang on to a piece too long not just because they are trying to make it better (although that is what we will convince ourselves that we are doing) but because we are unwilling to let it go and face the prospect of having to start over and stare at that blank page or white canvas once again.
I think in the back of my mind, I’m always wondering if this will be the time that I’ll discover that my creative well has finally run dry. So I guess for me, it’s sometimes easier to hold on to what’s in front of me and keep reworking it rather than having to courage to go out and find that next idea. I often call myself a perfectionist, but what I’ve realized is that more often than not, it’s simply a way for me to put off having to dive back into those cold dark creative waters.
Well Drew,
-It’s seems you are the King and you got a court buttering you up…… I’m the princess who wants to kick you -metaphorically-
The post is really good but painful and cruel at the same time. In general I agree with you but after reading you post it’s seems that WE -AMATEURS- live in wonderland, we are a bit stupid and we don’t know that the only way to have a job is work, work and work.
Maybe are different types of amateurs and you didin’t talk about this. There’s a kind of amateur who works hard but the system, the organizations doesn’t give him or her an opportunity. And this is my case. In fact I’m working on an illustrated book which reflects the hard beginning of this. And fortunately there is a foundation which could give me a grant to publish it.
Belive me Drew, If i get it I will send you a copy. And now I will continue my work, cause you were my break.
Berenice
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Dear Princess Berenice,
First of all, let me apologize for the cruel and unusual punishment of this particular post (well, all of them really). I do think that anyone who dreams of creating art/literature/music/etc.. for a living has to live in a slightly altered state of delusion otherwise none of us would have the guts to pursue our passion in the first place.
There are of course many different types of amateurs, but the dirty little secret that no one seems to tell anyone, is that we are all amateurs to some degree — Nobody masters all of these steps all of the time. Heck even on a good day, I can usually only manage 3-4 tops (and it’s rarely the same ones twice)
In the end however, it’s not about crossing these steps off your list, it’s more about understanding that despite our shiny confident veneer all of us still have work to do. Unfortunately, it’s a journey that never ends. So hang in there and feel free to stop by the kingdom for a chat anytime
Now get back to work!
P.S. I’d love to see your book when it’s finished
Dear Drew,
Thanks for a very useful post. I am an amateur painter. I took a break from a full time job, to pursue painting. I put off painting thinking, someday I will pick up the brush. I made that ‘someday’ happen. I still find excuses / distractions rather than paint. I feel shy or inadequate, to go out and mix with artists.
Thanks for reinforcing what I should be doing,
Sana Bharani
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Thank you Sana for your kind words
I think when it comes to something like creativity, you’re right that it’s often far too easy to keep putting it on the back burner as we attend to the more urgent matters that demand our attention every day. How do we prioritize our time and our energy between our responsibilities and that soft (but persistent) creative voice inside us? In the end, we need to find a way to feed our creative soul while still being able to feed our families, which is unfortunately something that so many of us struggle with on a daily basis. Good luck and be sure to let us know how things are going!
I guess I am an “Ama-Pro.” lol Yes, it is a real word. Oh no, you didn’t just look it up did you?
My art? Poetry and now painting. I am not “me” unless I am writing. It’s therapeutic. And now, painting has driven me. I am totally emotionally driven I confess. The images that come to my mind are not settled until it’s painted. Then a rush of relief and thrill follows with the brush and the completion. I may be a bit insane. O_o
Thanks for the post~
Twitter: SkinnyArtist
says:
Thanks for stopping by and making me scramble to the Googlenator to look up “Ama-Pro”
I think when it comes down to it, you’re right, we are all “pro-ams” (ama-pro’s big brother) because all of us are stuck somewhere between where we are and where we would like to be. For some of us the journey is relatively short, while others like myself still have a great deal of traveling to do before we’ll even get within shouting distance of creative competence. I guess all we can really do is to just keep creating and see what happens.