Advice to my Young Artist Self

The Sheridan Press's Travis Pearson interviewed me recently about life as a full-time artist.  Several of his questions inspired further thought, as many of my answers compared what I thought "full-time artist" would be like when I was young and what it looks like today, as I'm really living that dream.  

Artists are dreamers.  When we are young, we envision our lives as professional artists- picturing where we'll live and what we'll do, but we don't spend time assessing how one actually gets to the point of earning a living as an artist.  Below are eight bits of advice I'd give to my dreaming young artist self:

1.)   You can do this. Don't give up.  If you believe that your passion is a directive toward your life's purpose, then the time it takes to achieve that goal will only develop your resolve further, and make the eventual fruition more rewarding.  

2.)   Don't wait for perfect circumstances to pursue your dream.  You cannot say, "I'll be an artist when: I get a degree; I build a studio; I have more time; the kids are grown; I retire;" etc.  Be an artist now, while you're living your busy life.  Skills are like a savings account; start building on them today: paint at the kitchen table -after work, dinner dishes and tucking the kids in bed.  Pull out your tiny sketchbook during your lunch break, or at the doctor's office, at hockey practice, or in a checkout line.  Don't make excuses.

3.)   You'll have to WORK SUPER HARD to be a full-time artist.  Being an artist is work as much as it's a lifestyle.  It will take loads of toil to get to the point of doing it full-time and to maintain that career.  Mike Beeman says being a full-time artist is, "the hardest job, but also the best job."  He's right.  Being a full-time artist involves many more hours spent with a computer and calculator than standing at the easel, but that non-creative time is vital to earning income on your art.  You will: answer client queries, give quotes, update your website and resume, send invoices, email newsletters, apply to shows and events, deliver art to galleries and customers, and file your sales and income taxes.   There will be days when you're covered with sawdust or sticky varnish instead of the sweet smell of paint.  These less-than-inspiring activities are what make the precious studio hours possible and profitable.  SHOW UP TO WORK, whether the task is drudgery or creative bliss.

4.)   Education is necessary, but a degree won't determine whether you'll become a professional artist.  Many people with Bachelor's or Master's degrees in art are not making a living on their art.  If you don't have formal training, learn from the artists around you- most have the schooling or experience you lack.  Ask for and listen to their advice and follow it. Whether you achieve a degree or not, it will take determination, constant learning, and practice to turn your passion into your career.

5.)   Don't Quit Your Day Job.  It will take time; you will likely spend years working on your art while working traditional jobs.  Some people make the mistake of jumping into "full-time artist" status before they're fully committed fiscally, emotionally or organizationally.  They may lack the work ethic, savings (you will need a healthy savings account for the slow months), passion, or drive to stay with it.  If art is important enough to prioritize for it when you don't have the time, you will have the discipline to work at it when you do have the time.

6.)   Marketing your art is not "selling out."  Young people believe that it will happen magically-you'll paint a couple nice works and suddenly you're a well-known artist.  Take a lesson from Norma Jean Baker: she believed in her dream, and through hard work and self-promotion, she became Marilyn Monroe. Believe in your product and find a tactful way to promote it by sharing it with others, because…

7.)   Making a Living on Art IS a Business.  Businesses: market, advertise, network, promote, and have sales when they need income.  Some artists think lowering prices is deprecating, but unless you're independently wealthy, earning income on your art is crucial.  Sales make your art available to new markets, such as young people starting their art collections. Another vital business practice is to keep organized; this is a foreign concept to most creative people, but it's important to keep income and expense paperwork in order for tax purposes. 

8.)   Be a part of the community.  Keep in mind that your talent is a great gift. Remember to give back by sharing your gift with your community.   Teach a class, paint in the streets, donate art to a few good causes, and mentor other artists and area youth.  Occasionally break out of your solitary life and share art with others.

I'm not sure my life would be different today if I could have heard these bits of advice back then, but it would have helped my creative focus to learn that becoming a full-time artist wouldn't happen without years of diligent hard work and business strategies, and that the results would be more "worth it" than I ever dreamed.