How To Become A Better Artist

Throughout life and our profession, it is critical to become a better artist. Too often we become consumed by our work and neglect artist development.

The struggle to be noticed or promote our work can begin to consume us and the neglect becomes detrimental to our abilities and cultivation.

Those who are looking for artist jobs within design, digital arts, or corporate professional roles, improvement is essential.

Artists who are freelance or self promote their work may be tempted to become relaxed. Continued education is something we should never put off.

Dedicate Time To Personal Art Development

Time is one of the biggest killers for we never seem to have enough of it. This element is simple to discuss, but it is hard to do.

Life, family, promotion, work, before the day is over there is never any time left. Yet make time for it in order to further depth in artistic meaning.

We all hope that our endeavor leads to greater income as artists. Knowing how to make money with art is not easy. Nevertheless the heart put into our efforts should be first.

I see too many younger artists focused on the social media hamster wheel. Producing fan art or conducting art giveaways in exchange for vain metrics does not help our long term trajectory.

Identify Your Weakness Within Yourself And Your Art

Our weaknesses will change as time moves forward. Sometimes where we are weak is based upon a need of some kind.

The greatest weakness I see with many is a lack of education. We tend to get stuck in our rut. For example, why would a wood artist care about Van Gogh?

There is something to learn from everyone. If only knowing the lives of those who came before, their hardships, failures, and their success, we learn.

In turn we gain a better perspective for our lives and where we are. Perhaps we are able to avoid some of the same mistakes.

Certainly this may not directly improve our creation of art, but it will improve our life as artists. If one succeeds with this then we are better off for it.

Art appreciation has many sides to what it can offer. Aside from gaining new techniques or methods to employ ourselves, we learn about life. Education should be practical to use in living, not just by practice.

Technical aspects such as elements of art and other fundamentals are just as critical. Learning their use and how to enhance our work certainly is a must. Yet sometimes our weakness is not as self evident as it would seem to appear.

Here is where a mentor truly is beneficial to have. There are times we need help in seeing how to round out our art portfolio. Likewise our public relations for art can benefit in how we shape our work dynamically.

Find Inspiration And Education For Your Art

I do not believe that you can separate inspiration and education within art. They are often one in the same.

We can certainly be inspired by things which are not educational yet, it does require a way to further our ability to create with this new inspiration.

In the woodworking world this means new techniques, perhaps tools, applications, and exploring as we perfect our techniques.

Part of this process involves being among other artists within your community. Whether this is through your arts center or friends you meet, this is invaluable.

Participating within events, shows, and local art galleries can also further this part of your life. These provide you with more than exposure or potential points of sale.

If you are a new artist it may be that you will need to spend more time in these environments. Education can be found in more places than books.

Many Paths Lead To Self Improvement In Art

There will always be someone that can do something better than we can. As we improve our work and talent those numbers may be fewer, yet that better someone will always be there.

Learning how to distinguish ourselves from our competition is critical. In this process just be sure to never sell yourself short. Know the value of your work.

The greater point is to see how others present themselves. What level of confidence do they have? Discover what is the driving force behind their success.

More often than not, what creates success is more than merely good artwork. It is unfortunate that too many realize too late in life that our greatest competition is ourselves.

At times artists can be like children in that they either hate, scoff, or put down anothers work simply because of intimidation. Set aside childish games and allow this to push you.

Likewise do not be afraid to put your work out there beyond your local town borders. This can be done through guilds or online art galleries. You can begin to measure your work to others abroad.

Here is where the concept expands beyond merely becoming better as an artist. It steps into marketing and being noticed as an artist.

It is too easy to see some of the aspects which surround these avenues as obstacles. Some are more frustrating than others. Yet with each of these opportunities is a potential to learn.

You learn not only how to improve your work, art, and process, but also yourself in life. Naturally all translates into bettering your presentation to a client.

Filter Out The Noise – Create A Purpose To Life

I really dislike the phrase to “trust your heart”. The heart is a fickle thing. Trusting instincts though can be another matter entirely.

You were born with a gift. There will be many who attempt to tell you what to do with this gift. Some may wish to diagram your life in how you get from A to Z.

The day you discovered your artistic ability or interest you began to follow a path. I certainly believe this discovery shows us our purpose.

Art has always been about what we can give to the world. Yet so many try to see what they can get from the world around them.

Many chase the money and the harder they chase it the more difficult it becomes to find. They are going about it all the wrong way.

What is the most important thing in life? The most important thing we can possibly do is to help others in their life. Make a difference in this world.

Your gifts were given to you for the purpose of making that difference. No one can color the world in a way that an artist can. Saving a life is worth far more than any amount someone could offer you.

It is through helping others that you begin to find real purpose. There is real inspiration and hope. It is in those moments that you discover new paths and reasons for being an artist that no one will understand.

The artist which sits pounding the hamster wheel of social media will never experience or know that kind of power.

Get Comfortable With Failure – Failing As An Artist Is Okay

Know that you will fail often within the artistic life. If fear of failure is what is keeping you from moving forward, or pursuing the path you desire, stop holding yourself back.

Fear is an emotion which has no proof or evidence to what will be. Yet when failure does come, and I promise you that it will, it is a natural evolution within life.

Failure is noting to fear. Rather we should become acquainted with it. It is through it that we improve and discover what did not work.

It is a process of elimination by which we discover what does work. Once we find what works we further improve our efforts to maximize our success in life.

Those who have not found success are where they are because they have not yet failed enough. It is a choice to continue forward after falling.

No matter the emotional state of the situation, the choice to continue forward is one that will lead to a new opportunity and chance to find what does work.

The only way one truly fails, is if one quits.

If one decides to quit it needs to be for the right reasons. If the path you found yourself on was truly not for you and your life, then that is perfectly fine.

Yet if you quit because you failed, then the only real failure was choosing to not continue.

Make Friends And Build Partnerships With Artists

Improving ones work will require more than books, research, practice or even formal education through a university.

Ultimately finding temporary mentors through friendships and partners in work is where one can find exponential growth.

Understand that as I use the word partnership, it is not of a financial nature nor surrendering ownership of ones work. Rather it is a collaboration between people for an end means.

It is sad that too many artists see their contemporaries as only competition. Too often an artist will begin to shove away anyone that comes close seeing them as a threat.

It is through friendships that new doors can open in your work and within future opportunity. Isolating oneself to an island is a mistake.

Without the input of others ones work tends to stay within certain trends. Techniques in how one does their work remains limited to what they know or can research.

Hidden within the experience and minds of those who have walked these paths before us is a wealth of information which we need. Gaining access to this information is invaluable to an artist. Accomplishing this requires being authentic and cultivating relationships.

One can continue as an island or begin to grow with others and also in reputation as a result of these relationships. To extend our abilities, skills, and influence beyond our borders requires help.

If you are serious about being a professional artist the barriers many create must come down.