How to be a Successful Artist – Part 1
Every artist must wear two hats – that of the artist or craftsman and that of the businessman (please consider my use of the masculine to be gender neutral – it’s just easier to type). The one thing they did NOT teach me or Echo in art school was business – they only taught art. Of course, it was a monumental curriculum in learning art, so no complaints really. It would’ve taken nearly 40 more credits to learn about business, and so we did it the hard way. Learn from our hard fought experiences.
About the art:
1. Be focused. You’re vision may be represented in theme, narrative, context or technique. Whatever it is, master it. This will take about 5-10 years. Then master the other four to round yourself out. This will take another 20.
2. Be unique – be yourself. “Cultivate Your Own Half-Acre” – Norman Rockwell. What he meant was that every artist has an intrinsic style or vision almost preternaturally disposed to and fighting that will delay success. Mucha wanted to be a painter – but got stuck being famous for High Art Nouveau (Jugenstihl).
3. Be strong. Develop enough of an ego to accept that your vision can always be improved, even with the help of outsiders and even the untrained. (See #5)
4. Be aware. NEVER edit yourself. Get someone else to do that for you. See #3.
5. Be open. Learn to edit yourself. See your art the way others do and make the changes they would offer to it before they do.
6. Don’t be a douche. A douche sells himself as himself and doesn’t sell the art. A douche constantly confuses the value of themselves with the value of their art – thereby initiating conflict and creating ‘rivals’ where were none before. I’ve known many a douche in the art world and some of them are successful… but none of the ones I know have friends. If the art is good, then sell it. If the art isn’t good, then get better. If you can’t wait to get better because you want to succeed, then alienating your peers and critics alike to grab the fastest dollar is definitely a plan to consider, but you will be a lonely laughing stock. Some artists can live with that.
7. Don’t be a dick (yes, women can be dicks). A dick buys his own press and thinks that if 100 people thinks they’re the greatest, then it’s just a matter of time before the rest of the world gets with the program. Dicks don’t improve their art – they find all they require in the rehashing of whatever worked the first time. The reality is that in the art world, their are COUNTLESS MILLIONS of people and dollars that will support crap – and a dick won’t recognize that their career is propped up crap. It may have even been pretty good at one time – but time moves on and if the artist doesn’t the fans will. Then they turn can descend into a douche.
About the business. Remember: You are creating a product to be sold.
1. Be decisive. How do you want to sell it? As a published work (e.g., commercial commissions?), as a one-of-a-kind fine art piece? As a licensable theme/design/character for millions of products world-wide? Each CHANNEL is distribution is unique – decide how you want to attack any and all CHANNELS you choose (yes CHANNEL is a new vocabulary word, folks).
2. Be intelligent. Who is your audience? Are they midwestern middle-aged second-homeowners with a recently cashed in 401K or home equity check? Are they uber-wealthy luxury collecters looking for anything to impress their peers where money is no object? Are they fantasy art fans who frequent conventions and will save 12 months to spend on an airline flight and then a hotel room and then spend 4-days looking for the just the right find to bring home and add to their collection? Are they emos or otaku who have $5 in their hand and have trouble deciding between a fashion item or a hot dog? Are they manufacturers or publishers looking to make their products or titles leap of the shelves and drown out the competition? Learn who they are and what they want – and then speak their language. In the case of the latter, you’ll have to learn the language of THEIR customers too.
3. Be serious. How much can you afford to work for? Seriously – the hardest part about being an artist is getting paid what you are worth. Some clients won’t pay enough and other clients might surprise you with paying you more than you think it’s worth – but you have to balance, because lowering yourself will kill you and buying into the ‘new higher rate’ will alienate you. Find a balance.
4. Don’t miss a deadline… ever… Sure, emergencies can crop up and the good ADs and CDs will have built in a cushion to accommodate for that but the reality is you have to earn that trust first AND their really aren’t that many good ADs and CDs. Unless you’re the only one of the world who can do what you do, they’ll never work with you again.
5. Don’t be a starving artist. Parents are terrified that their child is going to live at home and never make a life for themselves just ‘drawing pictures’. More artists are successful than not – they just aren’t going to always be famous. Their are more artists involved in producing the material advertising a football game than there are players on the field from BOTH teams. OH! And just because you produce one kind of art for one channel, doesn’t mean you can’t produce a different kind for a different channel. EXPAND EXPAND EXPAND!!!
6. Don’t give up.
There’s more – but just soak that in for awhile.
Great article…thanks!