Essential Tips for New Artists: 9 Insights to Accelerate Your Journey

Let’s take a moment for some light-hearted reflections and a helpful list. (I am particularly fond of list articles; once the ideas start flowing, they tend to keep coming!)

This particular list focuses on the early stages of becoming an artist—specifically, nine insights I wish I had realized when I embarked on my artistic journey. I started exploring art during my teenage years, and since then, I’ve encountered many unexpected lessons along the way.

1. Many People Don’t Recognize Art as a “Legitimate Career”

The truth is that a significant number of individuals struggle to grasp the concept of earning a living through creative expression. For them, art is merely a leisurely pursuit, not something one can rely on for income.

This misconception doesn’t solely apply to visual artists. Musicians, writers, and various creatives also frequently hear remarks like, “Why don’t you pursue a real job?” often from well-meaning family members or acquaintances.

The best approach is to smile and continue creating. Those who don’t engage with creative passions might never fully comprehend that for many, creating is simply not the same as traditional work.

2. Creating Art Alone Won’t Guarantee Sales

In my early days, I held onto the belief that producing artwork would automatically result in sales. The realization of its complexity came as quite a surprise. You could potentially craft an impressive portfolio, but if no one knows about your work, you won’t make any sales. After all, how can someone purchase what they aren’t aware of?

While creating is essential for having something to offer, effective marketing is equally important.

3. Navigating the Art Business Isn’t Always Easy

In reality, it can be quite challenging! Sometimes, it feels like a constant struggle.

Managing an art business requires hard work, and often, it involves tasks outside of your creative space. Until your business grows enough to outsource, you’ll find yourself handling everything from bookkeeping to customer service and marketing. While these aspects may not be the most enjoyable, they are vital for keeping your business afloat.

(Fun fact: these responsibilities are what makes running a creative business feel quite similar to a “real job.” I often consider the administrative side as my full-time job since it takes up a significant portion of my time!)

4. Creativity Can Be Quite Draining!

When I first embarked on my career as a full-time artist in 2002, I quickly learned that I could paint productively for about four hours, maybe five on particularly good days. Beyond that, I often found my mental and physical energy dwindling. Sure, I could push myself to work longer, but typically, the results would suffer.

Don’t expect to have a constant stream of creative energy. Recognize your limits and prioritize rest and rejuvenation. In doing so, you’ll likely find you’re more productive in the long run.

5. The Journey to Being “Discovered” Can Be Lengthy

Have you ever wished that creating the right piece or catching the eye of just the right person would transform your career? I openly admit that I sought that mythical “perfect artwork” or client in my earlier days—what a hopeful yet unrealistic thought!

In reality, most successful artists don’t get discovered overnight. They invest considerable time developing their skills, sometimes producing less-than-stellar work, before they truly find their footing. Active networking with clients and art galleries, as well as effective marketing, play crucial roles in this process.

Ultimately, all of this hard work pays off, and success may begin to materialize. However, what appears to be a sudden breakthrough may have actually taken years to achieve.

6. Passion Alone Isn’t Sufficient for Success

While having passion is important—it’s often what motivates artists to persevere through challenges—there will be times when enthusiasm runs out or falls short.

During these moments, you need more than just passion; you need steadfast commitment to your long-term goals. This deep dedication will push you to the studio even on days you’d prefer not to, and it will encourage you to create even when passion fades.

7. Talent by Itself Isn’t Enough for Achieving Success

While natural talent is beneficial, it alone does not guarantee success.

A person with modest innate talent but the drive to learn and hone their craft will likely outpace a prodigy who never practices or approaches their work thoughtfully.

The ideal scenario combines talent with discipline; however, even if you feel devoid of natural talent, you can still achieve your goals through hard work and dedication.

8. Your Artistic Output Is Often Misjudged

I frequently view my work as inadequate. This stems from the idealized vision I have when embarking on a project—unfortunately, my finished piece has never matched that vision. It’s an inherent struggle of artistic ideals.

However, my skills have undeniably improved over time. So, I remind myself to focus on the positives in each piece and to evaluate each on its own terms, rather than comparing it to an elusive ideal.

Conversely, some artists mistakenly consider everything they create to be flawless. Even renowned masters couldn’t achieve that! If you find yourself in this camp, it’s crucial to adjust that perspective; otherwise, you risk stalling your growth and experimentation.

9. There’s Always More to Learn

Honestly, this is a lesson I find myself revisiting repeatedly even decades into my artistic journey. Recognizing that I don’t have all the answers is vital. Why is this insight crucial? The moment you believe you know everything is the moment you cease to grow. Halting your learning equates to stagnation—it’s a fate none of us desire!

So, those are my reflections on things I wish I had known during my initial foray into art. Would I have approached things differently had I been aware of these insights earlier? It’s hard to say!

Even if someone had shared these lessons with me back then, I’m not certain I would have taken them to heart. Sometimes, experience is the best teacher, and I can genuinely say I have gained a wealth of understanding—from art and beyond!