What if making things is easy for you but you want to get better at making things?
Well you have the main thing you need to improve, which is desire. Here are some ways you can try to go from dilettante or crafter to serious artist.
- School: Even though everyone says you don't need to go to school to be a great artist (which is true) if you simply feel you must have education to be able to tell yourself that you're a serious artist, then do it. I'm taking a class at ACC right now to improve my jewelry making talent and to gain the skills I'll need to further my beadwork artistry. I also plan to make custom findings and also belts of silver with stones. This class will definitely help me accomplish that. Set some goals for yourself and then go get the skills you need. Focus more on techniques and skills you want than on getting a degree (which is also good.)
- Start selling your creations: Nothing says "professional artist" like making money doing art! This requires putting yourself out there, which we'll discuss in the next blog post.
- Consider what you really want: You don't have to be selling art in a gallery or have your work displayed in a museum to be a "real artist." There are so many other things you can do such as illustration, selling prints, fabric pattern design, logos, and much more. Try to dream of what you want your creative life to look like and how you want to use your talent.
I recently read in the book "Art, Inc" by Lisa Congdon that if you want to be a professional artist, it's good to make an inventory of your own ethics first. In other words, ask yourself under what conditions you would be a happy artist. For example, you might write down something about your prices--that you want to have at least some low-price art for sale. You could write about types of art you would not want to do because of your beliefs and convictions. Doing this will ensure that your art career doesn't derail you while it's ostensibly succeeding in most people's eyes.
- Envision your perfect art career day: What are you doing? Fulfilling orders for prints and designing on the computer? Cleaning up paint and calling your agent? Isolating in your studio most of the time and only coming out for shows? Write all this down in your journal or notes and then try to find someone in the art community to talk to about it. Ask if they think it's realistic.
- Research: We live in such a blessed time. I remember many times a child feeling very sad because I had a question that my teachers, mom, and the encyclopedia could not answer. There's no need for this feeling today! Read books about what you want to achieve and try in your art career. Talk to people, online and in person. Ask questions and be open minded. Take notes and ponder.
I hope this advice helps you as much as it's helped me! Let me know in the comments of anything you'd add.
Much love,
--Pam