The life of the artist has many misconceptions. The mental state of the artist can be one of constant conflict, guilt and self-recrimination.
99% of artists and creatives all want the same thing. More time, more exposure, more money.
Yet most are unwilling to change the one most important thing — Their mindset.
“Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds, cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw
Common Misconception about life as an artist:
Misconception #1 :
Art and money are mutually exclusive.
The Truth:
What you create has value.
The world needs and appreciates your art. Nowhere in the rule book of life does it say that you cannot have both and then some. You can do what you love and be paid very well for it. It is a little silly to undervalue your own work, because you think the world has so little appreciation of it. How could someone else appreciate your work if you don’t value it yourself?
Another thing to keep in mind when considering the equation of money and art: Life costs money. Making art costs money. You actually need both money and artistry in order to have the staying power to consistently make art and become the greatness that you are.
You have put forth an enormous amount of time and energy in creating your work. What you want is for the energy you have invested to be returned to you in the form of money. It is an exchange of energy, no more, no less. There is no need to feel guilty about wanting this to be an equal exchange.
Misconception #2:
Artists must live a bohemian lifestyle of wild abandon, and discipline is overrated.
The Truth:
Most successful artists I know live a dedicated but simple life. Art takes a lot of energy to make. It’s hard to make art when you are constantly hung over, coming down and partying it up.
You should have as many varied experiences as possible. I believe we should seize every opportunity and experience life in as many different shades and nuances as possible. However, the life of a successful artist is the equivalent of working 2 jobs. One is of the artist making your art. The other is of the CEO dealing with the business end of your art career. To squeeze a fulfilling personal life into the midst of two full time jobs is hard. If you live a bohemian lifestyle, something will suffer. There are simply not enough hours in the day to recover from the hangover, return all the business calls and follow up with leads, and still make time to be in the studio and actually create work.
Flaubert said, “Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your art.”
Misconception #3:
You are an artist, nothing more.
The Truth:
Artists and creatives take great pride in what they do. You should. Being an artist is one of the hardest jobs there is.
We snatch ephemeral ideas from the ether and breath life into them and render them anew — we give it shape, life, form and a voice.
It’s an incredible high, better than any drugs.
It is amazing.
Humbling.
We devote time and energy to giving birth to excellent work, and then we walk away, leaving it helpless and fending for itself. We watch it from afar, unable to shift our mindset to become the champion it needs.
If you want to be successful, you need to be more than just an artist.
You need to be the mother, the CEO, the shameless promoter, the champion of your art. You have to fight for your art the way a lioness fights for her cubs. Your job has only begun when the paint has dried and you’ve finished the final edit. You will need to spend weeks, months, years relentlessly fighting to get your metaphorical child into all the right schools. It is not easy. But like actual child-rearing, it is the most rewarding experience one can have. Change your mindset about what your job description is. You can’t just birth the art and nothing more. You must care for it, fight for it, carry it around by the scruff of the neck the way a lioness does with her cubs.
You are courageous enough to dedicate yourself to one of the most difficult professions possible. Now you need to shift gears and re-frame the way you think. Change one thing and everything else will change. You will have more time, more money, more exposure.
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This is wonderful. I grew up in a family of artists that understood these things and then passed them onto me (or at least attempted to). These are all important realizations to come to, so thank you for posting them!
You are fortunate to have been passed on great value and not have to fight with common misconception! Its always great when you have one less mindset to overcome! 🙂
wow; an article about art that’s bullshit-free…
thank you.
i spend alot of time on ‘the net’, i very rarely
‘interact’, but you’re so right (so honest/real), i just had to say Thanks.
Thank you. I’m glad the piece resonates with you. I think too many artists gets caught up on the persona of being an artist.
Very well said indeed!
This is one of the most inspiring pieces I have read on the truth about life as an artist. No nonsense and full of honesty. Thank you – you have added tremendous value to my dreams !
This is one of the most inspiring pieces I have read on the truth about life as an artist. No nonsense and full of honesty. Thank you – you have added tremendous value to my dreams !
Such an inspirational piece! I like how you weaved your ideas in – destroying misconceptions and allowing everyone to see the truth as most artists see it. Great share. 😉
I’m glad the piece resonated with you. I do believe artists hold on to a lot of unhealthy beliefs and it slows them down.
I bookmark this so that I remember there’s nothing strange or exotic in the artistic attempts and lifestyle I’ve chosen. It’s simply another mark on the human evolution.
I have been in this constant loosing battle all my life to overcome the reality that I AM an artist (there, I said it… for the first time). I studied something which I didn’t care for because it was the reasonable thing to do. I have worked in jobs which meant and mean nothing to me and all along, all I ever think about are all those things I want to create.
Anything creative or artistic that I get involved in is a success (be it painting, decorating, drawing, writing, even cooking) and still I lack the balls (sic) to actually take up my passion and make it a real profession. YES…it’s true, I need to eat, pay rent, pay for gas and a lifestyle, but it isn’t worth it when I feel so empty and guilty for not actually doing what I feel I’m meant to be doing.
I’m writing all of this to maybe help verbalise what many others feel, fear and are even ashamed of, because that is what I have been feeling all my life for not pursuing my dream. I still lack the courage to do it, because of the reality of needing to put food on the table.
I hope that stumbling on this chain of thoughts will finally put me in the mind-set and give me the urge to find how to make my talents and dreams translate into money and professional happiness! If anyone as an idea… I’m all ears!
(BTW: Thanx to everyone for being so sincere and thanx to Charlie for starting this)
I am an artist from south africa durban!! So blown away–inspired by this…….I wish that this could be spread all over so that people can understand what art is !!!!here in in my city artists armt taken that serious….. There’s this belief that art is a hobby and that 1 shouldn’t focus much on it …… I am a drama teacher but still find it difficult to convice people out there that art exists and real…. But thanks for the article I’m sure to let my students read all this!!!!
Thank you for reading. I am glad that it resonates with you and please do feel free to share it with your students. I am hoping to be in Africa / South Africa by mid-summer. One of the artists I represent at the gallery lives in Durban so I am looking to see if I can swing a visit.
99% of artists and creatives all want the same thing. More time, more exposure, more money…..(?) Is that so, is that what entails an artist to want those things? I thought it was about an inner urge to create something beyond ones own logical limits and portraying something for a greater good perhaps…what about the buddhist monk creating art?
My name is Joel Emmanuel Aryee and 15 years of age. I am a Ghanaian. I am some one who likes drawing and wants to be an artist in future. Please if you know someone who can help me, please contact me on: 0265722260 or 0242485434.
Hello Joel, Thank you so much for writing. Keep on practicing and find as many opportunities for people to see your work as possible. That is my best advice. Best of luck in all you do.
this is the most uplifting article i have ever read on practicing art. this is a life booster.Thank you very very much for sharing!
That is so true…I’ve heard these misconceptions in various forms throughout the years….sometimes finding the time to create art is a challenge too…..thanks for the reminder to keep at it and fight for your art!
Wow thats a truthful peice…In my languege we #Uyi ‘skokho/ you the camp…#I LIKE IT SO ® period