Advice for Young Artists
Although I started my own professional art career much later in life, after raising children, being a stay at home mom, holding down a variety of jobs and eventually owning and operating a small business, art had always been a passion of mine. Because of that life-long passion and my varied “life experiences” I would like to offer some advice for young artists just starting out . . . or even those artists that are “young at heart”, but just now embarking on a new career.
Practice, practice, practice! Art is like anything else – the more you work at it the better you will become. Not every piece will be a show stopper or gallery worthy. Many may not even be worth keeping in the studio in the end. But the worth is in the process of creating. Growth and learning is achieved in the experimentation. Learn to evaluate your work with an honest eye. Be proud of your successful pieces and learn from the less successful ones.
Paint (or sculpt) what “speaks” to you rather than painting “to a show” or “to a juror” or how an instructor thinks you should paint. If you paint your passion the emotion you feel will come through in your work and will subsequently tell your story to others through your art. That story will build a connection and those connections build relationships.
Learn from your peers. There are so many ways to do this. The obvious, of course, is to enroll in workshops or attend demonstrations given by artists whose work or techniques you admire. There is so much to be learned in these venues, but remember – take what you learn then apply it to YOUR OWN work. Do not try to copy the work of the presenting artist. Take the knowledge you have gained, apply it to your work to make improvements, but retain that which makes your art your own.
Another great resource is to network with other artists through organizations. Local groups often offer comradery between artists working in a variety of mediums, while some others are more specialized. This is also true for national organizations. If you are interested in entering shows joining an art organization might be a great first step as many offer opportunities for members.
Read, visit, absorb. Even if you never take an art class or workshop, but choose to go the road on your own, your art education does not have to be sparse or limited. Take every opportunity you can to read art magazines and books. There are so many wonderful publications out there . . . and so much to learn from them. Visit galleries, art shows and First Friday events whenever possible. Talk to the artists, docents, curators. Absorb. When you cannot attend in person, go online. Check for online shows and other events to “visit” right from home. There is so much wonderful information right at our fingertips.
Stretch your wings. Don’t be afraid to try new mediums or experiment if something sparks an interest in you. Don’t hesitate to enter juried shows. If you don’t get a piece accepted the first time, don’t be afraid to try again.
Realize there will be rejections, but persevere. The life of a professional artist is a continual series of ups and downs. It is a rollercoaster of the “high” of being accepted into a prestigious show or the “low” of receiving a rejection letter. Keep in mind that the very same piece rejected from one show may very well be an award winner in another. The art world is a fickle place. Through it all continue steadfastly toward your goal.
Do not let your success (or failure) be determined by another. You are an artist because it is a need in you. Do not let the comments made by another change the course of your dream. Sometimes the comments of a juror, a visitor to your booth, another artist or even a friend or family member can be harsh. Every artist that has embraced being an artist has experienced negative comments at one time or another. Accept the comments with a quiet grace (meaning sometimes no response is the best response), but please do not take them to heart. Do not despair, give up, lash out or lose sight of your artistic vision.
And above all . . . stay true to yourself and paint your passion.
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