Advice for Artists

Over the years of being an artist I've learned a few things that I think are important to share and will hopefully help other fellow artists, or just people in general, with how they view themselves/their art. We all need that reminder that we are actually pretty great every once in a while.

Now I am not the epitome of 'success' in any way, shape, or form so that means that no one needs to listen to me on these few factors and tips I'm going to share. I am just asking for a quick once over and maybe a little ponder on if this is relevant towards yourself or someone you might know.

Art is a broad term that encompasses more than a lot of us realize and even if we think that someone's art is not art, doesn't mean it's not art. When the term 'Art' is placed in the air we must all remain openminded because the line on where it stops and starts is blurred beyond recognition.

Open Mindedness

Over the years I stuck to a few things in the area of art and it was difficult to push me out of the box I put myself in. That was all because I was afraid of getting out of my comfort zone and recognizing that I really wasn't very good and I had a LOT to learn. It can be overwhelming to try new things, especially when you create something that you are satisfied with how it's turned out so far, but you can't limit yourself to the fear of messing your creation up! You need to try new things! New mediums or techniques and even new perspectives on what you're doing. That's the only way you can grow. Your imagination thrives on seeing and doing things in a different ways. Expanding your mind to new places. You never really know what you can try and enjoy. I'm not even talking about just within the visual arts spectrum, expand your mind to even different art forms! You don't just have to be one thing you can be a visual artist and a photographer or even a singer, songwriter, visual artist, director, and engineer. The only person who places limits on you is yourself.

Recognition

Albert Einstein once said " Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value."

Art is not about the fame that it's going to give you, that is not guaranteed: it is about the creation of what you make. Human beings are amazing and being able to create is only one aspect of that. I've seen many people get into art forms just because they want to make money out of it and sure sometimes that works but it won't fulfill your life because you're always going to be living for what someone else wants not what you want to create. No matter if people recognize your talent or not, it's still there, and you should use it as much as you can. Money does not live for us when we are gone but our body of work does, it holds parts of who we truly are. Don't pay attention to the amount of likes you get for something you've created and I know it's really difficult to ignore that aspect but when/if the time is right you will be recognized for what you need to be. Nothing can be done to force recognition into being.

Comparisons

Everyone compares themselves to someone else in some way whether it be looks, talents, or intellect. I personally try as hard as I possibly can to stay away from doing that. Each of us are individuals we cannot accurately compare ourselves to someone else because our lives, minds, DNA, and souls are no one else's but our own. Year after year I would look at other peoples drawings and paintings and creativity, thinking, "Why can't I do that?" and, "There are just so many artists out there who are better than I am I should stop...there is no point in what I'm doing..." All I would do is compare everything I did to everything someone else did and it made no sense to do. I am me, not someone else. Not only did it hurt myself to do that it also disrespected another persons hard work, because all I did was wallow in my own disappointment in myself and not celebrate their amazing accomplishments. We each have strengths and weaknesses in everything we do and that means that someone might be terrible in something you are amazing at (and vic versa). There is no one who can create exactly what you can.

Practice

The last thing I want to mention is the one everyone hears all the time. Persistence. Or otherwise known as practice. Most of anyone who is sitting in class drawing something while other students are around know the question that is always asked, "How do you get that good at art?!" I'm sure singers and film makers (plus a whole other bunch of people who are good at something the general population doesn't know) get a similar version of that question as well. The answer is practice. No one gets to where they are without trying over and over to gain the knowledge they need to move forward in the field they are in. That's just how learning to do something works. You must keep going with what you're doing! Of course sometimes it gets hard and makes you question everything you're doing but you have to work through that if you want to move forward.

Some time ago I was trying to help someone who asked me to listen to them and he told me he wanted to be professional in art (I thought oh that's amazing) and asked him what was stopping him. What he told me was, "I don't want to have to work for it, I don't want to practice." All I saw him say was so many "don'ts" and not any "going to's." It made absolutely no sense to me how he expected to gain something from doing nothing. I had no way to help him because he didn't want to help himself. The only way to get better at something is to do it, as many times as it takes, nothing in life just gets handed to you because you want it. I'm glad things do not come easy because I am more grateful to what I can do because I work hard to achieve it. If I didn't gain my achievements from struggling to get them I would not appreciate them one bit and ultimately have nothing to work towards. Remember that we are all different and worth it, so DON'T give up on yourself push yourself towards whatever goal you have and make it happen. Keep an open mind to what you can do!

If no one else does, I believe in you.