7 Mistakes Emerging Artists Make — and How to Avoid Those Pitfalls for Sustainable Success
First Things First: There’s No One Way to Be an Artist
I’ve been documenting much of my creative journey on Medium, providing instructional insight, creative inspiration, and pep talks (mostly for myself) about once a week.
The most common — and most appreciated! — feedback I’ve received is: “This is great advice for digital artists *and* artists in general.” Today’s article is, of course, for my fellow artists navigating the crypto space, but for all of us: digital, traditional, audio, visual, 2D, 3D…you name it. As an “emerging” artist, you might be ready to create your first painting, or maybe you’ve considered yourself emerging for the last 60 years. It’s all subjective anyway, right?
The challenges we face as artists are shifting as the artistic landscape does the same. But, these are consistent no matter your medium, and no matter your channel of distribution (Etsy or SuperRare, for example).
Before we dive in, I want to preface this guidance with a note: There is no one right way to be an artist.
(Unfortunately) there’s no one major key that unlocks your success or your longevity (other than full-blown commitment and unwavering consistency, and even those have exceptions). Your career is going to look different than everyone else’s, and it should. That’s the beauty of being a creator: You are an inventor, a pioneer, an innovator, of both your work and your business.
But, I’ve been an artist professionally, in that I’ve been selling work, obtaining collectors, and making mistakes for the benefit of my growth and yours, for about 10 years. And I’m a marketer by degree and by background, so the combination creates in me a unique understanding of the art space and how we, as artists, might be able to show up effectively.
7 Mistakes Emerging Artists Make
You make work for the purpose of sharing and/or selling. This might seem counterintuitive. You think, “But Sophie, what about supply and demand? What about making work that people want?” And those are great questions if you’re making a product. But you’re not making a product; you’re making art. Commit to making work for yourself before anyone else. You should be excited, relieved, and proud to sign your work more than you’re excited for the opportunity to sell it. You’ll know you’re creating “from the gut” when selling a piece is bittersweet; it’s part of you, after all. Note: Doing this is a long-term play. You probably won’t sell your work on the first day, but that’s okay. It will be so worth it when your authenticity and commitment to self shine through. Remember: We’re here to play the long game.
You connect your ego to others’ work. I cannot stress this point enough. Take off your comparison pants. They will only suffocate you. The more you spend time comparing your work, your growth, your following, and your sales to those of another artist, the more you will succumb to Resistance. On the other hand, beware the trap of assuming you are better than others. We know this to be true: grit, persistence, and all-out passion will outperform talent that isn’t stewarded well. If you’re contempt, and believe that your talent alone is enough, you will be outworked…and quickly surpassed.
You connect your ego to your own work. This one is tough. It’s hardest for me, personally, so if it resonates, it’s okay. We find that, when we are too “caught up” in making perfect art, we become paralyzed — afraid to make anything at all. Understand that the work you make tomorrow will be better than the work you make today (regardless of how it turns out subjectively — it’s better because it’s more practice). And the work you make today is better than the work you made yesterday, so don’t hate yourself for not having “arrived.” Just keep making work. Get frustrated and take a step back on the days you need it, but don’t stop. Our egos are in bed with perfectionism, which is actually rooted in insecurity and fear of being seen as inadequate, or being “found out” as an imposter. Remember: There’s no such thing as perfect. And perfectionism is paralyzing. You are as valuable of a human on the days you make “bad” art, and on the days you make nothing at all, as you are on your best/most creative/most profound day. Your value as an artist does not fluctuate. Just keep going.
You assume your work will speak for itself. Now, this one is a little two-faced, so stick with me. On one hand, your work should be created with intention, with heart, with passion, with truth. You should try your hardest. I am not letting you off the hook or advocating that you should make lazy art and get away with it. Make really good art, and keep growing. Make work that stands on its own two legs, and that you’re proud to share. However: Do not expect to make sales, garner attention, attain recognition, or find sustainable success if you’re quiet about it. You must share your work. You must talk about it. You must bring people into the story, your why. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: People buy into the artist as much as they buy into the art. And if a collector is excited about who you are, they’ll be excited about what you make.
You avoid a healthy challenge. I see a lot of artists scared to do something they know they’re bad at. Have you noticed that an artist will avoid drawing hands, or faces, or leveraging texture and color? I have weak points, but I make sure to work on them (and, as best as I can, I will try to include them in a piece to prove to myself that my work is valuable even while I’m still growing). Find your style and lean all the way in, but don’t avoid a challenge because you’re scared. Just like physical exercise, focusing on your weaknesses will strengthen both those points and the body as a whole. Draw some hands today, even if they end up looking like some creepy little chicken feet.
You avoid sharing your work until it’s better “technically.” Refer to points 3 and 5. Share your work today. And commit to growth. Simultaneously. Also, note that the work you don’t like might actually reach someone else in a way you don’t expect. Some of my least favorite work, that I might consider “technically” inadequate or insufficient, is others’ favorite. Why? I have no idea. But it works, and it moves people. And to move others with something I’ve made is exciting — it’s connecting!
You refuse to share or support (or even acquire) the work of other artists. Some of us are afraid of sharing or supporting the work of others because we think their sale is detrimental to our own success. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Energetically and cosmically, generosity begets generosity. Support begets support. If you’re vocal about the work of others, genuinely and true to you, then you’ll see others do the same for you. To avoid doing so might mean you have a scarcity mentality, and a subconscious belief that there isn’t enough “good” to go around. There is more than enough; this is not a zero-sum game. A rising tide lifts all boats. Believe that you are worth support and praise and a sale just as your neighbor is worth the same. There is no shortage of money to be exchanged, there is no shortage of collectorship, and to hoard views, attention, or the potential to sell will only hurt in the long run. (Regardless of your beliefs — from Karma to Christianity — generosity is a very good and godly practice).
