The lucky Seven . . .

Ever since I decided to become a full time artist and ditched that "caca" 9-5 (nearly three years ago), I been asked by a handful of dudes & dudettes on what it takes to become a successful artist. I been meaning to reserve my opinions and not spill the beans too much because three years ago I hadn't the roughest of ideas and didn't wanted to sound dumb nor mislead anyone. People assumed that because I was able to quit my day job, all of the sudden I was making big bones which was so-ooooooo not the case. With three full years (and counting) of doing nothing but art to pay the bills,  I feel that I have earned enough knowledge to guide you through the right path or at the very least . . . get you going. Now, I am not in any means suggesting that this is how you should do it and following these steps will guarantee you immediate success, but these are good things to learn and keep in mind to keep you on the right track. Well then without further ado, please continue . . .


I.  THE HEART AND SOUL
Let me start off with the most basic of advice any professional artist can give you. The core of becoming a successful artist does not lie in just raw talent and skill (trust me, in this business you witness incredible talent that talent becomes secondary; is just a given element of the whole equation) but more so in developing your own individual style and that my dearests requires hard work (tons of it). That is the first step into becoming a successful artist. Finding your true identity, that is the heart and soul of an artist and you cannot bypass this step and expect to make it big.


II.  PRESENTATION! PRESENTATION! PRESENTATION!
Have you ever heard of the phrase, "Image is everything."? Good, now you must apply it. Many young-bloods in the business forget that (unfortunately) this is a business and as much as we refuse to acknowledge such evil, the fact of the matter is that the evil is very real. Being an artist is not too far from being a brand; you just happen to be a brand with a heart and soul. *kekekekeke* How you talk and write about your work is very important and in doing so you must do it in a manner in which people will understand it. I highly encourage to use the full potential of the internet (blogs, youtube, instagram, facebook, etc). Work it like there is no tomorrow, but keep in mind that the way you present yourself and your work will have a profound impact on your career. So use it wisely.


III.  HEART AND SOUL . . . NOT HERE!
Being a successful artist also means you have a strong back bone (I am talking, titanium). If you are the sensitive type who keeps artwork hidden away and holds grudges against those that critique it in a "negative" way, you might want to consider another career path. Though having free will to create whatever comes to mind indeed is a luxury, such luxury comes with a price tag. I highly recommend getting into the habit of inviting artists whom you respect and admire to your studio to view your work. If you don't have a studio or you are too embarrassed, and afraid of being sued because you can't find the floor under all that mess (causing tripping accidents), then again, online is your best resource. It is highly important to obtain accurate, sincere critiques from your peers, you will find that the more feedback you get the better you become. Now here is an added bonus that comes with having your own circle of trust (peers network) is that they are a great source of information; you can share notes about the art world thus learning from each other and discuss exhibition opportunities. Interacting regularly with other artists will keep you connected to the art world outside your studio.

Personal note : There is no such thing as a negative feedback because feedback is given with ultimate end of progress in mind. Keep it simple, kiddos.


IV.  MUCHAS GRACIAS! THANK YOU! TOU YEH! DANK U! MERCI! DANKE SEHR! SHUKRIYAA . . .
No matter how you say it, say it! The art world can be very unforgiving at times and rejection is more common than a hello in this bizz. However, we must never forget to be thankful to those who have been helpful or given us time in their busy lives to find out what we do. Start getting into the habit of writing little thank you notes, especially to those poor curators that work their buns off to make those shows happen or the collectors who are interested in your work, or even that guy who wrote a review on his blog about your upcoming show or art piece. Such little gesture goes a lo-oooooong way. Trust me, people will remember you and you will develop a wider group of supporters.  Now, I am not advising to kiss peoples' hinnies, that is something totally different which I do not support, but it is quite nice to be thoughtful of other as often as you can. Trust me, you are not the only one working your butt off.

Personal note :  I always have with me 'Artist Trading Cards' (They are inexpensive, easy to carry and most local art stores carry them. ) or sketching paper. I am a firm believer of the building bridges, NOT BURNING THEM! proposition.


V.  WHO IS THAT?
Have you ever noticed that most (loud, as in successful) artists know who the important people in the art world are? There is a reason for that and as you grow and advance as in artist you cannot afford that diva attitude that seems to lurk in some heads out there. You cannot take the attitude that your work is so amazing and interesting therefore people should seek you out and that's that. Ha! Good luck with that. That just doesn't fly and quite honestly is a very ridiculous attitude. You don't have to be ubber-buddies with the big names out there, but you should be aware of the influential gallery dealers, the art collectors, the directors of museums, active curators, and of course the art critics and writers. This is how you become successful on the grand scale of things by knowing the key players. Network! Network! Network!


VI.  CREATE! CREATE! CREATE!
That is pretty much it for this section, create like you are about to get ready for four one-person exhibitions. Sure you will end up with tons of paintings just sitting around in your studio, but there is purpose in this. Constantly creating is not only beneficial to your skills, but to your career as an artist as well. Curators, dealers and everyone who plays a key role love to see and deal with prolific artists. Having four shows ready to go means that you can jump on opportunities that arise with little or no notice.


VII. INSPIRATION COMES TO THOSE WHO GET BUSY!
This is not joke people! I used to be one of those artists that sat around waiting for my muse to come and dance with me. Sometimes she would come a few times during the year and other times years would go by till her next visit. Professional artists, who create art for a living can't afford such waste of time. Trust me, I KNOW! Hahahahaha! No seriously, it is much more beneficial and fruitful to work constantly and while doing so, who knows, maybe the muse will stop by and whisper sweet things in your ear. The key here is to keep working because in doing so not only will you develop healthy habits (like time management which is crucial) but your skills and knowledge will continue to evolve.

Personal note : Schedule time to work on your art, make a commitment to produce a certain amount of work per month, and respect your own deadlines. As mediocre as they may seem to you, respect them!

E.-