As an artist, your career journey may be unique and harder than other career paths. Opportunities may be scarce and support from family and friends can be limited. Additionally, financial stability can be hard to reach and raw materials to create artworks are expensive. If you’re pursuing a career in art from within a developing country, the challenges you might be facing can be even more complex. Art and artists could be subject to censorship due to political or moral issues, which in the end limits creative liberties and the development of the creative industry.
Challenges are everywhere and hit everyone regardless of their background or chosen path. If you’re an artist by training, a self-taught artist or a wannabe artist, this article will help you address some of these challenges with confidence. In this article we’ll explore various strategies detailed by experts to help you grow as an artist. Let’s get started!
Nurture Your Creativity.
You might think that you are either a creative person or not. However, in reality, creativity is not something that is just inherent; it usually needs to be cultivated.
3 Tips for Cultivating Creativity:
- Surround yourself with supportive people. We're often conditioned to believe that support should solely come from family and friends, which isn't always entirely true. While family and friends wish for your comfort and an easy life, such support can inadvertently discourage you from pursuing your dreams and taking risks. To elevate your art to the next level, surround yourself with the right people—those you trust and who can assist you in climbing the ladder. Identify individuals who are one step ahead of you and serve as sources of inspiration. Reach out to them and seek mentorship. Many mentors are willing to provide guidance for free, so don't worry about financial costs. Find someone who believes in you and your potential. Similarly, when opportunities arise to assist others on their journey, don't hesitate to extend a helping hand. It's a chance to give back, enhance your skills, and expand your network.
- Engage in other life experiences. Art springs from your thoughts, feelings, and ideas. However, if you are constantly fixated on your artwork, you may be depriving yourself of the diverse experiences life has to offer, which can be a wellspring of inspiration for your work! Step out of your comfort zone, try new things, meet new people, and explore new places. Inspiration can emerge unexpectedly, especially when you allow your mind to rest and simply enjoy life.
- Take time to reflect. In the hustle and bustle of constant activity, we risk missing crucial lessons and inspiration if we don't pause to reflect on our experiences. Allocate time each day for reflection, whether through journaling, writing letters, or using audio/video recordings. Putting your thoughts, feelings, ambitions, objectives, and goals on paper is the first step toward achieving significant things.
Consider using the tool futureme.org to send letters to your future self. This practice will help you recognize the strides you've made in a short period, providing valuable insights into your personal and creative growth.
Don’t Replicate. Innovate.
The art industry is evolving rapidly with the new technologies at hand such as NFT, the metaverse and the massive use of social media. Today, anyone can be an artist. Embrace change and incorporate it into your strategy for self-development. A great example is the emergence of graphic design as an artistic discipline. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. That doesn’t make sense. We all come from different backgrounds, we have different stories and aspirations.
Build An Engaged Audience.
To improve your skills and artistic style, constructive feedback is essential. To receive feedback and create artwork that speaks to you and your audience, build your personal brand and develop an audience, just like social media influencers.
Do These 3 Steps:
- Define your purpose and target audience. Identify why you want to engage on social media and determine your target audience’s preferences and interests.
- Choose the right platform. Select one social media platform (e.g., Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest) to start with.
- Create a content strategy. Plan your content strategy, and post consistently. Over time, you’ll build an engaged audience that provides valuable feedback for your growth and development.
Develop Yourself and Seek Knowledge.
The secret sauce for growth is to never settle for your current level. Seek knowledge daily from various sources like documentaries, books, podcasts, and social media posts. We’ve asked experts in the art industry for suggestions and here are the top recommendations.
Books:
"Steal Like an Artist" by Austin Kleon.
“Art, Inc.: The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist” by Lisa Congdon.
“The age of insight” by Eric Kandel.
Podcasts:
"ArtCurious Podcast"
“Art Meets a Podcast”
THE LATITUDES PODCAST, POWERED BY ITOO ARTINSURE
Social Media Accounts:
https://www.instagram.com/154artfair/
https://www.instagram.com/artnewsafrica/
https://www.instagram.com/32degreeseast/
https://www.instagram.com/ncai254/
https://www.instagram.com/artschoolafrica/
To sum up, your journey as an emerging artist will be full of ups and downs, opportunities, and challenges. By nurturing creativity, embracing innovation, surrounding yourself with a virtual community and constantly learning, you can navigate these challenges and find ways to reach growth and fulfillment.
We hope this helps you move from one stage to another as emerging artists. Share your thoughts and progress in the comments below; we’d love to hear from you soon!