How to Succeed as an Artist - 5 Ways to Connect With People Through Your Art
When you create art, it can sometimes feel challenging to get seen. The art world seems like a closed book, and the opportunities, exhibitions, celebrity and big money go to a very small number of artists. What does it take to learn how to succeed as an artist? I know that when I look at the size of the mountain I have to climb, I can easily become discouraged from even taking the first step.
If I stop comparing myself with other people, however, I know deep down that I create art because I need to. Whether I acknowledge it or not, I have something to say. Whether I feel confident in my work or, more often, highly critical of it, my intention is still there, pulsing away. I want to make the world more beautiful.
I also, in my own way, want to prove that I can do something that, to my mind, is the reserve of a select few people who are different from me. I didn’t go to art school; I don’t use radical new techniques; I’m not a man… These things can easily pass as ‘reasons’ when I know that they’re actually excuses.
I’ve been doing a lot of studying. I’m interested in learning from others who have succeeded in business and as entrepreneurs. And I’m intrigued as to how the psychology, neuroscience and strategies these people use could be applied to art, without detracting from the integrity of the creative work. My motivation is to create art, but perhaps it’s also time to view myself as a business.
See, there’s the sticking point. As an artist, I feel I have something to say, but I don’t ever feel I can take ownership of the way my work communicates. Making art makes you humble. It’s a constant reminder of your smallness, humanity and fallibility. Having spoken to many other artists, both visual and musical, I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. I also know that this mindset is a pretty poor starting point for the kind of steps that answer the question, “How to succeed as an artist?”
I also know a lot of people are asking this exact question, because Google autocomplete tells me so.
I’m just at the beginning of my journey exploring this concept, so I’ve put together my “5 ways to connect with people through your art” from things I’ve learned so far.
How to succeed as an artist - 5 ways to connect with people through your art":
Define what you stand for
In order to connect on social media, which is where everyone connects these days, you must differentiate yourself, your art and your message. This doesn’t mean you need to be wildly different from everyone else. What it does mean is that you need to define what you’re about.
Your message doesn’t have to be an extreme concept. It just has to be something you deeply believe is worth fighting for, investing in and voicing. Mine is a gentle concept – I’ve always liked to leave any space I’ve visited more beautiful than it was. It’s why I used to compulsively do the washing up when visiting other people’s houses, why I garden, and it’s why I paint.
Your reason could be to create magical moments or to bring aesthetics. Or you may have a more political or urgent reason, such as empowering women. Actually these, rolled into one, are all my ‘big why’.
Guerilla Girls is a group of anonymous female artists devoted to fighting sexism and racism within the art world. Their ‘why’ is absolutely overt in their output. The identities of the artists in this New York art group are concealed in order to keep the focus on the issues, not on personalities or the work. This is an extreme example. You don’t have to be a cultural crusader to have something to say. But as the artist Ylane Duparc says:
“Find your why, find your message and stand for it as if it’s part of you.”
Don’t surrender your loneliness was my artistic take on “it’s ok not to be ok”.
2. Give yourself a reason to promote and show your art
When you have defined your ‘why’ you have an immediate way to connect with people through your art, because you have instant commonality with people who share the same message. When we recognise part of ourselves in someone else or in an artwork, we feel a strong connection with the work and with the artist. All art is, in essence, about some element of the human experience. It’s why art can be inspiring, moving, and liberating.
This also removes your reasons as an artist for hiding in the shadows. If you think about promoting your art in terms of communicating a message that is bigger than yourself, the motivation is stronger and more positive. This gives a great 'why' to your question, "How can I succeed as an artist?" You are no longer just sharing your creations hoping to get a pat on the ego, you’re sharing a message and making a difference to someone else’s day. This is much bigger than you, and it’s bigger than your artistic career.
In this painting, Earth Angel, I explored themes of climate change and impermenance
3. Treat yourself as a professional
Whether you’re aware of it, people are always perceiving you. The human brain is hardwired to constantly filter, judge and interpret our environment and the people around us. It’s important to be aware of this – not to freeze you in your tracks in case your social media post may upset someone – but in order that you can design the way you present yourself and your output.
For instance, if you wanted to be perceived as professional in business, you would begin to do the things that are congruent with being professional. So why not in art?
Want to know how to succeed as an artist? It’s time to stop hiding your light.
If you’ve never encountered this wonderful poem by Marianne Williamson, it’s time to read it and take action.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
4. Learn from people who have already trodden the path
If you’re trying to build a brand as an artist, it can be useful to look at how other artists are perceived. If you want to know how to become successful in any other business, you’d learn from the experts in that business. If you want to know how to succeed as an artist, examine the artists you look up to. How do they look on social media? What does their website look like?
The great thing about our information-charged world is that you practically never have to reinvent the wheel. The chances are, someone has already achieved what you want to. Find that person and emulate them. Even world-renowned artists started off as regular people.
“Success leaves clues.” Tony Robbins
5. Share your journey with others
One of the exciting things about starting from nowhere is that you can evolve and improve incrementally. At the same time, consistently share your journey and evolution so that people can see your progress. Most people on the planet aren’t that interested in their journey. According to entrepreneur Mark Lack, the average person doesn’t read even one book a year on how to improve any area of their life.
As an artist, the journey is the thing that drives you. Track your journey, invite people to follow your journey and inspire others to reach their own goals.
How to succeed as an artist
Success in any field is subjective. To really get your art out to a lot of people, you need vision, goals, mentors, focus, attention, support and a lot of small stepping-stones. We all start somewhere. Success is a direct reflection of the impact you have in the world. You can view this in financial terms or from a spiritual perspective.
If I can communicate beauty, strength and hope, then I will feel I have succeeded as an artist. But I cannot do that without letting my light shine.
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Images thanks to Felipe Correia Fab Lentz & Mert Talay
