Understanding the craft is just the beginning; artists need to know the essence of creative expression. 

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Since it represents our culture and time, visual art is integral to the human experience. Everyone, not just artists, must know that it can teach us things about ourselves and the world we live in that we couldn’t learn any other way. Art can bring joy to people and cultures, as well as self-reflection and new ideas. 

Visual artists should possess fundamental skills and address essential topics to study and improve. In addition to these skills, artists should cultivate their unique styles by experimenting with various tools and mediums, such as pencils, paints, and digital software.

The visual arts significantly enhance our understanding of geography, time, history, and culture. Therefore, the advantages of artists focusing on skill development and establishing a solid career foundation extend beyond personal growth. This article examines these critical elements and explains how visual artists can refine their craft by focusing on these areas.

What Do Artists Need to Know?

Artists must recognize the significance of refining their technical skills, cultivating a distinctive voice, and adeptly marketing their work to succeed in a competitive landscape. By mastering these elements, they can distinguish themselves and leave a lasting impression in the art world.

The Technical Foundations Every Visual Artist Should Acquire: 

Visual art is a powerful medium that provides unique insights into our surroundings and influences our lifestyles and shared experiences. For artists aspiring to make an impact, specific foundational skills are non-negotiable

  • Form: The idea of form is very general but also fundamental. It refers to the three-dimensional quality of an object and how it occupies space. 
  • Perspective: Another must-have skill set is drawing or painting in perspective, which involves creating the illusion of depth on a two-dimensional surface. 
  • Anatomy: Some may argue that anatomy is not a fundamental topic because it’s unnecessary for a good drawing. However, understanding anatomy can help artists create more realistic and believable figures. 
  • Composition: Composition is more challenging to teach from scratch because it’s more about the finished artwork. It refers to how an artist arranges elements within a piece to create a sense of balance, harmony, or tension. 
  • Value and lighting: Value refers to how light or dark something is, and lighting refers to how light interacts with objects and surfaces. Understanding these concepts can help artists create more realistic and dynamic images.  

The Importance of Effective Application

The ability to effectively apply learned information—whether gained from art school, self-training, successful programs like Evolve Artist, or a combination of these—creates conditions for personal fulfillment and artistic growth.

Exploring Diverse Media

Working with various media, from traditional brushes to cutting-edge digital art software, is highly recommended, even if not strictly required. Artists must also recognize how their personal style evolves alongside their technical training.

The Role of Inherent Talent

Art is not simply a natural ability; inherent talent plays a role. Enthusiasm, circumstances, personal preferences, and other factors contribute to success in the visual arts. What distinguishes artists who achieve fame from those who do not?

What Makes Some Visual Artists Succeed More Than Others? 

Achieving success as an artist involves more than just talent and mastering techniques. Consider the following points to explore the factors that can elevate an artist from obscurity to prominence.

Beyond Talent: Keys to Success

Determining what constitutes success as a visual artist is not always easy. Some people can make a living doing what they love. Others define success by having their art displayed in renowned museums and galleries. And for many, it’s the simple ability to make art that they care about and that touches people. It’s more than about money and fame, which aren’t bad but aren’t necessary either.

Some variables contribute to visual artists’ success, no matter what that term means to them. We investigate these aspects vital to artists and discuss particular methods creatives might employ to improve their chances of success. 

Embracing Uniqueness 

Many successful artists turn inward when searching for their big break. It can be tempting to try to copy the techniques and approaches of well-known artists in this age of easy access to their work via social media. However, to stand out, you need more than watered-down concepts taken from the original work of others. Creative borrowing walks a fine line between merely copying and pushing the boundaries of what exists. 

Your artistic persona is built on your unique perspective, process, and interpretations. The contemporary art market values originality and authenticity; thus, creators who include these concepts in their works tend to do well. 

Explore your innermost thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Create work that reflects your most deeply held values, ideas, and emotions. Such uniqueness can be a signature style, a recurring topic, or a unique approach. The secret is to be genuine and to allow your personality to shine through in your work. 

Creating Meaningful Relationships 

Art does not live in isolation; the artist community is just as important as the piece itself. Your art will reach more people if you network with people from other backgrounds, such as other artists, dealers, gallery owners, critics, collectors, and admirers. 

Make intentional connections 

Only a select few artist advocates, myself included, stress the value of proactively seeking out those who may be beneficial for them to know who you are. Understanding who potential benefactors, allies, and partners are and how to approach them is a talent that will improve throughout one’s life. 

People who know you will invest in and elevate you. Make it part of your routine to be intentional and connect with those in a position to help you, remembering to approach them with the attitude and desire to help them.

Doing this is practically free; intentionally meeting people requires scant marketing. You already do some form of meeting people. Making intentional connections increases your chances of success. A side benefit is that you don’t need to know many people if you know the right ones.

Everybody needs somebody sometimes. You can’t get into a gallery, school, show, or museum without knowing someone, and waiting for someone to appear magically is a risk ambitious artists can’t afford to take.

— Barney Davey

If you never learn anything again from me, please be aware of how making intentional connections can change your life and career. Then, if you do something with this knowledge, I will have succeeded — it’s that important!

Build relationships with other artists, art professionals, and beyond

Visual artists need to network with other creatives and industry professionals to thrive. Participate in and visit art shows and other events in your area. Introduce yourself to different creative types. But don’t be insular, either. Connecting with influential people outside of the arts can be brilliant because of whom they know to recommend to you. 

Connections can be crucial for your career. A job in publishing transformed my life and led me to where I am today. Despite my limited industry knowledge, an unexpected introduction allowed me to secure the position, thanks to a mutual acquaintance who recognized the opportunity to help his friends. It turned out to be a perfect fit, so I thrived then and continue to thrive now.

Develop Your Art Business Sense 

Our culture has a long history of romanticizing the ‘starving artist’ image. However, artists, like any other professionals, should be paid fairly for their efforts, so ‘starving artists’ is a detrimental fantasy. So is the myth of “getting found.” They are distractions that don’t empower artists. 

It is crucial to combine your artistic abilities with a knowledge of business fundamentals. Learn the ropes of creating a viable business plan, researching your audience, setting reasonable prices, and locating the best outlets for selling your art. 

Familiarity with intellectual property law, contract law, and negotiation strategies is crucial. You don’t learn about such things in art school. However, you can find answers and resources to understand them in the “Blueprint for Art Business Success.” It’s an excellent and affordable option to access such vital knowledge easily. 

Increasing your creative output and financial success are both dependent on your level of entrepreneurial ingenuity and drive. Learning about business is the best place to start if you want more say in how far your artistic career goes. 

Commitment to Continual Learning 

Like many other fields, the arts constantly inspire the world’s new ideas and innovations. Artists must dedicate themselves to continuous development to help them evolve and achieve long-term success in their field. 

Learning new skills and trying new approaches are great ways to stay current and breathe new life into your job. Attending art-related events such as seminars, tutorials, conferences, and residencies can help participants gain new insights and develop their craft. 

Take the time to stay current. Knowledge of current events, technological advances, and art-related topics can add significant depth to your work. Keep an open mind as you work; being able to learn, unlearn, and relearn is what keeps the creative fire burning. 

Harnessing The Power of Digital 

The development of digital technology has revolutionized the creation, dissemination, and reception of artistic works. The internet is an excellent tool for today’s artists, whether they want to create digital works, market those works online, or drive awareness and sales by maintaining an organic and paid social media presence. 

A digital portfolio is a collection of your work that you can share electronically with clients, fans, or employers. A social media presence allows you to connect with fans and collectors, sell your art directly, share your work with peers, and receive constructive criticism. 

Develop a substantial body of work. 

Building a significant body of work is crucial to your career as a visual artist. To do this, you must produce a body of work that is both constant in quality and authentic to your aesthetic. A unified body of work that highlights your abilities as an artist will set you apart from other practitioners and pique the interest of buyers and collectors. 

You can build a significant body of work by doing the following: 

  • Experiment and explore different styles and mediums. Don’t be afraid to try new things and push yourself outside your comfort zone. The more you experiment, the more you learn and grow as an artist. 
  • Focus on your strengths. What type of art do you enjoy creating the most? What are you passionate about? Once you know your strengths, focus on making art appealing to a specific audience. 
  • Get feedback from others. Once you have created a work, please share it with other artists, art critics, and art professionals. Ask for their feedback on your artwork and use it to improve. 

Get your work out there. 

Once you have a substantial body of work, you must get it out there so people can see it. There are many different ways to do this, including: 

  • Exhibit your work in galleries and museums. This is a great way to get your work in front of a large audience and attract the attention of potential buyers and collectors. 
  • Sell your work online. There are many online marketplaces where you can sell your artwork directly to collectors. 
  • Promote your work on social media. Social media is a great way to connect with potential buyers and collectors and to promote your work. Share photos and videos of your artwork on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. 
  • Attend art fairs and festivals. These are great ways to meet potential buyers and collectors and network with other artists. 
  • Establish useful relationships. Don’t ever doubt your worth or capacity to connect with others, no matter how high up the social or financial ladder they may be. 

Be professional 

Maintaining a professional demeanor is essential in any industry, especially for visual artists. Doing this entails being punctual for appointments and completing deadlines, being quick to respond to questions, and being accessible to collaborate with. Additionally, it is necessary to have a courteous attitude toward fellow artists and art professionals in general. 

Be persistent 

The pursuit of success is not an overnight endeavor. Establishing a prosperous career as a visual artist requires patience, perseverance, and hard work. If you fail initially, resist the urge to relinquish your goals. Success is a zigzag trail of ups and downs. Sticking with it on the downside keeps you going until things swing in your favor, as they always do. 

Develop relationships with other artists and art professionals, keep creating art, and get as many people to see it as possible. Your perseverance will undoubtedly reap rewards in due time. 

Additional tips for success 

In addition to the tips above, here are a few other things you can do to increase your chances of success as a visual artist: 

  • Find your niche. What type of art do you enjoy creating the most? What are you passionate about? Once you know your niche, you can focus on creating art that will likely appeal to a specific audience. 
  • Tell a story. Your art should be more than just a pretty picture. It should tell a story or evoke an emotion in the viewer. Think about what you want your art to say, and then find ways to communicate that message visually, in spoken and written form. 
  • Be authentic. People can spot a fake from a mile away. Be true to yourself and your artistic vision, even if it means going against the grain. Don’t try to create art that you think other people will like; instead, focus on making art you are passionate about. 
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment. Don’t be scared to try new things and push yourself outside your comfort zone. Experimentation is essential for artistic growth. Try new mediums, techniques, and subject matter. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The more you experiment, the more you learn and grow as an artist. 
  • Develop your business skills. In addition to being a talented artist, you must also be a good businesswoman or man. This means learning to market and sell your work, manage your finances, and run a successful art business. Many resources, such as books, articles, workshops, and online courses, are available to help artists develop their business skills. 

Conclusion 

Success as a visual artist takes time, hard work, and dedication. But by following the tips above, you can increase your chances of success and build a successful career in the arts. 

Here are some specific tips for artists with different levels of experience: 

Newbies: 

  • Don’t be afraid to start small. You don’t need a perfect studio or all the latest equipment to begin creating art. Just start with what you have and build from there. 
  • Find a supportive community of artists. There are many online and offline communities where artists can support each other and share their work. Find a community that is a good fit for you and get involved. 
  • Don’t compare yourself to other artists. Everyone’s journey is different. Focus on your artistic development, and don’t worry about what other artists are doing. 

Seasoned artists: 

  • Take risks and experiment. Don’t hesitate to step outside your comfort zone and try new things, which is how you will grow as an artist and create your best work. 
  • Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is a part of the creative process. Don’t let it discourage you. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. 
  • Give back to the arts community. Mentor other artists, volunteer at local arts organizations, or donate your work to charity. Giving back is a great way to show your support for the arts and to inspire others. 

No matter what your level of experience, remember that the most important thing is to create art that you are passionate about. If you do that, success will follow. Go for growth over perfection, learning over mastery, passion over popularity. And remember—every stroke of paint you layer, every piece of art you create, brings you one step closer to the artist you aspire to be.


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art business, art marketing


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  • Barney,
    Thank you for sharing your informed knowledge consistently. You are a treasure to the art community.
    Mary

  • Neal Eugene Brooks says:

    As usual, this is an excellent clear and priceless jewel of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.
    Any artist is blessed to have such a mentor that shares so much with our well-being and success as the primary motive
    Those of us that read this and practice the principles in this communication will succeed – without a doubt

    • Thank you for your comments about this post and my work to help artists. They encourage me to keep producing content artists like you can use to grow their business and enjoy their lives as artists.

  • Lutho Sibondana says:

    Thank you for your encouragement and advice.

    • Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. I’m thrilled to hear that you found the article helpful. It’s always my goal to provide valuable insights and support to artists navigating their creative journeys. If you have any specific questions or topics you’d like to see covered in future posts, please feel free to share. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to me and helps shape the content I create. Keep creating and inspiring!

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