Every artist makes mistakes alone the way to becoming a professional artist. Art business is not easy and Welzie shares his top 5 biggest mistakes he made as an artists trying to start his art business.
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These are the top 5 mistakes I made as a professional artist that hopefully you can learn from, I sure did.
1. THINKING I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH
For a long time I didn't believe in my own skills. I loved to make art and wasn't that bad but I always looked to other artists and thought how much better they were. I spent too much time in a self deprecating mental loop that didn't produce the confidence to go out and show my work regardless if it was good or bad. What I learned from this mistake that I can share with you is that you will always be working on your craft. Your art will never be perfect to you, but it may be perfect for someone else. Don't let your insecurity hold you back from getting out there and showing your work.
2. SUCCESS WOULD COME TO ME
I made the mistake of believing that I would be "Discovered" That someone would come along and make it so all I had to do was create. This kept me from making more art and it kept me from getting out and showing my work at art fairs and festivals. I strongly believe that it is up to the artist to determine their success. Graffiti artist didn't get discovered they put their work out in the streets for decades before getting any notability. Get yourself out there. Ask a coffee shop if you can have a turn showing your art on the walls. Sign up for a craft fair, art market or art festival. Organize a group art show somewhere. Make it Happen. Only you have the power to launch your art career.
3. BELIEVING MY TIME/ART HAD LITTLE MONETARY VALUE
When I started making the resin art and people were actually asking to buy it, i would sell the art for so little. I had so much insecurity built up around myself as an artist that I was just happy to have someone like it. I would often give it away or sell it for way less than my time and materials were worth. Selling your art at low costs or giving it away only make your art have less value. the collector will value the artwork less if the artist doesn't even value it. Your time and creativity has value. Don't underestimate yourself. One book that really helped me with this mistake of mine was the book Art, Money, Success.
4. NOT TAKING THE BUSINESS SIDE SERIOUSLY
It took me a while to take the business side seriously. I got really caught up in being a starving artist, then an artist who was making enough money to survive. Once i Started to take the business side seriously was when I actually started to thrive. I Lived in a van outside my surfboard factory/ art studio. Now I own my art Studio, house and have a gallery. All this is because I started to take the business side seriously. Well my Wife takes business serious and she taught me how to take it seriously.
5. FOLLOWING SOMEONE ELSES PATH
I Tried to follow another artists path. Though this help me break out of the starving artist mold, I tried to follow her exact footsteps. Unfortunately that path was perfect for her and her style of art, and it didn’t work so well for me and my style. Learn how someone became successful. Study what they did, but don't be afraid to blaze your own path. I chased someone else rather than focusing on leading my own way. Don't make this mistake.