4 answers
Victoria
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
2
Questions
Updated
693 views
What are some difficulties when it comes to making art?
I'm in 11th grade and I've been interested in working as an artist since 7th grade but want to know what difficulties I might face if I do become an artist. I do all kinds of art, including drawing, painting, sculpting, and writing.
4 answers
Rodney White
Painter
1
Answer
Callicoon, New York
Updated
Rodney’s Answer
I was lucky to have an inspired art teacher in high school. When I was a senior it was very clear to me that I wanted to pursue visual art because I knew it would be something I would want to do for a lifetime.
Artists are unique in that making art uses part of the brain that doing anything else doesn’t satisfy. If your an artist you can’t help but make art because it is a need like breathing.
The difficulties are mostly practical. You need money to live and working outside your artistic expression is just something practical, but it serves a purpose. It won’t change the fact that you’re an artist first. Even when I had little time to paint I always found ways to nurture that side of my brain. That said, sometimes you will need to take risks and devote yourself full time to making art. I found that when I did, something good always came of it.
Finding a happy balance is important. If you don’t honor your artistic nature you will not be happy. There will always be that yearning, the need to feed that part of your brain.
The other difficulty is maintaining confidence in what you do when you’re starting out. Do this by not comparing yourself to others. You are unique and your journey is going to be different from everyone else’s. Always reach and search for what is true to you. Often what you desire for your art will be just out of reach, but that is what keeps you going forward. It takes work but I can say from my own experience that creating something from nothing is more rewarding than anything else I can think of.
Remain open, take chances and always be an explorer. Explorers make discoveries.
Artists are unique in that making art uses part of the brain that doing anything else doesn’t satisfy. If your an artist you can’t help but make art because it is a need like breathing.
The difficulties are mostly practical. You need money to live and working outside your artistic expression is just something practical, but it serves a purpose. It won’t change the fact that you’re an artist first. Even when I had little time to paint I always found ways to nurture that side of my brain. That said, sometimes you will need to take risks and devote yourself full time to making art. I found that when I did, something good always came of it.
Finding a happy balance is important. If you don’t honor your artistic nature you will not be happy. There will always be that yearning, the need to feed that part of your brain.
The other difficulty is maintaining confidence in what you do when you’re starting out. Do this by not comparing yourself to others. You are unique and your journey is going to be different from everyone else’s. Always reach and search for what is true to you. Often what you desire for your art will be just out of reach, but that is what keeps you going forward. It takes work but I can say from my own experience that creating something from nothing is more rewarding than anything else I can think of.
Remain open, take chances and always be an explorer. Explorers make discoveries.
Ellen Rosenthal
Retired Art Teacher
239
Answers
Woodbridge, Virginia
Updated
Ellen’s Answer
Hi Vitoria
Yes, a career as an artist will have its difficulties, along with its joys, just like any other career path. One of things I noticed from working with students is that they may love painting, drawing and just making any kind of art, but they often don't have a clear idea of the variety of art careers out there. It is not just working in your art studio as a "starving artist", which is often the first thought that comes to mind. No, there are many different art careers that enable people like yourself, to use their art skills and love of art to make a decent living.
But let's start with being a fine artist. To be a successful fine artist, such as a painter, printmaker or a sculptor, you need to work hard on your art to improve your art skills and you need to work hard on developing your artistic vision of what you want your art to say. This can take time for a young artist to develop. You also need some place to exhibit and to sell your artwork, like a commercial gallery. There are lots of artists out there trying to do the same thing, and getting into a commercial gallery is very competitive. No doubt about it, being a full time fine artist can be a difficult path economically, and most fine artists need a "day job" to support themselves while they develop their art, and try to get the attention of gallery owners. The day job could be working any sort of a job, or an art related job. So it takes stamina, patience, a strong belief in your artistic talent and vision, and some way to support yourself while you develop as an artist. The truth is, some artists are very successful at getting into a gallery and make huge amounts of money from their art, but not most. Even artists who work hard and create wonderful artwork, may never get a break in terms of commercial success. But despite this, for many artists, the fact that they get to create their art, is still important to them.
At this point in your life, as a young artist, make sure you are taking art classes, and do your best to get your work in student art shows. You might look around your community to see if there are any local art clubs to join, or non profit community art galleries where you could show and possibly sell your work. You might also want to go to the library or to your school's career center (if it has one) to investigate careers where you could use your art interests and skills, such as graphic design, computer graphics, interior design, product design, museum work, art education, and so on. I've answered several questions for Career Village on art careers, so you might check them out.
I also loved to paint and draw (and I still do!), and I became an art teacher. I loved sharing my enthusiasm for art in the classroom, and I liked having the summers to develop my art. I am now retired, and I get to spend more time on my art, and I do exhibit and sell it. That was my way of combining an art related career and my interests in pursuing fine art.
I strongly suggest you talk to your art teachers at school about their thoughts on becoming a fine artist, or on pursuing other art related careers.
Best wishes!
Yes, a career as an artist will have its difficulties, along with its joys, just like any other career path. One of things I noticed from working with students is that they may love painting, drawing and just making any kind of art, but they often don't have a clear idea of the variety of art careers out there. It is not just working in your art studio as a "starving artist", which is often the first thought that comes to mind. No, there are many different art careers that enable people like yourself, to use their art skills and love of art to make a decent living.
But let's start with being a fine artist. To be a successful fine artist, such as a painter, printmaker or a sculptor, you need to work hard on your art to improve your art skills and you need to work hard on developing your artistic vision of what you want your art to say. This can take time for a young artist to develop. You also need some place to exhibit and to sell your artwork, like a commercial gallery. There are lots of artists out there trying to do the same thing, and getting into a commercial gallery is very competitive. No doubt about it, being a full time fine artist can be a difficult path economically, and most fine artists need a "day job" to support themselves while they develop their art, and try to get the attention of gallery owners. The day job could be working any sort of a job, or an art related job. So it takes stamina, patience, a strong belief in your artistic talent and vision, and some way to support yourself while you develop as an artist. The truth is, some artists are very successful at getting into a gallery and make huge amounts of money from their art, but not most. Even artists who work hard and create wonderful artwork, may never get a break in terms of commercial success. But despite this, for many artists, the fact that they get to create their art, is still important to them.
At this point in your life, as a young artist, make sure you are taking art classes, and do your best to get your work in student art shows. You might look around your community to see if there are any local art clubs to join, or non profit community art galleries where you could show and possibly sell your work. You might also want to go to the library or to your school's career center (if it has one) to investigate careers where you could use your art interests and skills, such as graphic design, computer graphics, interior design, product design, museum work, art education, and so on. I've answered several questions for Career Village on art careers, so you might check them out.
I also loved to paint and draw (and I still do!), and I became an art teacher. I loved sharing my enthusiasm for art in the classroom, and I liked having the summers to develop my art. I am now retired, and I get to spend more time on my art, and I do exhibit and sell it. That was my way of combining an art related career and my interests in pursuing fine art.
I strongly suggest you talk to your art teachers at school about their thoughts on becoming a fine artist, or on pursuing other art related careers.
Best wishes!
Michelle Heath
Program Management
3
Answers
Waco, Texas
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
You will always face difficulties no matter what you do - especially at the beginning of a journey. The beginning is always hard and there will be peaks and valleys throughout.
One thing you definitely need is a support system of likeminded people. Talk to other artists and get their opinions - see how other people have used their passion for art in their careers. There's so many things you could do with an artistic passion, and a lot that pairs well with other educational paths. For example, if you want to start an art business online, you might want to consider studying marketing, business, and even a little finance.
I minored in art photography in college. Some of the tools I learned I still use today in corporate presentation design and helping with some design work in Adobe products. Ultimately, I found that I would rather create art as a hobby rather than make it a career.
Something else that I would stress: Talk to people who have gone to art school before you go. There are pros and cons of art school - get a variety of opinions before making a choice. I'm not saying don't go to school, but you could go for something else while doing your art on the side and taking elective, introductory art courses. You could also join art clubs in school to make connections. There are many ways to do art.... so many ways. Some people choose the academic route. Some people don't. Just know that if you make art, you are already an artist, and there's no right or wrong way to be an artist.
One thing you definitely need is a support system of likeminded people. Talk to other artists and get their opinions - see how other people have used their passion for art in their careers. There's so many things you could do with an artistic passion, and a lot that pairs well with other educational paths. For example, if you want to start an art business online, you might want to consider studying marketing, business, and even a little finance.
I minored in art photography in college. Some of the tools I learned I still use today in corporate presentation design and helping with some design work in Adobe products. Ultimately, I found that I would rather create art as a hobby rather than make it a career.
Something else that I would stress: Talk to people who have gone to art school before you go. There are pros and cons of art school - get a variety of opinions before making a choice. I'm not saying don't go to school, but you could go for something else while doing your art on the side and taking elective, introductory art courses. You could also join art clubs in school to make connections. There are many ways to do art.... so many ways. Some people choose the academic route. Some people don't. Just know that if you make art, you are already an artist, and there's no right or wrong way to be an artist.
Tom Foster
Freelance Writer with a lot of life experience
29
Answers
Forest Grove, Oregon
Updated
Tom’s Answer
That's a long list, have you got a few days? Haha, kidding. But I agree with Valerie, it is great to see younger individuals getting into art, my own daughters are into art as well. But having been into writing since the third grade, I can tell you that it's wise to seek out someone to serve as a mentor.
One of the greatest difficulties in any art form is having to do it all on your own without any guidance. It's possible, but unless you're naturally gifted it's very difficult. There are certain goals you should make for yourself when it comes to any art form, and it's important to keep them simple. There are a lot of roadblocks that come with wanting to pursue a career or even an interest in art. I can say that having a mentor often makes things easier. I've never had a mentor and my parents are not writers in the least, so I've had to learn a lot on my own. But gaining a mentor can help.
Otherwise, a lot of what you need is going to be hard-earned and fully appreciated if you
1) Pay attention to your favorite art forms and find a way to make your own design.
2) Observe what others are doing, what appears to work, and what works for you.
3) Be patient. The best works of art weren't created overnight.
One thing I have started telling my daughters is one of the most important aspects of anything in life: do the work. This means studying, researching, practicing, and learning what works. If you want to be good enough to earn a living with your art, you'll do whatever it takes to get better. I know this is a bit much to lay on anyone right away. But if you really want it, and you really love it, then you'll be willing to do something until you hate it, at which point you'll learn why you really love it. I know this is kind of a lengthy explanation, but it's honest and it's truthful. As Valerie stated, you're young, experiment with various art forms and find out where your passion is the strongest. Above all, do the work.
I wish you as much luck and good fortune as I can.
One of the greatest difficulties in any art form is having to do it all on your own without any guidance. It's possible, but unless you're naturally gifted it's very difficult. There are certain goals you should make for yourself when it comes to any art form, and it's important to keep them simple. There are a lot of roadblocks that come with wanting to pursue a career or even an interest in art. I can say that having a mentor often makes things easier. I've never had a mentor and my parents are not writers in the least, so I've had to learn a lot on my own. But gaining a mentor can help.
Otherwise, a lot of what you need is going to be hard-earned and fully appreciated if you
1) Pay attention to your favorite art forms and find a way to make your own design.
2) Observe what others are doing, what appears to work, and what works for you.
3) Be patient. The best works of art weren't created overnight.
One thing I have started telling my daughters is one of the most important aspects of anything in life: do the work. This means studying, researching, practicing, and learning what works. If you want to be good enough to earn a living with your art, you'll do whatever it takes to get better. I know this is a bit much to lay on anyone right away. But if you really want it, and you really love it, then you'll be willing to do something until you hate it, at which point you'll learn why you really love it. I know this is kind of a lengthy explanation, but it's honest and it's truthful. As Valerie stated, you're young, experiment with various art forms and find out where your passion is the strongest. Above all, do the work.
I wish you as much luck and good fortune as I can.
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