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10 Principles for an Artists Success
Godard - Rockstar of Art?
Do you ever wonder why some artists are incredibly successful, despite the fact that they aren’t the most talented? And then you meet one of the most masterful oil painters since Leonardo da Vinci, and you find out he’s still living in his mother’s basement.
It seems as though there is a secret combination to finding success as an artist, and only a few lucky people figure out the code.
In our younger years Drew and I prayed that the secret code would land in our laps. We watched as Shepard Fairey and Wyland and Michael Godard traveled down the path of prosperity, and we would ask “how’d they do it?”
It was hard to find answers, because no one was talking. So we put our heads down and just kept moving forward. Before we knew it years had gone by. One day we looked up and saw that we, too, found our way to the cul de sac of accomplishment.
There are many combinations to unlock the secret to success for artists.
Usually it’s not one massive accomplishment that leads an artist down the path of victory, but rather a consistent series of little triumphs that blend together, coupled with basic principles that are practiced regularly.
Below is my list of the 10 Principles of Success for Artists. Over the next 10 weeks, I will post a weekly article which will dive deeper into each principle. They are:
1.) PLAN YOUR ART CAREER – Decide what you want: You can’t get what you want without a concrete vision of what it is. Deciding what you want is the jumping off point. Once you do that, you are capable of creating the lifestyle of your choice.
2.) Have Integrity: A good reputation will get you more work, collectors and clients, and it comes from having integrity. Integrity means doing what you say you’re going to do, when you say you will do it. Meet deadlines, respect your agreements, and make ethical decisions. Make your mother proud.
3.) Brand Yourself: Tell your own personal story. Carve your own niche and have your own distinctive style. You’ll be remembered for this.
4.) Promote yourself Shamelessly: Marketing is how you announce to the world that you have something to contribute and it’s for sale. Tell everyone that you are an artist. Hand out business cards. Keep your website fresh, because it’s your window to the world. Document your work with photos and video. Ask the media to write about you.
5.) Keep the Passion: Being passionate about what you do will shine through you and your work. Think Big. Be a light for your ideas. Never give up. Don’t do things you don’t enjoy. Not for long, anyway.
6.) Control Your Copyrights and Use Legal Agreements: Be protective of your style and your name. Use common sense when going into legal agreements. Never sign anything that you don’t fully understand or agree with.
7.) Manage Your Money: If you aren’t making a profit, than what you’ve got is a hobby. You must be able to make money off of your craft to be a professional. This means charging the proper amount, handling your money well, and keeping track of expenses. Never give your work away – you hurt your collectors and your fellow artists when you do.
8.) Say “yes” to most everything: Try new mediums and new techniques. Don’t ever be too busy to give interviews or to be featured in a book or magazine. Consider all opportunities that come your way, even those that you aren’t sure of.
9.) Contribute to the Industry of Art: Network with other artists, help your fellow artists, buy from your favorite artists. Join us in the vision of making the profession of art become a lucrative career.
10.) Tenacity: Commit to your craft and don’t look back. Never give up. Realize that you can live the lifestyle that you dream of. It’s within your reach. Remember that you are making a contribution to the world, and it’s important.
Stay tuned – next week I will post an article on Principle #1 – Decide what you want. So that you don’t miss out, please sign up for my rss feed or fill in your e-mail address to get these posts delivered to your in –box.
Thanks for listening…Maria xxoo
Similar Posts:
- Plan your Art Career – Success Principle Number One
- Ten Keys to an Artists Success
- Why Artists need Support and a Recap of My Best Articles from 2009
Tags: success principles
Cindy Lundon
22. Dec, 2009
These are great principles to live by!
I particularly like the one about Deciding what you want. It makes sense that if you don’t decide, you’ll have the decision made for you.
Thanks. I’ll look forward to your follow up articles on this topic!
Plan your Art Career – Success Principle Number One | 10 Success Principles for Artists - Maria Brophy
28. Dec, 2009
[...] (THIS POST IS PART 1 OF 10 POSTS ON THE 10 SUCCESS PRINCIPLES FOR ARTISTS) [...]
Integrity gets the Art Commission – Success Principle Number Two | 10 Success Principles for Artists - Maria Brophy
05. Jan, 2010
[...] (THIS POST IS PART 2 OF 10 ON THE 10 SUCCESS PRINCIPLES FOR ARTISTS) [...]
Archan Mehta
30. Jan, 2010
You have no idea, Maria, how lucky I feel to have come across your blog.
It was perfect timing. Reading your pieces is just what the doctor ordered. In a way, it is like a catharsis for me to read about your ideas.
I was saddened to learn, however, about your initial struggles. However, I was overjoyed to learn that you and Drew eventually pulled through.
It is also a shame that those artists who have become rich and famous are so reluctant sometimes to share trade secrets with new artists. Perhaps, it stems from insecurity and a wish to corner the market. “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Maybe that’s why successful artists want to hold a monopoly instead of sharing with others and helping struggling artists along the way.
At the same time, I feel, as long as there are people like you and Drew around–altruistic souls–there is hope for the artistic community.
You have contributed so much of your time, money and energy toward the betterment of art and artists. Please keep up this great work.
Maria Brophy
30. Jan, 2010
Thanks, Archan. I think the struggle that we went through is one of the things that drives me so hard to share what we know with others. Not that we have all the answers – we surely don’t. But we have some of the answers, and I’m willing to give them all away!
Eric D. Greene
08. Mar, 2010
Hi Maria, I clicked through to your site after reading a post on artbiz blog. This post really hit home for me as it is basically what I am going through now. I’m in art school and dreaming of ‘making it’ with my art work. Although I am definitely content with my full time work (web development), it’s not my true passion, which is art! I most liked your comment about success coming as a series of little triumphs. I think many of us do expect that one big breakthrough, but in the art world, it just doesn’t happen like that. You have to build one brick on top of the other. Slowly but surely! (or maybe quickly if you just can’t wait haha!)
You’re on the Right Track being on the Wrong Track – Linchpin | Philosophy - Maria Brophy
12. Mar, 2010
[...] many times, I stopped sharing my ideas there. And I started dreaming up plans of my own, in the business of art, and I quit my lucrative but soul-less position in the insurance [...]
Gwenn
27. Jun, 2010
Nice points! But I’m not convinced on #6. While I agree that model releases for portrait work as well as agreements for commissions are useful, I’m certain that trying to control copyright is a bad idea.
I believe in making original work that, in all the ways that matter, cannot be copied and certainly cannot be replaced. I don’t believe in copyright. It’s a law that was originally intended to help artists while also protecting free culture, but has been so corrupted by corporations trying to own culture that it’s a blight on our society.
Like all artists, I benefit from free culture, so why would I try to lock up and freeze dry my contributions to it? Artists who believe in copyright haven’t thought through the implications of it.
Maria Brophy
27. Jun, 2010
I love the Free Culture philosophy! I agree that it’s a good idea to allow others to have access to your artwork, for non-commercial purposes (to print out, hang on their wall, tattoo on them, whatever!).
However, if you’re an artist that wants to have an impact with art, you have to be careful about letting anyone do ANYTHING with it. It could end up being on a porn site or used for something you don’t agree with, which could hurt your fans. Without copyright protection, anyone can print it on cheap t-shirts and sell it in Wal Mart.
Having control is important – so YOU can choose who gets to use it for what. I’d hate to see Picasso’s art on $3 tees in the bargain bin!
(P.S. If you’re an artist who licenses your work, you have a legal and ethical duty to your licensees to have copyright control over your art.)