One of the best ways to create your own success is to emulate someone else who’s already done it. Study them and their formula.  Then put it to work for yourself.

I’m going to share with you an inspirational story and formula of an artist who started with nothing and now is quickly rising to the top.

If you want the basic formula for success as a creative person, keep reading. The indented colored text is my take on the success principles that this artist has employed.

(I first wrote this article for FIND ART Magazine last summer.  This is the long version, before FIND ART edited it.)

If you haven’t heard of Live Painting Artist Michael Pukac yet, trust me, you will.  His art is striking, but it’s his fearlessness that’s sealed the deal on his success.  Fear of failure has never stopped Pukac from going for his dream.

Pukac (pronounced “Poo-Khash) had me at “hello” and it wasn’t because he is Slavic (me to), or that he is part 1 of 2 parts of a power couple (me to), or that he would rather travel the world than have money in the bank (me too);

I am smitten with Pukac because he never gave up on his art career, even when he failed his first go around.  Now he is quickly becoming the hot new darling of the Los Angeles art scene.

And that’s a message I give to every artist who ever asks me about finding success in art.  Don’t let failure make you quit.  Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again.

Pukac made the big, scary move from Alabama to Los Angeles the first time in 2005.  Things didn’t quite work out for him, though.  He endured a year of hardship before returning back to the East Coast.  He wasn’t yet ready for the big city- he needed more money and time.  But he didn’t give up on the dream.

Never give up on what you want.

Two years later a deal to create illustrations for a children’s book series came to him.  This earned him enough money to return to Los Angeles and give it a second try.  This time, he was armed with his right-brained girlfriend and manager Dicapria.

If you fall down, dust yourself off and try it again.

Living in Los Angeles has been a whirlwind for Pukac.  With Dicapria’s help, he evolved from struggling artist to having his art fully support both of them in just three years.    Each week he not only performs “live paintings” two or three times, but he also averages two new exhibit openings as well.  He’s a busy guy.

Do the hard work it takes to be successful.

From the very beginning, Pukac made sure that no matter what he did for money, it involved painting.  He explained, “My rule was to live by the paintbrush.  You can’t ever think ‘I’m too good for that.”

Pucak would accept any job that involved painting, even sign painting.  Now, he has the stature to be able to paint what he chooses.

Commit to your craft.  Do what you want to be doing.  It’s what you do each day that defines who you are.

Finding his footing in Los Angeles took planning and a lot of work.

Pukac said “In Los Angeles you have to have your game plan together to be able to live off of your art.”

He knew that he wanted to hit the gallery scene hard, but there was a catch.  He needed a platform to allow him to do it.

This is a problem that most creative people struggle with; figuring out “HOW”.  There’s no one perfect roadmap to success for art.

But there’s also a common mistake that many artists make.  They turn away opportunity when it’s presented to them. This is because they don’t see that their prayers are being answered, because often opportunity doesn’t show up looking like they imagined it would.  It comes disguised as something else.

But Pukac was open to the unexpected.  The answer to his problem of HOW to tap into the LA art scene came to him by accident when he discovered “live painting”.

He said that once he started doing live paintings, he realized that he was born to do this.  “It was the best thing that ever happened to my career.”

Be open to new ideas; you might just figure out something you should have been doing all along.

Another reason for the strong interest in his work is that Pukac’s style is fresh on the West Coast.  Los Angeles is known for having too many artists painting that ‘doe-eyed’ look and curators are tiring of it.

“I came out here and realized that no one’s work looks like mine.  Here in Los Angeles, they LOVE different.  That’s why I feel so at home in the gallery scene here.”

Have your own thing.  Do something different from everyone else.

Pukac is a visionary.  Ask him what his plans are for the next 15 years and he’ll tell you, broken down in three-year increments.  He plans on spending three more years in Los Angeles and then moving to New York for five years.  After that, he’ll move to Prague.  He has been planning his life out from the beginning. And it’s worked for him.

Plan what you want to do for the year, five years, ten years, and your life.

Extremely prolific, Michael finishes more paintings in a week than most artists do in a year. “I’ll do three paintings in four hours,” Michael says of his live painting performances.

He’s dedicated, working six days a week and often seven.   He will work on 25 paintings at a time, spending 15 minutes on each before methodically moving onto the next.  “It’s very, very efficient,” he explained.  “I have to keep that momentum up.”

Volume is substance.  Pump out the work.

Pukac’s paintings defy logic.  He gets a kick out of painting flawed scenarios, such as a woman suspended by hot air balloons which are supported by candles.  Pukac laughs, “it’s going to be a short trip!”

He borrows from serious classical pieces then adds his own humorous, clever twist.  His artists’ statement describes his paintings as “…playful – heartfelt yet irrational.  They are like romantic absurdities or well-spoken riddles with no answer…” He’s well-read and brilliant, and his paintings reflect his intellect.

I asked Pukac if he paints fast.  He answered, “Mother Nature doesn’t spend time testing before a release.  I paint the way that nature works, fast and without worry.  Quality is inevitable.”

Pukac listens to books on tape while painting.  “You can’t always listen to music,” he explains.  “I do a lot of research on other artists.”  He just finished listening to THE HISTORY OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL and now is onto lighter subjects with ONLY COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES by Tom Robbins.

Keep educating yourself

Here are a few revealing questions I asked Pukac:

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU COULD MAKE MONEY FROM YOUR ART?  “As a kid, in fourth grade, I sold drawings of nudies for .50 cents to the older kids on the school bus.”  (He was a born entrepreneur!)

DID YOUR PARENTS SUPPORT YOUR DESIRE TO BE AN ARTIST?  “It kind of was always there.  One way my parents kept me busy was by just giving me a pencil.  I was obsessed.  When I got out of college, they asked ‘what are you gonna do?’  ‘What do you mean what am I gonna do?’ I said.  There was no other option.  They fully supported it.”

HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY?  “My first hour of waking up is devoted drawing sketches – bizarre, evil lollipops and vaginas, things that have nothing to do with my work.”

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE EARNING A FULL TIME LIVING FROM ART?  “They have to go through a stage of doing it even though they hate it.  I don’t think a lot of artists are willing to go through the starving period.  It took me two years.”

WHAT’S THE WORST ADVICE YOU EVER GOT?  “If you just put more dogs in your paintings, you’ll sell more!”

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE LAW OF ATTRACTION?  “It happens again and again and again.  My whole career has been just the right person showing up at just the right time.”

ARE YOU LIVING YOUR DREAM?  “Yeah.  Every day I wake up so stoked.  To work for myself is awesome.   Some days I complain that I haven’t had a day off in two months.  But then I remember that I’m lucky.”

ARE YOU SUCCESSFUL?  “Yes. (pause)  No.  I’m happy, but I have a goal in mind and I’m on that path.”

“I’m still running that marathon.”

Please, share in the comments below what you get out of Michael Pukac’s story!

Maria xxoo

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All of the artists, writers and musicians who read this blog:  you are your own personal brand.

Your persona is your brand.  Your story is your brand.  And your brand is what attracts your fans to you.

(And don’t get hung up on the word “brand” – it’s just a word)

Every great brand has a story, from Converse Shoes to Marilyn Monroe to cartoonist Hugh MacLeod.

Sadly, some people don’t know who they are.  If you are one of them, you’d better figure it out.  Don’t despair, though.  You already have the making of your personal brand because it exists within you organically. You just need to determine what that is by thinking about it, writing it down and defining it.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR?

1. Tell your story.
2. Describe who you are in a few descriptive words.
3. Use your story and your descriptive words consistently in everything you do from marketing to interviews to what you print on your business cards.

EVERYONE HAS A STORY – EVEN YOU:

And there’s a good chance that your story is interesting.  You might not think so, because you’ve lived it so long.  But others will find it fascinating.

Take for example Henri Junttila.  Living in Málaga, Spain, the young Swede has never worked a real job in his life.  Instead, he’s made loads of money as a professional poker player.  Then he went on to nurture his successful blog called The Wake Up Cloud and is now a consultant, helping people to live their dreams.  His story inspires others to follow his path.

My cousin Anne, who has been a stay at home mom most of the past 20 years, is a very talented oil painter in Rumson, New Jersey.  She loves to go fox hunting on highly-bred horses and she paints what she experiences.  Her story inspires people to buy her paintings.

You have a story and you have meaning to your life. Those two elements reflect who you are and what your personal brand is based upon.

WITHOUT A STORY, YOUR BRAND WILL DIE:

There is a dying brand of clothing in the surf industry called MADA.  It is a company that, in my opinion, was created only to make money but clearly has no definition or meaning.  Despite the lack of soul, MADA was always getting a lot of press in surf magazines (which surprised the hell out of me).  They grew strong until the recent economic collapse.

The reason brands die is this:  They lack substance.

Without a story (a true one) and no clear definition of who you are or what you are about, you will never hook real, loyal fans.

WHAT’S IN A DESCRIPTIVE WORD?  EVEN A PLAYBOY BUNNY GETS POWER FROM IT:

My first boss at my first job was a former Playboy Club Bunny named Joyce Kennedy.  She was beautiful, smart and witty.  I wanted to be just like her.

When she was 20, she applied for the elite status of a club bunny at the swanky, upscale Playboy Club back in the 70’s.  Club bunnies were highly paid cocktail servers who catered to wealthy, famous patrons.   To be a Playboy Club Bunny you had to have it all; smarts, beauty, ability and charisma.

There were 50 girls applying for one position.   What landed her that bunny costume was the answer to her last question during the rigorous interview process:

“If you can choose one word to describe yourself, Miss Kennedy, what would that be?”

“Vivacious!” She said, exuberantly.  She got the job.

WHO ARE YOU IN A FEW WORDS?

My best girlfriend, the beautiful Bridget Flaska, is a successful Realtor in Encinitas, California.  She operates with upmost integrity and has set high standards for herself.  The top of her business card reads:

INTEGRITY & EXCELLENCE

In two words, you know what her personal brand is.  When you work with Bridget, you’ll benefit from her integrity and you’ll experience her excellence.

Yesterday I got to thinking about the power of describing yourself in a few words, when I was asked to send a biography about my husband, Drew, to Converse.  They are writing about him on their super-cool blog and needed his background.

After attaching his biography, I felt the need to give them a short synopsis of what Drew is about, so that their story would focus in on the most important things about him.  I closed my e-mail to them with:

Really, if you sum Drew Brophy up in 5 words, it’s this:

Surf – Family – Travel – Paint – Inspiration

So, now I have to ask you, who are you in 5 words or less?  (Please, tell me in the comments!)

Thanks for reading my blog – Always Grateful, Maria xxoo

(writer – traveler – dreamer – surfer – happy)

(Photo Credit:  The image “Remember who you are” is a Hugh MacLeod cartoon.  Photo of the lovely Miss B came from BridgetFlaska.com)

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• Branding Art from Surfboards to Greeting Cards – by Kate Harper
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Photo: Flying Fish Painted Surfboard by Drew Brophy

(THIS POST IS PART 2 OF 10 ON THE 10 SUCCESS PRINCIPLES FOR ARTISTS)

SUCCESS PRINCIPLE #2 – Integrity

Local artist Joe Tilly* came into our studio asking us to refer him out should any surfboard painting commissions come up.  His art sales are down, and he desperately needs the money.

In this surfing town of San Clemente, an artist could make a good living just by painting surfboards.  People will pay big bucks to have their surfboards personalized.

My husband Drew is known for pioneering a certain technique of painting surfboards many years ago.  It’s common for people to ask him to paint their surfboards, and when Drew has time in between other painting projects, he’ll do it.

Drew has taught his surfboard painting techniques to many artists, one being Joe Tilly.  Joe is talented and his work is very good.

So when a potential client asked to commission Drew for a surfboard painting that he wanted done right away, Drew said “I’m leaving town for vacation tomorrow.  But give Joe Tilly a call – he’s very good.”

The client said “I’d rather give you the work.”

“But I won’t be able to start it for two more weeks” Drew said.

“That’s okay, I’ll wait.  The last time I hired Joe Tilly for artwork, he let me down.”

Integrity is what builds your reputation.  Having integrity means that you:

DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU’RE GOING TO DO, WHEN YOU SAY YOU’RE GOING TO DO IT.

It also means BEING HONEST and UPFRONT about your limitations.

You only have one chance to impress a potential client.  That impression will stay with them forever, and they’ll tell others about you.

We have always been upfront with a customer if we can’t meet their deadline.  But once we agree to a deadline, Drew will stay up for three nights straight if that’s what it takes to get the job done.

Integrity has been one of the things that keeps our clients coming back year after year.

On the other hand, once you don’t meet a deadline, or tell a client that you can do it in a timeframe that you can’t, or just flake altogether, you’ve lost a lifetime customer.

Maria xxoo

*Joe Tilly is not the person’s real name, but is a real person.Similar Posts:

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Plan your Life Path

(THIS POST IS PART 1 OF 10 POSTS ON THE 10 SUCCESS PRINCIPLES FOR ARTISTS)

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”  Epictetus

I’ve always envied people who knew what they wanted to be at a young age.  They are the ones who find success at a young age, doing what they dreamed of as a child.  I never latched onto any dreams, because I wasn’t very good at making decisions back then.  I sort of floated through jobs, not really doing what excited me.  Now that I’m older, I finally understand the principle of creating your life to be what you want.  And I’m living my own dream life, writing and traveling the way I want to.  If only I had known this secret when I was younger…

The most successful artists in the world know that you can create the life you want.

It happens this way:  First decide what you want, then take action to make it happen.

At the age of sixteen, the now famous marine artist, Wyland, had tried his hand at odd jobs.  After getting fired from his third manual labor job, he decided to be an artist.  He committed to this decision, and it took him ten years to be able to earn a decent living at it.

Being a professional artist was the only option he gave himself.  He had no “plan B”.  He was dedicated to his decision.  Wyland is now the top marine artist in the world, selling paintings for up to a million dollars, and saving marine mammals with his Wyland Foundation.

THE FIRST STEP TO DESIGNING YOUR LIFE IS TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT.  To get what you want, you have to know exactly what that is.

My artist husband, Drew Brophy, was the one who taught me that you could create your own life.  He always says “Maria, anything you want is right there.  All you have to do is decide what you want, and then grab it.”

He should know.   He decided as a teenager that he wanted to live a life where he would create art and travel the world surfing the best waves on the globe.  “Nobody lives like that” one teacher said.  His guidance counselor also tried to discourage this plan, as well as other well-meaning adults in his life.  But being the rebellious guy that he was, Drew was determined to carry out his dream.  He eventually became a successful surf artist who travels the world with his family, living the life of his dreams.

Some of us just can’t decide. Many forces hold us back from making a solid decision.  One is our parents.  We don’t want to disappoint.  The other is the fear of failure.  Another is the reluctance to make a commitment.

You’ll have to squash your hesitations and decide, if you want to be the one who determines your path. Otherwise, your path will be chosen for you by default, and probably not how you want it.

THE MAGIC OF WRITING IT DOWN:

Magic occurs when you write things down. The intentions you write end up happening over time.  It’s a secret shared by many successful people.

The act of writing down what you want helps to cement it in your subconscious mind, which makes you more aware when opportunities arise that will help you reach these goals.

Answers will come to you while you’re singing in the shower or walking your dog or staring at a flower.  You’ll seem to attract people and things that can help you get to where you decided you want to go.

To help you get a clear vision of what you want as a career artist, get a piece of paper and write a list.  Break it down into categories:

• What type of Artist do you want to be?
• What do you want to be known for?
• What impact do you want to make on the world with your art?
• How much money do you want to make from your art?
• What is the ideal lifestyle for you as an artist?

For each category, envision the ideal situation for yourself in a paragraph.  Write exactly what you want, no matter how big it seems.  Trust that you can make it happen.

ONCE YOU’VE DECIDED, MAKE A COMMITMENT.

I’m going to say something really crazy right now:

Don’t have a “Plan B”.  Burn all bridges behind you.  That way you CAN’T fail, because you’ll have to figure it out.  You are fully capable, and once you find that trust in yourself, you’ll make it happen.

Make every day count towards your plan.  Find out what you need to do to make it happen.

And then do it.

Maria xxoo  (Photo credit:  www.fotosearch.com)

PS:  This is Principle 1 of the 10 Success Principles for Artists feature.  I will post each principle on Tuesday morning of each week.  To make sure you don’t miss the other 9 posts, please sign up for the e-mail deliveries.Similar Posts:

• 10 Principles for an Artists Success
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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 time, 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.  THINK BEFORE GOING INTO DEBT TO SELL YOUR ART.  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: Be open to trying 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.

So that you don’t miss out of future postings, please sign up for my rss feed or fill in your e-mail address to get future posts delivered to your in –box.

Thanks for listening…Maria xxooSimilar Posts:

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