Hi All,
I'm a bit "blogged down" at the moment. I had a great idea for a post then I got sidetracked, busy, and forgot it all today. So, this new post is about staying focused on what we plan to do.
Are you an artist? Do you have a plan for success? Have you decided what "success" as an artist means to you? Are you focused on your plan?
If you are a professional artist (part time or full time it does not matter), and you are working without a business plan you are wasting your time. Without a plan, how will you know if you are successful? You never acknowledged what your goals for success even are. Many artists get bogged down with the day to day activities of being an artist but they never really know what the goals are. You don't need a formal "corporate" business plan. Just write out what you want to achieve, who you are, when you want to see results, where you want to be as an artist, and why you want to be an artist. Make it formal if want to; but at least make a plan and stick to it. Read it throughout the year and modify it as you go. Plans change, goals should be achieved, make your art your business and succeed!
When I started out here in my small hometown of less than 21,000 people and 40 miles from the nearest metropolitan city, I was told I would be lucky to make $1000 a year from selling art. I live in a tough area to be an artist. There is no tourism, no beaches, no big cities, money is tough to make and salaries are low in relation to national averages. But I had a plan...and it worked! I blew that myth out of the water and I still make more than that each and every month (even today in this economy). I still revise and use my business plan. When I made the official move to painting in oil I had to make a new plan. Yes, I lost customers...a lot of them. But I found new customers. Some of my old customers have even become addicted to my oil paintings. What I am trying to say here is this...make a plan and succeed. If you fail...try harder. If you give up...you never really wanted it anyway.
Oh...and if your plan is to make money part-time as an artist but get paid good enough to make serious money then do that because that is your plan. I have come to the conclusion that it does not matter if you earn all or part of your income as an artist. If you sell your work and you work as a professional, then that is what you are. If your plan is to work only as an artist then work on it! But don't think just because you need a job or your spouse has to work that you are any less of an artist! I got an email recently that burned me up. A fellow artist was thinking about giving up because so many of her friends and art friends said she'll never be taken seriously until she can support herself on her art alone. Folks...that is a bunch of crap! She has more talent than many of the artists who put her down. Again...what is the plan? For you...not the other artist(s). Make a plan that you are comfortable with and get out there and be the artist you want to be!
I'm a bit "blogged down" at the moment. I had a great idea for a post then I got sidetracked, busy, and forgot it all today. So, this new post is about staying focused on what we plan to do.
Are you an artist? Do you have a plan for success? Have you decided what "success" as an artist means to you? Are you focused on your plan?
If you are a professional artist (part time or full time it does not matter), and you are working without a business plan you are wasting your time. Without a plan, how will you know if you are successful? You never acknowledged what your goals for success even are. Many artists get bogged down with the day to day activities of being an artist but they never really know what the goals are. You don't need a formal "corporate" business plan. Just write out what you want to achieve, who you are, when you want to see results, where you want to be as an artist, and why you want to be an artist. Make it formal if want to; but at least make a plan and stick to it. Read it throughout the year and modify it as you go. Plans change, goals should be achieved, make your art your business and succeed!
When I started out here in my small hometown of less than 21,000 people and 40 miles from the nearest metropolitan city, I was told I would be lucky to make $1000 a year from selling art. I live in a tough area to be an artist. There is no tourism, no beaches, no big cities, money is tough to make and salaries are low in relation to national averages. But I had a plan...and it worked! I blew that myth out of the water and I still make more than that each and every month (even today in this economy). I still revise and use my business plan. When I made the official move to painting in oil I had to make a new plan. Yes, I lost customers...a lot of them. But I found new customers. Some of my old customers have even become addicted to my oil paintings. What I am trying to say here is this...make a plan and succeed. If you fail...try harder. If you give up...you never really wanted it anyway.
Oh...and if your plan is to make money part-time as an artist but get paid good enough to make serious money then do that because that is your plan. I have come to the conclusion that it does not matter if you earn all or part of your income as an artist. If you sell your work and you work as a professional, then that is what you are. If your plan is to work only as an artist then work on it! But don't think just because you need a job or your spouse has to work that you are any less of an artist! I got an email recently that burned me up. A fellow artist was thinking about giving up because so many of her friends and art friends said she'll never be taken seriously until she can support herself on her art alone. Folks...that is a bunch of crap! She has more talent than many of the artists who put her down. Again...what is the plan? For you...not the other artist(s). Make a plan that you are comfortable with and get out there and be the artist you want to be!
- Michael
0 comments:
Post a Comment