A Professional Artist

There are many people in the world who call themselves artists. They are judged by all sorts of standards, opinions, and regulations. Many of them are only hobbyists, others are teachers, and a few are professionals. So what is a professional artist? What is the difference between someone who paints or writes or photographs simply because they can and those that do it because it’s a career, a living, or a job? Does being a professional artist mean earning a living from your craft or just pursuing it? Is there a difference between the two and if so what is it? The difference is a level of commitment.

Anyone can do a few sketches, pull together a half-decent portfolio, or snap a couple photos and call themselves an artist. In fact there are many that do just that. It’s a glamorous word and one that’s easy to throw around or slip into casual conversation. True artists, however, are not so simple with their ideas of their work or their skills. Instead of doing the bare minimum and calling themselves an artist, they often work for years and still tell others they are still a beginner in their field. Their perspective is different which allows them to see things that newer, less accomplished students may not.

An artist turns professional only one way and surprisingly enough it has nothing to do with money. I know that sounds strange as we associate the idea of professionalism as being based off of money but it isn’t. Professionalism is a matter of dedication, of pursuit, and of perseverance. And there are plenty of “professionals” in the world that embody none of those qualities.

Instead an artist becomes a professional the moment they decide to truly take on their art as a serious pursuit. For some this may come after years of dabbling in their passion - for others it may be only a few months after discovering their craft that they decide to pursue it but regardless of when it happens it changes everything for the artist.

An artist that has decided to seriously pursue the development of their art is one who has made commitments not only to themselves to but to their craft. They are dedicated to becoming the very best that they can be at it, dedicated to learning all they can about it, and most importantly, dedicated to pursuing it to all ends. This type of artist is one who has a true passion for what they’re doing and resolves never to give it up or brush it aside for other matters. These are the writers that wake up hours before sunrise to get just a few typed pages out before the children wake. These are the painters that split their monthly budget between paint and food. These are the photographers that spend hours sitting on location waiting for that perfect light for one shot. These are the people that truly want to the very best possible to come from their art and will stop at nothing to get it.

Ironically enough these are often the people that push money aside as unimportant and of lesser worth than their art. If faced with the choice of continuing with their passion or having a steady paying job they’ll almost always choose to be doing what they love. As serious artists they work hard often for no compensation at all in the beginning but what’s funny is that after making this commitment to professionalism they very well may find themselves making more money than they ever thought they would.

So how do you become a professional artist? What does it take? Well first it takes the decision to pursue that path. If you’re simply looking for money or prestige then the art field is not a wise one to enter. It takes great skill, talent, and luck to become a prestigious artist and there are many many good ones who go unnoticed for whatever reason. If you’re motivated by external factors other than your art you probably wont last long is this field - its far too competitive and usually very unrewarding.

If however you want to pursue your art because it resonates with who you truly are as a person your odds of success are likely to be far greater. If your art is something that speaks to you on a daily basis, inspires you, and calls to you - you’ll be that much better at inspiring at motivating others. Create your art for the sake of creating it - not for any money that might be a result. Create art that has genuine concrete value, art that betters the lives of others in some real tangible way. If you can do that you’ll have enormous success - if you can manage to follow the steps below as you take your journey as artist to wherever it’s meant to go.

Once you’ve made the decision and the commitment to become a professional artist the hard work begins. It takes a great deal of patience and perseverance and if you aren’t prepared to put in that kind of effort there is little hope for you. To truly be an artist you must learn everything you possibly can about your craft. Read, study like crazy. Seek out mentors, colleagues, anyone who has blazed a trail before you and learn all you can from them. Dedicate yourself to absorbing any and all knowledge you possibly can. Do your research, test new methods, and go to places that others before you didn’t dare to go.

Perfect your craft to the very best of your abilities. Learn all you can from your teachers, your experience, and your studies. Put it into practice. And practice endlessly. Day in and day out. Dedicate as much time as you can to your art and never push your art off for another day, another time. Make time each and every day to put in the necessary effort to further your skills along.

Learn to share your art with others. A professional artist is one who understands the world of business and it’s dealings. If you don’t you haven’t got a chance of being able to get your art into the hands of people who can do something with it. An artist is only someone who has paintings in front of other people. If you are the only one who ever sees your work then it isn’t doing anyone any good is it? Learn the concepts that drive the selling and purchasing of art and implement them into your strategy. Create value you in your art and then deliver it - put it out into the world where others can see it and, hopefully, purchase it. Make an effort to make it easy to market your art and encourage others to help you in your attempts.

Make a contribution in your field. The truly great artists are known for pioneering new methods in their field and for sharing those methods with others. A greedy artist is one with few friends and fewer customers. Take chances, experiment, find new ways of doing things that others will find useful and valuable and then share them with as many people as you can. Be known for being not only a skilled, knowledgeable artist but also for being one that makes an effort to help others.
All of these aspects of being an artist will make the difference between being a hobbyist and truly experiencing success in your field - which is the goal of becoming a professional artist in the first place. These are all small steps that can determine the path your work as an artist will take and whether or not anyone else takes note of that path. There’s little use in being an artist if no good ever comes of it - for you or for the rest of the world.

Really the most important thing of all it simply to remember to create value in your art the very best way you know how. And if for some reason that way isn’t very good or doesn’t earn you any money then you keep learning, you keep experimenting, you keep trying new methods and creating new ideas - whatever it takes to find a way that your art is worthy of other people’s time. Stand on the shoulders of those who came before you and push for new heights. Set goals as high as you can and then take small steps every single day to reach them. Make your art something worth working night and day for - something of genuine value to others.

A professional artist is one who embodies all these qualities and many more. It’s someone who recognizes their pursuit as a journey, not a destination, and then pursues any and all means, methods, and resources to move in the direction they want to go. A professional artist doesn’t have to make money at their craft - but they certainly can. A professional artist doesn’t have to teach, write about, or even work in their craft - but they often do. A professional artist doesn’t have to be seasoned, but they are experienced. More than anything a professional artist is someone who loves what they do so much that they’re willing to do it for free, all day every day, regardless of the cost, simply because they love it.

So - what kind of artist are you?