Are you finding it difficult to keep your creative fire burning throughout the year? Are you finding yourself doing other things throughout the day instead of  finishing your art marketing to-do list or going to the studio to finish the project you are working on? In this post, I am going to talk about how to stay creative and productive as an artist.

Stay Creative and Productive

A selling artist has many responsibilities. They are not only the creators but they are also in charge of marketing and selling.

If you can’t keep up with all of the responsibilities, the end result will be lack of sales.

Here are some strategies that will help you to stay creative and productive so you can enjoy making a living as an artist.

No Excuses

You have to get your work done or you will not get paid.

I have been self-employed for over twenty-five years and I have learned from day one, if I don’t work I don’t get paid.

It is that simple.

There are no excuses.

If I cant get the work done that needs to get done it will affect my income.

If I have a bad day it will also affect my income.

If I put jobs off that I don’t want to do, it will affect my income.

Being responsible for the amount of income being generated is what separates an individual who is self-employed versus an individual who is employed by someone else.

It is easier for someone to not put in a hundred percent if it will not reflect in their weekly paycheck.

What motivates me?

I enjoy being self-employed. I enjoy the challenge and the opportunity for growth. I accept the responsibility of my actions. If I come up with excuses why I can’t accomplish something I will only hurt myself and my family.

Find your motivation and be accountable for your actions. Once you can do this you will find that it is easy to put in the extra effort to get everything done so you can enjoy having a career as an artist.

Know What Needs to Get Done

Do you hate lists?

I know so many artists who hate lists.

A list will be the only tool you will have that will prevent you from forgetting an important task.

In order for you to get extra work done ahead of time so you can relax and enjoy a vacation, you will need to have a list of things you will need to get done.

Take ten or fifteen minutes and decide what you will need to accomplish. It is time for you to be proactive.

I always start planning a month or two in advance.

I have learned over time that there will always be distractions that will interfere with a plan. If you give yourself enough time in advance you will greatly reduce any unnecessary stress.

Once you have your list documented you will be able to start chipping away at it.

Take Notes

At the end of each day take note of what you accomplished and what needs to get accomplished.

If something pops up in your mind throughout the day write it down. Do not rely on your memory.

Review you notes every morning while you are having your coffee.

Doing this will get you focused on what needs to get done for that day. If you know what needs to get done you will get it done.

Do not waste your time trying to think of what you should be doing. This is a recipe for disaster.

It might take some time to get use to writing notes, but in time it will be something you can not live without.

Get it Done

Most artists work for themselves. They do not have people working for them.

If you are doing all of the work, you already know that some jobs are easier than others.

There are also some jobs that you prefer do to over others as well.

The bottom line is, everything has to get done.

If you like doing the job or not, it has to get done or it will affect your income.

When it is time for me to do I project I am not fond of, I just do it.

I do not say “I will get to it later.”

I do not put it off until tomorrow, I just get it done. Then I do not have to think about it anymore.

Procrastinating is one of the main reasons I see artists fail.

Have a Routine

The best way to be productive with your time is to have a routine. Decide what has to get done when. You will be able to do this because you have already created a list of things that have to get done.

Everyone is different and everyone has a different schedule.

Decide when you will be most productive for each individual job you have.

Write down your schedule and stick to it.

I have a set schedule for everything I do.

There is a block of time for writing blog posts, creating videos, social media marketing, creating courses, writing eBooks, communicating with potential buyers and artists, and creating art.

If I didn’t block off times for everything that I have to get done nothing would get done.

Conclusion:

Selling art takes a lot of planning and dedication. It does not matter if you are selling art for extra income or you are selling art to support your family, if you are selling art you need to have a plan.

You have to be self-motivating and willing to put in your best effort every day.

Bottom line, you need to stay creative and productive in order to generate a consistent income selling art.

The Productive Artist – How to Live Your Dreams

Also available at Amazon.

You might also be interested in:

• Digital Content Marketing – What Artists Need to Know
• How to Be More Productive Marketing Art Online
• How to Promote Your Art Online with YouTube
• How To Price Your Artwork
• 7 Essential Tips on How to Sell Paintings Online
• How to Sell Drawings Online and Make Money

Grow Your Online Art Business:

eBooks by Dave Nevue

Art Marketing Video Courses by Dave Nevue

Art Marketing Resource – All of the tools I use and recommend for my online art business.

Graphite Art by Dave Nevue

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