Do you find yourself starting projects you never finish? If you do you are not alone. This is a common struggle many artists have. In this post, I am going to talk about how you can be successful as an artist by simply following through with each project you start.
How To Be Successful As An Artist – Stop Quitting
- How many times have you stopped working on a piece of art because you thought it was not good enough?
- How many times have you started a different project before finishing a previous project?
- How many unfinished pieces of art do you have?
- How many times have you started a marketing strategy and put it on the back-burner before it was completed?
- How many marketing books have you not finished?
- How many times have you said you are not good enough?
There are many more questions we could be asking, but you get the point.
I am going to dissect each of these questions and show you how they will prevent you from reaching your goals.
I want to show you how finishing every project you start will help you to become a successful artist.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase by clicking on an affiliate link, Nevue Fine Art Marketing may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate relationships include, but are not limited to, Bluehost, Tailwind, Skimlinks, SareASale and StudioPress. To learn more visit Affiliate Link Disclosure Policy
How To Be Successful As An Artist
Let’s talk about how changing the way you look at things could help you achieve your goals.
- How many times have you stopped working on a piece of art because you thought it was not good enough?
If I were to guess, I would have to say that most artists fall victim of this.
Why do artists stop working on a piece of art before it is finished?
One reason is that they are not seeing the results they are hoping for. Many artists dream of creating art like their favorite artists. When their art falls short they become discouraged and quit.
They forget that the artists they admire started just like they did.
Skills progress with time.
If you do not put in the time you will never reach your full potential.
Instead of looking at your art as “not being good enough”, think of it as a learning experience.
Critique your art and ask yourself these questions:
- How can I make this better?
- What was difficult?
- What skills do I need to spend more time practicing?
Every project you do should be a learning experience.
Start every project saying, “This is going to better than my last.” and do not stop working on it until it is better.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Work on enhancing your skills not comparing yourself to others.” quote=”Work on enhancing your skills not comparing yourself to others.” theme=”style3″]
- How many unfinished pieces of art do you have?
A great way to quickly enhance your skills is by taking all of your unfinished projects and finish them.
Go grab all of your unfinished projects and put them in your studio so you have to see them every day.
Schedule some time during the week to work on them.
Study your unfinished projects and ask yourself, “How can I complete this project?”
Every project you complete, you become a better artist.
- Your fine motor skills improve.
- You see values and shapes better.
- Your confidence grows.
Take the art that has been sitting in your closet, finish them and hang them on your walls. Better yet post them for sale.
- How many times have you started a marketing strategy and put it on the back-burner before it was completed?
Many people get excited about starting new projects. They get a burst of energy and go full force. But when they do not see the results they were hoping for the next day they become discouraged.
Do you get discouraged when you do not see instant results?
We are living in a very fast paced world.
We can access any information within seconds.
We can watch any show at any given time.
We know what is happening around the world in real-time.
We can even cook bacon in the microwave in just 30 seconds.
There are things that still take time. Growing your business is one of them.
It might take a year for you to see the results from something you have done today.
Does that mean it is not worth your time and effort?
I would rather see results a year from today than no growth at all.
Everything you do will affect your art business in time. As long as you set goals, develop strategies, assess the outcome and revise your plan you will see continued growth.
- How many marketing books have you not finished reading?
If you want to be successful as an artist you need to educate yourself. This means spending time reading books, talking with others, taking courses, listening to podcasts or reading blog posts.
The quickest way to learn is by learning from others.
There are so many people offering valuable information that will help you to grow your art business quicker. Take advantage of all the information that is available to you.
The only person you hurt by not finishing a book is yourself.
Take pride in your art and spend time on learning how to better yourself.
- How many times have you said you are not good enough?
This is my biggest challenge when I instruct and coach people.
I can show people how to play a scale on a guitar.
I can explain what a Dorian mode is to my students.
I can show someone how to see value changes when they look at a reference image.
I can explain to someone how to write a post in WordPress.
But I can not convince someone they are good enough. That comes from within.
One way I help people build their confidence is by showing them how to see the progress they have made over time.
I emphasize the importance of being proud of what they have already accomplished and always work on bettering themselves.
It is so important for you to believe in yourself. You can do anything you put your mind to. You might not succeed tomorrow or even in five years, but you will eventually. The only time that you will not succeed is when you stop trying.
One more point I want to make on this topic is to never judge yourself to someone else. You are unique and you have special strengths that others do not. Be the best that you can be. Work on enhancing your skills not comparing yourself to others.
Conclusion:
Growth comes from effort. When the effort stops the growth stops.
Every time you finish a project you are improving yourself.
You might not see the results you were hoping for, but it is a learning experience.
It is all how you look at the end result. Instead of saying, “That was not good enough.”, ask yourself “What can I do to make it better?”
28 Day Blogging Challenge for Visual Artists
Are you ready to start building an online presence?
Download your copy today, or Purchase on Amazon.
The Productive Artist How to Live Your Dreams The right mindset and time management skills are essential for any business. These topics are often not talked about but are key elements for your success. You will learn how to have a winning mindset and time management skills necessary for operating a successful art business. Available at Amazon or Download today.
Did you enjoy this article? Don’t forget to sign up for my free weekly newsletter.
You can also join me on:
Learn how to start, grow and monetize your online art business.
Art Business eBooks
Art Business Workbooks
Art Business Planners
