How to Start Again as an Artist
How to Start Making Fine art Again (After Life Has Pulled You in Other Directions)
I recently received an interesting question from a reader - permit's telephone call her Beth. (Y'all know who you are. Thanks so much for the peachy question!)
Beth has always had an interest in art, but has worked in a field unrelated to art for x years. Life has pulled her in other directions. Beth said that any endeavour she'due south made to return to art has led to spells of depression, isolation, and feelings of inadequacy. At ane point, she tried to devote her full schedule to making art for six months, and information technology didn't piece of work out. She became very unhappy. Despite all that, the desire she has to make fine art has never gone away. She wants to return to creating in a sustainable style, with the finish goal of becoming a freelance artist. She asked for my advice on showtime steps.
As I was typing back my reply, I realized how relatable this question is. No affair where we are in our creative journeys, I think we tin can all see ourselves in this story, because it summarizes the two major problems we face equally artists:
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The world seems to fight u.s. molar and blast to keep us from making our art (at least it can feel that way). Art every bit a career is even so not adequate in many circles. Because of that, many of us reconnect with our art later in life after doing it someone else's way for a while.
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Those of us who have gotten to the other side, making art on the regular, are constantly faced with internal battles of depression and inadequacy. For some reason, it's difficult to forge a healthy relationship with your art.
I've faced both of these issues in a big way, and I've come out on the other side. Now in my mid-thirties, I experience more than connected to my work than ever. I've overcome well-nigh of those icky feelings that can come with being an artist. Trust me, it has non been like shooting fish in a barrel to work through these bug, simply it has been worth it.
So here was my respond to her question…
Beloved Beth,
I wouldn't put any pressure level on yourself to make money from your art just yet. You need to cultivate a certain level of conviction and peace with your work, and dive back in slowly! I call back the title "freelance" creative person can really extinguish creativity in the beginning, considering information technology takes all the fun out of everything. I would merely try to meet yourself every bit an "artist" again.
At this stage, my best advice would be to carve out time in your life to brand art most days, and become dorsum to sharing your fine art on social media. I'm not sure how your work-life balance is right now, merely if your job is demanding, I might await for a new one or cut back on your hours. Right at present, it'due south simply about making your art a habit - even if it'southward just one minor illustration per solar day. Taking some online art classes can be helpful too, because it will concord you accountable. You'll go good very chop-chop, if you just show upwards often and endeavour to find joy in your work again. Suddenly, you'll take a portfolio of work you lot tin evidence.
I'd besides recommend creating a designated workspace for yourself where you tin leave your tools out. Sometimes, this tin can make all the departure (fifty-fifty if it'southward just a little corner of your home). Make it easy for you to brand your art!
Once y'all feel confident that you tin can illustrate anything decently well (without feeling jealous or inadequate), I call back information technology's prophylactic to start making money from your piece of work - if that's what you lot choose. This confidence just comes when yous've created a lot of work. At this point, I wouldn't quit your job immediately. Just start doing little freelance jobs in the evenings. One time your job starts to become in the way of freelance work, it'due south probably fourth dimension to exit. In the offset, the jobs probably won't be all that great or interesting, merely the principal goal is to brand plenty coin to survive and to merely keep finding better clients.
So to summarize - the only way to grade a healthy relationship with your fine art is to focus on the addiction, not the outcome. Bear witness upwardly, only don't be attached to what yous're making. Before y'all realize it, you'll be really good. You'll exist confident enough in your own style that you won't obsess over anyone else'southward. Anybody gets there by putting the time in. Unfortunately, the bulk of people don't get there because they can't sit and piece of work - not because they aren't talented enough. Doing the work is the hardest part. I promise, your unique style is there right now, you only need to uncover it by getting all the bad art out. And outset showing upward today, because the only thing worse than staying away from your fine art this long, is to stay abroad one twenty-four hour period longer!
It'due south important to make information technology easy for yourself to bear witness up. Accept patience with yourself and be kind. Aside from having a designated workspace, neat music/podcasts, good lighting, candles, and yummy drinks can make all the deviation. Requite yourself reasons to look forward to your fine art on days when the creative juices aren't flowing. Choose a medium that comes easily to you. And don't be pressured to paint hard discipline matters in the beginning. Simply make something, ANYTHING.
Accountability is important. I suggested sharing your art on social media, only you don't have to get that route. Making artist friends who lovingly inquire you, "when's the last fourth dimension you lot painted?" can exist so beneficial. It's besides nice to hang out with people who make you feel less alone in your creative journey.
To brand you experience a little less alone, below is a comparison of my fine art 5 years ago (when I dove dorsum in afterward a LONG hiatus) to the almost recent piece I fabricated. Information technology's not that the first piece is atrocious, it just looks like someone else made it. That's how far I've come up in five years, and I haven't fifty-fifty been making art full-time - just a little most days. A lot of my day is still spent on customer graphic pattern work, because I notice that to be the perfect residuum to my art.
My Art Circa September 2015: The showtime piece I ever shared on social media.
My Fine art Circa Dec 2020: The most recent piece I fabricated this past weekend.
As far as external opposition goes - I've never experienced anyone straight attacking my art (knock on wood). It's more of a general indifference I sometimes become. People changing the subject, or assuming I'm poor because I'm an artist. I might have heard a fourth dimension or two as a kid that I wouldn't brand any coin from my fine art. I've realize now, that couldn't be further from the truth. Life has shown me that you're always the most successful at what y'all enjoy the nigh. People don't have bad intentions when they say things like this. They but don't know any improve.
By chasing our passion, we are breaking society'due south rules. That makes people uncomfortable, because it makes them recollect about all the "rules" they've followed at the expense of their own happiness. You can't have whatever of that personally, and let other people's insecurities keep you from chasing your joy. They don't accept to live with your decisions, y'all do. I hope you can brand coin as an creative person, and you tin can be happy doing it. Y'all just need to show up, and put on those earmuffs when other people aren't every bit supportive equally you'd promise.
That'southward where those creative pals come up in handy. Past surrounding yourself with people who make art too, you'll start to feel like the world isn't so against you.
Source: http://nicolecicak.com/blog/2020/how-to-start-making-art-again
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