5 Mistakes Artists Make

Have you ever met someone who you befriend and then later on find out has some mad artistic skill? I have and I am surprised they keep their work buried away. When I question them about it they usually shy away from the inquiry and brush it off like what they do doesn’t mean much. I have also had artists reach out to me on Instagram looking for ways they can promote their work expressing that they feel really uncomfortable with self-promotion. 

If you have artistic talent but haven’t been making progress in a while, you feel stuck in a rut, or you don’t know how to take your calling seriously, here are 5 mistakes that artists usually make and what you can do about it.

Mistake #1 Not Promoting Their Work Enough

You have some artistic talent, that is fantastic, but not enough. You won’t get by with just creating artwork, to become a successful artist you also need to put yourself out there and make a name for yourself. There are many different ways to market your work: art shows, social media, blogging, videos, talks and workshops. Self-promotion can be tough for some artists because, generally speaking, artists tend to be introspective and sensitive which may cause them to be shy and self-conscious. They may not think that their art is good enough to be public, or may be afraid of rejection.

As other creative types know, when your art is rejected it can feel personal because art in a lot of ways is an extension of yourself.  The faster you can learn to embrace rejection and take yourself a little less seriously, the easier you will be able to shoulder rejection and persevere. 

Mistake #2 Procrastinating too Much

Ah! Procrastination–the silent killer of so many dreams. 

I’m not talking about the smart procrastination that allows space and quiet in your life for inspiration to strike, I’m talking about the resistant type of procrastination which leads you down a path to no-where. These kinds of procrastinators do not create. They aren’t even moving towards creativity. Art needs to be created rather regularly. Otherwise you are stunting your growth and are pushing successes down the road.

We never know what will come up in life that will demand more time of us. If we have time now, we need to take advantage of that gift and use it wisely.  The more you create the more you will establish a routine and it will be easier to start. Yes you will experience creative block, but you should still maintain your routine so that you can push past the rut. 

Mistake #3 Listening to the Voice of Perfectionism 

Oddly enough, perfectionism is the real culprit behind why many procrastinate because they have created such an unrealistic goal for themselves that they freeze up knowing that they cannot reach the top of the mountain, so why try? They may think they need to take more classes, read more books, before they can start creating. They may have a sense of all the work it takes to reach their goal and instead of learning to chip away slowly overtime, they take on the entire project and the mental burden shoots up a wall of resistance.  

As the saying goes, it’s a marathon, not a race. It’s taking the small steps every day that will take you to the top. The more you can let go of perfectionism and accept what you can do now, the more you are likely to actually create. 

There’s a mental shift one needs to take, “I am not a master now, but I am on my way”. Classes are good, learning new techniques are good, but nothing propels you forward like trying something new, feeling the success of getting a project done and learning from your mistakes. Practice letting go and soon you will learn to embrace mistakes as a dear friend. 

Mistake #4 Accepting the Wrong Advice

Nothing can be more discouraging than when someone looks at your artwork and says “that’s a good start” or “it’s great that your style is nice and loose, so you can sell them for less” or something I heard recently: “just think where you’ll be when you get better!” 

These were all statements from technical minds who have no background in art and find true value in art that looks photographic. Realism is a genre of art and I am not a Realist painter.  It’s easy to find discouraging remarks especially if you’re talking to non-artists or artists from another genre. When you seek advice, it’s your responsibility to choose who you receive advice from. The more you journey in art the more you desire real criticism from artists you have deemed worthy to critique your art. These are artists within your genre, a mentor you respect, or someone who has given good feedback. Your job is to find your critics and cheerleaders.

Mistake #5 Working in Isolation 

Painting alone is necessary at times because you need to get into your own zone and have some mental space to create. However, staying isolated will hurt your work in the long run. It is necessary to find an art community to share your projects and have painting sessions together. 

By creating with other artists you are more likely to keep the creative spark alive, and you will learn so much from your fellow artists. These artists can also be people who would give you good advice which will help you advance in your skill.  You will quickly learn that art is a process and every artist is on their own journey.