What You Need To Be An Artist

Doing your hobby and passion as your job can make for some sticky times, it’s not for everyone but if you can read this and think you got those traits then you also got this career baby!

1. Be Stubborn.

A career in the arts takes time, it took me 8 years to get to a stage where I could finally go full-time. Developing your work, building a portfolio, getting clients, getting repeat clients... 

it doesn’t happen overnight.

You have to fight through any doubt and keep soldiering on.
 

2. Be OK With Hearing No.

I don’t just mean no as in you suggest something crazy and a client says no.

I mean all forms of it...

Pitched to a client but they don’t respond.
Got a lil creative and the client doesn’t like it.
Put your all into a submission that doesn’t get chosen.
A project gets shelved half way.

it’s all forms of rejection that can take their toll, 
you gotta be resilient!

3. Be SELF Motivated.

When you’re a freelance artist, no-one is sitting there making sure your work gets done on time. 

People won’t be checking up on you and making sure you’re on track, that’s alldown to you.

You miss your deadline?

 It’s missed. Client is pissed, you black-list ...ed

Alright, it’s not always as harsh as that, but no-one’s breathing down your neck making sure you get stuff done.

It’s all down to you.
 

4. Be Able To Draw...

Syke, I don’t mean just being able to draw something pretty. 

I mean being able to draw when you don’t want to, when you can’t be bothered, draw things you don’t fancy drawing.

When it’s your job, work doesn’t just pause because you don’t feel like drawing today.

I once read that the difference between a professional and a hobbyist, is the professional will sit and draw even when they don’t feel like it.

And it’s true!
 

5. Be Resourceful.

A career in the arts isn’t ever plain sailing.

Industries change, repeat clients move on, companies go under.

You’ve got to roll with the punches, be resourceful, flexible, go where the work is.

I’ve had repeat clients for long periods giving me consistent income then they go in a different direction.

Instead of repeatedly hitting them up trying to get that work back, you have to move on to the next thing.

Find the next client.

Live events have always been my bread and butter but look back at the pandemic, you had to pivot, so I focused more on content, tutorials and teaching.

I’m not saying you ditch the fashion illustration and draw kids books (although $$$) just be open to new things and pivoting.