By SheelaR

As an art consultant, I’m often asked for advice by artists. Often times, I share just a few things that I’ve garnered from my 8 years in the business. So, I thought I’d put together a list of some of the best and basic advice for you to ponder:

1. You’ll always have critics… Grow a thick skin and move on quickly. For every rung in the ladder you climb, there will be someone trying to knock you off two of them. Simply put… Ignore your critics. Your strength is in your vision. Find it and create it.

2. Practice your craft often…  The more you create, the more creative you become. Practice makes perfect, but strive for the beauty in imperfection and uniqueness.

 3. Marketing is your friend… No one will ever sale you like you can sale yourself, unless you pay them handsomely 🙂 Promote yourself and your art often. Visibility is key.

4. Nurture yourself…”A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe  My favorite quote ❤ and the truest words for the soul of an artist. You should also take long walks, long baths, and drink copious amounts of wine.

5. Share and teach what you know… The goal is not to give away all your secrets, but by all means, sharing is caring. Pass on along some of your unique techniques that will make you all better humans and artists. Most of the time, you’ve borrowed your techniques from someone else and you don’t even know it.

6. Define and refine your perspective… Your style is unique to you and identifies you as an artist. Too much diversity makes you one of many. You want to separate from the crowd, not blend in with it.

7. Patience is key… Don’t be discouraged by how well someone else is doing or trends. There is always a market for your work. It may not happen when you want it too, but it’ll happen. Trust me… The right person will come along and open the floodgates.

And there you have it!