The Three Pillars of Art Success

I believe there are 3 things that most artists need to make art that they truly love. I actually built Art Tribe around these 3 pillars, but I don't think I've ever really explained them before. I think the 3 pillars are:

1) Inspiration

2) Education

3) Support

Let's talk about each one.

Inspiration

I often meet beginning artists who don't know what inspires them or why they make art. They know they have a drive to create something, but they don't know what that something should be. As a result, they find it hard to make work. Often that's because they're just not motivated (who wants to start something when you don't really know what to start?). Other times it's because they have an idea but the idea isn't something that truly inspires them. It's just something they've seen others do, or something they think they should be inspired by.

I truly believe that you can't make art you love until you figure out who you are and what you care about. Once you know that, you have all the inspiration you need and you never have to procrastinate.

Education

Or should I say, you never have to procrastinate as long as you know how to develop and execute your ideas. Many artists fall down at this hurdle. They know what they want to do, but they don't know how to do it. You know this is you if you find yourself wondering how other artists get the colours they do; or if you never know how to resolve a composition; or if you simply can't make your paint do what you want it to do.

You will never make art that you love until you know the basics of composition, colour and technique.

Support

The final pillar is support. Most people in your life simply don't understand you. They don't know why you struggle away, making paintings you don't even like, or why you keep going to the shops covered in paint, or why you feel so happy when an idea works out. You are driven to do something that they find alien, and it can make you feel isolated. It also means you have no-one to hash out ideas with or discuss the next steps in your career.

So, you need to meet and connect with other artists. This be an artist friend, a local group, or an online community, but I think we all need to feel a connection to the larger art world. If you really have no access to other artists, the next best thing is to listen to podcasts or read books about or by artists - at least you are still getting the sense that you're not alone, and this is so important.

If you're feeling stuck with your work, ask yourself which of these you're missing. And if you're not yet an Art Tribe member, come and see how we provide all three to our members.

Click HERE to get 30 days free - only open until Sunday June 1st at midnight PST.