Artists are people who express themselves through a creative outlet, be it painting, drawing, pottery, sculpture, installation art, photography or non-narrative video. In real life, artists often work alone but they also collaborate and seek out peer groups that encourage and support each other. In addition to their artistic pursuits, many artists do business and production tasks like marketing themselves and finding venues for exhibiting their works, designing and printing promotional materials and creating portfolios of past work.
Some artists are self-taught but many have formal training in the field of their choice, such as art school or an apprenticeship with a more established artist. Whether they are self-taught or not, all artists must develop their own style and learn to communicate what they want to say in their artwork. Developing this voice is one of the most important skills artists must acquire, as well as learning how to manage their time and finances and understanding copyright laws.
An artist needs to be open to criticism and new ideas, as well as willing to put in the work needed to turn their concepts into a finished piece. This is a demanding job that can be emotionally draining, so an artist needs to maintain a healthy balance between disciplined training and time for exploration of new ideas and experimentation.
A good artist is not afraid of failure and will continue to work at their craft until they are satisfied that they have reached their full potential. They are also not afraid to stand by their beliefs or express their opinions, regardless of the outcome. Artists are loyal to their skills, creativity and unique way of seeing the world.
Although popular culture portrays artists chatting in coffee shops or swanning around in interesting clothes at gallery openings, the reality is that most of an artist’s time is spent in their studio making their art. This is usually their most important job and they must be able to devote enough time to this task to be successful. Artists also have to be able to work independently and without supervision, which can be challenging for some artists.