There are many paths to becoming a professional artist, including enrolling in a fine arts program at school or going the self-taught route. Developing the necessary skills to mold your art career requires grit, persistence and patience. Having a willingness to take criticism and challenge yourself as you learn new concepts will also serve you well. In addition, you’ll need to immerse yourself in the world of your medium. Learning about paintings by other artists, for example, will provide inspiration and help you find your artistic style.
Using the word “artist” in a context other than your own creative work is a difficult task, because different people have very different definitions of what constitutes an artist. One such definition comes from the Urban Institute’s “Investing in Creativity” report, which defines an artist as someone who has artistic skills and receives some form of training, either formal or informal. Other organizations, like Springboard for the Arts in Minnesota, use a much broader definition, which states that an artist is anyone who thinks creatively about their dynamic place in the world and works to produce art based on that thinking.
The most important skill you need as an artist is the ability to create a vision of your work. This will allow you to translate your ideas into a physical piece of art, whether it’s a painting, sculpture or photograph. To make this happen, you’ll need to develop critical thinking skills, which will help you analyze your inspiration and determine how best to express it in a particular medium.
You’ll also need to find a way to communicate your vision to others. This means finding ways to describe your work that convey its meaning without being esoteric. Piling on technical terms can leave the average viewer confused and frustrated, so focusing on the tangible aspects of your work — such as when it was created, what type of artwork it is, its subject and any defining characteristics — is crucial.
An artist’s ability to collaborate is an important skill to develop, as it will help you complete projects that would otherwise be impossible to complete alone. This is especially useful when working in a team setting, such as in a group exhibition or collaborating with other artists on a specific project.
Another essential skill is having the financial management skills to run your own art business and price your work. You’ll also need to have the creativity to come up with new ideas for your next work, which will require a good amount of research and brainstorming.
Lastly, you’ll need to identify what reaction you want your audience to have when they view your work. This is a very personal thing, and it can vary greatly depending on the genre and medium of your work. Some common reactions include joy, anger, contemplation or laughter. Getting these emotions across to your audience is what makes you a successful artist. If you’re unable to connect with your audience, they won’t be interested in buying your art.