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Painting Archives - The Jar of Salt

Empowering The Professional Artist

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What do professional artists have today that we didn’t, say, 12 years ago?

Answer: Power.

Today’s artist is a lot more empowered than he or she was in 2005.

The artist of 2017  has the strength to reach his or her client directly easily and effortlessly.  

Back in the day, we were at the mercy of mainstream media editors and TV producers.  Most, if not many, were supportive of fledgeling artists and I found myself fortunate.  Cold calls led to a big break in a major broadsheet, and being spotted in an art fair led to TV features.  For the most part, it was a struggle to be seen and heard as an artist during those times.

What gift do we have at this very moment  that we didn’t over a decade ago? Social media.

2004 saw the birth of Facebook, followed by the inception of sites like Etsy in 2005. These two factors were enough to break some of the barriers that prevented artists from reaching their clients directly.  The biggest game changer was born in 2010. It’s called Instagram.

I regret not joining sooner but luckily I had the chance to catch up.  This, perhaps, is the biggest factor that helped me get back on my feet after a 5-year dry spell of  creative block and absolutely no art.  I became active on Instagram in 2015 and by December of 2016 I have grown to a community of 28k on @thejarofsalt. The numbers definitely mean something because it opens a number of doors and builds highways to clients near and far across the planet at all times of the day. It was when I met Melissa Camillieri that I was able to make heads or tails of Instagram. It was midway through her class when a lightbulb went on in my head that I fully realised my direction and completely re-branded myself as an artist.  I know she has an online class on January 16 and I promise you it will be one of the best things you can do for yourself if you want to be more present online.

The artist of 2017 has more resources today than any time in history.

There are no excuses anymore at this day and age. When we needed to do research before, we needed access to an actual library that holds all these heavy but fantastic art encyclopaedias.  Today, anyone with access to the Internet on their phones or laptop can easily peep into museums through their websites or artist’s personal sites from wherever they art. There are also lots of mainstream articles and blogs dedicated to art and artists (such as this very post you’re reading), offering varying and mostly candid opinions about  topics you might be looking for. Blogs offer a more honest (but not always necessarily accurate) source of information.  It was through a blog that I learned the perils of re-posting photos (even with credits) and how she was sued for it. Now this leads me to my third and last point.

The artist of 2017 is informed.

12 years ago, I didn’t have the luxury of all the information swimming in the worldwide web today. Now, even art lawyers, editors and artists have blogs where I have learned a lot from. If you’re doing research about galleries (I’ve discovered that one that reached out to me was a vanity gallery) or online classes you are keen on, there are so many personal reviews available to take into consideration. Lots of things are listed online today, including material that is in the public domain versus those protected by copyrights, sample contracts, etc. I personally do not undertake a project without a written and signed contract that stipulates all the terms and agreement.  I suggest that all artists and creatives equip themselves with written documentation because it goes a long way and this is what professionals do. Full stop. 

Today is as good a time as any to uphold our rights and value as a working, professional artist and be accountable for making things happen for ourselves in this succulent new year.  Stay equipped and enjoy the creative journey up ahead!

That One Person Who Told Me To Start

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A timely post written in an old blog waaaay back in 2010.

When my entire life was on part-time everything, juggling at least three jobs to pay my overhead,  and stalling with a very indecisive art career.  This post is about that one individual who opened my eyes to a world of exponential possibilities.  I don’t think we even have a photo together.

But this story is about her. This is Myra.

***

“So, wait. You’re not employed? How do you work, then?”

She beamed, “I’m freelance and set things up on my own.”  (This was the year 2000, and I had no idea what ‘freelance’ even meant!)

“That’s hard. I don’t think I can afford an office!”

“Darling, all you need to survive is a computer, internet and a telefax”, Myra said lightly and gestured as if she were touching the items around her.

“I don’t know. I don’t think I can ever do what you do.”

Myra’s eyes widened at my pessimism then burst out in laughter, that shrill sound like a crescendo of chugging machinery and sweet song as she emphatically said, “Go for it, girl!”

Back in 2000, I was only 23 when I met this embodiment of cheer known as Myra Lopez at a modeling agency we worked for. When I left, that was when she asked me out to coffee. She was the first freelance professional I’ve encountered at a time when it wasn’t even an option for many, and I  had no clue that such a thing existed. She was a writer (and back then I didn’t believe writing was a “real” job) and worked on various media projects. She was several years my senior and I respected her accordingly and was in awe of the energy she brought with her wherever she went.

My concept of freelance back then was tied to the idea of starving artists like Vincent Van Gogh who went mad.
 
I didn’t want to go crazy.
 

I also didn’t want to starve.

Myra eventually left for San Francisco but we kept in touch through email as I sailed through one institution to the next, with her writing me to visit should I happen to be in the neighborhood.  Over the years, I stuck it out at being employed but eventually found my niche in teaching ESL and public speaking.  Still, through time, I kept tabs as I hit each milestone of my life as I responded to her brief one-liner emails “Do you already have a boyfriend?” signaling that she was busy.

Last year, I realized that I subconsciously heeded her advice all along as I carved a name in the industry one stroke at a time. When I officially left cubesville to follow a more creative life, I sent her photos of my artwork sometime in 2005 to which she responded with lots of exclamation points, “I’m so happy you’re finally following your dreams!!!”

After not hearing from her since the time I received a Christmas post card from her at around 2006, I decided to dig up her last email and write her again early last year, to thank her for being that one mover in my life. Also, I thought that in the era of Facebook, she should be somewhere there.  But she was nowhere to be found online.

What turned up in my search, however, was the worst thing you’d want to read about  someone dear to you: an obituary.

 

I now find myself juggling teaching schedules with media-related writing and editing PR content, as well as conceiving creative concepts for design and scripts. Looking back, all this began when I met a friend long ago whose media career unknowingly inspired mine.

May the winds carry this borderless message of deep-felt gratitude to the heavens above, to thank Myra for telling me to use my wings and fly.  You are horribly missed.

 
***

31 Things To Draw for INKtober

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I’m joining artists around the world in  a 31-day creative adventure all throughout October. It’s called INKtober, an inky illustration challenge started by Jake Parker in 2009.  It originally started as a month-long exercise just for his own practice. Last year, I chose to draw something I hated because it’s something I find hard.  So for INKtober 2015, I completed 31 faces.  I still have not decided what to draw for this year’s 31-day challenge, though.

 

My personal goal for INKtober is to repeat for 31 times one thing I typically won’t draw as a form of practice.  Here are 31 days of:

  1. trees
  2. flowers
  3. things around your house
  4. things in your office
  5. things in your kitchen
  6. dogs
  7. animals
  8. buildings
  9. faces
  10. book covers
  11. food
  12. stripes
  13. triangles
  14. circles
  15. illuminated numbers
  16. chairs
  17. shoes
  18. shapes
  19. kids
  20. toys
  21. costumes
  22. bottles
  23. glasses
  24. patterns
  25. windows
  26. dance
  27. sports
  28. robots
  29. aliens
  30. fish
  31. birds

*****

Why I Created The ‘Big Blank Page’

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Why The ‘Big Blank Page’ is not for kids.

Kids, by default, get so much support for creativity.  Whether it’s in school, weekend or community activities or even art lessons on TV programs,  kids have a slew of options to explore,  get happy and experiment with all things artful and creative.

Adults, however, have fewer choices that offer the same spirit.  Which is why I think grown-ups need me more than kids. For now.

The class is also a forum where we discuss the ghosts of our creative past: from teachers who may have made careless comments about our work, to a family who does not believe in art, topics that young kids may not have experienced or  be fully aware of, and can prevent them from participating in the discussion.

sketchbook-class-copy

Grown-ups need a break from adulting.

Many of the classes for adults I see are either structured lessons or art “jams” with hobbyists and/or professional artists — both of which can be intimidating for those who feel too shy about their own work.

Sometimes, adults want to make art without the pressure of perfection, judgment, or being instructed to draw “the right way”.

Sometimes, we just want to make a lot of nothing, enjoy the freedom of the beautiful mess,  and draw for its own sake.

Because every line, shape and color is valid.

You will draw.

I will not argue with you if your convictions dictate that you cannot draw.

But I am of unwavering belief and faith that everyone can draw. And I mean EVERYONE.

It’s just a matter of to what degree you can draw.

It’s crucial to remember  two things: 1. that what is considered beautiful is highly subjective, and 2. there is so much beauty in imperfection.

There’s more to art than being a Michelangelo or a Rembrandt. There’s also Rothko, Pollock and Matisse.  And if you can draw like you, then I believe that’s the best kind of artist to be.

Regardless of what you say or do, hemming and hawing, you will and can draw something.

If the shoe fits.

Some people like to draw flowers, others like swirly things, some like smiley faces, others like to make dots.  The ‘Big Blank Page’ acts as a springboard for your own exploration as you discover the smoothest groove for your artistic movement, what feels most natural and empowering for you to do artfully.

The creative journey is not meant to be travelled alone.

This is perhaps the paramount reason why I created the ‘Big Blank Page’.  I got tired of creating art by myself. Then I thought to myself, “Maybe there are others out there who are just like me, looking for a safe and supportive circle where we can make art freely.”

Making art, I learned, is all about community.  And this creative spirit is the very sanctuary on which the ‘Big Blank Page’ is built.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Thoughts On “Art Inc.” And Why You Should Read It

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It took me a while to finish reading “Art, Inc.” by Lisa Congdon.  I bought this when it was released but put it down as I got distracted with other things.  Last week, I finally picked it up again and devoured its last pages by this morning.

art inc by lisa congdon

It’s for the working artist.

Simply put, all the ideas, options and possibilities for all forms of art are spelled out for any artist who wants to make a living off their work.  From licensing, illustrating children’s books to fine art selling, it’s all up to the artist to test them out and see what works best with your art.

It’s concise and comprehensive.

The flow of content is very easy to follow. The tone is friendly and language of writing is pretty straightforward. It makes it easy to digest all the information one page after the other. The book is rich with the author’s personal experiences and thoughts as a flourishing artist, so it makes the written ideas very, very real for the reader.

The testimonials are a source of encouragement.

The book features 20 interviews with artists of different fields.  I absolutely love hearing and reading about other people’s lives and how they carved their creative path, what worked and what didn’t.

The layout.

The aesthetics of the book affect my way of reading.  The main reason I put the book down was my vision had a hard time adjusting through the lengthy content on portions of red-orange pages and orange-on-white pages. I managed avoiding the strain by reading only in natural daylight, and not under a lamp. It changed everything and I sped through the book effortlessly thereafter.

The list of resources.

Lisa Congdon makes building a career out of art a concrete experience ,  as she  thoroughly  lists down specific resources: from conferences, galleries, printers, residencies, etc.  I think this is the part about the book I love best because it gets the ball rolling and gives you a specific starting point and orientation.  

I am so glad I got a copy for myself because it filled in a lot of gaps and opened my mind to the vast ways of doing things across the multitude of  art fields and personalities there are in the world. I honestly believe both the established and neophyte artists have so much to gain from reading this book!   “Art Inc.” is a great source of inspiration, a bubbling well of ideas and a fantastic instrument to get the wheels of your mind turning and makes you want to get off your seat and do something right now.

***

 

Artists And Instagram

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I initially got into Instagram because of my calligraphy phase.  After almost a year of aimless fun posting my artwork, my dog Jones, the cake I baked and random sunsets, I saw that I had 700 followers.

I said, “Ok, cool.”

instagram tips for artists

But when I started taking Instagram a little bit more seriously, it changed my life.

I don’t make sweeping statements so I’m not even kidding. It changed the way I perceived my work, conducted myself online and it actually gave me a professional direction in my art.

Ultimately, I found a way to make Instagram work for me. I recently passed the 20k mark and have to admit, the numbers have pushed me globally in directions I could not have foreseen. I’ve begun conducting a sketchbook class and creative forum and started an art community on IG called Sketchbook People.   I don’t dish out gospel truth, but the thoughts I share below are a few of the things that have  worked for me.

What’s in a name?

“So why the Jar Of Salt?” is a question I get asked almost all the time.

Easy.

I used to be a food writer who eventually started a food blog named after something I used to collect: salt. Hence, www.jarofsalt.com and @thejarofsalt (only because the name without a ‘the’ is already taken) 🙁

When I got over my 5-year creative block and decided to go full-steam ahead into my professional art career, I needed to re-brand myself.  I’ve met people randomly and upon exchanging cards exclaim, “Oh you’re the Jar Of Salt!”.

It seems by then, the name has stuck so I decided to keep it.  Why?

It’s not too long.

It’s easy to recall.

And it’s a word that’s easy to comprehend across different cultures.

I wanted a name people could remember even if it’s said in passing or in a rush. So I kept it even if the name has nothing really to do with art because it’s a word that has already been identified with me.

Choose  and create your OWN photos well.

Ah. Where to even begin on this topic?

For starters, “nice” photos are the ones that get a lot of support.  In social media terms, that’s called “engagement”.  Keep the shot clean, well-composed and well-lit.If you’re posting a painting or a drawing, try to refrain from using filters so as not to distort the details or colors of your work.  You don’t have to be a professional photographer to get the job done. A steady hand, a good eye and proper timing is all you need.  Take it easy on the filters and focus on crisp lighting. There are so many apps out there to help you get the job done without tinkering in Photoshop or Lightroom so give Snapseed a try.

My thoughts on selfies?

I’m not a fan especially of accounts that contain almost only just your face for its own sake, unless you’re documenting your journey to health and fitness. Then that’s a different topic altogether. Why? Because I’d rather follow something or someone else whose content adds value to my life and interests.  Many celebrities actually don’t post much of their physical selves online, and I appreciate that. To me,  their photos actually tell me a story of a life, and somewhat shows me their vision of their own world. And that they are actually interested in things out there other than overly indulging in their self.

In my case, I’m a painter. What I choose to wear really has no bearing on my work and  I have no plans of celebritifying myself with posed photos.  I do, however, try to insert myself casually in slivers as minimally as possible so as not to distract, and just to let people know there really is a human being lurking in there somewhere.

Seek professional help.

By seeking help from the pros, I don’t mean buying your followers, god forbid.  To me it’s like paying “people” to pretend to be your friends.  Stay far away from that unfortunate scam.

What I’m talking about is taking professional coaching and classes that teach you how to make the most of your life and time online to make it work for you.  I took an Instagram class from Melissa almost exactly a year ago. It was to be the one of the best decisions I have made for myself.  All the insights, ideas and options she presented helped to social media an extension of my work and the curated life I choose to share. It was this class that helped put a very efficient system in my online life. For anyone who wants to make Instagram work for them, and not the other way around, I highly recommend her class.

Update: She has a class coming up and you can still sign up until Oct. 31, 2017.  Use the code IGHOLIDAY to get a $100 discount for this year’s class 🙂

Keep it real.

As an artist, I post my work-related mess. My cluttered workspace. The errors on my sketchpad. My words thinking out loud. I refuse to look “Instagrammy” (if you’re on IG you know what I’m talking about).  It was only recently that I realised that showing this side of me is something that my IG community seems to look forward seeing.

My account is a personal documentation of a person’s creative journey and body of work.  And I try my best to let it reflect exactly that in the most relaxed way possible.

It doesn’t really bode well with me, calling myself an artist and not being able to muster enough creativity to come up with original content. This is the reason I do not re-post stock photos of beaches I’ve never been to, or coffee shots that don’t belong to me just to prettify my account.  It makes me feel weird.

This is also another topic  altogether I’d like to talk about later on regarding copyrights.

And no, tagging and giving credit does not absolve you of infringement.

Be very careful when it comes to borrowing and sharing photos. The last thing you want is to receive a cease-and-desist letter form the lawyer of the person who took that photo.

Good manners.

More than the aesthetics, I try to treat people online as I do in real life.  I never followed people asking them to follow me back, nor do I spam people’s accounts with smiley faces and words like “cool”  with hopes that they will click my name and follow me.  I also try to respond to all the comments as soon as I can.

Unlike Facebook, IG only allows for 80 of the latests notifications to show on my phone, and there is no way to scroll back to that once the new alerts come in.   If I don’t respond to you, it means  one of two things:

  1. I either didn’t see  because it  has been buried by the newer notifications,
  2. You really didn’t say anything that merits a response, or
  3. You happened to ask a question that’s been asked many times over.  If that’s the case, the answers might already be on the blog.

Posting a pink flower, a thumbs-up or heart on the comment field is not something I would actually regard as a comment, unfortunately.

Finally, if there is one behaviour on IG that still surprises me it’s this::  people who will follow you but will immediately unfollow you when you decide to follow them.

Yikes.

It’s like a person sweet-talking you to purchasing something who will suddenly turn cold as soon as you’re done with your purchase.

*****

I had a very looooong dinner last night with a friend and social media was the one thing we spent a great deal of time bantering about. We realised that we come from that generation of kids that crossed from analogue living to digital lifestyle.

As we sipped the last drop of wine from our stained glasses, we concluded this: social media is no longer just any other tool external to us. It has now become an integral part of our existence and a secondary voice to interact with the world today. And no matter how we choose to sculpt our image and curate our lives online, it always helps to remember old school values when using Instagram and social media:

Be kind.

Show respect.

Stay real.

So You Didn’t Go To Art School

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Well, neither did I.

And that’s okay.

Because it never stopped me from doing professional work as an artist.

Gosh, my head is bursting  with thoughts and ideas that it’s actually paralyzing so I’m gonna clear some cobwebs and all the clutter in my head by writing this out.

Or maybe… I’ll just bake bread?

Okay, fine!  I’ll write.

I’ll write.

So I finished with a degree in BA Psychology and if I had to live my life all over again, I would still choose to spend my four years researching, experimenting and reading all things Psychology. The one thing I would change, however, is that I would take non-academic art classes outside of university and start the actual doing of art immediately, and not procrastinate for 7 years (12 years, if you include the creative block).

Throughout my life, inside and outside of school, I’ve always been regarded as an artist, probably even before I could write.

But to be a working artist?

That was never an option back in the day. In fact, it wasn’t even considered a profession professional enough.   I was told that I would finish my degree and I was, in a way, pretty much expected to work in a “good” company where I would also retire.

Thinking about it, the idea just leaves a funny taste in my mouth.

However, I happily finished my Psychology degree, one which I enjoyed thoroughly and continue to be passionate about. But I’ve worn many hats since I finished school. Eight hats, if I’m not mistaken.  I have worked full time in a high school, a modeling agency, an international bank, a boarding school, a PR agency and  eventually juggled freelance art  with part-time hours in a modeling school and even a culinary school.  I also did food writing for some time which led me to start a food blog (hence, jarofsalt.com), and even had a radio stint for month as a news announcer. Heck, I even got certified to teach Stott pilates  two years ago.

Yet in all those years, I never really stopped making art. Whether it was made for myself or commissioned by a client, art was always my natural groove.

To eventually do what I really wanted to do (a late start at 27) and do art professionally was met with labels, resistance, that I was rebelling and that I was lost.

On the contrary, committing to make art as a profession was when I truly found myself.

colorful jars of paint

So, now what? You want to do art but there are probably a million and one reasons to not make art. But should the lack of art degree hold you back?

I think not.

In the era of the internet, there are so many ways to invent and reinvent yourself.

How does one become an artist in this day and age, then?

1. Be and Make.

It’s hard to be an artist if you’re not making anything at all. This makes sense, doesn’t it? Don’t pressure yourself, though.  No one expects you to make the next Sotheby-worthy masterpiece tomorrow (but feel free to do so if you can!). Start with doodling on the margins of your books. Make circles on your notebook. Draw a flower. ANY flower. So really, the first step to calling yourself an artist is to be one.

And that starts with making.

2. Commune.

I’ve spoken of my creative block many times over but what was the first step to break the ice?

I joined WordPress in 2011 and started blogging.  When I first joined WP five years ago, I lamented about the lack of art in my life.  Then one post led to the next, one comment after another.  And it got the ball rolling.  I managed to produce my first sketch after five years.  And things started rolling ever since.

There are also so many creativity, sketching, drawing and art groups on Facebook. I suggest you type in those words and see what shows up and resonates with you and your preferred medium. Discussions can be amazing, so much to learn, and sometimes all you need is a regular art challenge to get the juices flowing.

With social media, you can also follow artists who inspire you.  Many of them are active in real time.  Comment or write them an email.  Many of them will happily respond, you’ll be surprised 🙂

3. Learn.

The very first art class I took was for pottery, in 2006. And one of the things I did to break the ice after my creative block later on was to take another live class as well. This time it was for  printmaking. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel motivated or challenged enough in class 🙁 So I hope to revisit this someday as I still have a lot of printing ink in my work room 😮

I also tried my hand (literally) in calligraphy .  It’s a skill I thought I can never learn (or even enjoy!) because of my messy penmanship. But with proper instruction and like-minded people, it can be done.  My calligraphy obsession was short-lived but it lead me to Instagram to share my work.

And my social media life has never been the same ever since 🙂

Also, thanks to the internet you can learn all sorts of creative things from the comforts of your own home.  Check out online art classes from Creative Bug, Skillshare and even Lynda if you’re doing digital.  Also, find other artists to follow because many of them give online instruction.

There are a lot of free classes out there so maximize them, especially on YouTube.  However, I highly recommend saving and spending on some of the paid classes because quality education is truly worth having, no matter how small.

4. Read. A lot.

I haven’t read fiction and novels in years but I constantly buy art and design books. And magazines! Even though some of them are more expensive than a book.  And that’s because fine quality art and design magazines are produced with the content direction of a book.  Frankly, I don’t like reading highly visual material through a screen because  I’m a tactile reader and I like making notes and marks as I use them for reference as I work. Look for inspiring publications like Flow, Uppercase, Frankie and Anorak.

I remember a successful artist who told me to invest in art books. The more, the better. I whined, “It’s so expensive!”.

His reply was simple, “Why, how much do you think  would you have spent if you went to art school?”

That moment changed my perspective forever.

5. Promote yourself.

Before  online everything and social media, I found  art circles to be very cliquish. I still do, to be honest.  When I started in 2002, everyone was at the mercy of print editors to get your name and work out there. It was so hard to reach out to editors and it usually helped to have someone refer you first.  Yes, I’ve done cold calls to media heads back in the day and they proved to be very fruitful.  It was only when my art started to circulate among publications that my career kicked off.  Eventually, editors and producers were the ones requesting  to work together.

Nowadays, it’s so different. If you post your work on Facebook or Pinterest, friends can easily share your work. Before you know it, one thing leads to another and then you blink: your art is already out there.  Know this however: promoting myself makes me feel icky. But it has to be done and you will find a voice that you will eventually be comfortable with without being in-your-face salespitchy. 🙂

Not all platforms work for everyone, though. Some find their voice in Twitter, others on Pinterest. Many on Facebook.   In my case, Instagram is the one that catapulted my work and helped instil a structure in the way I do things creatively.    If you’re trying to build a system to strengthen your social media presence, check out this course by Melissa Camillieri.    I highly recommend it, seriously.

Sit on this and think about what you want to do with your art, whether you want to be paid for your services or simply want to do it for your own pleasure. Heck, you don’t even have to share it if you don’t want to.

But whatever you do, start small.  Be it a nicely-written grocery list, drawing random stick people on the corner of the newspaper, adding color to a homemade cookie, a hand-written postcard for a friend, a practice stitch on a sample cloth, or even just splattering paint on a piece of  paper for no reason at all.

What matters most, I believe, is to just make.

5 Reasons Why It’s Okay To Not Be An Artist Right Away

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I thought I missed the boat forever when I forgot to take my university entrance exams for a degree in fine arts. Yes, I forgot.

Okay, I’m saving that story for an excruciatingly embarrassing post at another time.

Anyway, I learned years later that life does find a way of pulling you back: to your authentic self, your true calling. From the time I lamented in 1993 that I’ll never be a professional artist ’til I started painting for a living again in 2013, life happened.

A lot of it, actually.

And here are five reasons why I am grateful that I became a self-taught working artist in my very late 30s.

1. I learned to get my ass kicked early on.

Banking is, perhaps, the one career I am glad I tried, albeit short lived. I learned to be time-sensitive and organised, go through things with a fine-toothed comb, and observe business protocol when dealing with clients from all walks of life.

If there is one gem of a take-away I carried with me ever since, it would be “trader’s word” a.k.a “my word is my bond.”

And that is how I conduct all my transactions in all my endeavours.

I honestly think this is what spells the difference between artists and professional artists.

2.  Working in different jobs means being exposed to all sorts of characters.

I am probably one of the few who have had fantastic bosses along the way.  But I’ve also had my fair share of lousy encounters and attitude from co-workers whom I now consider an insignificant value in my life’s total equation.

When I started going solo, I got taken advantage of quite a number of times, from clients who suddenly disappear when you start to collect payment (or clients who simply never paid)  to fellow artists who don’t conduct themselves ethically.

Nonetheless, the experience shaped me into someone made of sterner stuff,  with the foresight to always take the high road notwithstanding the frustration that comes with it.

Oh, and another thing. Working in different jobs means building your personal network by organically meeting various people who are not artists. What does this mean for you? Well, simple.  You have an audience who can potentially be your client who will support you and buy your art 🙂

3.  I learned to be real and I learned to be humble.

As an artist, I tend to live in a colorful nirvana in my head.  Having been exposed to a great number of people through the myriad of jobs,  I learned to live in the real world.  This means:

That I won’t get my way all the time.

That I have rent and bills to pay.

That the going does get tough on some days.

That people are allowed to disagree.

That I don’t know what I don’t know.

That there are people who won’t like me.

And that in order to make my dreams come true, I need to be willing to get my hands dirty, swallow my pride and simply do the work.

4. I learned to talk about money.

Enough with that “starving artist” mentality.  Working in less dreamy and romantic careers meant talking about things that can make you uncomfortable.

Like money.

Work is work and thus needs compensation that lives up to industry standards.  And just like any skill, your time and energy deserve to be paid, no task too small.

Because you earned it.

Learning to discuss it tactfully, however, is an art that you master over time.

5.  I learned to protect myself.

Contracts. In writing. Always.

With the wisdom and discipline I managed to pick up along the way, I now bring so much more to the table than just skill and imagination.

I learned that making beautiful things is a gift, but to be reliable and trustworthy as an artist (and as a regular human being) is to be a gift.

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