As artists, we are often told to take every opportunity that comes our way.

You never know who could be in attendance at that adjacent gallery opening, what connections you volition find at that event, or what could lead to future opportunities.

Only, sometimes, information technology's less well-nigh maxim "aye" and more about knowing what'southward ok to give up.

Habits, equally you probable know if you were e'er a smash-biter, can be incredibly hard to break. The invisible mental habits of ours tin exist fifty-fifty more than hard to overcome, but because of this, even more than important.

So, give yourself permission to quit these things. And, give yourself the time and patience to suspension the habits.

Give up on the "non plenty" mind frame

Successful artists don't frame things effectually "not enough." There is never enough fourth dimension, not enough money, not enough confidence, not enough of whatever it is at that moment to brand or do what you need to do to exist a successful artist.

"They all signal to an underlying fright of not being enough," says art mentor and creator of The Working Artist, Crista Cloutier. "And, once you can deal with that underlying fear, the other issues fall into place."

Give up comparisons

Hither's the thing most comparisons: y'all are e'er going to be better at some things than other people, and worse at other things. Dwelling on either isn't going to become you anywhere.

It can stifle your creativity every bit an emerging creative person to compare yourself to someone who is xx years into their career, and it tin stunt your growth to compare your work to someone who is just starting out.

Instead of focusing on how you stack up next to someone else, invest that free energy into comparing your recent piece of work with the work you lot made six months ago, a year ago and v years ago. Have you grown? And where practise you desire to meet yourself vi months, a yr, and five years in the future?

But compare yourself to yourself.

Surrender on making excuses

If you desire to be a successful creative person, you have to bear witness up. Y'all have to do the work.

If you are like any other artist in the world, you probably take said to yourself at in one case something along the lines of, "I tin't go to the studio today because I'yard too busy/ too heartbroken/ my family needs me too much/ [insert any alibi hither.]"

And yous know what? Information technology feels adept to do that. It feels justified and reasonable and like y'all are doing the right thing for yourself.

But artist Suzie Baker says that this is "about our FEAR masquerading as Resistance; that thing, or idea, or busywork, or Netflix, or cocky-doubt, or procrastination, or rejection, that stops of from showing up and making our fine art"

When yous stop making excuses, you lot can start owning the direction that yous are going in—and, if need be, have the willpower to change that management.

Give up working all the time

Sure, yous have to show upward to the studio fifty-fifty when yous don't desire to do the piece of work. But, you likewise accept to know when to leave and when to have the time to accept intendance of your torso, your health, and your emotional and social well-being.

You lot can't make your all-time work if you aren't investing in your body and mind besides.

We have seen artists sacrifice both of these in the name of their arts and crafts. But, you need your trunk on the near basic of levels to create your work. Successful artists know that their success is a marathon and not a sprint, so you need to maintain your health to stay in the game.

Make time in your schedule to stretch, exercise, go for walks, cook healthy meals and accept conversations with your peers, family, and friends.

Surrender taking uninformed communication to heart

  • "When are you going to get a real job?"
  • "When are you going to grow upwards?"
  • "At what point does an creative person realize they are non talented enough to 'brand it'"
  • "Must be nice not to accept to work."
  • "Must exist nice to simply work when you experience like it."

Creative person and creator of The Savvy Painter, Antrese Wood, points to these toxic relationships every bit holding artists back from reaching their potential.

Only judge what? We can choose who to mind to and what advice to take. Y'all may take heard the adage that we are the sum of the v people we spend the most fourth dimension with.

Spend it with those that button y'all to succeed, those that have succeeded as an artist and those that inspire you lot to do so.

Non all advice is created equal.

Give up perfectionism

This goes manus-in-hand with the fright of failure. Artists who captivate on the demand to brand everything perfect oft are afraid of failure. But, the irony in this is that they and then fail to ever put annihilation out there.

The only path to growth is putting your work out to the public. The difficult reality is that you will probably neglect over the course of your art career (however you lot define that). Y'all will not become grants, you will accept a bear witness that flops, you will have a great idea that just doesn't materialize. The comforting function of this is that so will anybody else.

"The belief that 'information technology' has to exist perfect, whether it is skills, talent, didactics, website, or argument will keep you endlessly spinning your wheels," says Bonnie Glendinning of The Thriving Artist.

"Failure just ways you lot are learning," adds Bonnie. "Keep declining, because you will exist learning your unabridged career."

Give up feeling selfish

Anybody contributes to the earth in their own mode.

Nosotros need doctors and lawyers and teachers, simply nosotros also need artists and craftsman and creatives that brand our world interesting, vibrant and enjoyable.

Your challenge is to find out what you lot are at your core then do information technology.

"Creative work is not a selfish human action or a bid for attention on the part of the player. It'southward a souvenir to the world and every existence in it. Don't cheat u.s.a. of your contribution. Requite us what you lot've got," writes Steven Pressfield in his new book The War of Fine art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Artistic Battles.

Artists often feel guilty for not having a "real" job and that they should be contributing more to the family unit income. They then either feel guilty when they are in the studio away from their family unit or away from the studio and not working.

Merely, guilt is counterproductive emotion. If y'all notice yourself feeling this mode, remind yourself that your work is important and needed - it is what makes you whole and able to contribute more fully to your family when you are there.

Give up your demand for praise

You might want everyone to like your work, but that's not going to happen. And, in fact, it's better that non everyone does similar your work.

"It's really scary putting yourself out there, particularly when your piece of work is so personal and so allowing the globe to view it and judge it and critique it," says artist Seren Moran.

Self-doubt definitely plays a part, but it can be empowering to know that non anybody is going to love your technique or subject, and that is ok. It means y'all are getting at something interesting and something different.

As an artist, it isn't your job to sell the most mass-produced canvases at Target. Your chore is to say something and to reach someone.

Inquire yourself if you would make the piece of work y'all brand today if no one would ever see it. Would you lot paint or sculpt or depict that if you couldn't show it to anyone?

Information technology'due south easy to become wrapped up in social media praise and the rush of a lot of "likes" on a slice you have posted online. But, successful artists know that their growth comes from within and not from external praise.

Give up on the myth of the scattered, genius artist

Successful artists know that they accept to exist organized to become ahead.

Oft artists will attempt and wiggle out of this past maxim something along the lines of "I'm an creative person, non a business person" or "I'yard not skilful with technology." Cory Huff, the creator of The Abundant Artist, says "this is an alibi for being besides lazy to learn the basic skills necessary for running an art business."

Non but does being organized cut down on the stress that comes along with an art career, it helps you nowadays yourself with professionalism.

Knowing where your artwork is, who yous sold each slice to, and how to get whatsoever of the critical information at the driblet of a hat is a vital role of finding success as an creative person. It tin can be near incommunicable to concentrate on creating the piece of work at mitt if you are constantly searching for information.

So often, artists will accidentally sell a piece online that is also in a gallery, just because they didn't take a arrangement in place.

That'south why at Artwork Archive, we create the tools that artists need to take the anarchy out of their fine art career. Inventory, business reports, consignment and invoices, scheduling, contacts, tracking and more.

Give information technology a trial run today and see how Artwork Archive can improve your art business and help you on your way to career success.