The highest achieving artists live by a different gear up of rules for themselves.

There are so many common trappings in a creative career. It'due south easy to get caught upwards in expectations, prestige, and comparison. What the most successful artists have found—afterwards going through all of these same emotions, is that refusing to autumn victim to these mindsets is the primal to their advancement.

In fact, at that place are some things they simply refuse to put up with in their careers. Actions, people, and habits that are toxic (that nosotros may not fifty-fifty realize) to not only our creativity but the success of our business organization.

Luckily, we can learn from artists who've been there—artists who've seen how detrimental these things can be to a career and vow never to requite them a second thought.

Take a await at eight things the most successful artists refuse to do in their art careers, so y'all can follow suit. You might exist surprised!

They don't compare themselves to other artists online

Comparisons tin practise one of two things: stifle your creativity or steal your joy.

Every unmarried artist is at a different place in his or her career. Anybody has their ain journeying filled with challenges and triumphs. And more than likely, we only witness the triumphs, the end event, the incredible artwork.

Don't worry nigh those other artists! There'south no one path to success.

Instead of focusing on how you lot stack upward next to someone else, invest that energy into comparing your recent work with the piece of work you fabricated half dozen months ago, a yr ago and five years ago. Accept you grown? Because that's what really matters.

But compare yourself to former yourself.

And, when yous inevitably encounter another'south work, don't panic! Have a deep breath and simply capeesh it for what it is. Allow it inspire you to motility forward, not stunt your growth with anxiety.

They refuse to be a one-pull a fast one on pony

Information technology may not be the practiced news you were hoping for, merely we're just going to say information technology: successful artists have to chief more than than just art.

In this line of work, you demand to be a creator, an entrepreneur, a marketing professional, a sales expert, an inventory manager, so much more. And even in your artistic field, there is ever more to learn if you lot hope to progress artistically.

Some artists get hung upwards on this realization, wishing information technology wasn't truthful, well-nigh defiantly saying, "I'm an artist, all I need to know is art."

Only in reality, that's just the fearfulness talking.

The truth of the affair is, successful artists never stop learning. You don't accept to be perfect. You don't have to know everything all at once. Merely yous do have to proceed an open up heed and devote your life to always learning something new.

And then whether you read books, follow art business concern blogs, participate in workshops, or bring together an artist association, information technology's a step in the right direction.

They don't make excuses

If you are like any other artist in the earth, you probably have said to yourself at one time something forth the lines of, "I can't go to the studio today because I'thou too busy/ also heartbroken/ my family needs me too much/ [insert whatever excuse here.]"

And you know what? Information technology feels good to exercise that.

It feels justified and reasonable; similar yous are protecting yourself. Simply over time, you will come across that information technology'southward not helping. Again, it's that pesky lilliputian fearfulness trying to keep you lot from living out your dreams.

In the end, information technology is the artists who put in the piece of work that become somewhere with their artwork. There's no way around it.

So, if yous start to feel the excuses creep up, begin anyway—and start pocket-sized.

The more you make, the more confidence you will gain. You'll work through big problems and small, and every time you practice, you volition realize there's zero to fear.

They reject to work all the fourth dimension

Certain, you accept to evidence up to the studio even when yous don't want to do the work. But long hours in the studio, constantly working with your hands, feeling the stress of running an art business—these demands can't assist simply take a toll on your health.

Creative burnout is non just a myth. You can't make your best work if you aren't investing in your body and listen every bit well.

We have seen artists cede both of these in the name of their craft. But, you need your body on the virtually bones of levels to create your piece of work and your mind in the right space to be inspired.

Successful artists know that self-intendance is not selfish.

You may be the boss in the fine art studio, but at that place'south no reason to be so hard on yourself. Isn't that why yous wanted to avoid the typical ix-to-5 job in the first place?

Make fourth dimension for stretching and exercise, go for walks, stay hydrated, cook healthy meals, and have conversations with your peers, family, and friends. You can even leave the studio every now and so! This volition only help yous arrive a amend space to create.


They don't allow others define them or their success

Eleanor Roosevelt said it all-time: "Do what y'all feel in your eye to be right, for y'all'll be criticized anyway."

Equally an creative person, you accept a viewpoint to exist told and a manner all your own.

You might want anybody to like your piece of work, merely that's not going to happen. Bad critiques are inevitable. So is rejection. In fact, it'due south better when not everyone does similar your work. It means you are getting at something interesting and something different.

"It's really scary putting yourself out there, especially when your work is and so personal and then allowing the world to view it and guess it and critique it," says creative person Seren Moran. But successful artists know that their growth comes from within and non from external praise.

And so, ask yourself, would you however brand the work you make today if no ane would always run across it? Would you paint or sculpt or depict that if you couldn't show information technology to anyone?

If you are confident in your work and are on a constant journey to better yourself, and so that's what matters near. Staying true to yourself will ultimately help y'all find success and happiness in a creative career.

They don't believe in the myth of the starving artist

We've all heard the myth of the "starving artist." Simply artists who refuse to permit a label dictate their fate are the ones who succeed.

And, they definitely don't rely on only one income source, either.

If you have been a professional artist for whatsoever number of years, you are probably already familiar with the slow seasons, with flopped shows, and rained out fine art fairs. A huge stress when this is the only coin you accept coming in from your art.

If you desire to make a full-time living as a creative, you have to get artistic!

It's not enough to rely on the traditional avenues of online sales or gallery representation. Don't forget almost options like selling prints, working with interior designers, wholesaling, hosting workshops, writing east-books, or licensing your fine art.

The more income streams yous have, the more fish y'all'll be able to grab.

They don't await for inspiration to strike

Every bit prolific photorealist Chuck Shut simply puts it, "Inspiration is for amateurs – the rest of united states of america merely show up and go to work."

Successful artists show upwardly to the studio, fifty-fifty if they aren't feeling particularly inspired. They have a process when information technology comes to creating, and they trust it. Even though they may not know what the outcome will be when they starting time, they have to trust in their ability to create amazing piece of work.

Chicago creative person Jordan Scott says, "Sometimes people ask 'Do y'all have days that you aren't inspired?' and I always say, "no". You lot have to go by that resistance and doubt and merely practise the piece of work. I believe when artists cut through that, that's where the inspiration cuts in. Cut through the resistance not by praying or hoping for information technology; just past working."

It is more than effective to wake upward and get to work every day than to wait for inspiration to strike.

In fact, it isn't every bit if you lot always run out of ideas. In describing creativity, Maya Angelou says, "The more you use, the more you have'.  It's all about tapping into your inner artist consistently and honing your skills, instead of letting "inspiration" take its time to help you lot create your best work.

They decline to waste time on the admin side

Yes, to exist successful equally an creative person, you have to stay organized on the business cease of things. Simply no 1 wants to spend all of their time on dull administrative tasks!

A practiced artist is efficient.

And there are and then many tools available to artists these days, from social media scheduling and pre-designed website templates to inventory management systems similar Artwork Archive that can assist manage practically every aspect of your art business organisation.

Why reinvent the wheel and brand more than work for yourself? Specially if that means sacrificing your time in the studio.

Artwork Archive is so simple to utilise, setting aside just 15 minutes a day can make a huge difference.

Don't just dream well-nigh a successful art career—accomplish it!

Get the all-in-ane art business solution with a free trial of Artwork Archive.