8 Mistakes you might be making as an artist

Everyone makes mistakes. But not everyone corrects themselves. Being a working artist comes with challenges, and you’ll have a few of your own to overcome. It’s all good as long as you bounce back! Be sure to set yourself straight after realizing you may be doing one of these 8 things:

1. Not embracing artistpreneurship

In other words, if you’re learning how to sell art then you need to learn the art of sales. An artist who makes money from their art is an entrepreneur and a business owner! Embrace the world of sales, systems, legal setup, website tech, and the business of setting up shop. Ignoring these things can easily be your downfall.

Need help with the entrepreneurship of being an artist? Read this blog post on my first year as an artistpreneur here.

2. Perfectionism

You’re imperfect. No one expects you to be anything else. Don’t waste time trying to get everything right the first time around. The quicker you fail, the quicker you adapt, the quicker you succeed. Focusing on getting everything perfect will waste a lot of time for any artist. This goes for your artwork, the way you show up, setting up for shows, applying for projects, etc. No one expects you to be perfect!

Ditching perfectionism is (still currently for me) the hardest mistake to stop making. My favorite advice in this area is “done is better than perfect.”

3. Neglecting networking

Make real relationships in your field. It’s lonely going after your dreams if you don’t make friends along the way. Find people who are creative, like to craft, who run their own small business, or are supportive of your ideas! Connecting with others can also lead you to awesome opportunities as well — even when those people are well outside the artistic realm. It’s okay to lean on people you know! Going solo is boring and stifles your growth.

Looking for community? Join my email list here for weekly pep talks 🙂

Want to go deeper? Join Artsy Friends, our Patreon group for artists serious about their career.

4. Playing it safe

For the love of god, take a few risks. Do you think any famous artist made a name for themselves by staying inside the box? Make radical art, coin a new style, quit your day job, apply for that dream gig, move across the country! Being safe means being too afraid to make big moves. And only big moves get big results.

5. Ignoring your finances

I did this for a long time. When your money situation is so bad that you don’t even want to look at it, it doesn’t go away. It gets worse. Trust me, being surprised about a negative $400 balance in your account is not fun! At some point you have to realize that not all artists are broke.

So check your bank accounts, organize your finances, draft a budget, hire a tax professional if you need to. Your mental health and your wallet will both thank you.

6. Thinking your work should speak for itself

Art is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean it’s coherent. Explain your paintings. Tell a story about them and about you as the artist. If you never explain your work, others will make up their own meanings — and you might not like what they come up with.

This also goes for marketing. Your artwork will not sell itself. Telling stories about your work is selling it. Talking about art is selling it. Posting videos of the creative process is selling it. Don’t think your artwork will do all the talking! Let people know it exists.

Want more info on how to talk about your artwork? Read this example here.

7. Lacking focus

Don’t try to do everything at once. Focus on being your very best at one thing. For me, it’s art prints and products. I sell my illustrations as prints, and as products like calendars, mugs, pins, and notebooks etc. I’m the best at this, so this is my main focus.

I do things on the side like teach other artists through blog posts, videos and classes. It’s good to diversify, but there is a limit. Trying to get a book deal, licensing my work, starting to tattoo, creating a clothing company, and making my own paint hues at the same time would definitely hurt my ability to be my best at making prints and products. Don’t be a jack of all trades. Master one or two things with laser focus.

8. Not having an art style

Flip flopping with your aesthetic is a mistake. If your work isn’t recognizable, it’s not memorable. If it’s not memorable, it’s forgettable. Yikes. Be consistent with the look of your artwork.

Need help with this?

Dive into your personal aesthetic with Elements of Art Style, an online class that will walk you step-by-step through the process of designing your style. Be consistent with this style and you’ll be memorable.

Artists! Which mistake are you making?

If you see yourself in any of these mistakes, it’s time to correct yourself! I have to check up on myself all the time and I’m constantly setting myself straight — especially with #2 and #5.

Which are the worst for you? Tell me in the comments.