How to Become an Artist? | Alexandra Novik-Khamis

Alexandra Novik-Khamis's ART

"True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist," says Albert Einstein.
While some incredibly, lucky people are simply born with the gift of artistic prowess, others have to study to become fluent in the language of art. Whichever path you are on, be aware that everyone is an artist. Some people just let their creative urges out more easily and completely than others. If the artistic path is calling you, begin the journey with tiny steps, and follow it.

If you have never spent much time creating art, it may feel daunting to try to become an artist. The truth is, everyone is an artist; they just need to express their creative ideas in a great way.

If there is a specific type of art you would like to learn more about, go for it, but don’t be afraid to branch out and try other mediums as well.
Some of the most basic forms of art include:

Drawing: This medium can range from the most basic of sketches to intricate architectural designs. Drawings are generally created with a pencil, pen, charcoal, or crayon. Drawings can be of objects placed right in front of you or images out of your imagination.

Painting: This medium uses paint brushes to create both real-life and imagined images with paint. Painting often delves into the abstract--a painting made in red and purple hues might be a representation of a feeling--such as love--that the painter was feeling while he or she worked.

Photography: Photography uses a film or digital camera to capture a moment in time. Photographs often tell us about what the world was like at the exact moment that the photo was taken. Photos can reflect great beauty or great horror--just as the world can too.

Sculpting: Sculpting is the process of taking a material (clay, wood, metal, etc.) and shaping the material into a work of art or a functional tool (and sometimes both at the same time.)

We all know it, fear it, and maybe even laugh at it: the tired stereotype of the starving artist—failing to make a living off his or her work, sacrificing financial security for the sake of the craft.

While making it as a professional artist is no small task, it certainly doesn’t mean you’re automatically doomed to such a bleak outcome. Just ask any successful artist.

Stay organized

One thing I hear again and again from arts professionals is that artists are often painfully disorganized, bless their hearts. Check your basics: be on time to meetings, deliver work when agreed. Past that, keep your art documents updated and accessible (resume, bio, statement, etc.). That way, when it’s time to apply for a show/grant/residency, there’s no mental hurdle to overcome.

Learn how to withstand stress

There are so many features of the art world that might depress and overwhelm you, so you need to develop an unshakable core. Most artists suffer considerably from financial stress and most also experience a lot of rejection. You must not be afraid to fail or embarrass yourself in your work. If you’re afraid to try something new, how will you develop your own voice?

Don’t wait for inspiration to strike

As a professional artist, I haven’t been able to afford to wait for inspiration. In the most prosaic sense, my inspiration has been that I have bills to pay. I understood early on that if I was going to be an artist I had to approach art as a business, rather than wait for inspiration. I have found the best solution is simply to go into the studio and start to work whether I feel inspired or not. Typically, the very act of drawing or dipping a brush into paint is sufficient to get me started and inspiration almost inevitably follows.

Spend enough time on the backend

I split the week up in terms of 70/30. The 70 percent is the actual making of the work and the 30 percent is the getting of supplies, communicating with galleries, updating Artwork Archive—the “backend of the artwork” stuff. It’s important to me because I know a lot of artists that say they aren't doing that well, but they think they can get away with one or five percent of the backend work.

When a gallery comes in, I can pop them out a PDF in seconds. It makes me look good compared to the other artists. Most artists aren't organized and this helps me to be organized.

Grow and use your contact list

Your contact list is really important. I’ve gathered the contact information of people from all my past walks of life. I regularly send out emails to my list with a new painting. It reminds people you're there and shows the growth you're making. I have sold many paintings through my emails.

Don’t overlook the importance of quality images

Label your entries precisely and consistently. Before you frame your art, have it photographed or scanned. Color correct and crop your images (There is no excuse for not doing this. There are free programs on the web that you can use). Do not show backgrounds, floors, or easel stands. Display a consistent body of artwork, which shows you are serious about your art.

Stick to a system

It’s important to have a system in place. When I finish a work, I take photos, put the new piece on my website, and publicize it in my newsletter and social media. I know each step I have to do after painting, which makes the business side a lot smoother. If you don’t do that, it sucks the creativity out of you because you’re constantly thinking about it.

Never give up

The passion is what’s most important. Without any pretension, I knew what to expect on the difficult path of a professional painter. No matter what we are told, advice, or warnings, we have no choice but to follow our calling.