GETTING STARTED

How to get your art career started. I’ve thought up pages of ideas for these art threads, so let's start at the beginning - Getting Started.

Do you want to start as an artist, or maybe you are an artist but need help getting things moving? My two-part answer to changing that is strikingly simple. However, that doesn’t mean it's easy.

Part 1: Draw. That's it. It's that simple. Just draw—the end. See? I told you it would be simple. Now, the hard part. Many obstacles will get in your way—life, family, jobs, kids, etc. but here is the trick to getting started. You don’t need much time or good ideas. Say whaaaaa 😮

Think of it like digging in the couch cushions for change, but you find little bits of time instead of money. A little here and a little there. You don’t need to worry about what you're drawing or how it looks.

Just draw.

When you're done, you don’t even need to look at it. Chuck it if you want. How it looks is not important. What is important is that you are drawing.

Why not think about what you're drawing or even care how it turns out? 🤔

Here’s the truth. In the beginning, all of your drawings and ideas will suck. I know it stings, but it's a hard truth. In fact, if your old drawings don’t suck after a while, then that means you are not pushing yourself, but don’t worry about that just yet.

Think of your art skill as a baby. You are just learning the mechanics of crawling, and we need to log some hours of falling over to learn to stand.

Okay, now that we have Step 1 covered, it's time for Step 2: No Excuses. It's imperative to consider why we haven’t started drawing before now.

If you take a hard look at why you haven’t started and list the reasons, you may see some good and bad excuses.

☑ Work and family are in the good excuse column.
🚫 Doom scrolling socials or watching Netflix might appear in the lousy excuse column.

To get things started, you will have to get rid of all excuses and the excuse mentality. Sure, unavoidable things will pop up, but for things beyond those rare cases, you have to make time and draw.

As the saying goes, "Where there is a will, there is a way."

This “excuses mentality” may be the biggest and most impossible hurdle in your potential art career, essentially killing it before it begins. I am a married, full-time freelance artist with a 4-year-old, a dog, two guinea pigs, a social life, and side projects, with very little help with child care. I don’t let these things become excuses for why I can’t finish my work.

I have little patience for excuses and hold myself to this standard. I own up to wasting time, not keeping an eye on my calendar, or whatever it may be. It is tough to be honest and hold yourself accountable, but it is the most critical part.

Being an artist is a long, difficult road full of sacrifices and self-reflection. It's not for everyone. Whether you have little time, are tired, or are not motivated, take comfort in knowing you only need to - just draw.