If you’re been following me for any length of time you know that my passion, purpose and mission are to help you create the art career of your dreams. This article is one in a series of articles related to art career goals. You’ll find advice I have given to artists in my art career consultations and they have proven to be successful. They are also guidelines I follow myself.
You will also find links throughout the artist to several other articles I’ve written so you can delve deeper into the related topics.
Enjoy reading and I hope all of your aspirations are fulfilled!
1. Know Where You’re Going
To ignite the flame of your art career goals, it’s essential to prepare an art business plan as early as possible in your career. Review and revise it periodically. It will provide a solid foundation and direction, as well as build self-confidence. For step-by-step guidelines, read “How to Create Your Art Business Plan”.
2. Embrace the Personal Benefits of Your Goals
Decide which goals will generate the most fulfilling rewards for you personally. Don’t expect to achieve much unless you are convinced of the benefits you’ll derive and how much your life will be improved. Choose goals that will help you rise to your greatest potential, even take you outside your comfort zone. If you’re like most of my artist clients you have the potential to achieve more than you think you can. Read “Take Your Art Career Dreams and Goals Higher”.
3. Keep Your Dreams and Goals in Plain Sight
Write your goals and dreams in a journal and refer to them regularly. Write your activities in a journal or computer file and keep it updated daily. Also, apply visual reminders about your goals on your phone, bulletin board or mirror. Create a collage of all of your dreams and goals including positive quotes that inspire you. Read “Restore Your Creative Motivation”.
4. Set Prioritities
There are goals that you really, really want with all of your heart and soul and those goals you think you should accomplish. Establish conditions that will rate which goals should receive your top priority. Then, put your time and effort into those that are most cherished and desired. Give yourself permission to say no when you need to. Read “12 Ways to Nurture Your Inner Artist”.
5. Take Action!
Taking small steps on a regular basis builds tremendous forward momentum over time. Each day make a commitment to move forward in pursuit of your goals. It’s more about commitment to yourself than it is about stacking up busy activities. Avoid having a long and stagnant “To Do” list that reminds you of how much you’re not doing. Read “16 Steps to Achieve Your Art Career Goals in 30 Days”.
6. Use Time and Space Efficiently
Nothing gets accomplished without exercising good time management skills. Avoid spending unfocused time in social media and eliminate unproductive, time-wasting activities. Follow a schedule. Maintain an inspirational and organized work space that will help you maximize your time and effort. Find ways to delegate tedious tasks to others who love to do them which you find to be boring and difficult. Read “Time-Saving Tips for Busy Artists”.
7. Join A Strong Community
For an artist, being a member of regional as well as international groups is essential. Throughout your career, if you continue to reach out to fellow artists for mutual support, you will be able to climb more hills and avoid many pitfalls. The importance of belonging to an art community and fostering camaraderie have been guiding principles throughout my long and rewarding career and that of every successful artist I know. It began for me as an art student when I founded an organization “Artopia” to help fellow artists get exposure. It has continued as I’ve created art communities through Manhattan Arts International and The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS. Read “Valuable Art Organizations For Artists”.
8. Enjoy Collaboration and Cross-Promotion
Seek ways to collaborate with other artists, businesses and nonprofit organizations that share your aspirations, ideals and creative process. There are many ways you can unite and achieve greater goals together than you can alone. Read “The Many Benefits of Cross-Promotion For Artists”.
9. Get A Coach or Mentor
If you tend to fall off track and lose valuable time when you start to pursue a goal, do what most successful people do — get a coach, mentor or join a support group. When you have that security system locked into place you’ll get feedback, vitality, and those times of doubt and challenges will quickly dissipate. (Visit this page to learn about consultations I offer to artists.)
“To become truly immortal a work of art must escape all human limits: logic and common sense will only interfere. But once these barriers are broken it will enter the regions of childhood vision and dream.” ~ Giorgio de Chirico
10. Live With A Positive Attitude
Unless you see the positive attributes in life and develop a confident attitude, you’ll find it difficult to maintain the vigor and vitality you need to maximize your art career goals. View your art career path as as an adventurous, creative and rewarding journey. Every day you get another opportunity to discover more about yourself and learn new ways to bring your desires to fruition. Read “The 8 C’s in Art Career Success”.
11. Be Realistic
Don’t go into art expecting that it will be lucrative, especially in the current market. But if you love it, learn something compatible with your need to create. This can either be in a related field such as design or something totally unrelated that doesn’t deplete your creativity. Either way, it should provide income so you can freely create without stress. Read “Ways For Artists to Make More Money”.
12. Trust your Intuition and Core Values
As a career coach, whenever an artist asks me to help them decide which artistic direction they should pursue I immediately ask, “What inspires you the most? Where do you feel most authentic in your self-expression?” No one can answer this question for you. Your life as an artist must be in harmony with your core values. “Are You A Trustworthy Artist?”
13. Reward Yourself
When you achieve an aspect of your goal, no matter how small the accomplishment may appear to you, congratulate yourself and share the news on social media. Take time to enjoy the benefits of having attained something you worked towards. Place visual and tangible signs of your accomplishments in plain sight. Read your CV and Resume as a reminder. Frame your awards and letters of acceptances. Read “Add Some Magic to Your Artist’s Biography”.
14. Don’t Berate or Criticize Yourself
If you feel disappointed that you’re not accomplishing as much as you expected remember that tomorrow is another new day filled with opportunities. The goals are closer within reach based on the lessons you’ve learned, your increased awareness and your willingness to apply yourself. Think of the words of Robert Lewis Stevenson: “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” Read “12 Ways to Nurture Your Inner Artist”.
Also read “The Power of Dreams For Artistic Inspiration”
15: Don’t Allow Other People’s Criticism to Deter You
Others may criticize and berate you. Don’t allow their negativity to lower your self-esteem or impede you from attaining your dreams and goals. Remember this: In his highly acclaimed publication Leaves of Grass Walt Whitman wrote: “Re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul.” Incidentally, this masterpiece by Whitman was first met with indifference and harsh criticism. However, his poetry was founded upon the unshakable foundation of his creative and spiritual vision.
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