Throughout your art career it’s natural for thoughts of doubt, rejection and fear to creep in and impede your creative growth. This page contains images with quotations to inspire, motivate and remind you to be positive, confident, and stay on course.
You’ll find links to several different articles below.
Enjoy, grow, and prosper!
Most of the time when I begin coaching an artist they usually do not see themselves the way I do. I notice their many talents, skills, strengths, and attributes. When I ask them what makes them and their art unique (an exercise that is part of how to create your art business plan) most artists underestimate their positive qualities and focus on their inadequacies.
Read “12 Ways to Nurture Your Inner Artist”
One thing you can be sure of, as you make strides to advance your professional status, rejection will tap on your door periodically as a test of your convictions. Sometimes the higher you set the bar, the harder the fall. Rejection may cause you excruciating pain and remorse. It may even temporarily cause creative paralysis. On a positive note, criticism and rejection can serve as powerful sources of growth and transformation.
Read “How to Handle Rejection As An Artist”
With a new season on the horizon, it doesn’t have to be Spring to do some cleaning and organizing. In this article I offer ideas to declutter, reorganize, and downsize. When your life is free from clutter you can focus on what’s important — producing the best art you can!
Read “It’s A Good Time For Artful Spring Cleaning”
This article includes three courageous artists who have overcome insurmountable odds. Hopefully, their stories will inspire you during difficult challenges throughout your art career.
Read the article “Being Inspired by Courageous Artists”
Artists are born with a compelling need to probe the depths of self-expression and proclaim self-liberation. The challenge that lies before them is no small task. This article includes excerpts from one of my first books and seminars and it continues to resonate with artists 20 years later.
Read “Expressing Your Inner Vision As An Artist”
You can have the best art on the planet, but unless you believe in yourself and take proactive action steps you may find the obstacles attributed to self-sabotaging behavior. In this article you’ll find 10 ways to avoid art career sabotage.
Read “10 Ways to Avoid Art Career Sabotage”.
It’s important to share your story in order to connect to prospective buyers. Your goals should be to write a compelling and memorable Artist’s Biography that inspires them to learn more about you. In this article you’ll find out how to add some magic to your Artist’s Biography.
Read “Add Some Magic to Your Artist’s Biography”
Throughout your art career you may suffer from one or more of these circumstances: isolation; financial hardship; young and under recognized; and aging and invisible. This article provides positive solutions for you art career problems that may occur during different stages of your career.
Read “There Are Positive Solutions for Your Art Career Challenges”.
Inspired by the word C-R-E-A-T-I-V-E I wrote this article to infuse you with energy and positivity. I hope you enjoy it and you’ll want to return to it often.
Read “An Inspirational Anagram Message to Artists”.
Enjoy browsing the art and reading the following statements written by famous artists. They have influenced multitudes of artists and art enthusiasts and perhaps their words might resonate with you. They may comfort you to know they also probably suffered from writer’s block when writing about their art.
View art and statements of artists from art history.
The idea of creating your art business plan may seem intimidating at first. However, in this article you’ll see how the process can be approached step-by-step.
Read “How to Create Your Art Business Plan”
My article “Create The Art Career of Your Dreams” is one in a series of articles related to art career goals. It includes advice I offer to my coaching clients, guidelines I follow myself, and links to several other articles I’ve written so you can delve deeper into the related topics.
When I stopped paying attention to what fellow artists who were negative said about me and my art, I developed my own voice.
And you, Renee, help me even when I don’t write you. Why? Because I know I can. Thanks for all you do for all of us.
Dear Tommy,
I love your words “I know I can”.
Thank you for your kind words.
May you continue to develop your own inimitable artistic vision with confidence and bliss.
Great article Renee—-The exceptional NY painter, George McNeil, once told me to, “shut the brain off, and just throw yourself into your painting.” Furthermore, I have always taken the perspective as Joseph Campbell stated, “Follow your bliss and the doors will open.” Thankyou for your continued support and always positive enthusiasm!!!!
Poul, Love the Joseph Campbell quote, one of my favorites… And, thank you for sharing George McNeil’s advice to you. Wasn’t he the greatest?! I had the honor and pleasure of meeting George McNeil at his exhibitions at Knoedler & Co and ACA Gallery and featured his art on the cover of Manhattan Arts International magazine . Your comment brought back wonderful memories. Thank you.
Your writings are greatly appreciated, Rene!
I’ve learned that being an artist is much more than simply being creative. It’s also about your emotional state, the management thereof and how well you can translate who and what you are and instill it into your artwork.
Dear Curtis, I totally agree with you. And, thank you for reading the article and your kind words.
I remember the first time I was tempted to paint was when I was in high school. In the dictionary I show a beautiful painting, a girl on a swing in a romantic landscape, I painted for a while but didn’t like at all the result. I said to myself: I am never going to be a painter.
Later in the school of Architecture, we had more art courses than I thought, from the beginning I remember I felt at ease with what I was doing, at a number of projects we had to do in the classroom, students close to me said to me: I was just standing and watching you work, as you completed and begin again from the start, every thing you did was beautiful, couple of students started to call me “the artist”. I didn’t know much of art still back then but I remember the easiness I felt at all times, it was just easy and that easiness was pleasing.
Renee,
Is it possible to meet with you by appointment? I’m a artist/ small business owner in Mandeville, Louisiana of Impastato Gallery & Art Therapy. When my gallery open 5 years ago everyone thought I was crazy to leave my pharmaceutical job of 14yrs. To them it was about money and providing for my two sons with special needs. Never in my mind did any words of doubt slowed me down to follow my path of healing with Art. Art Therapy was a foreign word to this community., even to me. I’m also a Respiratory Therapist, so when thinking of a business name it just came to me, Impastato Gallery & Art Therapy. My goal is to help each person that walks in the door feel better with Art., The private art lessons , artwork and special art services all under 1200sqft in my Art Spa. Big franchise in the area have stolen my service titles but can’t copy my way of providing the personal attention to each customer. The fact that it’s about my passion to help each person feel important, special at my place through personal expressions they create by art lessons or hanging my artwork at their home makes my business unique.
Renee you are such an inspiration to us artist it would be wonderful if we could meet each other in person. I know you are extremely busy but if you have just 15 minutes while I’m in New York the end of October beginning of November I would greatly appreciate your time. In order for me to continue my ability to push others out of their comfort zone to grow my comfort needs to be pushed to grow. Looking to see how we might could help one another .
Thank you for all you do to help artists.
Creatively
Elizabeth Impastato
Dear Elizabeth,
Congratulations on starting your own art business with art therapy – Impastato Gallery & Art Therapy. I’m delighted that we met on Facebook. I appreciate your kind words about how I help artists. I write articles on a range of topics to give artists access to free information, strategies and motivation. To answer your question, did you know that I offer consultations on the phone? We could cover a lot of ground. If you have a website I could visit it before our phone meeting and prepare my strategies for you. You can find the information here: Renee Phillips Career Consultation. If you don’t have a website yet, please read this: How to Get Started With A New Art Website: https://renee-phillips.com/how-to-get-started-with-your-new-art-website/. Another idea to help you get promotion. Please consider writing an article for The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS website about art therapy. Check out that site and send a link to any articles you’ve written on the subject. You’ll find many articles about how art helps to heal. https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/call-for-artists-share-your-art-and-healing-story/ I also recommend another article: How to Create Your Art Busienss Plan https://renee-phillips.com/create-your-art-business-plan/. Thank you for your comment and best wishes to you with Impasto Gallery & Art Therapy! Renee