Passion run amok can have you jumping from one project to the next without finishing anything. You need to discipline it with persistence and patience in order to finish artwork that can then be promoted and, hopefully, sold.
5 Characteristics of Successful Artists
Some time ago, I described the four most important skills every artist needs in order to succeed. Those skills were:
- The ability to see
- The ability to draw what you see
- The ability to promote yourself and your work
- The ability to say no
At the end of that article, I mentioned that there were other skills every artist should develop.
I’ve been thinking about that ever since, and I’ve realized that skills aren’t the only things shared by most successful artists—there are also some common characteristics of successful artists:
Persistence
Persistence is the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people. You don’t need a more comprehensive definition to see how persistence applies to being an artist.
Artists need persistence to:
- Improve and/or perfect skills
- Learn new skills
- Finish individual pieces of art
- Build an exceptional body of work
- Build a successful art career
- Sustain an art career
Most of these are long-term endeavors; some are developed over the course of a lifetime. (Dali, for example, spent 50 years developing his Surrealist painting techniques.) If you don’t have the persistence to fuel your dreams, your dreams may never become reality.
If an artist’s goal is to earn a living from art, he or she also needs the persistence to continue improving and creating when the artwork isn’t selling. Nothing is more frustrating—or more disheartening—than to turn out the best work of your career only to have it go unsold. The temptation to give up can become very strong, as can the temptation to paint for the market or chase trends.
The artist with persistence resists those temptations and stays the course.
Patience
Patience is the quality of calm endurance. The stereotypical artist is passionate; either enthralled or disgusted with their work. Patience evens out those highs and lows. It’s similar to persistence, but while persistence is more of a discipline, patience is more of an attitude. You can be persistent without being patient.
Most of us have to learn patience. . . I know I did. It’s not an overnight acquisition, but it is well worth acquiring.
Student Art Class Resource Kit – Acrylics – Artist Quality – Starter Set
Recommended materials for School Student Classes. Contains $200 value of Artist Quality Paints, Brushes and Visual Diary.
Price: $ 140.00
Recommended Starter Kit for School Student Painting Classes
This resource kit will usually last a student 3 terms if used only at Sydney Art School art classes.
Contains $200 value of materials:
- SAS Artist Quality Acrylic Paints including 2 tubes of white,
- Set of Brushes,
- Visual Diary,
- Calico Art Kit Carry Bag
Please don’t feel compelled to buy materials if you already have them!
We have sourced these packs to provide good value for money for our students.
Diploma Students and Adult Classs Students we recommend the following kits based on Winsor & Newton paints.
Have a question?We’re here to help .
1300 ART CLASS – 1300 278 252
Online Chat
[email protected]
Art Classes We Offer .
- Certificate IV in Visual Arts
- Diploma of Visual Arts
- Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts
- Drawing Classes
- Painting Classes
- Silversmithing
- School Holiday Art Classes and Workshops
- Kids Art Classes
- Art Workshops
- Corporate Art Workshops
Locations We Serve
Near Hills Shire Include.
Locations We Serve
Near Hornsby Shire Include.
Registered Training Organisation 41133
CRICOS Provider Code 03554G
1300 ART CLASS – 1300 278 252
Online Chat
[email protected]
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ABN 76 163 392 934
Sydney Art School (RTO 41133) is registered with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) as Registered Training Organisation 41133.
It is registered on the Australian Governement Department of Education website on the
Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
CRICOS Provider Name: Sydney Art School Pty Ltd.
CRICOS Provider Code: 03554G.
