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3 steps on how to be a good artist
1. Do
Get up and do it. Don’t talk about it. Do something artsy first thing in the morning. Do something for ten minutes and then stop. I promise you’ll long for doing ten more minutes every day and stay motivated.
2. Be
In 1976 psychoanalyst Erich Fromm wrote the fantastic book “To Have or to Be?”. He suggests to free yourself from materialistic possessions and instead focus on the activities in your life. Possessions in the arts may also include grades from well known universities, renting the right studio , gathering more knowledge . Wanting to have something before being someone turns every art project into a vague future plan. Sentences such as… As soon as I graduate then I allow myself to be an artist, ….as soon as I have all the equipment ready then I’ll have the perfect conditions to finally start,…. I might have to add another course before I might be adequate to join the club — do not lead you anywhere. Dump your personal “if/thens” and get started. Focus on being not on having.
3. Ignore
Ignore all the other good and bad artists. Do not compare yourself. There will always be someone younger, more brilliant, more political, more edgy, more perfect, more visible. Do your thing. Copying other people is not sustainable on the long run. It will exhaust you not to let yourself be yourself. Get inspired but not overwhelmed.
