Starving Artist vs. Thriving Artist
Which one am I?
We all want to be the thriving artist. We buy the books, post the things, submit to the shows, submit to the agents, and have the sustainable career that other artists have. Is it all really about mindset or is there more to transitioning from the “starving artist” to “thriving artist”? Or is it as simple as jumping on the bandwagon of every art challenge you see to build your career? Maybe all we have to do is have that unique voice? Let’s dive in and see if we can make something of this idea.
I think the most important thing is to make sure you are making some art for you, and in that vein, working to improve your skills. Whether it is because you are down the rabbit hole of online classes from other artists, or because you are obsessed with Inktober, I feel like it is important to always be working on something you enjoy so that you have examples to show potential agents, art directors, etc., so that you can have a body of work that you’re proud of. In my own case, this is my creative fail of the article because especially with two very active kids’ schedules, I struggle to keep up with design/illustration work, let alone my own creative interests, so that I can get hired doing what I want. My biggest pet peeve is people who tell you their class is the key to success only to find that not much changes after you try their class/method. I have wasted many a dollar trying to find the key to success and haven’t gotten there yet. So please do not waste your money on something that promises to have the secret you’ve been missing. Often their message is the same: work hard, put in the effort, network, and you will succeed.
I want to make it clear that I do not think other artists are wrong to promote their methods or ways that they can help you get your work out there. I have tried plenty of them and some I got a lot out of and some I tried really weren’t the right fit for me in the end. If there is an artist you connect with who offers a class or workshop and you will get real value out of it, you should go for it.
I do not agree with, though, the artists who sit there and tell you how they know the secret to the six-figure salary. It is never true and drips of AI tech bro energy. Sure, I can plug in my photo and turn myself into Superman or some sick twisted Studio Ghibli copy that doesn’t capture the true essence of Miyazaki. But that doesn’t mean I have all the answers, nor does it mean that AI can design the solution.
Real mastery comes from hard work, or at least regular practice that develops your style. It is the only consistent advice that all artists will preach: make something every day, good or bad, it is a step towards what will be your style, and someone will love that style and you will be successful.
So here is my unsolicited TL:DR advice to go from starving artist to thriving one:
Follow the likes of the 10-minute artist
, spend a few minutes every day making something, anything. It keeps your own art fresh and helps you see what works and doesn’t work for you.Hone your skills like
and do the Disney 500 to practice your technique.Side note: I never miss a post on Scott’s Substack. It is by far one of my favorites. The humor reminds me of my favorite Mel Brooks movies in written form.
Take your sketchbook with you everywhere and draw from life like
. I love seeing her sketchbook pages and the stories behind them.Avoid social media as much as possible. It is a great tool for making connections and getting your work seen, but it also invokes the dreaded “am I good enough?”. Self Doubt is the last thing you need.
Make art you want to make as much as possible. We all take the less than desirable projects, but if you’re not creating the work you love, it will show in the result.
Have a good support system. Do not make time in your life for people who ask you how you will make a living as an artist. You need people who support your creativity and want to see you succeed.
Shout out to my husband for always supporting me leading the creative life that makes me fulfilled.
Finally, avoid the AI bros and get-rich-quick schemes. They are snake oil meant to tempt you, but they will not truly give you the life you want.
Time to talk about the old movie that inspired this post. This week I introduced my husband to a more obscure Hitchcock film, Rope. It is about two young men who think they can commit the perfect murder, and how it falls apart so splendidly. I am a big fan of classic thrillers, particularly Hitchcock because he truly was the master of suspense. The connection for me is that we are all striving to be perfect, successful, or thriving at our craft, and that doesn’t always happen, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t create.
I think of myself as a starving artist type. I make an effort to get my work seen, but I am not the artist all over your feed burning out posting daily. I get regular work, but I wouldn’t be able to fund my life off of what I make. That said, I have regular income from graphic design projects and time to be with my family, so maybe that makes me a thriving artist 🤷♀️?
How about you? Are you the starving artist or a thriving one? I would love to hear where you think you fall and why.
Till next time keep failing creatively, and see you next week with some good news.
NOTE*: I poked at the AI tech bros in this post, and the reality is AI art, writing, etc., is built on theft, so I am not a fan. If you have an issue with that, I understand that you may believe AI is the second coming; however, I think you’re wrong. We do not have to agree. You do not need to comment on how wrong I am. I will not respond to it. Just delete the comment.
** If you’re interested in the apps I use that do not use AI, I wrote a piece about it:
Apps to avoid AI. It is by far one of my most popular posts.
Thank you so much for joining me on my journey.
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IMO, you're a THRIVING artist! And thank you for the shout-out! 😊