I’m a fairly happy and optimistic person, but for this blog post, I’m going to tell it like it is. It ain’t easy being an artist.
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ABOVE: Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893, oil, tempura and pastel on cardboard, 36 x 28.9 inches, The National Gallery, Oslo
Let’s be honest: being an artist really sucks sometimes.
When you’re starting out – especially if you’re self-taught – there are plenty of naysayers. To them, your art is ‘just a hobby’ and you are not an artist.
When you start applying to juried shows, you will get rejected A LOT!!! In fact, you will get rejected so much that you will seriously consider giving up.
When you do finally get past a jury and into a show, you will spend countless hours, and loads of cash getting ready. You will not make your money back. Not. Even. Close.
You will constantly beat yourself up for focusing on your art instead of a ‘proper’ career. You will struggle with your confidence daily, and you will be prone to fits of bitterness and depression.
I’m not making any of this up. My experiences are not unique. If you are an artist, or know one, you know this to be true.
Why do we put ourselves through it all? Because we don’t have a choice. We were born artists.