Ignite the fire in your belly! You need to be a self-starter and find the enthusiasm that will energize you to succeed in making a living from your art. Here are six ideas to keep the flame burning brightly!
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Great podcast. Thanks for the tips.
Well I’m only in art school at the moment, but so far I definitely feel that I have that fire. I love spending my free time working on art, drawing, or learning. And with finished pieces I love showing them off! Which, you all can check out if you would like at http://www.ericdgreene.com
Thanks again, Alyson!
- Eric
Hi Alyson,
I’m definitely on “fire” with my painting. I have always had a passion for painting, but the blog world, and wonderful podcasts like this one, have turned it into a roaring furnace. You are so right in all that you suggest. Painting is lonely, and the blog world creates a world-wide community, that is
priceless for both friendship from like minded artists, creative inspiration, and learning more about how to do what you love.
Thanks for the wonderful job you do!
Barbara
Thanks, Ananda.
Eric: I love seeing students here! And great to see that you already have that self-promotion gene.
Barbara: Do you find that being connected makes painting easier? Or maybe just more fulfilling?
I’ve been spending more time working and less time doing all the other things that used to bleed away my time. I love to blog(thanks for that wonderful newsletter so many moons ago) and share my love for embroidery and life.
As for staying motivated, the book titled, “Talent is Overrated,” by Geoff Colvin. analyzes how people become successful. I recommend this book to your readers.
A very important concept of the book is regular, “deliberate practice.” Most successful people accumulate over 10,000 hours of deliberate practice before they become a success. If you started in elementary school, or when you were 3 years old like Tiger Woods, then you will have your 10,000 by the age of 21, or 24. But if you started your deliberate practice as a student in college, then you’ve just begun your 10,000 hours of practice.
My favorite part of the book is in the last chapter, “Where Does the Passion Come From?” Colvin points out that focusing on extrinsic motivation such as awards (or money) reduces the creativity of the outcome. This principal is backed up by academic research. So where does passion come from? It certainly has to come from within. Think about what you really love and use this to inspire you.
Harriete Estel Berman
http://www.askharriete.typepad.com
Harriete: I will definitely look into that book. It sounds wonderful and very wise. I couldn’t agree more with what you wrote–and I haven’t even read the book. Thank you for sharing here.
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