7 Things I wish I knew Before Becoming a Professional Artist

A couple of days ago, I shared a post on my Instagram account showing my 20-year art progress. 

Going through my old sketchbook brought back memories of my 10 year old self putting every bit of effort and love into drawing a cute butterfly from a paper encyclopaedia. 

As I carefully drew each mark of her wings, I remember knowing art had to be in my future. What could be better than seeing art come to life and pouring your creativity on paper for the world to see and enjoy? (Ponies, perhaps? But that's another story.) 

And you know, when you have a dream you believe so firmly in, life likes to throw all sorts of roadblocks and insecurities at you to test you out - to see if you really mean it. 

I'm sure you have experienced it too? 

Twenty years of memories came rushing back, triumphs and challenges alike, and it got me thinking about what I wish I knew if I had to start learning art all over again. 

If I could open a portal through time and reach out to my younger self, here is what I would tell her to do differently:

Do more deliberate practice

Studying the fundamentals of perspective, composition, anatomy, colour and light is the most efficient way to improve. 

Allow yourself to be creative now 

Don't postpone projects you are excited about until you are "good enough". Let go of perfectionism and allow yourself to be creative for the joy of it. 

If you're getting back into drawing after a long break, try setting aside just 10 minutes each day to work on a small project. Even if it's just a quick sketch or doodle, this daily practice can help you build momentum and get back into the creative flow.

Remember, creativity is a journey, not a destination.

Reach out to other fellow artists

We are all on the same journey, and we can do so much to support one another. 

Start sharing your art online as soon as possible

This is a big one. The two magic words for creating an audience is sharing and consistency. But I know that sharing your art online can be intimidating. When I first started sharing my art, I was nervous about what people would think and worried that my work wasn't good enough.

However, I quickly realized that sharing my art was the best thing I could do to gain exposure and connect with potential clients and fans. It allowed me to showcase my work and share my creative journey with others.

If you're feeling hesitant about sharing your art online, know that you're not alone. We've all been there! That's why we wrote a blog post about overcoming the fear of sharing your art online.

And remember, sharing your art is a brave and powerful thing to do, and it's the first step towards building your audience and growing your creative career. So don't be afraid to put your work out there and share your unique voice with the world.

Make your own website

A website is not just a gallery for your work. It's your home on the internet, a place that grows with you, where you can receive support and give back to others once your cup is overflowing.

Seek Feedback

Invest in mentorship or books. Drawing without intention or structure is a slow way to learn, and having a mentor or guide to follow can save you years of learning time!

I've also found that seeking feedback on my work has been invaluable for my growth as an artist. Although not all feedback is always positive, so to actively seek for it can be daunting at times, especially when we are feeling insecure and vulnerable about our art skills.. However, it's important to remember that constructive criticism can help you identify areas where you can improve and ultimately make you better artists.

If you're dealing with negative feedback, try not to take it personally. Instead, take it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Ask questions, seek clarification, and take the feedback as a way to grow and develop as a creative.

Believe in Yourself

This last tip is especially important because it was when I found the courage to believe in myself that things started to fall into place. 

I found the strength to tackle every challenge, to keep going, and my life completely changed for the better.  

Some people won't understand what you are trying to do. They are probably dealing with their inner turmoils and will try to spill that negativity on you. 

But for every one of them, there will be many who will believe in you wholeheartedly, celebrate every win with you and hold your hand through every challenge. 

And finally embrace difficult moments, because every blunder and challenge will teach you something precious, and the tougher the situation you get into, the more inspiring your success story will be.  

Looking back at the past, we can find so many things we would have done differently. But ultimately what happened, and the choice we took were the best choices with the information we had at the time and got us through to today, and that alone is much to be proud about and celebrate. 

What about you, if you could reach out to your younger self, what would you tell them?

love, 

Serena