‘Artist anxiety’ is a normal problem to face when you’re considering putting your work on the market. The fear of your art being judged or not appreciated is a concern for professionals and beginners alike. But, if you’re a talented artist who is contemplating whether it’s time to start selling your work, here are some words of motivation to inspire you to take the dive. 

The Taste & Skill Divide 

You’ve been comparing yourself to your inspirations for so long that you probably haven’t taken time to reflect and see how much your art has improved. Take some time to browse your catalogue and admire your progression. 

You may not be the best yet, but try and look at your work through unbiased eyes. If you keep comparing your work to professionals, chances are you’ll never think your work is satisfactory. 

There is an incline where your taste for art is much higher than your ability to produce it. If you study art, you will be able to visualise what you want your project to look like, but your ability may not be there yet. 

With every piece of art you produce, you close the distance between your taste and skill divide. This quote by Ira Glass has become popular among artists because it perfectly encapsulates the struggle creatives face in their early days. 

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. 

A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one [piece of work]…It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions… It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

Your Style Is Your Own

Art is subjective – your creations will be judged, disliked and even ridiculed. But, they will also be loved and inspire emotion from others. That’s the point of being an artist, to create something that conjures feeling. 

Every painting, sketch or design you’ve made has a bit of yourself and your experiences in it. The way you stroke a brush is unlike the way anyone else does. We’ve all had that conversation about some of the abstract greats; Picasso, Matisse, Kline, Kandinsky. Fantastic artists, but also ones that created controversial works. 

It boils down to if you believe what you’ve produced is good; something that will spark a conversation or liven up a space. Ask your family or friends for genuine opinions. Casual consumers of art aren’t experts, so sometimes an uneducated option can really help gauge where your skillset is at. 

If you’re brave enough, ask a kid! No one is more brutally honest than a child, if they have any critiques, trust us, they’ll tell you. 

Your Art Matters

People want to support local art. You share an innate connection to people who live in the same city, state, even country as you. Finding a common link means your customers are more likely to connect with your work. No matter what you create, if your client knows it was created locally, it will inspire a sense of community. 

There is an air of mystery around amateur art. No one knows if they’ve stumbled on the next big thing, but everyone likes to think so. Until you become the next big thing ,take solace in the fact that your work could become a permanent part of someone’s home, or bring joy to a select few buyers. 

Let Us Help 

Art reproductions are a fantastic way to help you sell more of your best pieces. We have 20 years of experience providing outstanding art capture and fine art printing services. We also offer business training and mentoring for artists just like you. We’re passionate about art and love helping fledgling artists grow. Get in touch with us today and find out how we can help turn your passion into a successful business.