How To Thrive as an Artist in This Era
How To Thrive as an Artist in This Era
by Joy R. Calderwood
Are you a painter, crafter or dancer? Or are you good at home decorating, creating vibrantly illustrated brochures or making videos? Are you always searching for new ways to use your creative skills? If so, then you have the DNA of the artist archetype.
There are certain characteristics that artist archetypes share no matter their choice of expression. They have a passion to bring what “could be” to life. They are keenly visual and see beauty in every day objects that can sometimes be missed by those not as artistic. They have a need to create and when their creative side is stymied they may feel unfulfilled or out of balance.
Artist types love transformation, change and improvement. Their minds are fabulous machines that see possibilities. The classical musician is capable of mixing a beautiful symphony in his mind before creating the sheet music for it. A contemporary song writer collects inspiration for new music along life’s everyday road. The architect puts on paper the schematics of a fantastic structure beyond the imagination of the ordinary individual. An artistic chef brings his customers delight by making food presentation an art.
Not all artists, however, know how to find the right outlets their archetype longs for. While the works of stereotypical artists are still critically important, the definition of an artist today is much broader. For an artist to thrive, it will mean looking for new and ongoing ways of expressing his gifts to the world, whether it be in a fulltime career or a sideline.
The Artist Archetype in this Generation
A new generation is upon us which is good news for the artist archetype. In his book `We are All Weird`, thought leader Seth Godin points out that today people have more choices, more interests and more tools to do something with their passions. Weird, unique and different is in style. Corporations and investors are on the lookout for innovative personalities. The creative mind of the artist is coveted in order to bring to life ideas, products and variations of products never before thought of.
As an artist, you need to embrace your weirdness which is your art. Part of your responsibility may include educating others that they need you. Study new niches where your art can be used and look for opportunities to demonstrate it. For instance, your art might be used in one of these novel ways:
1. Digitize your artwork for product packaging.
2. Transform your artwork into banners for websites.
3. Sell your photography as stock photos or framed art.
4. Photograph your fine art works and sell it to bloggers to add colour to their posts.
5. As a musician, create music for use on websites or as background music for business-building YouTube videos.
6. Sell your skills to a video game designer that needs magnificent landscapes and original unique characters developed.
7. Become an art director and use your keen eye for creating logos, packaging, print ads, store designs and props.
8. Develop an online store and become an art broker.
9. Rent art to private homes, offices and restaurants.
10. I you’re a dancer, open a unique studio, make a instructional videos or create a new concept. How about a dance version of karaoke that can be circulated to bars? Produce dance teams that are hired for flash mob work.
Today’s artist can thrive, but it means stretching oneself and one’s perception of what an artist looks like and does.
If you’re an artist, own your calling and look for ways to move deeper and more fluidly into the areas of your gifting. Take small steps or large leaps—depending on how quickly opportunities arise for you. Be willing to change direction when needed, being especially aware of how you can find your place in the new technology arena.
Stay weird, keep your inner artist flourishing, become business-minded with your products and services and you will thrive.
by Joy R. Calderwood
Are you a painter, crafter or dancer? Or are you good at home decorating, creating vibrantly illustrated brochures or making videos? Are you always searching for new ways to use your creative skills? If so, then you have the DNA of the artist archetype.
There are certain characteristics that artist archetypes share no matter their choice of expression. They have a passion to bring what “could be” to life. They are keenly visual and see beauty in every day objects that can sometimes be missed by those not as artistic. They have a need to create and when their creative side is stymied they may feel unfulfilled or out of balance.
Artist types love transformation, change and improvement. Their minds are fabulous machines that see possibilities. The classical musician is capable of mixing a beautiful symphony in his mind before creating the sheet music for it. A contemporary song writer collects inspiration for new music along life’s everyday road. The architect puts on paper the schematics of a fantastic structure beyond the imagination of the ordinary individual. An artistic chef brings his customers delight by making food presentation an art.
Not all artists, however, know how to find the right outlets their archetype longs for. While the works of stereotypical artists are still critically important, the definition of an artist today is much broader. For an artist to thrive, it will mean looking for new and ongoing ways of expressing his gifts to the world, whether it be in a fulltime career or a sideline.
The Artist Archetype in this Generation
A new generation is upon us which is good news for the artist archetype. In his book `We are All Weird`, thought leader Seth Godin points out that today people have more choices, more interests and more tools to do something with their passions. Weird, unique and different is in style. Corporations and investors are on the lookout for innovative personalities. The creative mind of the artist is coveted in order to bring to life ideas, products and variations of products never before thought of.
As an artist, you need to embrace your weirdness which is your art. Part of your responsibility may include educating others that they need you. Study new niches where your art can be used and look for opportunities to demonstrate it. For instance, your art might be used in one of these novel ways:
1. Digitize your artwork for product packaging.
2. Transform your artwork into banners for websites.
3. Sell your photography as stock photos or framed art.
4. Photograph your fine art works and sell it to bloggers to add colour to their posts.
5. As a musician, create music for use on websites or as background music for business-building YouTube videos.
6. Sell your skills to a video game designer that needs magnificent landscapes and original unique characters developed.
7. Become an art director and use your keen eye for creating logos, packaging, print ads, store designs and props.
8. Develop an online store and become an art broker.
9. Rent art to private homes, offices and restaurants.
10. I you’re a dancer, open a unique studio, make a instructional videos or create a new concept. How about a dance version of karaoke that can be circulated to bars? Produce dance teams that are hired for flash mob work.
Today’s artist can thrive, but it means stretching oneself and one’s perception of what an artist looks like and does.
If you’re an artist, own your calling and look for ways to move deeper and more fluidly into the areas of your gifting. Take small steps or large leaps—depending on how quickly opportunities arise for you. Be willing to change direction when needed, being especially aware of how you can find your place in the new technology arena.
Stay weird, keep your inner artist flourishing, become business-minded with your products and services and you will thrive.
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