The best art career advice I ever received!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2024
- “Do this 1 thing for career success…” Here’s the #1 best piece of art advice I’ve ever received for my career! I continue to hear it, because it’s worked for so many people! It’s easy to understand and easy to follow; but there are some potential pitfalls, so it’s best to be aware.
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my best advice- and i'm an old dude- is keep working , look for ideas that come from that, and most of all, keep working.
Agreed! Always keep working and try to work smarter! Thank you!
Hello Trent, when I was a child in Nicaragua, I liked to draw, after the war we moved to California, 40 years passed I was busy surviving until I had a back operation and it didn't look good, I was mentally in a bad place, depressed, angry, until one day my daughter showed me a video of your family in TH-cam. I saw you milking a cow, giving some to a cat. It’s was beautiful and funny I laughed so hard.
It was the first time I had seen something like that on TH-cam. The adventures around your family reminded me of the unity and daily struggle of my family in California, I had a lot of fun watching them. One day you showed us a video where you were painting your eldest daughter, and I was mesmerized, I wanted to see more videos of you painting, you make it look so much easier to a point that I decided to take a chance and try it myself, my daughter shared some brushes and paints, I automatically took a piece of cardboard and copied from a painting that I found on TH-cam. A little more than four years have passed, although I have been asked many times if I sell my paintings, I still do not believe that I am in my perfect place, that is, I could not deny when family or friends have asked me for one of my paintings, I said yes, I have even painted several of my neighbors' pets, and I owe it all to you, for having inspired me to try it, for the honest and for the frankness of your advice and for the wonderful talent that you possess.
Having found a hobby inspired by your experience made my life better and perhaps could have saved me from death.
Thank you very much for inspiring me you have a formidable and beautiful family, I congratulate you and I hope that you achieve recognition at high levels of your talent as a painter.
greetings
Sorry it took me this long to respond. Thank you so much for telling me of your experiences! I’m so glad to hear that something I did was inspiring to you! Wow, I’m SO glad I made that video! I’d love to hear from you again going forward, so we can talk more about what you’ve done! Look me up on my website and we can chat!
This is true IF the artist knows who they are. BUT if you do this unauthentically you will feel stifled and bored.
Always keep experimenting. Try new things. Just look at the new styles and directions as a different series (brands).
Remember, you can’t find “your style” the same way you can’t find your passion….THEY FIND YOU.
Talking Plein air. Your early plein air videos inspired me so much. Ive been painting hard ever since. Thanks for the advise Trent.
So great to hear! Thank you! I hope to get out and record more of those soon!
Ah, paint what you’re drawn to. It all works out in the end. I don’t ever want to regret not trying something.
One of the main reasons I continue doing art is challenging myself learning new mediums, techniques, tools etc. as it keeps me in wonder and learning new options to speak through colour and shape, dark and light with my unique view. Been painting for 40+ years and still feel that wonder and freshness ❤
Wonderful! I’m so glad to hear that! Those personal challenges are really the spice that makes a life of art worth doing! “Niching down” is only recommended as a method to jumpstart a career when someone feels that their work isn’t being appreciated the way they think it should. 🙂
Great advice, and I like how genuine you are in expressing your self as an artist. I am an artist but in a huge block, haven't painted anything in 7 years. I will be tuning in, your such an encouragement, as I see your paintings and relate to so much you say. God bless you and your family.
Your advise is so true! Thankyou and gosh I just love the laugh that punctuates your chat. Think the animals studies are remarkable, also the paintings of people are just so engaging. Just joined your channel and am now going to check out more of your skill and talent. It is so easy to want to paint everything . Thankyou again Trent. 🦋🇦🇺
I'd agree with all of this. I've stuck to my style since around 2004 and have become a top selling artist in the UK with a six figure income from my art brand. Sticking to a style doesn't bother me because it's the act of painting and the self improvement that gets me painting 14 hours a day, 7 days a week. I get so absorbed in getting better at pushing the oil paint around that I don't notice I'm painting the same subject. Once a year I sometimes do something in hyperrealism for a competition or two but I do that less and less these days.
Your philosophical discussions of art are always interesting. I love your channel and always look for new content you have uploaded. Thank you very much.
Thank you! Glad you enjoy it!
Thanks Trent. I love that you're not phony and that is what keeps you fresh. 😁
😁 thank you. I despise phony so I really appreciate hearing that!
Thanks for the great advice. Hope you and your family are doing well.❤👍🇬🇧
Trent thank you for this information. I appreciate you putting this out for us. I could understand and follow you.
My pleasure! I’m so glad you got something from it!
Ah, you have given me so much to contemplate. I particularly appreciate the directive regarding a wider viewpoint during the learning process. Thank you so much!
You're very welcome! I’m so glad it gave you some things to consider…what questions do you have that I could further elaborate on I’m a future video? I’d like to be helpful if I can.
@@TrentGudmundsen Wow- I sincerely appreciate your response and query! I want to give this some consideration. Thank you so much.
Thank you Trent. I will keep this advice in mind going forward.
Take it with a grain of salt. Use only as needed 😁
I don't want to limit myself like that, I figured the world likes to put u in a box, brand you, people love achievers with razor sharp focus on one thing... but thats so limiting to the development of an artist
Limits are an opportunity for more creativity.
@@oliparker1309 I understand u, and it is true, its just not appealing to me.
It’s certainly not to say that someone should be a cookie cutter artist, churning out copies (like that case study I mentioned), but it does have a certain appeal to those who are true artists but don’t yet have the attention for their work that they feel they deserve. As annoying as it might be to admit, niching down does in fact help people understand the message we’re trying to promote. I’m not saying everyone should do it…it’s just a helpful tool for when someone needs it. (Again, I don’t always follow that advice myself)
Completely agree, there is art business and art passion. If you love painting, then it’s inevitable to keep experimenting with different subjects and techniques and also different mediums (personally I use and love them all, from watercolour to oils, gouache etc) but unfortunately any business needs a a recognisable style or brand to sell. I believe the key is in the sweet spot between those 2 things, it’s there but it takes time and work to find it. Nice video!
Thanks for sharing!
You are so kind and helpful!! And a great artist!!
Thank you so much!
It happened to Jackson Pollock, when he tried changing styles. He was subjected to a battering of 'we want the squiggly lines'.
Incidentally, I have been doing both digital and physical painting for long enough to realise, that in digital work a clear style appears in most areas of your work.
In terms of your work, I liked 'milk shake' and all those café bar paintings, reminded me of Renoir. Anyway, I have a fondness for those type of scenes. I have thought about trying a digital one of looking into the restaurant through the window from the outside, but always fall down at the planning stage.
Thank you! Yeah, it can be a double-edged sword. When I feel boxed in, that’s usually when I throw up my hands and say I’m done! 😅 Sure, I’ve “killed” my career several times over, but I had fun doing the art. I think my advice is more for myself than anyone, because I need to make slow changes instead of just jumping ship every few years.
Thank you Trent 😊 this was really helpful!
You're so welcome! Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this fantastic advice! I struggle with monotony so I’m always always switching it up. Disastrously so lol. I like your advice on mixing up just one of these categories so I don’t stagnate. Because …only painting one thing feels like stagnation. My grandmother was an awesome pie baker but she kept trying to perfect her cake baking skills- so we almost never got good pie and she became known for her gross cakes 😂 and I know a man who is excellent at painting fruit sitting on a flat surface in oil and always the same size. He always got in to all the shows because they were impeccable. But I think I would peel my own skin if I had to niche down that tightly. But I need to definitely “niche down” to some extent because I’m all over the place- fun, but not successful. Again, great advice! Thank you!!!
Great advice!
Really enjoy your thoughts.
Thank you for this video. I have been thinking about this for some time as Im a beginner artist and ready to figure out my own signature . Id say im about halfway thru this process. And this video helps a lot
Glad it was helpful!
I have started implementing some of this not all the stuff you say but some and it’s a little different to what I have been doing but end of the day it’s how good quality of Art I will make…..it’s best to ignore some rambling stuff that’s going to be around you then best ignore it…..once this happens I believe we can be Who we are…..Thanks again nice topic.
It’s hard to navigate and certainly not to be done all the time, but I think it’s a helpful mindset to kick off a career. 🙂
Carla Bosch managed to do this successfully
Thank you, sound strategy and advice to implement.
You bet! Thanks!
Thank you! Working on some niched down pieces behind the scenes as we speak. Cross fingers it works!
I hope it works out for you! If not, let them simmer while you work on other projects too. 😁
Brilliant 😊
Hi Trent, I like your style, as to you, a human being, and the advice you offer to others, along with your creative skills.
I have been a painter for the past 65/70 years of my life, not continuously, as I’ve had many slumps, but now I’ve been painting almost daily for the last 3 years, after being told I have macular degeneration. The passion I now have for creating art is tremendous. I paint in various styles and subject matter, not being concerned about consistency, as that no longer matters. The only thing I’m really concerned with is loosing my sight at the age of 85, as I have way more canvases to paint. My advice is to paint every day with passion, paint loose with a large brush, quickly covering the canvas.
Btw Trent, I, and I think everyone would love to see your canvases behind you, of animals and ? Do some on camera for us to enjoy. Thank You for what you do ! 23:19
Thank you for sharing your story and perspective. I really appreciate it. Man, that’s hard facing macular degeneration! I’m really sorry. I’ve contemplated losing my sight, and I realize how I’d have a lot of growing to do. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. I hope I can help some people who need some guidance or encouragement. We all need that from each other.
@@TrentGudmundsen ❤️
Don't worry about a logo, work on your style and stick with it, which will become your brand. When people buy a Porsche, or Nike, they expect that similar style and quality, which is what we, as artists, need to do. The challenging thing is to find outlets to sell your art and become successful at it.
I suggest that you paint to make calendars.
Because I always want a general colour scheme in a spot that I chose for a calendar.
But we need a new picture!
And make it so there are now words on the picture so they can be used again for framing or another thing, especially if one just likes a few pictures repeated.
Home life can certainly be added in.
In fact, most of your subscribers would probably like to have one every year.
P.S. Start now!
Don't wait for 2025. You could compile 18 months or 20.
Good idea…it’s something I’ve thought about several times. Maybe this really is the right time. Thanks for the encouragement to do it!
great advice. I recently started a markey stall to try my habd at gettinf my work oyt yhere. i have started woth prints of my wprk amd a sign sayomg commissions of people or animals. i have been aware that there is probably a need for some continuity or uniformity in some aspecr of what o present to the public as examples of what they will get in a commission. What you gave said allows tou to still have a good amount of freedom by choosing one to three things you need to keep the same as far as selling your work goes i have qritten up differentcombinations of 3 things i vould keep the same amd 1 that could be differnt at times. Ibtpo like beowns worh just a himtvof some colour and i have noticed it becpming a bit of a signature thing. But i dont think i coyld stick to the same thong for ever. .Your system helps vary things but keeps things in the same within perametres when we 2ant a change.🎉😊
Very good advice. This advice is also often given to photographers when starting out.
I wondered if that would be helpful to photographers too 🤔
It is. Most professional photographers make their living one type of subject.@@TrentGudmundsen
Best advice I ever got was to stop painting because no one really cares. My only real regret was learning to play guitar when I should've learned Piano. Never too late...
Sorry 😢 it can be hard. The world isn’t often kind to those who choose art…it’s a tough profession sometimes.
Thank you for the great tips! These were already things I felt were important but never implemented them and felt pressure from others to paint "other" things besides what I feel is my signature. So thanks for the confirmation! What are your "signature" colors? I love the feeling of peace and tranquility your paintings give, not only because of the subject but your color choices.
I cant choose between oil and acrylic so I do both. I mark the back of my panels with A or 0 because I like oil primer for oil. I like painting wildlife in acrylic and landscapes in oil.You have to make sure to keep everything separate.
Great tip!
Yes, it works.
Good to see you on here again. Curious if you are still using the zinsser primer or have you moved to something else?
I kind of go to whatever feels right. I’ve experimented with so many options now, and I just do whatever works best at the moment for my needs. Zinsser is definitely still in my closet.
Thank you
I have too many interests to stick to being one way. I can't imagine being too square and I'm not in it for the money.
I just paint because I've learned to love it. I know I'm not the great artist and don't want to be. I just want to be myself. I like to paint nature, realistic and a lot of what I paint is folksy. 😀😀👋👋💖💖
Thanks for sharing!! I’m so glad you enjoy it! Mastering an element in our own work can reap huge mental rewards, so as long as we’re getting a little better over time I think that’s the most important thing.
I'll venture to say that you are possibly right, but no thanks. I've seen so many artists come and go. Here's the one who paints horses, and always features the reflected image thing in the horse's big eye...then there's the 'shake the camera at night and paint all the jumbled city lights' ( an ex girlfriend) and the artist who lifts images off the internet and puts them through a laser wood cutting thing and pumps out 'woodworking'...( barf)
Then there's the spectral-coloured unreal rocky lakescapes painter... I could go on and on. Yes, if you want to be predictable, dull, full of your own ego, and you lack new ideas or approaches, have at 'er.
Me; I'm getting old (64) and I'm still changing, trying out different approaches, and in my world I'm well enough known. Not that it matters. I've done public art, miniature art, huge murals, carved wood, carved stone, ceramics, printmaking, watercolour, a ton of drawing, nowadays I'm focused on playing percussion and singing, as a part of performance art.
You will live until you die. Fame is fleeting and it's not what being an artist is really about.
Abstraction, realism, mixed media, installation, minimalism, maximalism, conceptual, political, social commentary, portrait, nude, where does it end? It doesn't. So don't limit yourself.
Dont feel that you have to be a 'brand' . Don't be so frikkin' capitalist. Stop looking for reinforcement for your fragile ego. Stop looking to get other people's approval. When they say, ' artists don't get recognized until after they're dead ' ( with a few exceptions) that's some heavy truth. Be an artist for when you're gone, and your niece donates a bunch of your paintings to a hospital. And your paintings manage to intrigue some patients who really need a jolt of artistic energy to look at.
Then maybe you will have accomplished something.
I've never had a website. Never had a business card. Never incorporated myself. I've given away most of my art.
At these apocolyptic times, I think it would be embarassing to be the sort of artist who has the silly naive notion that they're ' really going to make it'.
I hope you catch my drift.
Yep, it’s a tough one to navigate. For those who have chosen it as their way of paying for food and mortgage, this advice will really resonate and help. But as I mentioned several times in the video, I don’t always follow my advice on “niching down” but have noticed definite benefits from doing so at times. But yes, it’s hard to see true sell outs making lots of money while we are still trying to be a true artist and not getting the attention deserved…and yet, that’s my point: niche down for awhile and you’ll likely get the attention you deserve!
When i was young . I wanted to be a artist!!!!!! Im old now still want to be a artist !!!! When i was young i needed money!!!! Now Im old and dont!!!! When i was young i thought if you made money from your art that made you a artist?????? Still trying to fine it ! And hope i dont!!! (Think Good thoughts)(Dont Feed the Negative) Thank You ! ✌😎
Yeah, you’re definitely in a good spot for not needing money. It gives you a lot of freedom. Once we paid off our house (which was relatively easy for us since I built it myself), it made life a lot easier. Anyway, I hope my advice helps some people who really need to make money with their art.
Follow Warhol's lead. He knew all about personal branding and self-promotion.
When you mean color scheme do you mean they use the same primary colors use to mix. Like a certain type of red (vermillion , crimson etc) and brand of paint they use. OR you mean like their paintings always show the same 3 or 4 colors like a series of artworks that only use cool blue colors.? Like I'm already getting ideas from this video lol.
I mean letting certain colors (or mixtures) show up in the final painting, like a series. I’m excited that it’s giving you ideas! I’d love to hear more about that!!
What do you think of using pseudonyms?
I’ve thought of that…my thoughts are that it could be kind of a pain to get a DBA, and I’d be a little concerned with being recognized as the “other self” at a show or something 😅 but it’s not a terrible idea.
@@TrentGudmundsen I see it's hard to do if your audience gets to meet you. ..like an actor. Of course authors have been doing it since forever, but in those cases I'm guessing they don't meet up with their readers.
Great advice . I was told the same thing many years ago when I was doing my Fine Art degree . Am I famous, no , why ? because I find it hard to market . I do love making videos of my practice here on utube & if you are interested in taking a look that would be lovely for a comment about them from you 😊
Basically you are suggesting artists not to be artists. I'll try to fix that: it would be helpful to try to exploit any idea to the fullest by producing a fairly large number of works based on similar subjects, colour schemes, technique and so on. But that should take one a few months to a few years, not most of one's career - unless there's no desire to experiment in different directions.
Rewatch it…you may come to understand what I really said. 🙂
SUBJECT*STYLE*
COLOR SCHEME*CANVAS SIZE > your welcome 🤗
😅👍
Wow 24 mins for an advise u could say it in a minute ! 😳 i was born to break the rules😂
😅👍😁
haha stop the zooming thing. It's not good man. Your content is great, you don't need the tricks
Aww darn, I was having fun with it! 😅 but thank you! 😁
Soooo... why not just make prints if everything must stay the same forever? 😮
Just paint ducks for the rest of your life. Sounds great. People do this, I know. But it is so limiting.
Now you know why I don’t always follow that advice 😅…but I still think it can be a useful thing to acknowledge, inasmuch as one may find it helpful.
I think as long as your ‘style’ is consistent people will recognize you enough to have a career. The idea of painting the same subject over and over again, however, is ridiculously limiting and boring IMO
I strongly disagree.
So do I…sometimes.
Best advice: Art is not a career.
For some, that’s maybe not the best thing. I’d like to think that anyone who really wants to could do it, and this advice really is for them.