I haven't written a blog for some time - I've been focusing on my painting - but I realise that being successful in this industry is about so much more than just creating art. I've been thinking about this a lot.
Part of me wishes it was just about enjoying the process but the reality is that I need to earn a living. I need to paint things that people want to buy and if I happen to paint a great painting it isn't somehow magically going to be seen by loads of people either.
Ability/talent (whatever you want to call it) is important but you also need to have confidence, original ideas, marketing skills and sales skills too!
I am not a natural sales person (I suspect this is the case for most artists). I'm also majorly lacking in confidence most of the time, but on the plus side, my marketing skills are growing and I have far more ideas than I have time to execute.
I'm also so lucky and thankful to have people around me who believe in me and give me good advice!
This time last year I was only just embarking on this journey. Now I have a website I love, some prints for sale in a shop and I'll have paintings in a restaurant (opening soon).
I still feel like I'm just starting out, like I haven't even touched the surface. It's a good feeling and I can't wait to see what exciting developments this next year brings.
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