In the classes I teach, and the classes I’ve taken over the years, I have observed three basic types of students.
Type A - This is the student who thinks they are much better than they really are, and is more concerned with promoting themselves than with learning to paint better. These are usually people who have been successful in another career or business, have family money or married well and have the attitude “I’m awesome because I say so”. Large unwarranted egos prevent them from learning the things they need to work on the most.
‘How do I get into galleries?’, How do I sell online? Where do you get your frames? Who does your prints? What shows should I do? How do I get into the top shows? How do I best promote myself? They almost never ask ‘How can I really improve my work?’.
These are all ‘cart before the horse’ questions, asked by people who want to be self employed and think art is a quick way to make extra money in retirement, or have fantasies of making it big in the art world. They are motivated by money and ego, not by a passion for painting.
Type A’s are doomed to fail.
I’m not saying some of them won’t make money, I’ve seen many horrible painters buy their way into shows and galleries, simply because they have the resources to do so. Luckily for them the general public is woefully uneducated about what makes a good painting. For many, sales alone are all the validation they need, and they never grow beyond an intermediate level. While fooling themselves and much of the public, artistically they will never gain the respect of those who know. Worse, they cheat themselves of the fulfillment and delight of personal growth and discovery.
Ironically Type A’s are often already financially secure, and don’t need to worry about making money from their art, but money is their whole identity, and their only measure of self worth.
Type B - This is the student who has a dream to be a full time artist, and may not come from means, but again has the ‘cart before the horse’ mentality. They’re always in a rush to market themselves long before they are ready.
They take seminars on how to market themselves, and are always promoting themselves on social media, etc. The problem with this approach is that once you gain a reputation as a mediocre artist (often with an unwarranted ego to match), it’s hard to overcome, even if you eventually do get better.
I’m not suggesting you wait 20 years until you become a master before trying to promote yourself. I’m saying stay humble, and always make time for serious, purposeful study while promoting your work. Don’t over-inflate your skill level or accomplishments. I see so many mid-level artists teaching, and calling themselves ‘Masters’ when they are anything but.
Type B’s rarely rise above intermediate level, because they are too busy doing shows, or teaching to fully develop artistically. Once they’re selling, they can’t take constructive criticism.
They find a formula, and their work plateaus. They spend the rest of their days repeating themselves, and fooling themselves.
Type C - This is the person who has a genuine burning desire to be the best artist they can be. A person who want’s to learn everything they possibly can to improve their work. Who takes pride in craftsmanship. Who is humble and eager to learn. Who’s Primary Motivation is to simply be the best artist they can be.
Type C’s are the ones, ironically, who are most sought after by collectors, once they have matured as artists.
Type C’s also experience the true value of self discovery, and the personally enriching process of painting. I always say “Painting is the law of increasing returns”. If you give yourself over to the purity of learning first, the rest (sales, meaningful awards, opportunities, respect of your peers) will naturally follow.
Highly skilled mature artists with a great work ethic, will always be in demand.
Type C’s are the ones who understand the value of taking the time to truly find their own voice, and who ultimately enjoy the ‘state of flow’ more consistently. All the pain and struggle that type a and b’s are doomed to suffer, is washed away. Instead of stressing about who is doing what, or who got into what show, type c’s wake up each day excited to conduct their next set of experiments.
What a great way to live, to be excited for each new day and the opportunity for personal and artistic growth. And serious collectors will seek you out.
Caring
Concept
Consistency
Craftsmanship
Can’t learn enough, life long student.
Elevate yourself to the level of a C.
Reap the rich personal rewards of your artistic investments in yourself. The thrill and deep satisfaction of continued growth year after year only comes if you stay humble, and open to input. Keep your ‘personal fire’ roaring. Passion is not had by generating a few sales or winning some meaningless awards, which is easy enough to do given the ineptitude of most judging out there. If you really want to be the best you can be, you must keep your love alive for the process, first and foremost. Keep on with your own experiments.
The rest will flow like water, when the well is full.
Copyright - Cody DeLong - proud ‘C’ student.
