Do you all remember our childhood favorite movie, Barbie as Rapunzel? Where a princess was kidnapped by a witch and locked in a tower. But then the princess finds her life turned upside down when she finds a magical paintbrush that brings her paintings to life.

Only God knows how much I have always wished to have that paintbrush that could turn my imagination into reality. But as John Green said, “The world is not a wish-granting factory.” There is no shortcut to getting all the things you want in your life. There is no magical paintbrush to turn your visions into reality. But that does not mean that we won’t make it big in life just because we don’t have magical wands or paintbrushes.

As an artist, our magic is within ourselves. Artists have their magic in their hands and minds, and they bring their magic out on the canvas once they figure out how to bring their vision to reality. Because, as we all know, art isn’t simple. It takes a lot of effort and a lot of enthusiasm. It takes a lot of guts to pursue a profession in something that one enjoys, even if it is challenging and unpleasant at times.

So, if you want to become an artist, you’ve come to the right place. To help you get started, we have curated a list of five tips to remember when you are starting out as an artist.

Never forget your ‘Why’

As artists, we believe that whatever we do or we create should be acknowledged and appreciated. But in reality, things don’t work like that. There will be days in your artistic life that you won’t even get a single compliment for an art piece that has taken lots of effort and time of yours. You might feel disheartened and sad, and there may be a chance that your negative thoughts overwhelm you so much that you start thinking of quitting. But that is the time you have to remind yourself that you have not started this just so that you can quit because you have failed. Always remember that it’s a phase and not a whole story. Take it as motivation and start creating something else without caring about someone else’s approval of your work. You will be proud of yourself one day for how far you have come. No matter what the circumstances are and what the hardships you face, never ever stop doing what you love.

Be present & approachable

It is not wrong to say that people nowadays spend more time looking at the screens of their gadgets than in the real world. We live in the era of the internet, and everyone is connected to each other virtually. So, if you’re just starting out as an artist, make sure you’re present on all of the major social media platforms. Remember that when you have a digital presence, it will be very easy for your potential clients or other artists to reach out to you. It will help you with marketing your products and services. It will help you establish a relationship with the other artists from all over the world. So, it is critical that you have a professional website where people can learn about you, your art, your future endeavors, and how and where they can contact you. So, when you are starting out as an artist, always have a digital presence.

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there

The best thing you can do if you’re nervous about showing people your artwork is to simply take a deep breath and do it anyhow. The worst that may happen is that no one will notice or comment on the work that you have done. It’s okay if that happens. In the end, what matters is that at least you tried. Once you take that initial terrifying step of displaying your work to someone else and realizing that none of the horrific scenarios that you saw playing out in your head actually happened, it gets somewhat easier to share some more of your work with other people.

Community is the key

Start meeting with people who are also involved in the arts field. It can impact your work in ways that you cannot even begin to fathom. It will help you develop a more mature sense of style as well as expand your horizons. If you are surrounded by different artists, it will give you all a chance to learn from each other. Besides this, never get offended when an artist criticizes your work. Maintain an open mind regarding their suggestions, ideas, and interpretations.

Along with this, you should consider participating in collaborative projects with other artists. You might be shocked to learn the extent to which your interactions with other people can affect the pace at which you develop. Your friends may also let you know about art events that are happening in your community, which will provide you with possibilities for personal development in addition to professional development.

Create what you want

Artists should never doubt their own work or abilities. You have the right to do whatever you choose with your life. Take the action that is preventing you from producing something that you truly desire to see come to life. Don’t worry about what other people think of your ideas; instead, pay attention to the voice inside your head and start manifesting your dreams. Every person on the planet is an artist in their own right. Despite the fact that we may not all go on to be the next Mozart, each of us possesses the ability to create something. Individuals are capable of thinking their own thoughts, even at their most basic level. In other words, you should always follow your intuition and make something that you really want.

Written By: Rabia Khan.

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