Tag: artist (Page 1 of 2)

Bob Baker on Following Your Curiosity, Being Persistent, and Finding Success as an Artist – Cracking Creativity Episode 69

February 21, 2017 / Kevin Chung / 1 Comment

Bob Baker has always been determined to make a living from his creative career. He started off his career by creating a music publication from scratch, with no prior experience. He didn’t let his lack of experience prevent him from achieving his goals. He just experimented with different ideas until he made it work.

Since that first publication he has expanded his interests well beyond a local music magazine. He has dabbled with writing, painting, and creating courses for aspiring artists. He even got into stand-up and improv comedy.

Bob has not let the starving artist mentality prevent him from making a career out of his creativity. In fact, he has thrived as an artist and creative.

In this episode, Bob talks about doing things that interest you, why you need to be persistent, and what separates successful artists from unsuccessful artists.

Bodlar Deathbringer on Being a Prolific Creator, Networking and Marketing Your Art, and Overcoming Your Fears – Cracking Creativity Episode 58

August 14, 2016 / Kevin Chung / 0 Comments

Bodlar Deathbringer is a visual artist living in New York City. Since early in his life, it seemed like he was destined to become an artist. His father was a visual artist and his mother was a writer. He also started creating his own paintings when he was eight years old. So it would seem odd that Bodlar went into IT work.

After years of working in the corporate world, he finally decided he had enough. He decided he would move to New York City to pursue his art career full-time. It hasn’t always been easy, but Bodlar has been working as an artist ever since.

In this episode, learn about the challenges you face as an artist, the importance in marketing and networking, and why you need to confront your fears.

Max Makewell on Creating Your Own Identity, Overcoming Everyday Obstacles, and the Importance of Building Relationships – Cracking Creativity Episode 43

March 20, 2016 / Kevin Chung / 0 Comments

Max Makewell is a New York City based artist and muralist, but it wasn’t always this way. He grew up in a family of artists and started his career as an artist, but then transitioned into the startup world. It was only after spending a few years there that he came back to being an artist full-time. In this episode, Max talks about owning your identity, making your way through obstacles, and building relationships as the core of marketing your art.

Every child is an artist until he’s told he’s not an artist. – John Lennon Quote Art

March 6, 2016 / Kevin Chung / 2 Comments

“Every child is an artist until he’s told he’s not an artist.” – John Lennon

Print available on Storenvy.

Imagine you’re a child again. You want to express your thoughts, but words just won’t do. So, you pick up your crayon and get to work.

To others it looks like a scribbles on the page. It looks like random lines scattered across a piece of paper.

For us, this is our masterpiece. It is the expression of our thoughts, our feelings, and our desires. It might not make sense to others who see it, but it makes sense to us.

As we grow older, people’s expectations change. They want to make sense of the madness. “Is that a person? Is it a dog? What is it?” Expectations grow. People want to label our work. They want to attach a name to what they’re seeing.

It’s only natural. People want to identify with our work. They want to recognize what’s in front of them.

There is a moment in every child’s life that splits us into two groups. Those who can and those who can’t. You can draw. You can’t. You should give it up. You should keep on drawing.

Why do we insist on doing this? Why must one child be considered an artist, a genius, a prodigy, while another is cast off to the side?

When we are children, we are free to play, to experiment, to fail. We approach life with a wonderful sense of curiosity.

[bctt tweet=”We need to stop telling children they aren’t artists”]

We need to stop telling children they aren’t artists. Kids are impressionable. One off-hand comment can completely change the trajectory of someone’s life.

Instead of telling kids their art isn’t good, encourage them to study it more. Dive deeper into that innate curiosity.

There is a stigma surrounding the arts. “You can’t make money as an artist.” “Shouldn’t you choose a better paying job?” We continue to perpetuate this myth, and it has had an enormous affect of society.

How many Picassos have we stifled? How many J.K. Rowlings left their stories untold? How many Steven Spielbergs decided to become accountants instead of making visionary films?

After having deep conversations with dozens of people, with diverse backgrounds, I’ve come to realize one thing. Everyone is creative. The only person preventing us from being creative is ourselves.

Since childhood, we have let others dictate what we should and shouldn’t do. It’s time to break that cycle.

If a child decides on their own they don’t want to be an artist, that’s wonderful. Everyone is not destined to be an artist. But we should never stifle future generations from becoming the artists within themselves, screaming to come out. Let them take their own hero’s journey.

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Art Marketing Online – How To Go From Discovering Your Audience to Building a Passionate Fan Base

January 11, 2016 / Kevin Chung / 2 Comments

This is a long article. If you want to read a summary of what is covered in it, you can jump to and read the conclusion.

One of the most commonly asked questions artists ask is “How can I market and sell my art online?” While it can be very beneficial to sell your art online, it is also a lot of work. There is no magic bullet for selling your work online.

Everyone wants a shortcut. We see other people doing the things we want to do and assume they got there overnight. We want success, but are we willing to put in the work?

You are different. You are here because you want to learn exactly what it takes to build an audience. You are willing to put in the work. You want to build a business around your art.

[bctt tweet=”In order to sell your art online, you must first build an audience.”]

In order to sell your art online, you must first build an audience. You might think this is common sense, but many artists overlook this basic fact. If you want to sell your art online and build a lasting business from it, there are some very important things you must do.

This guide is intended to teach you some of these essential elements. It will help you turn your art from a hobby into a business. It will cover everything from finding your audience to building a passionate group of fans. So, let’s get started.

Cracking Creativity Episode 28: Mike Roy on the Common Myths Artist Believe, How to Overcome Those Beliefs, and Finding the Perfect Niche for Your Creative Business

November 20, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 1 Comment

Mike Roy is the creator of Artist Myth, a site dedicated to helping artists overcome the things that hold them back. In this episode, Mike talks about the common myths artists believe, what people can do to overcome those myths, and how to find work you love.

“You’re an artist when you say you are. And you’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deep or unexpected.” - Amanda Palmer — Quote by Amanda Palmer

What Makes a Good Artist – Amanda Palmer Quote Art

April 12, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 0 Comments

“You’re an artist when you say you are. And you’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deep or unexpected.” – Amanda Palmer

Print available on Society6.

People are always arguing about the value of art and whether someone should or shouldn’t be considered an artist. Amanda Palmer perfectly explains my sentiments on the topic.

Who are we to say who is and isn’t an artist? Why do we feel entitled to label people? Anyone who creates art has the right to call themselves an artist. That being said, just because you are an artist, doesn’t mean you are a good artist.

[bctt tweet=”Anyone can make art, but not everyone can make you feel something…”]

To me, this is the important part of the quote “You’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deep or unexpected.” Anyone can make art, but not everyone can make you feel something when viewing their art.

Most artists don’t create because they want to, they create because they have to. There is a force calling on them to create their art. It will eat at them until their art is complete.

[bctt tweet=”You can recognize a great artist by how their work makes others feel”]

Good artists turn that energy into something beautiful. They use it to fuel their creativity and make work that resonates with others. Anyone can be an artist, but you can recognize a great artist by how their work makes others feel.

[bctt tweet=”Only those who transcend the ordinary can achieve the extraordinary”]

Art at its core should make you feel something. Why else would we create it? Art is our way of expressing ourselves to the world. Whether you deal in the visual or performing arts, your art should make people feel something. That is the difference between artists who have staying power and those who don’t. Only those who transcend the ordinary can achieve the extraordinary.

Quote courtesy of Brain Pickings.

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“The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them.” – Anton Chekhov Quote Art

February 22, 2015 / Kevin Chung / 4 Comments

“The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them.”
― Anton Chekhov

Print available on Society6.

Artists have a gift. With a single stroke of the brush, they can tell an entire story. They can make someone laugh or cry just by putting their pen to paper. Their music can bring joy or sadness.

So why do we celebrate when someone says they want to be a doctor or a lawyer, but feel sorry for them if they say they want to be an artist? There is a stigma around being an artist. They think we “sit around all day and paint pretty pictures.” They think we will starve while trying to find success. There is no room for these thoughts.

[bctt tweet=”By asking questions, we create conversations”]

By asking questions, we create conversations. We make people think about themselves and their place in the world.

Asking questions also opens people up to new possibilities. Books and movies are not only great entertainment, but they also shape our future. How much of the technology we have today was inspired by a great artist’s mind?

[bctt tweet=”Artists have the ability to change the world”]

Artists have the ability to change the world. We can change a person’s mind without saying a thing. It is time we show people what it means to be an artist.

We must show people how our work inspires movements, how it can lift you up when you are down, how it asks questions about ourselves.

Here are some ways we can be an artist that asks questions instead of answering them:

Seek Knowledge

The best way to ask better questions is by learning. Every time you learn something new, you should have more questions than answers. How does this information fit into your views? How can you reflect that in your art?

Become Curious

[bctt tweet=”Curiosity should be the lifeblood of an artist”]

Some artists choose to live in a bubble. They paint the same pictures. They do the same things. They stick to their guns. Don’t be that artist. Curiosity should be the lifeblood of an artist. What new ideas can you explore? Become curious and learn to ask why.

Explore the World

[bctt tweet=”Go see what the world has to offer”]

We live in a world where you are constantly connected. We can spend our entire life staring at the screens in front of us, or we can explore the world. Exploring the world makes you question how much you know. So go see what the world has to offer.

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Becoming a Successful & Empowered Artist

How To Be an Empowered & Successful Artist (Part 3/3)

October 28, 2014 / Kevin Chung / 0 Comments

Bob Baker has a movement. It’s not just some idea he came up with to make money or become famous. It’s a vision to change the world and how the world view artists. He wants to inspire artists and creatives of all types to “express themselves, hone their skills, and share their talents with the world!” That’s a mission and vision worth fighting for.

Bob was kind enough to provide immense value to artists everywhere with his free Youtube video series “30 Ways to Become an Empowered Artist.” I’m just doing my part to spread the word about this lofty and empowering creative revolution. You can check out part one here and part two here. In the final part of this three part series, I will give my thoughts on the videos twenty-one through thirty of his Youtube series.

How To Be an Empowered & Successful Artist (Part 2/3)

October 3, 2014 / Kevin Chung / 1 Comment

Bob was kind enough to provide immense value to artists everywhere with his free Youtube video series “30 Ways to Become an Empowered Artist.” I’m just doing my part to spread the word about this lofty and empowering creative revolution. You can check out part one here. In the second part of this three part series, I will give my thoughts on the videos eleven through twenty of his Youtube series.