Welcome fellow young artists* to our blog dedicated to helping artists with the millions of questions that come with trying to “make it”. I, AnnaLeah, luckily have a slightly older and more experienced cousin, Tessa, to direct all said questions at! I was bombarding her with whos whats wheres and whens and she responded with eloquent and truly helpful answers. After reading one of her enlightening emails I had an epiphany – these words of wisdom should be shared with all of my artist friends! What is better then the short list of real life artist friends – the whole world of young artists searching cyberspace for practical art practice answers!
We spent the better part of a week trying to decide on a clever blog name…we finally arrived at the Practical Studio. We like the play on practice / practical because we are trying to give you (and ourselves) advise, tips, tricks and inspiration to implement a practical way to practice your art! The thing with us creative types is we have a whole lot of ideas, projects and experiments and not very much natural practicality. Not to mention self promotion and asking for help…that is just impossible! I have been reading a lot of artist self help books (there will be a whole post dedicated to said reading material) and have gleamed some really great practical practice ideas about working with our gifts and eccentricities – not against them! Its just a matter of the right advise, confidence and determination to get the practical side of your practice in order. So we are taking our own advise with this one and following through on one of our million dollar ideas, this shared blog. It feels like being back in art school because of the comradery and the sheer multitude of ideas. Not only are we here to provide answers, but also community. Just knowing that there are other artists struggling (cliché but accurate) trying to be more productive, successful and well…practical, is a huge help in itself.

So here are some general but timeless tips for being an artist in the world….

Listen to your dreams and ideas – and then write them down!

I know you are a daydreamer, don’t lose that lucid stream of thoughts, they are cerebral gold! Writing things down puts them to memory and inspires more ideas. I keep a small notebook and a set of pretty colorful pens with me where ever I go in case I am overcome with inspiration. If you are reading this and think I might be your brain twin – then you are a visual person. Get a pretty notebook and pens that you want to use and be seen with!

If your idea is not shaping up the way you want, take a break and look at it from a different perspective.

Lets take this blog for instance – I word vomited this post and then left big FILL IN HERE sections where I couldn’t think of the right way of saying something then took a break. Changed location. Got a drink. And read through it from literally, a different perspective. I changed the font size and pretended to be reading someone else’s blog. This is a great way of revising and editing that we all learned in high school English class – but it applies to your art and your art career as well. Something isn’t working? Don’t take it personally, take a short break and look at it from a different perspective. And for us visual people I mean literally a different perspective – flip it, take ten steps back or whatever other way of switching it up you can think of!

Don’t get depressed about making money and selling out, there is always a way to make money by being yourself!

We will go into more specific detail in other posts – but always keep your hope and integrity. Once you find your market/ patrons you are SET and will be so proud of the work you produce! And we will dedicate a post just to the artist’s side hustle to help support you while you make art.

Network with people you want to know.

Networking is a negative word…but it is essential to being an entrepreneur. It is important to make connections but not just with the higher uppers, but with people in the same boat as you who might bring you along if they get a glimmer of success. You can help each other along the way by making studio dates, sharing ideas or going in on gallery space rentals together. And most of all connect with people you like and can see yourself working with otherwise, well, you won’t want to work with them.

Think of rejection as a good thing that you want to get as many of as possible!

Rejection means you are trying! You will only get better and hone in your message and theme the more you get rejected. Don’t take it personally just take any critique or advise and apply it and try again! Oh, and give yourself a pat on the back for putting yourself out there 🙂

We are SO EXCITED to start this conversation with each other (planning this blogging enterprise has really got those creative juices flowing) and with you. If there are any questions or topic suggestions you have – please email us at thepracticalstudio@gmail.com or leave a comment.

XX AnnaLeah

*I would like to define young artists as all individuals who are new to the art world, nothing to do with age.
Tessa Freas
to me
3 hours agoDetails
LOVE

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rough draft, post no.1!
8:55 am
me, Tessa (4)
YES! I thought the same thing about moleskins and pens!!! Yes! You’re so amazing!!! This is so