In my last post “Artists Struggle with Fear and Consistency”, I received this remark.
“Many artists are whippy. If they had to heat and eat from doing good business, or learning how to do it, they would have no fear.”
Synchronically, I then heard this quote, “You can’t teach hungry,” summing up the essential ingredient to success.
No amount of my coaching, encouragement, tips, or experience can replace an artist’s hunger.
So what if you are not hungry enough? Then engage your imagination.
If you could wave a magic wand and be assured of your success, what would the picture of your artistic success look, feel, taste, and move like?
Artists have the power of imagination to paint this picture, yet how much time have you spent focusing on your picture of success?
I confess. I have been so busy taking action towards my SMART goals that I have not given time to step back and ask why these are my goals.
Why you want success is what makes you hungry, not the how you’re going to be successful.
Both are obviously important but if you just focus on the how, it feels like work.
If you focus on the why then the how begins falling into place.
Why do you want to paint, write, sculpt, sing, take photographs?
I want to paint because painting transforms me. Creative expression grounds me firmly in the moment.
I’m relaxed yet focused and unconsciously time passes. When a collector discovers my work, they too are transformed. This gives me great joy. I’m rewarded with feelings of contribution.
It’s the human connection that I am hungry for. That is why I paint. And that is why I teach about the business of art. I want to connect and have a positive impact. My why, my hunger, is not so complicated.
What are you hungry for? What is your why?
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