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Myths about Art Careers

1/19/2022

 
Myths about Art Careers
There are a number of myths about art careers which may be blocking your progress. 

Do you believe that:
  • Art careers happen in a linear, orderly way?
  • You need to have all the right degrees and credentials?
  • You must be under 30 and live in New York in order to succeed?
  • You must develop a brand and follow a business plan?

I call these myths because they are false narratives that can become mental obstacles. If your art career isn’t happening in a linear, orderly way, you think you’re not making any progress. If you don’t have an MFA you imagine that everyone who does is ahead of you, and it’s too late to catch up. And thinking you need a brand and a business plan implies that artists have to turn themselves into someone else, and lose track of their own creative strengths.

How art careers actually happen is much more interesting and inspiring. They are organic rather than linear, and happen in unpredictable ways. They develop in stages, growing as you grow, as you experiment and take risks. Age & geographic restrictions have been turned upside down in the wide open virtual art world. Art careers are actually built on relationships with others combined with confidence in yourself and your work. Instead of developing a brand or a business plan, artists need to apply their own creativity to their careers. 

​How do you do this? Start by paying attention to moments of insight. Follow your intuition rather than logic, and use your visual imagination to see what might be possible. Try out “crazy ideas” that occur to you, especially if they build on your strengths. You can create the art career you’ve always wanted, even if it doesn’t yet exist. 
​
~ Mary

Mary Edwards, Ph.D
Career & Life Coach for Artists
“Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People”
Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards 

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Local Marin County artists meet with me in person, by telephone, or via Zoom throughout the coaching program.  I coach U.S based and international clients via telephone, Zoom and SKYPE.  Contact me now to schedule a free, 30-minute consultation.  
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