Why a professional artist? Who is he? Where is that bar, crossing which an ordinary artist suddenly becomes a professional? Everyone once, especially in childhood, thought about becoming a master of painting, painting pictures, surprising people, selling them, being famous. As Pablo Picasso said: "Every child is an artist. The difficulty is to remain an artist, emerging from childhood." Many deviate from this path, but you, rather, do not, reading these lines. How, then, to come to this? How to make sure that your name will be remembered for centuries? Let's find out how, in what ways, for how much and where the artist can achieve all this.
What is a professional artist?
Let's start with this term - "professional". Despite all its paradox, there is no exact and uniform understanding of who a professional artist is. But there are signs by which one can judge the artist from the point of view of that very professionalism.
Look, every professional activity has its own minimum threshold. For a lawyer's assistant, this is a secondary legal education, for a carpenter - a vocational school, for a doctor - a medical school. And for a professional artist, the bar is not small - a completed higher education and secondary vocational education, which is focused on the practical mastery of a graduate student of artistic graphics, the skill of painting, sculpture. This is the first sign.
How does it affect the artist? Very often, when a customer is looking for a good artist, his search narrows down to the most skillful masters, namely masters with a diploma. Then they may not pay attention to the self-taught, but this does not mean that the second is somehow worse. The presence of a diploma does not give any guarantee that the artist really owns high skill. There are hundreds, if not thousands of examples, when self-taught samples were much more spectacular than artists with a diploma. Nevertheless, this formal feature should be taken into account.
The second sign of professionalism is the real level of the artist's skill, namely his technique. And you can really check it only by those works that he performed in a realistic manner, i.e. with kind.
Other signs are complementary. For example, when painting for an artist is his main activity, he receives income from it, is engaged in active exhibition activities.
And one more rather weighty argument, we will touch on it a little later, when we consider the ways of becoming a professional artist, this is membership in the Union of Artists of Russia.
Conclusion: and now without any boring and abstruse words. Is it worth studying and getting an education? Let's just say, if your age still allows you, then this will greatly help you as a future master. And I would not refuse such an opportunity. As long as you have no worries with money, family matters, home, children, etc. - golden time, write and learn.
Well, if the train has left, then there are planes. Joke! There is no age for creativity. You can become a professional without any diplomas. Moreover, due to today's information availability, you can raise your skill level on your own, as well as in various courses for beginners and even professionals.
I believe that a professional artist is not someone who has many degrees, and not even someone who writes beautifully. For me, a professional artist is someone who knows how to convey their feelings and emotions to the canvas, evoking them from the audience.
How to become a professional artist and what is needed for this?
1. Where should you start?
Naturally, with their skills. Do you think you can go far without being able to put into practice even the elementary drawing rules? If you have a talent from God, even this does not mean that you can give up on training. More assertive and motivated people will bypass you. Therefore, you need to learn always and constantly. Alas, without this you cannot become a professional.
Get the minimal beginner painter's kit and write. A few paints, brushes and a canvas (or a primed fiberboard sheet) are enough. Don't try to create masterpieces right away. Do not hurry. If you are uncomfortable painting in front of strangers or even close people, find and set aside free time for yourself when you will be alone.
I highly recommend reading Betty Edwards' book "Discover the Artist in You". It will allow you to get rid of the internal psychological problems associated with painting. Also learn new technological and technical tricks and techniques from Smith Ray's "Artist's Handbook". These two books are available for download on the Internet.
2. Progress, realization of paintings, promotion
Now imagine this situation: let's say you have already gained some experience, painted several pictures, and possibly graduated from an art college. What's next? What to do with the paintings? And work, family, everyday affairs …
This is where 90% of artists stop, because they simply do not know what to do next. Do you know what Cezanne said? - "If you want to be an artist, your parents must be rich." What are these words for? And the fact that an artist is a creative person who must devote all his time and energy to painting. But what are today's realities? Every person needs a home, food, clothing. And whether you are at least an artist, or someone else, it is necessary to think about these things and spend your time on their extraction. And how, then, can a creative person be? Based on the foregoing, it is still quite possible to become a professional artist, and for this there are only 3 ways:
Internet and galleries
It is worth making a reservation right away: an artist is not a seller, he is a manufacturer. To create real masterpieces, an artist should not waste his precious energy thinking about selling paintings. Let those people who know how to do it do it. There is even a saying: "A good businessman is a bad artist."
The Internet provides a lot. Any artist can now be seen by the viewer using social networks, forums, blogs for artists. Thanks to the Internet, you can create your own page and already on it introduce people to your work.
As for the galleries, they are intermediaries between the artist and the buyer. In Moscow, for example, there are about 70 of them. If at least one third of them contains at least one of your pictures, then you can never worry about the financial side again, since it will be abundantly satisfied.
It sounds, of course, sweet, but you still have to get there. An aspiring artist will have to be patient and persistent in order to at least want to look at your work. And perseverance just works wonders, examples of this are our great Levitan, Picasso, Monet and Korovin.
Just start carrying your work around the gallery a little at a time without really hoping for approval. Sooner or later, you will achieve your goal. It's just a matter of time.
Join a professional organization
At the beginning of the article, we touched on this issue. Such organizations today are the Moscow Union of Artists and the Russian Union of Artists. These organizations are actively involved in exhibitions, on an all-Russian scale and at elite venues. Such exhibitions are always accompanied by increased attention from the media, journalists, wealthy people, respected critics, connoisseurs and functionaries. Imagine what fame and status you can get if you appear on one with your work ?!
What does it give you? Perhaps this is the most direct path to the top, since a lonely artist-wanderer cannot do as much alone as two, three or more can. In 1-2 years, you can already reach incredible heights thanks to life in an organization.
What is required of you? Active work and life in the environment of society, talented work, fulfillment of assignments, mutual assistance, perseverance, communication with leading people. But most importantly, the artist needs to choose the group with which his ideological views and interests coincide, or they will have to be corrected. Neutral position will do nothing, so you have to choose. Yes, even in such organizations there is division into groups and competition for the promotion and advancement of your idea as the best and correct one. Therefore, I recommend choosing one of the authoritative and defending its interests in order to break through to the top and acquire close contacts there.
Own brand (name)
This path is very difficult, unpredictable and for many - a failure, due to a lack of patience and pressure from outside. For example, you held a regular exhibition at which you failed to sell anything. The result is a loss of money, strength, and faith in oneself. And yet suddenly there are "philosophers" who say, "Yes, give up this venture, nothing will come of it, a waste of time!"
The most important thing here is not to give up, develop and go to the bitter end.
Find the highest stratum of people to whom you will offer your paintings. If you go out somewhere on the ruin in order to sell paintings, then you will not get anything worthwhile, except for fame among a small handful of people. You need the business elite of your place, i.e. successful and wealthy people. And it is with them that you need to establish contact, since their potential is much greater than that of ordinary people.
How to do it? It is not necessary to organize an expensive exhibition. It is enough to print a catalog with your paintings, and with it, make a round of all large and successful companies. Introduce yourself, announce your purpose of the visit and, preferably, go to the manager himself. If it is not there, leave the catalog or disk with the secretary, and then dial it by phone and find out what and how. But it's better to meet in person.
Most business leaders are willing to make deals with artists. They enjoy looking at paintings and buying them. For you, these are good connections, new contacts and fame.
Summary. To become a professional, you always need to develop and work on your weak points. Try yourself in different directions, analyze your mistakes, rest, be equal to the best. Develop on all fronts - in the economy, social relations, culture, religion. After all, people are not interested in contemplating the experiences of only one person. But on the other hand, they will look with delight at what worries them personally, and what is closely related to their life, environment, influence, etc.
P. S. Finally, I would like to recommend not to take criticism of others to heart. Especially from those people who are far from painting. What can a person tell you who has no idea how a work of art is created? If you need adequate advice or criticism, contact the master. To everyone else, just say, "thank you for your attention." But don't take their words seriously!
