HOW TO BUILD A HAPPY ART CAREER
Finding Balance, Staying Sane, And Fighting Negativity As a Professional Artist
The life of an artist is romanticized all passion, creativity, and self-expression. But beneath the ideal façade, real artists face significant challenges like burnout, rejection, and imposter syndrome.
Navigating the mental and emotional demands of an artistic career requires intentional strategies for maintaining balance and resilience.
The Control Dilemma: Learning to Let Go
One large source of stress for artists is the perception that we have no control over our art career. There isn’t a consistant “ladder” for a working artist to climb and this lack of direction often leads to intense doubt that we are on the right path.
The desire to dictate the course of one’s career, gain recognition, and steer our creativity can create a lot of stress. When artists focus on factors outside our control—such as external validation, market trends, social media algorithms, or the whims of art world gatekeepers —we set ourselves up for frustration and disappointment.
The reality is an artist's success is a mix of hard work, luck, and coincidence. Much of this is is beyond our control, HOWEVER setting realistic goals and understanding negativity bias can help reframe the negativity and doubt that comes with our lack of control.
Negativity Bias: Celebrating Small Wins
The Negativity Bias is the tendency for negative experiences or emotions to have a stronger impact on our psychological state than positive ones of the same intensity. We look at our friends who get fabulous opportunities and easily forget all the wonderful support and opportunities that we’ve received.
For artists, negativity bias is a fixation on rejection, criticism, or perceived failures, while overlooking accomplishments: recent shows, collaborations, and simple moments of joy in the studio.
To counteract negativity bias, it’s important to consciously acknowledge achievements, celebrate small wins, and reframe challenges as opportunities for growth. Doing this this will help combat feelings of helplessness, burnout, and imposter syndrome.
TIP: If you feel jealous when a friend gets a great opportunity, try to reframe your mindset. It’s actually a positive sign for you because being connected to someone who achieved it means you're closer to reaching that opportunity as well!.
GOALS: External vs. Internal and Redefining Success
External goals are outcomes that rely on factors beyond our direct influence—including representation by a gallery or a review in The New York Times. While these goals provide motivation for the over achieving artist, they also place fulfillment in the hands of others. This sets the stage for more uncertainty, stress, disappointment, and a sense of powerlessness.
On the other hand, internal goals are more within your control. Focus on the personal value and meaning derived from your practice. For example, during an exhibition you can enjoy the opening with friends, talk to one new person, or celebrate the completion of a body of work.
TIP: Make tangible internal goals emphasizing new rewards of art-making— focus on personal growth, joy, and fulfillment—rather than external validation.
Cultivating a Sustainable Artistic Practice
Finding balance in the artistic journey isn’t about eliminating struggles but learning to navigate them with resilience. Using tools like Reframing, Savoring Wins, and Daily Gratitude can help you focusing on the positive.
THE MOST COMMON ART PROBLEMS
AND 8 TIPS TO OVERCOME THEM
1. Artistic Burnout
Artists juggle so many roles: creators, bookkeepers, fabricators, social media experts, email marketers, artwork documentation, etc etc etc. Burnout is common for artists, who live in a a hurricane of overwork and isolation. Add into that the confusion between seeing our art as a business AND a creative pursuit, its no wonderr we get overwhelmed!
Signs of overwhelm can come as physical symptoms such as pain or fatigue. These are warning signs. Balancing creative work with adequate rest and remember to find joy in one's practice can help combat burnout.
TIP 1: Prioritize
Remember to prioritize your physical health, going for walks, moving your body, and adding finding joy in the studio to your “to-do” list.
TIP 2: Try Reframing
Write down 3 things that feel most draining in your process, now try to reframe them and write what might be enjoyable about these tasks. How can you do it in a more rewarding way?
TIP 3: Try Pairing
Combine the task with a different enjoyable activity, your morning cup of coffee, listening to a juicy podcast, or eating a special treat. For instance, if social media feels burdensome, use it as a visual log to record your progress rather than obsessing over engagement.
2. Dealing with Rejection and Criticism
There are many artists and few high end opportunities, as such rejection is a standard part of the artists life.
REFRAME: Being rejected means that you are trying!
Rejection feeds into our negativity bias and makes us questions our worth and talent. Artists must understanding that rejection isn't personal and shoud focus on what can be controlled. Let’s say you sent out an email to a gallerist and did not hear anything back. Many artists immediately think negatively “they dont like my work, I wrote something offensive, Im horrible!”.
TIP 1: REFRAME
Take a deep breath and write down three the external / non-personal reasons for radio silence (or whatever rejection your dealing with) “they are really busy putting up a show right now, they are working on a reply and didnt hit send, they are having health issues and simply forgot”.
TIP 2: Remember Achievable Goals
Separate external goals (getting a reply, getting press, social media engagement) from internal goals (simply reaching out, enjoying an event, making meaningful connections, applying to opportunities). Set realistic achievable goals that you have control over..
3. The Pressure to Be Productive
The pressure to constantly produce can diminish joy in your art-making. Social media exacerbates this pressure, making it seem like everyone is constantly creating and succeeding. Several artists we spoke with voiced the need for for periods of rest, embracing a more ideal artist lifestyle of leisure and creativity.
TIP 1: Reframe your goals
Reframe productivity to include smaller, more manageable goals. For instance, instead of aiming to finish an entire series of paintings, focus on experimenting with one new technique or completing a single sketch in a studio session. This approach helps maintain momentum while keeping the process enjoyable.
TIP 2: PERMISSION
Many of us feel the need to be productive. We think that having a busy stressful studio practice means we are successful. Give yourself permission to be a leisurely artist. Spend time reading, sunbath for an hour. Live the artists life that other want for you.
4. Maintaining Joy in the Studio
Finding joy in creative practice is vital for avoiding burnout. This involves engaging in work that feels rewarding, even if it's outside the usual commercial expectations. Artists should savor positive moments and share our wins, even if it feels like bragging. The impulse to couch our success as bragging is part of “imposter syndrome”.
TIP: SAVORING
Actively practice savoring. Write down one win you had recently. It doesnt need to be big. Perhaps you had a show, a nice comment from an admirer, a small sale, or even a pleasant hour working in the studio.
TIP 2: ENHANCE THAT SAVOR FLAVOR!
How can we expand on that joyful moment? One trick is to share it with others. Write it down, take a picture to remember it, tell your friend or family. Integrating this into a daily practice can reinforce positive feelings and helps counterbalance our negativity bias.
5. Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling of doubting one's abilities and fearing being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of success.affects artists at all stages. Comparing oneself to others or downplaying achievements feeds these insecurity. The key to combatting imposter syndrome is to remember your super powers and be mindful when we are second guessing yourself (you cant always stop it, but you can be mindful when it happens!)
Artists should acknowledging our successes. No matter how small a win is. Attribute these successes to luck or lowered standards is a huge part of imposter syndrome. Remember there is always someone who will appear to have more than you, but there are those who will desire you’re successes too.
TIP 1: WINS
Sit down and make a list of everything you've achieved in your art career, no matter how insignificant it may seem. This list might start small but if you come back to it tomorrow, you will find more and more to add.
PART TWO: Now reflect on all those who have supported your art career so far. Reflecting on the successes and the support will help combat some of the insecurity and feelings of scarcity which accompany being an artist.
TIP 2: YOUR SUPER POWER
Now write down all the things you are good at. Write down the expertise you have built over the years (are you great at a technique? Are you part of an artist community? Do you find joy in your practice?) and revel in the knowledge that you have these super powers!
6. Navigating Social Media
Social media is a double-edged sword for artists. It serves as a valuable tool for exposure AND a huge source of stress. Apps like Instagram pair unrealistic goals with the promise/FOMO of overnight success and our lack of control over shady algorithms.
Many find it helpful to limit time on platforms, only access instagram from a desktop, and and avoid scrolling through others' feeds.
TIP: The Portfolio Method
Two realistic goals are to using social media strictly as a portfolio for your artwort (such as keeping the top 9 images on instagram up to date with your best work) and using the platform as a messaging tool to stay connected with colleagues. SEE OUR TALK ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ARTISTS
7. The Myth of the Suffering Artist
Artists should challenge the notion that art must come from a place of suffering. The romanticization of the "struggling artist" is a harmful cultural trope that discourages seeking help or taking care of oneself.
Recognize that improving your mental health can actually enhance your creativity. Allowing yourself to be happier doesn't diminish your artistic value.
8. BUTTERFLIES AND ANXIETY
Many artists experience anxiety, often described as "butterflies" in your stomach. This feeling comes up when presenting new work, attending an opening, or putting yourself out there. For some, butterflies signal excitement, but for an anxious artist they can feel like a sign of danger or a threat. This is linked to negativity bias, where our brains focus on potential problems than positive outcomes.
TIP 1: REFRAME
Try reframing those butterflies. If you have an upcoming art opening with thoughts of "what if nobody shows up?" Shift your focus. Ask yourself, "What am I looking forward to?" Maybe you're excited about seeing a good friend and catching up.
TIP 2: BODY SCAN
Take a moment for a quick body scan—are you feeling that anxious buzz? Write down one positive thing you're looking forward to that might be causing that jittery feeling. It can help turn anxiety into anticipation.
Conclusion
A career as an artist may not always provide predictable rewards, but the small joys and moments of connection make our work worthwhile. By sharing resources, fostering community, and supporting each other, artists can continue to create in a way that nurtures both their practice and their mental health.
MORE RESOURCES:
• NPR: building happiness and stress less.
• Free Harvard Class on Happiness
• Meditation Apps: Headspace, Insight Timer
• Book: 10% happier (its a podcast too!)
• Book: The Upside of Stress
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