In my last post I talked about realizing your potential to make a living as an artist. Potential is something I believe all artists have and one artist left a comment that supports that, you should check it out. But potential is just the beginning, the first step. The second step is action. Once you’ve recognized your potential you then must take action even if you’re not confident of your potential. Have faith it is there (because it is) and let that be a call to action.
The action you take really depends on where you are at. I know many artists are creating work but have not shown it to anyone. If that is you now is the time to start sharing your work. If you are in a gallery or two but you are not happy with sales take action and look for new avenues to get your work moving. Been thinking about putting your work online but have not done it yet? What are you waiting for? Do it. Whoever you are, wherever you are there is an action waiting to be taking. It can be big or it can be small but what ever it is, you need make the leap from potential energy to kinetic energy.
More fun with movie clips.
I am going to stick with The Matrix for the movie illustration to try and show you the importance of action. The hero of the movie believes in the potential of something or someone out there but he can’t put his finger on it. Recognizing that potential he takes action and spends his nights searching for a person he believes can help him. So much so that he falls asleep at his computer while taking this action. But his actions still prove to be powerful.
His action is small and I am sure most people would have told him he is wasting his time. But it is that tiny action that sets things in motion and changes his life forever. Eventually his actions cause his goal to come looking for him. For most of us action leads to truly recognizing our potential.
Potential is nothing without action. Recognize your potential and use it as a spring board to action. It is easy to use the excuse of “I don’t know what action to take,” as a reason to do nothing. If that is your thinking the action you need to talk to someone. Speak out loud where you are at, what you’ve done, what obstacles you are hitting, and through that conversation you will find your answer. Trust me. (If you have no one to talk to about this drop me a line, we’ll get it figured out.)
And the one thing you can always do not matter what is create. Whenever you are feeling stuck in your art career make art. You can never make too much art and you can never have too much practice. And as you work the process will help you know what actions to take beyond your studio because it will just reinforce that potential you know you have and that will give you the confidence you need to take action. Because I would venture a guess that most times we don’t know what actions to take it is because we are afraid to take the steps we need to take.
Step 1: Recognize your potential.
Step 2: Take action.
You can make a living with your art!
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