I remember when I was still dreaming about having a creative career and found it challenging to wrap my head around it actually happening and now that is exactly what I have. So if you are passionate about making art, music, writing, or something else creative, you can build a creative career.
I will say that building a creative career is at times quite challenging, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t know to want to not make art it took me quite a few years to figure out what that looks like and I want to share some times to help you get started!
Find your passion. I know this sounds cliche and some people will steer you away from this but I do believe that passion is an important ingredient. So, what are you most passionate about? What do you love to create? Once you know this piece, you can start to focus your studies and work on developing your skills.
Invest in yourself. I don’t believe all creative paths need training. I am a self-taught pyrography artist but I did invest in myself whether it be time or watching videos. Here’s the thing, the investment you do has to make sense for your personal path. Perhaps you simply just need some basic business courses or you could go full in on some classes at a community college or university, attend workshops or online courses, or apprentice with an experienced professional.
Build your portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of your best work. I have this as my gallery on my art website and it consists of work commissioned by people from all over the world and things I wanted to create of course.
Network with other creatives. One of my favorite things to do when I go to events is to connect with people – sure I am there to sell my art but I love networking and making new friends. Get involved in your local creative community. Attend art shows, meet-ups, and workshops. The more people you know, the more opportunities you’ll have to get your work seen.
Don’t give up. This may be by far the most important tip because building a creative career takes time and effort. I’ve been at this for 25 years and have hit some setbacks along the way. But one thing I don’t know how to do is to give up on my dreams. Keep creating, keep learning, and keep networking.
Be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Be weird, be wild, be quirky. Your unique voice is what will make you stand out from the crowd.
Here’s the thing, building a creative career is challenging but it’s also incredibly satisfying. If you’re passionate about creating, don’t give up on your dreams. With hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
In the Wild Hearted Creative Circle in September we are talking about Monetizing Your Creativity. The Wild Hearted Creative Circle to help you achieve your creative goals, offering a unique blend of support, inspiration, and growth opportunities
1 thought on “A guide to building a creative career”