What Defines Your Artistic Success?

 

Artistic Achievement

Most artists create for the sheer love of creation and spend years studying and training to develop as an artist. Other considerations, while important, are secondary to artistic excellence.

 

Recognition

No artist creates in a vacuum, and many would argue that no work is complete until it has been shared with an audience. Many artists hunger for the opportunity to share their work. Art is communication at a very emotional, and often visceral level.

For some artists, the prospect of an award or critical praise of their work is more important than any monetary gain that might come from the sale of the work.
 

Monetary Gain/Financial Stability

Many artists aim to create a business around their art. Art sales, while not easy to attain, can allow an artist to gain independence to create more art. An artist who successfully sells his/her work earns the freedom to focus more time and energy on creating.

 

Finding Balance

For most artists, motivation lies in a combination of these factors. It is important though, to understand your personal priorities. If artistic excellence is the overriding priority, you may sacrifice your marketing and business time to find more time to devote to your work. If recognition is the priority, museum shows and juried competitions will take precedence over gallery representation or shows. If sales are the priority, production and gallery representation become far more critical.