07: Don’t try to make good art, try to make your art.
“Just make for 5 years, focus on the practice then you’ll be an artist, most people give up before then”
You’re Reading Adam Ming’s Daily Blog, This month I’m writing a series about taking time for your creative practice. Each post, includes an invitation to spend ten minutes developing your creative practice.
I’m doing this in October to complement any Drawing challenge you might be doing. I will be doing the classic inktober.
in If you want to get this in your inbox, you must first be a subscriber of Ten Minute Artist, then toggle the Daily Blog on.
Or you can just bookmark this page and check in whenever.
—
You’re Reading Adam Ming’s Daily Blog, Unpolished Thoughts and Ugly Work. Each blog also includes a sketchbook prompt. If you want to get this in your inbox, you must first be a subscriber of Ten Minute Artist, then toggle the Daily Blog on.
Or you can just bookmark this page and check in whenever.
Today’s 10-minute invitation
Use 3 sources of inspiration, think of them as ingredients and make something new. The sources can be diverse and varied, 3 paintings, 3 songs, or a phrase heard, a sculpture, and a scene from a movie. how would you use these ingredients to make a dish?
Don’t try to make good art, try to make your art.
I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday who is a gallery artist.
I asked him the question that he gets asked often, what advice would you give an 18 year old with aspirations to be a successful gallery artist. The context of me asking the question vs the 18 year and somewhat frames the question.
“I can’t tell you how to make your art.
And telling you how I make my art will almost certainly be useless to you.
So I can’t be specific.
And if I were to go general then, you should know all the general things already so what can I say to you.
I guess I can say just make your art. Make it for 5 years. Don’t focus on making it good, that’s the mistake, just make. Focus on the practice.”
Trying to make ‘good art’ is making yourself the judge of the work.
Maybe we need to leave that to someone else, maybe we just need to make, and put stuff out there and have the patience and persistence to keep doing that. The thing my friend was most excited about showing me was his easel that he built.
It had hydraulics, so he wouldn’t have to adjust the chair as he painted.
Here was an artist who started from his tools.
I think about what tools have, before I think about the work. Now my artist friend’s studio was filled with all manner of machinery, but we can always think about the tools we have as a starting point.
And this might be as simple as a post it pad and and idea.
As artist I believe building a practice is the key.
I built my practice for making children’s illustration first, and I did it for 2 years before I got my first job. Then when the job came in I just kept working except now I got paid for it.
I’m not saying try to make bad art, just make what you make as at high a standard as you can, and keep making. Keep getting better at your craft.
The practice delivers the outcome.
Effort, Persistence, Focus.
You know the general stuff that you already know.
On the 7th day of Inktober, I drew my passport. It expired two years ago. I’m going to get it renewed soon. I might need it.
Where are you from?