Three blog posts ago, I talked at length about bad advice I didn’t take as an artist. This time, I’d like to give a shoutout to good advice I like to hear and that I try to follow. These tidbits of advice are age old sayings that have held up very well and have been useful in my art practice.

Have a Pleasant Day!
-Rae

1. The Early Bird Gets the Worm

   Yes, when I wake up early and practice a morning routine, I’m more productive in terms of a calm, effective work flow. It’s just that waking up early can be hard sometimes!

2. Hard Work Pays Off

   It’s not always true, but I like to work hard as if it is. Sometimes, there is no reward or payoff for hard work because people are jealous of the fruits of labor without wanting to do the work. Believing in my work ethic as an artist is so important because even if my hard work is not externally validated, it makes me feel good about what I’m doing.

3. Work Hard, Play Hard

   I’ve learned how important it is to balance intentional fun with my art making process. This is where inspiration happens, so balancing hard work with time and space for inspirational fun is a priority.

4. Pick on Someone Your Own Size

   In my last blog post, I addressed how most of my adult bullies felt bad about themselves and were much larger than my 4ft 11in frame. As an artist, I think the unfair act of picking on smaller scale artists applies to this saying as much as picking on smaller sized people. Being scammed or abused by institutions as an artist is crushing personally and professionally. Fighting for the rights of artists in these situations is a long, hard process. So, I think the advice to pick on someone your own size is important in many ways.

5. I Don’t Care What People Think

   There is a delicate balance between not caring what people think and considering constructive critique and criticism as an artist. Putting artwork into the world, especially if it’s for sale, means the thoughts and feelings audience do matter and everyone IS entitled to an opinion. But, not allowing myself to get bogged down by fretting about the anticipated thoughts of a hypothetical audience saves me a great deal of anxiety.

6. Drink Water/Touch Grass/Move Your A$%

   I can only make art when I’m happy. While many artists create art about struggle or trauma, I tend to deal with those issues off the page. Keeping in a good mood is essential for me to draw kittens wearing mittens, make colorful quilts, or refashion a vintage velvet dress. Wellness, nature, and exercise are ways I try to maintain my happiness because it’s essential to my art creation.