Pam quit her full-time job to pursue art and went to school at the age of 50! Twenty years later she is building her artist website by herself! 

It takes a lot of courage to make such a big life change, and I was truly inspired by Pam’s dedication to her art.

Another inspiring artist is Carl. Despite his disabilities and lack of social support, he never gave up on his passion for art. Instead, he persevered and worked hard to develop his skills. His artwork is truly remarkable, and it’s a testament to his dedication and determination.

One of the things that struck me most about these artists is the idea that art can be a force for healing and self-expression. I heard someone said in an interview that if you are a true artist, but don’t do your art, you might end up channeling that creative energy into chaos in your life. I couldn’t agree more – there’s something truly powerful about expressing yourself through art.

The artists in my community are a perfect example of this. Despite all the challenges they’ve faced, they’ve found a way to channel their creative energy into something positive and inspiring. They’ve created artwork that not only showcases their unique perspectives but also serves as a reminder that no matter what obstacles we face in life, we can still pursue our passions and achieve our dreams.

I feel truly blessed to know these artists and to be a part of this community. Their stories inspire me to keep pushing forward in my own creative pursuits, no matter what challenges come my way. And I hope that their stories can inspire you too, dear reader, to pursue your passions and find a way to channel your creative energy into something positive and inspiring.

Do you have inspiring stories to share? share with us in my private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1437940910025060

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I don’t know about you, but I used to think that in order to make great art, I needed to wait until genius inspiration struck me. And I am a perfectionist, so that I will revise my painting over and over again. Because of that, I have ruined a couple of good paintings. And one painting took me four months to finish!

Not until a mentor taught me the good habits of a professional artist, and read a great book about the psychological aspect of habits, then I find my past habits were completely wrong. And today I totally changed the way I make my art.

First, if you want to make art your profession, you need to put out an average of two pieces of small to medium artwork per week or one big piece per week. A reputable gallery won’t even look at anyone’s portfolio unless they have at least 15 articles with the same level of quality. 

I know it’s not easy. But with a good framework and mindset, it’s totally achievable. 

NYT bestseller author James Clear introduced a couple of key mindsets regarding building good habits in his recent hit “Atomic Habits.” 

First is the power of starting with small habits. Small habits, consistently practiced over time, can lead to significant improvements. For an artist, this could mean starting with a small daily habit, such as spending 15 minutes drawing or writing. Over time, this habit can be built upon and eventually lead to longer and more productive sessions.

So, instead of setting a lofty goal for yourself, try starting with something simple like spending just 10-15 minutes a day on your craft. Over time, you can build on that habit and eventually work your way up to longer and more productive sessions.

Habit stacking is another tip from the book that I find particularly useful. It’s the idea of attaching a new habit to an existing one. So, if you always make a cup of coffee in the morning, you could attach the habit of spending 10 minutes sketching your next painting subject while the coffee brews. This can be a great way to incorporate new habits into your daily routine.

Another key takeaway is a 4-step framework, which is composed of cue, craving, response, and reward. James calls it ‘The 4 Laws of Behavior Change’. I can’t explain it in this short email. Here is the link to the book https://amzn.to/3mmjpj2

One good tip from my personal experience is to build a comfy workspace. 

It will be hard for you if you only have a kitchen table to work on your art. Find a space that is comfortable, quiet, and has all the necessary supplies within reach. Make sure it’s conducive to your creativity and free from distractions. This will help you stay focused and productive during your work sessions.

I like to put on my favorite podcast or music while I am working. It helps me to get into my “zone” faster and easier.  

Also, keep your workspace clean. It doesn’t have to be spotless. After all, which artist doesn’t has stains and messes in their studio? But to avoid turning the “creative mess” into “distracting chaos”, make it a habit to clean your brushes and major mess right after your painting session. And schedule a deep clean once a month.

Another habit I found that I can’t live without is incorporating exercise and stretching into my routine. 

The older I gets, the more I find my body needs periodic breaks in between painting sessions, or I will have a terrible backache. 

As artists, we spend much time sitting and working on our craft. It’s crucial to take breaks to move our bodies and stretch to prevent tension and fatigue, especially our backs and wrists. . Try doing some yoga or taking a quick walk around the block between work sessions. Trust me; your body will thank you!

Finally, don’t forget to enjoy the creative process! Establishing good working habits is essential, but it’s equally important to enjoy what you’re doing. Experiment with new techniques and ideas, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination.

So, there you have it – some tips to help you establish good working habits as an artist. 

Again, I highly recommend the book “Anomic Habits.” get it from here:  https://amzn.to/3Knrjk1

Don’t be discouraged if it takes some time to get into the groove. With consistency, discipline, and a little bit of positive reinforcement, you’ll be well on your way to reaching your artistic potential. Let me know if this post helps!

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A lady on my Facebook group recently shared that she likes the bold, expressive styles of paintings, so she took an artist’s course in that style. But deep down, she was not sure of herself. Even though she made some beautiful pieces, she kept second-guessing the details of her paintings.  

Intuitively, I felt that bold and expressive style isn’t aligned with her artistic temperament. 

Temperament is defined in the dictionary as a person’s nature. So I came up with the term artist temperament to describe the natural artistic style that aligns with your God-given personality. 

For example, from Rambrandt’s paintings, you can conclude that he is a humanist who’s profoundly passionate and sensible to the individuality of his subject.

On the other hand, modern artist Badquiat’s art is described as “full of frenetic but also very directed energy and vivid, simple colors.” (From: https://www.jean-michel-basquiat.org/paintings/),  reflecting his turbulent art life. 

Every Successful artist is a highly effective communicator whose art is harmoniously aligned with their artist’s temperaments. 

It doesn’t matter the style— elaborate or austere, traditional or avant-garde, great artists resonate with humanity as a whole in a broad range.  

Dig into your innate artist well—your natural born temperament. Reflect on what draws you, what triggers you, what makes you excited, and what makes you think. 

Growing up, I was always a little melancholy. I love to feel deeply, finding beauty and harmony in the little things around me. 

No wonder I always draw to traditional beauty and realism. It doesn’t matter how hard I try to venture out of my zone; my art style always returns to it. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a great practice to explore and experience new styles, techniques, and theories. You can always incorporate new things to add to the excitement of your art adventure. 

But don’t ever feel that you need to change your artist temperament to fit into the newest trend.

Leave a comment on my blog here if this post helped you!

Cheering you on!

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