The King/Queen of your own online Castle

Do you really need to live in the city to become famous, to get a reputation amongst the art elite? I believe you do.  But what about those of us who can´t just pack it all up and move to the city? What about those of us who can´t throw in our jobs and commitments? I mean really, is there any hope for us of becoming famously successful and being able to live off our art?

Realistically, I think the answer is YES and NO.

I think for the locationally challenged, we really need to give it 100% all the time if we are to make a financially successful career out of our art. Often times we live in small narrow minded communities whose view on acceptable art revolves around some realistic pretty picture of a landscape or portrait. Now if you can force yourself to make these pretty kitsch little pictures then you might make some money, but realistically, how many of us are actually going to do that? Not me! I´d rather scrub toilets all day long than create art I hate just for the sake of making a few measly bucks...and I’m not saying that it is wrong because there are many artists who do that, it is just not me.

---

For internet artists, our art isn´t going to cut it unless we become the WHOLE PACKAGE! Now what do I mean by that? Creating great art isn´t going to get you anywhere unless you are more than just your ART. Not ONLY do you have to create art with impact, you need to become a part of the art itself. The secret to success isn´t just in the art you create, it is in creating the Art in YOU! Realistically, people buy art from artists they find interesting and intriguing, people who stand out and who aren´t afraid to voice their opinions and thoughts. People who open themselves up, share their pain, their desires, hopes, frustrations and beauty (by the way those who just show their pain constantly can have a negative impact, so it is good to share the pain but balancing it up with the love is the key.)

You’re not going to get a name being timid and tame or by posting your pretty little feel good artworks to your little groupies or art chick cliques. In today’s world having a voice, stepping outside the box, and being different is what will get you heard over the MILLIONS OF ONLINE ARTISTS! You need to stand out online because if you can´t do it in real life by living in the city, then you need to make an impact online. Unfortunately, the majority of online artists don´t have it in them to really stand out and make an impact. I know that is harsh but that is the truth, and I myself am not sure I have what it takes to stand apart from the crowd because for the past 3 years it seems I´ve been circling in the same holding pattern...ok there have been a few little connections made here and there with known artists but at the end of the day, everyone is in their own boat rowing up the same waterfall all trying to reach the same conclusion!

Now, let me clarify something before I continue on, there is nothing wrong if you’re not the stand out type, there is nothing wrong if your content is with your groupies or artist chick cliques, nothing wrong if art isn´t your life or you're just doing it as a hobby to pass the time...but for some of us who have this affliction (yes I call it that because for me art is something I MUST do, I have no choice) then standing with the pack day after day isn´t doing anything for our careers. You look back through history at all the artists who made great contributions to art, many of them were outcasts, walked their own path, did their own thing!

---

My advice is you better start creating like you have never done before and work out your niche, find your muted voice and let it roar, get up on your soap box and start showing your passion! Make me believe in your art because what I am seeing in my circle doesn't make me BELIEVE (not everyone by the way so don't email me.) We live in such a politically correct, anal society where we are all so scared to step on each other’s toes for fear of causing a reaction, but HELL don´t you want to be heard? Don´t you want to stand apart and have your work recognized amongst the greats, and amongst real life artists/critics? I know I do!

You know up until recently I was scared of appearing to ´want to become successful´ (and we all have our own measure of success) but you know what? Why don´t I deserve to be the next Damian Hirst, the next Rauschenberg? (yes, I can hear you laugh with absurdity.) Why does it always have to be those who are in the cities in the galleries who get the fame and reputation? Why can´t someone like me make it big without dancing and jumping through the gallery hoops or appearing on some reality TV show in the hopes I might get my voice heard?

So to sum it up, spend time creating the Art in YOU, you are just as important as the art! I'm pointing my finger at Lady Gaga, get the hint!

---