Be Flexible In Your Art Career - Tips For Artists

[@jclum3]

After dropping off art at a cafe 3 weeks ago for a show, they hadnt hung any of it and said they did have a chance to buy nails yet. The next day I showed up with a box of nails and a hammer and said "lets do this!" I hung the paintings myself, they didnt have to do any of the work. win/win

[@ArtHealsTheSoul]

Yup I had a similar situation! You got to put your life in your own hands in all aspects of it it’s not easy but if it would be easy everybody would do it !!

[@ShawNshawN]

Ya I always hang it myself right off the bat.

[@Lacroix999]

I know people get busy, but after 3wks, I’d probably think they didn’t care. The thought of “not having nails” probably should have crossed their minds when they chose to show your work and should have said something then, not wait around for you to come back and do it yourself. The possibility of them just not wanting to hurt feelings could have been the real reason and that was just their excuse. When I worked retail, one of the owners agreed to take a sign to advertise the product of another company outside of the store and left it out there to be seen. When the second owner got there and saw the sign, he hauled ass through the store as fast as he could with the sign so no one could see the sign because he didn’t want to advertise like that and have the store be seen as some flashy place and felt the sign was out of place there. The first owner was just trying to be nice when she took it and allowed it to be put there. Just goes to show you that not everyone who says yes, agrees that putting your product in their place actually fits there and can just try to be nice about out without being rude. If you put them on the spot for an answer (which wasn’t mentioned if you did this or not) you can’t be all that mad if they say yes but really want to say no, but you didn’t really give them an opportunity to do so and were just expecting them to do so just because you showed up there-especially if it’s with artwork in hand (again, not saying you did this, but many artists DO do this). It puts pressure on them and they feel obligated to agree even if they don’t like your work.

[@lucycannon6732]

Thought number 1: Wow! You are AMAZINGLY coherent before coffee! Thought number B: Navigating comfort zone vs fear is slippery, scary and exciting. 4: coffeecoffeecoffeecoffeecoffeecoffeecoffeecoffeecoffee

[@DandisDen]

I swear Rafi always seems to have the best timing on things. The Market i was going to wasn't working out. They had a barn dedicated completely to artists and artisans. My last weekend there I was between a Wood burner and a Candle maker! But it was a new thing this year and it seemed most people that went to this Flea Market didn't know the barn was open to the public (I think previous years it was used as storage) so there wasn't enough traffic for me to keep going - hoping to try again in the spring. I was also trying to force myself into doing resin, while painting, because resin geode-like coasters and trays are popular right now, and while I wasn't doing the geode stuff, i was making coasters and trinket dishes and even bought molds for bangle bracelets. I got tired of the resin really quickly and decided I'm going back to sculpting, while painting. I got talked out of the sculpting because a lot of people didn't see profit in it, but frankly, there's a large demand for the type of sculpting I wanna do, so maybe it'll work out.

[@linseybachko4470]

I've been derailed in life many times, most often by things outside of my control but a few times through self-imposed obstacles, and while the experiences suck in the moment, they were by far some of the most important moments of my life because they taught me that nothing is guaranteed in life. I learned early on to be flexible and roll with it, to think fast when an unexpected obstacle gets thrown in my path, and (most importantly) to take a moment to just breathe. In each of those moments, I often felt like the world was coming to an end, that everything I had been working toward was gone and all that work was for nothing. It wasn't until I was mentally able to embrace those changes rather than fight them and mourn the lost of what might have been that I saw them for what they really were - new possibilities, ones that I never would have considered had I kept on my previous path. Your rant/ramble is a wonderful reminder to be open to all future possibilities, not just the one you envisioned for yourself when you started on your path.

[@btomakart5975]

I paused this video part way through when i got the just of what you was saying ..I swear ,sometimes i feel like youre talking directly to me Rafi . I know ive told you this before , but i actually used to listen to you every day in my work truck until i built up the courage to go full time with my art career. Ive been a full time artist now for 3 years and up until this point ,it has been pedal to the metal. Ive lived in this room for approximately 15 hours a day , doing everything but sleeping in here while my patient wife lived in the rest of the house. Ive developed some health issues due to the stress of just trying to run a business . Not to mention , a continuous rotation of about 40 pieces at all times. Ive delt with burn out ..feelings of failure ..triumph ..etc.. . I call it the roller coaster from Hell. Ive now been diagnosed with IBS due to the stress and with that..Anxiety. Im now trying to pump the brakes a little and take time to smell the roses..Literally and figuratively . Anyways ,, i wanted to thank you ...lol ...again. Youre freaking amazing ..and i totally adore you...Say goodbye Klee....... "good day" (returning to video)

[@YellowMelle]

Oof, I get deep into Productive Mode sometimes too, mostly because of youtube schedules and theme prompts and stuff... but sometimes it feels like popping out of a deep pool after treading water for days and days - I realize that I've been making so much art and getting tired of it, but I'm not doing enough to *show* that art to anyone. It feels very productive to be busy 24/7 but it can also become as "useless" as playing a video game all day instead, to be that isolated :/

[@btomakart5975]

@@YellowMelle im a commissioned Artist so I rarely get to paint what I want .. Mostly do peoples pets or Children .. I still have the joy of painting but I tend to burn out often and have to squeeze in something of my own to break the monotony.

[@YellowMelle]

@@btomakart5975 Ouch! Excited that you are getting commissions, too!

[@btomakart5975]

@@YellowMelle Thank you my friend..Good thing it's my passion or id Quit 😆🤣

[@minniesartstudio]

Yes! We are all a working progress. Taking the path you need to take. I'm passionate about making my art and when I share in person folks get excited about it too! ☕ 🙃

[@beckycarpenterart4263]

This is so timely for me. I had internalized so many wrong messages from art youtube and instagram - someone would ask an artist "how did you get discovered" and so many artists' responses were something along the lines of, "oh I just posted art and it just took off!" Even knowing that it takes an enormous, impossible amount of luck to just post some sporadic art and get discovered, I still struggle with that expectation for myself and my art because no one really talks about the actual process behind it all. To dismiss art marketing as "oh I didn't really try" is doing the entire art community a disservice. Thank you for shedding light on the real process that goes into turning art into a career - it's much needed!

[@Piscesgyal26]

It's like the universe brought your rant to me! I'm 50 and been craving to do more of my art, dare I say actually try to sell and generate an income. I know I just have to DO what I love and hope that that energy will keep me moving forward in both a rewarding and financially successful art career. Thanks!

[@cindydiel4324]

I find myself getting so stuck in my own fears. The one thing you and Klee keep teaching me is how my mindset can make a huge difference to my success. I now ask myself why...why am I putting this project off or why am I not doing something more with my career. It always comes back to fear for me. I am growing as a person as I step into art as a career. I am taking small steps, but I am taking them. I am learning that fear is just a part of things and I need to see it for what it is. Something to be faced and dealt with. Not something that I will let stop me. Thank you again. Sorry to hear there are more storms looming. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

[@Mrs.Laetitia]

I loved this rant. I loved it. I might need to re watch this every now and then

[@wildcoaststudio]

Great advice. I think we're conditioned throughout life to seek security at all costs. Just look at the $$ companies spend on advertising to instil fear that if we don't do or buy whatever it is then we'll be destitute. My favorite are the people/companies who insist you need 'at least' a million dollars saved for retirement. It's challenging to ignore all the fearmongers in the world. The truth is though, that security is just an illusion. Unless you work for the government, no job is 'safe'. Just ask all of those who lost their jobs this year. It pays to develop a creative mindset no matter what you do. Of course we all need to meet our responsibilities, but the money thing is often (at least in my observation) about maintaining a certain lifestyle. If you want all the stuff then you need a lot of money. If you prefer to pursue other things and are happy to scale back then you probably don't need as much money as you think (I know from personal experience). It was only a couple of generations ago that most people were self-employed.....and most of them didn't have big homes stuffed with junk. "Decluttering" was not a word.....now its an industry! Consumerism keeps so many people trapped and seems to be one of the root causes of many not following their dreams. One final thought....self-trust is important. That's my rant over....LOL.

[@staceydenise5538]

Agreed! Unfortunately, this programming fuels the money train keeping lots of people chasing the dream.

[@aMABcreation]

Yep. Even retirement is not guaranteed. My grandpa worked as a dentist until the day he died. He loved his work that much. Some people don't make it to retirement age or even adulthood. It's sad and reminds me to keep heading towards my goals even if I am slow. My creations are my legacy and I'm perfectly happy with that. I lost my job this year (wasn't going to stay there much longer anyway) and have had time to think and create art. I know which direction I'm steering the ship and I'm on my way, rough seas and all! (Sorry, I have pirates on the mind)

[@janedevries1553]

Oh man- I needed to hear this - in a big sucky downtime right now and felt like throwing in the towel . Thankyou so much !!

[@susanjeffrey9947]

I agree Whole heartedly Rafi, I too need money to pay my bills, but I love painting even if at the moment. The shit is hitting the fan, but I'm not giving up, I put my art on Print on demand sites, and FB page, I'm tweaking and trying new things, love the motivational rants and rambles. I adore you Rafi and Klee, your like a art coach, lol , stay safe in the new storm.

[@carlabuchanan3173]

I think the answer is love! I did experiments in stores, I would put a love bomb on an item then shop close by and watch. People were always drawn to it. So love your art! Give it love vibes to Express itself into the world. Wierd science stuff lol

[@simonebaileycampbell2013]

Booya!! Will said. I guess we all need to tap into what it is we want to do. Now is the time to really let your imagination fly. No hold bar.

[@helensimonsen7707]

Go and have a coffee, and thank you for all your good info to us budding artists. I would shout you a coffee if I were there.

[@LearnWatercolorPainting]

Brilliant video Ravi. Thanks for sharing. I've been one of those artists that have been painting for 20 years and unable to make a decent income from it. I ended up in a seriously bad place. I carry on though because I just love to paint. And also because recently some good things have happened. One of my problems was that I was a reclusive artist and I still find it so hard to show my stuff or myself to people ... I always want to show the best of my work or myself but that often means not being out there so much. I am beginning to work around this problem though.

[@taterflaps475]

The mother of all rants!

[@maceyloubrown]

I love these motivational speeches which you call rants. Good start to my morning.☺️👍🏻✨

[@heatherbergquist4686]

"Heather, you're awesome! Just keep being awesome!"...thank you, Rafi!!

[@foxdenham]

Nice Rant Rafi... the thing that gets me through ‘the suck’ is resting in the realisation that ‘I Am’ in control of time. No... seriously. If financial imperatives (monthly commitments etc) bring me pressure, I downsize, downshift, give up (call it way at you will). I look for a do-able financial strategy that serves my art (not the other way round). This ‘stepping back’ gives me the breathing space to reevaluate and move forward. Sometimes it’s our expectations to earn a certain amount within a certain time that cause us to ‘contract’ and in turn ‘fail’. I drop the mental expectations where possible, relax into my own ‘pace’ and return to the reason ‘why’ I do ART in the first place. I’ve gone for many years without income from my art but this strategy ‘cuts me slack’. It works for me anyway! X

[@matthewpicklesimer293]

Rabbit trails of thought can lead to greener pastures of blessings!

[@errolmichaelphillips7763]

It's best to have 3 sources of income. Whether you're an artist or not.

[@eliciaburton4862]

Muliple streams of income has always been my mode...a must!

[@YellowMelle]

Your start with shows was probably such a major boost in the beginning! Because even with social media, the way we intrinsically use social media is the same way we use our websites: post and run. I've had youtube forever, and on Twitter, I didn't really get any engagement until I *became* that engagement for someone else. Like in real life, you kind of have to talk directly at people. Otherwise, people would still have to comb the entire internet to find our social media posts. So we think we're doing "everything right", but it's only half the job.

[@natalykenny2069]

Rafi, thank you soooo much for sharing your wisdom and positivity ! It really helps!🙏 ✨️ ❤️ 😊 ❤❤❤

[@cmralph...]

I needed to hear this. I'm in the midst of so many life changes right now and making decisions about how to implement changes in policies and move forward. Thanks, Rafi!

[@palletcolorato]

You are so correct on many points. When COVID hit and my sales utterly disappeared, I was devastated. So I decided to take a break. It was the best thing I could do for my mental health. Lucky for me I have a small disability pension I survive on. You bet it gets frustrating. Finally after the end of COVID I sold a large print of a painting I thought would never sell. Go figure. It wasn't my best work, but as the saying goes, a work of art is never completed. One has to let it go at some point. Other pieces turn out great! It has a lot to do with multiple factors. Mood, time, money, health, motivation, inspiration, and yes, for me, if it's a sunny day. Living in Canada I thrive on sunshine. For you Rafi, it sounds like coffee is the remedy. LOL! The other fact of life is, yes some luck is involved. But... Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Will some people have better luck, sure. Even Mick Jagger when asked about his success admitted luck was part of it. But he also busted his ass. I hold a degree in psychology, and it's well documented that increased behavior is directly paired with positive reinforcements. The main one in business is money. Then there is the negative part where one increases a behavior (avoid painting) to avoid something unpleasant like a slump in sales. That can be a death spiral. Rafi is correct, you gotta push through the @#$%. It doesn't mean that if you do, you will "succeed" financially. Do your best and try to stay positive in the worst of circumstances. If you have to go back to a regular job so be it. Brag about your efforts in the job interview. Every business person worth their salt will admire your efforts to become an entrepreneur. If they don't hire you, move on. It wasn't meant to be. Life can be absolute hell. I know... I've lived it. One other thing, never put all of your eggs into one basket. Creating art is akin to investing, diversify your portfolio. That means doing the work of getting out on social media, tweak, your approach, I've been tweaking (not twerking) my approach on everything for years. That includes but is not limited to, my price points, catch phrases, consistency across platforms, etc. I'm not mobile so everything I do is on the internet. I don't have a choice in that matter. The upshot for me, is I decided to open an Etsy Shop last year. I've only sold one painting, but my viewing statistics are now about 200 views per month. so the gears are turning. I know many people stopped using Etsy, and for them it was the right choice. If those stats I'm seeing prove to become conversions into sales, I'll be tickled pink. All the best to everyone!

[@minniesartstudio]

Blaze your trail! Love it ❤ It's ok Rafi you have have a beautiful mind. 🙂

[@michellenwhiteartist]

thank you for your wisdom words. It is definitely a struggle but that is why the saying is that your art is a journey that can take you in many directions and you can make the choice where to go! so that can be exciting!

[@diane-quiltingbyday7822]

When shit hits the fan, see what sticks! It may be the best work you do. You won't know until you try. Love what you do.

[@richardthaxton9890]

I think our biggest problem is related to this statement, “You don’t know what you don’t know”. Many of us are getting whatever advice we can find. It’s piecemeal at best. There’s a lot of contradictory advice even from people doing what most of us want to be doing. The metaphoric artist’s journey is now being used to get out of explaining business models for the artist’s business path. “Every artists is on their own path. They may cross paths with other artists or even travel together for a while. The path is for each one to find on their own.” This is great for the philosophical discussion of being an artist but does nothing to help artists find their way. I really believe there’s a formula to success. Maybe one day I will unlock all the clues. I like what you said about tackling fears of getting started with interacting with people. I look at it as if the artist is fishing. If you put a line in the water unattended the fish will get away. If you only use one fishing pole there’s a limit to how much you can catch. Getting on different social media and really learning what makes each work is critical. For me, focused hashtags works great on Instagram but not so much on the others. I enjoy being out there I for the of people but this isn’t how it was for me before. It was nerve racking. Now I really enjoy sharing stories about my work. A different mindset is definitely needed!

[@deborahburton2683]

This totally makes sense to me. I know the reason I have not gotten to where I need to be is laziness and procrastination. I see my potential so I blame myself. I need to get out there and get more motivated. I absolutely love my work too. Dumb on my part. Thank you for this message. 😊

[@luthiengs]

This was an amazing rant.....🤣 Thank you Rafi, I can really see how much you care about us artists ❤

[@seanreilly6819]

I really do appreciate your insight and positivity in your videos, Raf. Ppl can be serious road blocks to happiness. I HAVE the skill and the confidence to do virtually Anything. You think like I do man, all the way down to the business sense and it's nice to see myself in other ppl. Keep blazin'. 🎨

[@blancaartgallery]

Haha I just put a website up, or rather I’m in the process of making it, but it’s been a long step by step process where I’m ticking each step. This is one of the steps in many towards ‘getting myself out there’. 20:years?? - Try 40 😂 It took a lot of years before I actually realised that it wasn’t just luck that gets your art known. I’d produce and learn and produce more art, but then one day realised I could do possibly it too! Thanks for the rant. Morning thoughts into rants are the best - Im good at those, especially before my coffee.

[@Rafiwashere]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@lexybduke7204]

I've said it before and I know I'll say it again. So glad I've found your channel 😁

[@bostrickland4970]

Pushing outside your comfort zones !!! Yes :) A work in progress ;) yes yes

[@lalyalvarado8381]

Thank you so much You rock

[@coastalart7894]

Thank you 😊 best way to start my day... you motivate me 👍 👍 💫

[@jenfries6417]

Man, another perfectly timed video for what I'm dealing with right now. I am so one of those people who hold themselves back. Waiting to be discovered on the internet, for me, is just a mask for my insecurities and commitment-phobia. One of my biggest frustrations is dealing with third-party platforms, especially social media. I got myself over some humps of impostor syndrome re writing and talking about my work and building a website. (I say I get over humps because the struggle never ends. New humps rise up on each leg of the journey.) I got over a hump of performance anxiety to get onto social media at all. I got past a huge hump of fear of bureaucratic entanglements to start establishing myself as a business. I recently wriggled over a teeny hump of fear of technology to start learning how to set up a shop page on the website plan I currently have. Every single change is a struggle. I think a lot of people underestimate that - how much mental as well as practical work is involved in doing something new - just how steep those learning curves are going to be, especially when the new thing smacks into a pre-existing emotional hang-up. Just the prospect of having to do it is enough to make me avoid doing it, to my career detriment. And then I add to that the derailment factor of other people screwing up their things. All these government agencies or third-party services making changes and errors and being venal or whatever, and creating confusion and problems in whatever it is in their jobs that affects my job. Remember when COPPA was creating panic all over the place? And then there was the Wayfair decision that forced us all to have to figure out 50 states' worth of sales tax regulations and whether they apply to us in any given year. And all of Etsy's changes, and other markets' changes. Every single one of these is a legit stumbling block to a creative trying to do business, but for someone like me, who has a low tolerance for this kind of confusion, every stumbling block gets used as a crutch to prop up my excuses for not putting my work out there. So the latest one is Facebook. You talk about how a thing is not sustainable if we can't find some kind of joy in doing it, if it doesn't make us feel like we're making progress or being happy. Well, there is not one single thing about putting content out on social media that makes me feel either happy or like I'm making progress in life, and that's mostly because the people who run the media do not actually make it all that user friendly for small business. In particular, the frequent changes to their mechanics makes it nearly impossible to streamline the process. It's a constantly repeating learning curve, a constant stream of new, trivial but un-ignorable problems to solve, with neither guidance nor help from the people who created the problems. Facebook recently changed their look. Nobody likes it, of course, but that's not the point. The problem is that, for no explained reason, they decided to change the layouts of professional pages on FB, such that now, the page-owner's content is no longer in the center column. The effect of downplaying the actual content of a page is pretty stunning. You look at pages now, and it is really confusing to figure out what the focal point is supposed to be. Professional pages are supposed to be a marketing tool to get my work in front of people's eyes, and FB literally moved my content away from in front of people's eyes. And no, there is no way to undo it. So now I have to take time away from making art and give creative energy to figuring out how to fix the problem created by FB. I have to figure out a new way to present work on that page so that it will be seen. That's in addition to figuring out how to get around the suppression of page updates on followers' feeds, and the suppression of posts that include links to non-FB websites. I obviously do not want to do this, but at this time FB accounts for 50% of my audience contacts. Abandoning it will be a major setback just as I'm starting to move forward. So I have to do it. Plus, logic tells me I need to do the same grinding, life-sapping work to test out other social media I've been avoiding so I won't be so dependent on FB. It all leaves me feeling defeated. I feel like I'm climbing Everest, and every few yards, some jackasses who have absolutely nothing to do with me put a new 6-foot wall in my path. It's exhausting and frustrating and stress-inducing, and it's so easy to retreat into the safety of just "waiting to be discovered." This is all brand new, and I have no idea how I'm going to deal with it. I am not happy with it. I'm happy with a lot of things, but not this.

[@bethhansen3271]

Yup, shifting and flexing in my art career BIGTIME right now.

[@dianaparkhouse963]

My main takeaway is 'I'm awesome' Also, Rafi pre-coffee is...intense 😂

[@coastalart7894]

I was on my morning walk asking myself, “What the heck am I doing?” Well, I saw this video shortly after and know I am great with my art and actually confirmed a few new avenues I will be taking. You’re awesome!!!! ❤️

[@Koontah]

Thank you, Rafi! I sure appreciate your rants! There's so much for me to think about and plan, so much to consider now that I'm on a new path in life. No, I know there are no guarantees in life. What I do know for sure is that not being an artist/creating art or writing stories has made me a miserable, more depressed individual. I have to do this. My guts cringe at the mere thought of picking up a job at some store or other... whatever. I just don't think I can do that anymore. I need to be *me*.

[@michelleeissler3761]

No matter which video I've watched of yours (and Klee) its been so inspirational and informative. Thank you for being so honest and for all your insight❤

[@rhondacraneart]

Well said Rafi! Thanks for the rant! 👏🏻😊

[@cherylannhillsartist]

yup yup and hell yeah!! One of the outdoor art festivals I did last year cost me over $600 for booth fees, parking, gas etc. It was a 5 day event. I sold $0. Not even a danged card!!! Will I be going back? Heck NO!! Give me the $20 and $40 booth spots please!!! Until then, (when public events re-convene) my focus (which is not exactly a pinpoint but more like the size of a mall parking lot) will be on LEARNING online marketing by TRYING all kinds of stuff. No one achieves anything by just thinking about it............ well unless your a theoretical physicist (Sheldon)............you gotta do it!! When I hesitate; I ask myself "what's the worst that could happen?" If the answer is NOT death; then I just do it. We can never know the heights we might reach if we never start to climb!! - Stay AMazing!!!

[@LouisFrancoisArt]

Hey Rafi, keep the great you re doing . spread nothing but love

[@stateofgracetherapies]

Great (and timely) advice as always Rafi :) Might make some coffee too now :) :) xxx

[@stevekoch1658]

Thanks for the rants. You are awesome 👍

[@artbyscottmeyer1328]

Thanks Rafi. Your Awesome too!

[@albertacosta5828]

Thanks I needed this today, today was one of those days, as an artist!

[@matthewpicklesimer293]

Thank you sir for early morning wisdom!

[@saintjamesmodernart]

Great Stuff as Always! James 😁

[@matthewpicklesimer293]

Your insight is appreciated very much..keeping it real with rafi

[@marjiescott2302]

I just wanted to say thank you so much for your videos, I am my biggest hurdle. I don't like to put my art out there because I hate feedback (sounds terrible I know) but I don't want to hear what people think of my art then I will start to care , then I feel like people are judging me and then i close up. But year ago after I saw one of your videos I decided to pursue a career, it is not going good, your video explains all my problems, but I am not giving up. I will keep changing and challenging myself. Thank you for your constant advice. your both so great!

[@candacespees7040]

I so needed to hear this today. I've been hiding out from the world since March. My goal was to have a small shop where I can make fused glass pieces with a gallery space and maybe teach classes. 2020 was going to be my year to raise money (I'm semi retired). I was going to triple what I made do shows all over the state. Well, after doing my first show in February, the art show world crashed. I live in northern Michigan and we were one of the first states to close everything. I've been making pieces but not seriously because I still have a lot of stock from last year. I know I have to set up an online presence but have felt paralyzed. So thank you for the kick in the pants I needed.

[@blazewarriorwolf]

Literally some artists had multi whammy due to this year like the main artist who does Furry Mystery Box which has had to delay the shipping of subscription boxes 3 TIMES is also the art director for Fur Reality which got cancelled for this year(they may hold a smaller event though)! Then there's me: had to do last quarter of sophomore year remote, am now on blended learning, waited extra long to ride roller coasters this year, dealt with bad headspace from several factors several times, and watched as all furcons just about cancelled! Also, I'm gonna draw daily for now on starting today and get to writing a new long story tonight!

[@cineticomuse4377]

Excellent video, sir!

[@karenlucci2154]

Thank you Rafi!

[@Никодя]

It's always hard for me to change direction, it feels more safe to ignore the problem and keep going. But I think that being passive in your own life is not a good thing.

[@thecloverartist]

If I didn't find your youtube I never would of thrown out the rule book and I would still be highly frustrated now I'm only slightly frustrated XD ty Rafi

[@paperstrawscomics]

Change... It’s the only thing that will happen. Learning to go with the flow is one of the most important things that I have learned as I’ve grown in my own work and life. go with the flow...

[@matthewpicklesimer293]

Keep the Faith God Bless! U

[@adrivoulgarellis]

Awesome video thank you Rafi! :))

[@clairelouise355]

I recently found your channel and I love it! So motivating and interesting to learn from your experiences. I used to have an art job as a designer/maker for performance. It didn't work out in the end for various reasons and I ended up giving up and getting a 'proper' job. This pandemic has opened my eyes to realise I'm not happy doing what I'm doing, and I'm using this lockdown to re-learn some of my past skills and learn some new skills too. You're absolutely right about keeping on trying different things and learning different techniques, it's something I love to do, but when I'm figuring out new things, the work isn't necessarily that great because its experimental and just me having fun with things. In your experience, when you're at this stage, would you still put the work out there for people to see and maybe to aim to get feedback, or do you think it's better to keep the less polished work to yourself and wait until you're more confident with that work?

[@CJShopland_Art]

12:11 there are so many people on earth who buys the art I would hide. So if you’ve poured heart and soul and been present then that is my measure for if my art is good . Not the outcome . I trust someone will like it. 15:50 There is sooo much I haven’t tried, I’m designing a leaflet and will let my community 17000 here and 780000 in whole city know that I’m an artist and this is what I do. Those who don’t like art be meh and bin it but those who do will be happy for a break in the status quo discovering a new artist. No need to buy off me that is still very cool and never know who will resonate and need my art in their life, like those who have bought in the past.

[@matthewpicklesimer293]

You are awesome!

[@Studiolussoalberta]

Wow...you can do a video without coffee first????? You are amazing!

[@paintingtheskykingdom9005]

In case @Rafi, you are feeling that people are blaming you for their lack of success, please don't take on that responsibility. You have never said that someone should just quit a job and become an artist and expect it to go perfectly within 3 years. Like anything else, you may have to have another job in the beginning, and sometimes forever, although the goal is to be able to support yourself only through art......But in order to support one's self completely through art as you do... it takes doing many things as you demonstrate - going to shows (or having virtual ones) getting out and meeting people and handing out cards, being on multiple social media's, maybe having a youtube following, etc. etc. Now not everyone will have the personality and energy to necessarily do all these other things. Thus their journey may involve other ways of bringing in money than exactly as you do. it would be extremely rare to just do your art and expecting money to appear without getting the art out there someway where people can see it. (Just consider all the great artist of history that did not become well known until long after they died and someone happened to find their art that happened to have connections to a museum or such) In other words, you have never said just to quit your job, do art, and expect success. And if someone is getting that from you and then coming to you and saying 'yeah, but I've been doing that for 20 years without success" then remind them of all the multitudes of other things you do!

[@ArtistWizardry]

Now that's another helpful rant.

[@palmartvk5844]

I love your suggestions,, would be nice to have bunch of friends who are artists ,,, get together and share skills of sales,, and of course business Organization,, this is exactly what I plan with my career ,, it’s just surround myself with successful artists that are selling and share skills and have a good time together once in a while just painting,, in this business there is no competition but there is a lot of benefits in collaborations,, and I believe it gives more exposure to collectors,, Art can be great investment especially when Artist is at the beginning of the career

[@adelacreative]

Very valid advice!!

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

I figure if you are having fun and love making art, and are constantly having new ideas, then you're going to get to where you want to go ... even if it takes a while :)

[@LindaUrsin]

10 years in, I earn about $20 a month from my art as far as money goes. Not being able to physically show up in other places and having tried umpteen things that don't resonate, I now just share my art and hope for the best because there isn't much else that I haven't tried.

[@LindaUrsin]

@@Rafiwashere Thanks ☺️

[@existential-axolotl]

I think it’s easy to go into career autopilot mode without noticing and overlook opportunities, and then get frustrated that nothing is changing

[@vonfino7235]

On Point!

[@symbologee]

Awesome video...I'm guilty of hating the idea of putting myself out there. I do have an IG page, but, no traction. I need to find art buyers that love to buy abstract art.

[@shadowartist8892]

In my experience self employment is never secure. I will make art no matter what. The marketing is a learning curve.

[@thecloverartist]

Once I started tweaking and getting results I now get people messaging asking me how I get people engaged and when I am straight up with then that I interact I put my art everywhere I can I support others i try to mix up and that's I am just doing social experiments they get upset because it isn't a tried and true method they can do now BUT IT IS he min you start trying to change things will happen one way or another! Now my posting content all the time I've gone through many mediums this year it isn't even funny and I'm still growing a following despite not following any of the rules infact the more I just have fun and throw rules out the window the more people connect with me

[@melissaf5262]

An art career is so weird to some of us because I feel like in some ways it's way more about mental stuff vs. the "art" skills. I have art skills. Some of us have been arting forever, but we've discounted those skills along the ways in place of a more socially acceptable job. Once I graduated college with my bachelors of science, I got a job, finally had some free time and began vigorously consume books about new art skills from the library. I go to the art store and I'm asked if I'm a student (& get a discount!) - can I show my id? I mean.... I'm a student of life. I keep trying to teach myself and learn new things. I don't have an issued student ID that gets me discounts - does my learning doesn't matter because it doesn't come with an ID that I can show? Is it ok if I'm not perfect yet? When you have that student ID, maybe it's more acceptable to fail, to not be perfect, to stumble. Are there any artists that AREN'T perpetual students?

[@TartantazCreates]

Yeah, I have been on youtube for 5 years now and been stuck at 1k for probably 1 or 2 years now so it took me years to get to 1k. I get a little frustrated sometimes (especially when I see people grow much larger and quicker than me lol) but then I remember, I am not as active on youtube and don't post post posting my videos. I am not as driven as many. I work a rather stressful and full on day job too. So I then calm my thoughts of not being good enough. My motivation is not money but I think my motivation sometimes is just as unhelpful as money. I create first and foremost for the love ot if, but my frustration sets in when I wonder why people are not commenting, even though I use what the so called experts say is a call to action. I enjoy feeling a part of a community. I then start to over think things asking myself, do I come across as too desperate etc. Then I return back to my chore motivation which is to create out of the love of it and to hang if anyone sees it or comments etc. I then begin to feel less frustrated. I find it is all swings and roundabouts and just because I feel these things does not mean I am failing. I am human and it is natural to have these kinds of thoughts. I am still ok. I manage my thoughts well and can move no with my life. I hope this makes sense. I am now starting to slowly stock up my website with creative goodies to sell. So this is me adapting and creating fun things. I love painting portraits but it is also fun to create fun stickers and stationery etc. So I am going to keep moving forward for sure and see where my adventure takes me :) T x

[@argusfleibeit1165]

Well, all that yes, but... CAN WE REALLY BE HONEST?. There is no logic to "success" in any creative field, or even a non-artistic business venture. Some spectacular percentage of start-ups fail. Some things just do not "catch on", or appeal to the public, or find the right niche, or the right timing. America tells you to be surprised and ashamed and blame yourself for these "failures". It's just not right to let people believe that anything they do and try hard enough at is going to be a money-making venture. It doesn't mean your art or product sucks, it's just life. If it's what comes from you, that's what you came up with, it's valid. (Now, I truly don't understand thinking your stuff is crap, and trying to market it anyway, except-- YES, sometimes in America absolute crap is very successful, so like, "go ahead and give it a shot"). I've been in a position to watch others succeed, seemingly despite the lack of originality or talent, while I was doing my darnedest to make "my best effort", and attracting zilch. I still think what I was doing was valid, but I had to let go of the idea that "the best art wins". NOPE. It's just a crap-shoot. Always, look at poor old Vincent. Yeah. That happened.

[@matthewpicklesimer293]

Life coach before java!

[@BBPokie]

Did you film this during the hurricane or more recently? I kind of feel like you were ranting about the subject I asked about recently😄👌

[@BBPokie]

@@Rafiwashere it's in the air!

[@TankersleyFX]

I've tried to take the reigns, but someone has coated them with vegetable oil.. or coconut oil.. or.. they're hard to hold onto.

[@missdeesaccount]

I've been an artist for my whole life and I'm just now getting a solo gallery show. I'm very limited because I have no health and no money. I'm chronically ill and mentally ill and I'm horrible with technology. I'm doing my best and I'm not getting anywhere. I'm disabled and I can barely move, and I have to do everything while lying down and its hard. I've got a problem thinking of art to make, I guess blocked. I'm only able to spend 20 minutes on art making and I'm depressed...Some days life is so hard I don't want to live anymore.

[@Rafiwashere]

MissDeesAccount YOU ARE AWESOME! And don't allow ANYTHING to make you forget that.

[@missdeesaccount]

@@Rafiwashere Thank you Rafi! I really needed to hear that. :)

[@girlie294girlie]

Your posts are weirdly related to my current situation. Wow

[@GrimdarkKing]

Is that cough in the background where you take a 20 minute power nap every day? I love me a good power nap. Feel like life is dragging me down and I take a 20 minute nap and it's like someone put in a new battery and I'm powered up and ready to go!

[@AtomicElf1]

Having a website with no sort of marketing, networking or SEO is like setting up a shop on a two lane highway in the middle of the desert 🏜️. And then you're going to complain you have no customers? 🙉

[@Lacroix999]

If you’re jumping into this career path and expect to make money after only a coup of months and be making it-you’re very naïve. If you’re in this business for 20 yrs and haven’t made it, you’re doing a lot of it wrong and not marketing to the right crowd!

[@Rafiwashere]

That is so true!

[@angelaflinn2988]

I always wanna do all the things, and I do. Unfortunately most of the "BIG" shows in my area want you to be in a box. They require you to have all or the work you show to be "similar". Oh well... I'll do the smaller shows until the snobby political ones wise up to the fact that they are trying to squash their artists.

[@hanschristianlundholm]

Dear Rafi. I am not to tell you what to do, but your new "ADHD" fast cut editing style is out of harmony with the core of your message. I simply cannot watch the video because of that. I might be the only one, and it might be the style you want, but please take this as possitive feedback from someone who always have enjoyed following both you an Klee. Stay safe ♥️

[@hanschristianlundholm]

@@Rafiwashere thanks ♥️

[@Artystrique]

This rant reminds me, on the surface, of something I read in "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameroon (I think). She has you do Morning Pages when you wake up, because it helps to 'release' a lot of the garbage our mind accumulates overnight. Not that the thoughts are garbage. But it's all muddled together, like trash, and it's hard to sort the valuables and the recyclables (my terms) from the trash, when it's all dumped out at once. Putting it on the page helps to figure out which category the different thoughts belong in. What you've done, is that in video form. Lots of great gems here. I'll be using your, "I'll figure it out." Thanks! I've realized recently, that words have power, and the words we speak to ourselves, the most of all. I used to go to other people to offset the awful words inside my own head. Now, I'm changing what I say to myself instead. Very small changes, such as "I'll figure it out." instead of, "I don't know what to do." or "I'm afraid of that, but I'm not going to dwell on it." instead of replaying the worst inside my head over and over, have a *huge* impact. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!