What Separates Professional and Amateur Artists?

[@dianecharest8365]

I love that painting behind you. And yes, you are right.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thank you!

[@suzanneolson1628]

It sure helps to feel passionate about the process! Each day after I finish my work day to hustle to my painting materials. Can’t wait to practice!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thank you for watching, "What Separates Professional and Amateur Artists?" Thanks for your continued support!

[@vivavidadela]

I started to paint 5 months ago. I was so excited that I would paint minimum 2 hours a day almost everyday. I have 3 kids and would do it as soon as I come home from work and then continue after bringing my kids to bad. I never painted before in my life and went from zero skills to painting like a professional in 5 months and already painted over 100 paintings. I still want to get better so I’m not interesting in selling my art yet but to get to a professional level, you definitely need to paint everyday and watch a lot of videos and practice what you’ve learned.

[@adielyyari]

Amazing channel and Amazing content. Thank you for sharing all this.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

You’re welcome!

[@ellenvd5543]

You are right! Thanks for these videos David, I always learn a lot from it!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Ellen, you’re welcome

[@GreenCatQueen]

Interesting and thought-provoking. Thanks for sharing.

[@anthonybari1328]

These are very good points you have made. Your proficiency as an artist and accumulating a large body of work will naturally happen over a matter of time with more and more practice. That being said, my thought is that if you've created only about 100 paintings or even just a few dozen, if you feel confident enough that you would like to try selling your work, then by all means go right ahead!

[@karlabritfeld7104]

Doubtful it's very consistent if you've only got 100 paintings.

[@GreenCatQueen]

I agree. In today's online marketplace, it can't hurt to offer up your art for sale. Maybe it isn't as technically good as others, but someone might like it!

[@foodforthought4546]

You make absolutely valid points. There are some other aspects to this. These two words are also used to establish in many people's minds whether he/she is earning a living at it. Fortunately or unfortunately. In earlier times these words were not used. Van Gogh today might be called an amateur. Some words have the "income" built into them, e.g. we wouldn't say a professional dentist or architect but somehow we must qualify the artist. Similarly with musicians. I have spent enough time at my music to be considered "professional" but that is all. I just don't get any respect. 🙂

[@karlabritfeld7104]

People will make all kinds of excuses not to practice. "I don't have time" is the biggest excuse in the world. Or they complain they don't have a studio. Got a kitchen table? There's your studio. I agree with you. Stick to it, practice, practice, practice.

[@jebcar9618]

lol i do one painting for a couple of months since i'm busy with college and other parts of my life. I wish i could just paint small paintings that are practices and not actual paintings but the whole process of oil paints is messy for me in my room and i have to dedicate time for painting and for cleaning. Thats why a work may go instead of a week or two to a month or two of unregluar panting sessions.

[@jaedo71]

I think you can work in different media as long as the work possesses some of the artist's noticeable traits. Even 3D work.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

I know folks who do it - sure you can do anything. I just depends on how much work you want to put into being great at multiple mediums and have the same character run through all of them. It’s 2-3 times the work and most people can’t do it - most can’t do it in just one medium. It’s always amateurs who think they can do it all and have it all turn out great - professionals know better.

[@xiomarareyes2364]

What's an ideal amount of time to dedicate to practicing painting for a beginner? Everyday?, 4-5 a week? How long each session?

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

I’m not sure there is an answer to that. Paint when you feel like painting - so you get joy from it. If you’re making yourself paint on a schedule when you don’t really want to paint, then you may grow to resent the process. It’s different for everyone and there is no universal answer. Try different amounts of time to see what works best for you.

[@xiomarareyes2364]

@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 Will do, thank you.

[@GreenCatQueen]

@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 How much time do you spend painting?

[@southpaw___]

Hey Mr. Kessler! Do you do this full-time? Make a living from painting?

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

I did, but I’m currently retired.

[@southpaw___]

@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 Wow! Very encouraging as a young 23 year old abstract painter who wants to do this full-time.

[@AnastasiaZabrodina1186]

I would probably agree with what you are saying, but again it's quantity Vs quality, I'd say there are painting styles you can't physically do a painting in two hours, instead you do it in ten days. Does it make one a bad artist if they spend more time on one painting?

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

It doesn’t matter if it takes two hours or ten days - that isn’t the point. The point, maybe you should watch it again, is that professional artists create a cohesive body of work and paint lots of paintings. I know lots of professional artists, and regardless of style, technique, etc. they all paint more than 80 paintings a year that all look like they were done by the same person. Amateur artists dabble in lots of “styles” and techniques, and have no direction and no cohesive thread in their work.

[@GreenCatQueen]

@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 How many paintings do you typically produce in a year?

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

@@GreenCatQueen 150-200

[@GreenCatQueen]

@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717Wow, that's a lot. Thanks for answering my question. I like your art!

[@maxlinesartist]

Correct Practice I was a successful muso got gold records played millions on TV all that stuff the key in my music was practice it applies to art as well good stuff .

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@GabrielStocktonWatercolors]

Truth

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thanks for watching Gabriel!

[@pedrosiqueira1898]

Alright, but what am I supposed to do with these thousands of pieces that I'm going to paint, once no one want to buy it because they don't know me?

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Get to work and get people to know you! Stop wasting your time on KZbin

[@vivavidadela]

If you paint for fun it doesn’t matter. Someday when you are known you can sell the old ones for less or gift them to followers or friends.