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5 Common Mistakes You May Be Making as an Artist… and How to Avoid Them

Creativity fuels artists to express themselves and share their unique perspectives. However, a successful artistic journey often involves more than honing just your craft itself.

This week we explore 5 common mistakes that artists often make, as well as highlight crucial strategies to help you avoid them.

Let’s dive in!

Mistake #1: Ignoring the importance of marketing

Sadly creating art is only part of the battle… promoting it matters too. While marketing may not be your natural calling or strong suit, ignoring it completely is a significant mistake.

After all, even brilliant pieces can go unnoticed without proper promotion. In fact, this story about how Vincent Van Gogh’s work went undiscovered during his lifetime, only to be celebrated years after his death, is a great testimonial to that.

Assuming you aren’t looking to leave it to chance, and hope to enjoy the spoils of your labor while you are still a living artist, you need to make marketing a part of your daily practice.

In today’s day and age, that means needing to build a personal brand, both online through social media, and if the opportunity presents itself, at in-person events as well.

In a nutshell, this means that social media, artist websites, and HUG Artist Profiles aren't just fancy extras.

These platforms are exactly how you expand your reach and connect with your thousand true fans.

Mistake #2: Neglecting your inner entrepreneur

All artists are entrepreneurs. Neglecting the business side of art can hinder long-term success. The more you are able to manage your finances, including having a good handle over your expenses, as well as how to price your work, the more likely you are to thrive. Understanding basic legal terms is also incredibly useful when negotiating contracts with potential clients.

Balancing creativity with an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial for building a long-lasting and sustainable career as an artist.

By recognizing the importance of both the artistic and business aspects, artists can not only enhance their visibility and financial stability but also foster a sustainable and fulfilling career in the ever-evolving world of art.

Mistake #3: Refusing to evolve

The art world is dynamic, with trends constantly in flux, especially in the advent of new technology and tools. Artists who resist change and refuse to evolve may struggle to stay relevant.

Embracing new techniques, styles, or mediums is also about continuous growth. Refusing to do so may limit your potential as an artist, and your ability to connect with a constantly-evolving audience.

This doesn’t mean you have to change your style overnight. Be open to new tools and inspiration. After all, it is only in hindsight that you will discover how your work continued to evolve over time.

Mistake #4: Fearing networking

Success in the art world often relies on connections. While networking may be daunting, especially for the more introverted of us, avoiding it completely is a missed opportunity in collaborating and learning within a creative community.

Building relationships with fellow artists, industry professionals, and potential collaborators can also open doors to new opportunities and a broader audience.

Further, while networking might seem like a formal and business-oriented term, at its core, networking is simply about building connections and making friends. It is finding people who share similar interests and appreciate your work, just as you appreciate theirs.

Mistake #5: Lacking focus

While artistic exploration is encouraged, lacking focus can lead to prolonged creative blocks. Mastering time management can help artists stay focused while developing a cohesive body of work. Without focus, artists may also struggle to communicate a consistent message to their audience.

Here to lend a helping hand is our founder and Mother Hugger Randi Zuckerberg, who has some great time management tips for artists.

Closing thoughts

Being an artist is tough - many face plenty of rejection, as well as experience several setbacks. But, remember, rejection is often the start of something new.

As we wrap up 2023, it is crucial to reflect on the challenges that spurred growth. Equally important is acknowledging the strides you've made over the past year. Balancing both the lessons learned from mistakes and the progress achieved allows you to navigate the complexities of creating meaningful and impactful creative work.

So, embrace the mistakes you have made and the growth you have experienced, and let’s make 2024 your strongest year yet!

Artist Grants & Opportunities

HUG-exclusive

• ☕️ Calling all coffee lovers We are teaming up with Lion’s Milk Cafe in Brooklyn, NY to bring coffee-inspired art to their walls, so that their hundreds of daily visitors can savor both coffee and your art. Learn more and submit here.

• 👯‍♀️ Seeking awedacious women artists! AWEDACITY Conference 2024 is seeking 30 women artists to display at their upcoming virtual art exhibition, "BEING AWEDACIOUS". Learn more and submit here.

• 🏛️ Take your art into a museum in the metaverse! Muzee Dezentral is curating an exhibition titled “IN DAILOGUE”, which centers on “traditional” artists who are genuinely in dialogue with AI tools as an integral part of their creative practice. Learn more and submit here.

• 🤝 Be a part of a virtual exhibition celebrating creative collaboration Explore the theme of collaboration in the digital realm in a one-of-a-kind virtual exhibition with Arena Art Space. Learn more and submit here.

• 💰 HUG is offering $500 USD grants to two artists each month in exchange for unminted artwork to raffle off to our community. Learn more and meet all our HUG Visionaries here.

This Week’s Art Drops

Did you know that these are just 8 of hundreds of art drops on HUG? Get a full list of this week’s art drops from HUG here.