There is a process to creating artwork, so why not think of your career as an artist with a process? What is your process in creating a successful career? I pondered this same thought. But not until I read Darren Rowse's post - 5 steps for Planning the Direction of Your Blog in 2009, did I realize that I could use these same steps in planning my career as an artist.
Use the following 5 steps to help you plan your career as an artist.
1. Define your Mission.
In October, 08 I wrote a post on creating a personal mission for yourself, this still remains true. Having a mission for your art career confirms your purpose as an artist.
2. Create a Vision.
Where do you see your career going in the next year? Write it out, and this becomes your vision statement.
3. Set Goals.
Write down 3 to 4 goals on how you plan to achieve your vision. Make sure your goals are realistic and attainable.
4. A Strategy.
What do you need to do to make sure you reach your goals? This will require you to make some changes to what you are currently doing. It may mean taking additional courses to enhance your craft, change medium, creating a detail schedule, hiring an assistant, etc. Overall establishing a strategic plan for your art career is going to require some changes.
5. Action Plan.
This is more about what actions you are going to do to get you closer to goals, which in turn, will help you achieve your vision. The key word in this step, is DO. Your action plan statements should be doable. If one of your goals were to showcase artwork in more galleries, then your action plan would be to send out 3 gallery packets a week. So plan your action and make them doable.These five steps may seem a little to much, but we artist have to stop thinking that things will just happen. We got to take a more pro-active approach to the success of our craft.
