10 Weeks to Improve Your Artistic Career – Week 10

Week 10: Connect with your community.

One of the greatest assets we have as working artists is each other. Sharing experiences, asking questions, and learning from what we see and enjoy are all ways to greatly improve artistic practices and careers.

I hope that the 10 week project has sparked some ideas for you, or motivated you to do something that you love. While I was planning these 10 posts, I wondered, which would be most useful? Which made the most sense?

In the spirit of this week’s project, I reached out on Twitter and asked, “What is the single most important thing that has improved your artistic career?” The replies I received were inspiring and insightful, and I’m happy to say a lot of us agree on the best ways to improve as an artist. Many thanks to those who took the time to tweet a reply. A simple example of “ask and you will receive.”

Here is some wonderful advice from your peers:

@CanningMichael choosing to improve. And making plans and sticking to them.

Michael is an artist working out of Ireland who has shown in numerous venues all over Europe. Check out his work here.

@cherryrae for me definitely working with other like-minded artists regularly. I would never be where I am without that.

Cherry Rae is a prolific artist in multiple disciplines. You can check out her Facebook fanpage here.

@bluefuze drive to constantly learn & improve in one’s own. To take charge of your own path. These have been invaluable to me.

Doug is a professional designer, illustrator and artist running his own successful business out of Stony Plain, Alberta. You can check out his work here.

@Enlifestudio having my professor challenge me to do something different, I would never be doing what I do now without that push.

Alex Stewart is a BC painter drawing inspiration from anthropological aspects of graffiti and the world around him. You can check out his work here.

@memorycollector getting my BFA

Lindsey Kemp is a Toronto-based artist and photographer and is the editor of Eye Am Alive. You can check out her work here.

@VTurnerArt Learning 2 talk about & share my work

Vanessa Turner is a Bermuda-based artist adept at charcoal and pastel pieces. You can check out her work here.

@sonnyassu never being afraid to experiment, switch it up and not do what is expected.

Sonny Assu is a well-known Canadian contemporary artist. His work has been shown at the Vancouver Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Canada, and numerous other venues. You can check out his work here.

@erinbgray an 11 month residency at @Arrowmont a year after receiving my BFA.

Erin Gray is an artist, registar, and curator based out of North Carolina. You can check out her Twitter feed here.

@DEpleinair I won a scholarship for my senior yr in undergrad school. Having someone believe in my work made a big difference.

Jan Crooker is a well-known painter who has had multiple exhibitions all over the USA. You can view her work here.

@ErikParra hands down, the @creativecap Professional Development Program

Erik is an art educator as well as a highly successful artist. He has exhibited across the USA and internationally. You can check out his work here.

Week 10 project: Connect with your community, reach out, engage, explore, interact, and create!