How to Fail as an Artist
American journalist and editor Herbert Bayard Swope Sr. once famously said:
"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure -- which is: Try to please everybody all the time."
As creatives, we sometimes struggle with what we perceive as a responsibility to our clients.
For example, we ask a prospective buyer where they might see one of our works displayed in their home or place of business. No problem so far. But eventually we step over the line by asking too many questions about the artwork's potential new home, confusing the potential buyer and not allowing the customer time to think quietly and ponder this very important question on their own. Eventually they give up and move on to another provider.
Another challenge we artists face is not being true to our artistic process. Allowing a prospective buyer to guide that creative process derails the muse and destroys the authenticity of our work. This is certainly not a problem when one is producing work on commission. But creating a body of work in advance from which we then present pieces for sale to our clients certainly does require staying true to our own values.
Give yourself a better chance at success. Do what's right for you, and let the chips fall where they may.
My two cents.
