Want to Become a Full-Time Painter? Here’s My Advice for Getting Started

When I was a kid, I immersed myself in all things beauty and art, never imagining that I would actually make it as an artist one day. It’s one of those dreams that most people live in when they’re young; doodling on the sides of notebooks in school, making sculptures out of colorful clay, and using chalk to draw on sidewalks. And then in the blink of an eye, life passes you by, and you find yourself trapped in a job you hate, wishing you could live out your childhood dream of creating art for a living. 

For most people, this dream never becomes a reality. In fact, only 10% of art graduates are working artists, according to a national study done by Artists Report Back. The rest are involved in other types of jobs, such as teaching, office work, and managerial roles. Even worse, 14% of art graduates are not working at all.

Looking at the way modern society has developed over time, it’s easy to understand why it’s so hard to become a full-time artist. There’s too much competition, too much rejection, and too many bills to pay. And on top of that, most artists nowadays have to develop marketing skills, as self-promoting your work on social media platforms is crucial to gaining visibility.

But today, I’m here to restore your faith in the so-called “pipe dream” of becoming a full-time artist, because I became one all on my own. In fact, I worked all kinds of jobs before becoming a painter, which included being a flight attendant, makeup artist, beauty consultant, and even running my own business. I also raised two beautiful children by myself while working, attending art school, and honing my craft as a painter, so if I could do it, you can too. And with that, here’s my advice to you.

Invest in Yourself

It’s so easy to fall down the rabbit hole of TikTok, YouTube, Netflix, and whatever else pops up on our screens. And while it’s completely OK to treat yourself to some form of entertainment once in a while, I highly recommend using the majority of your time toward learning about your craft. I call this “investing in yourself.”

Start by reading as much as you can. Whether that’s physical copies of books, digital ones on Kindle, or informative articles or blog posts online, it’s so important to absorb information from people who know what they’re talking about. And if you’re not into reading, that’s fine too. There are always podcasts to listen to, educational content on YouTube, and interactive online courses to take.

Most successful people in this world are avid readers and avid learners. Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk, for example, all attribute their success to reading. And you can follow in their footsteps by reading and learning something new every day, even if it’s just one chapter or one page per day. Start small and grow from there.

Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

So first, let me start by saying that it’s completely normal to doubt yourself, question your artistic abilities, and feel that intense, palpable fear of failing.

I know, because I was exactly in your shoes. I was constantly worried about money and whether or not I would live life as a successful artist, dreaming of the day when I could financially support myself and my two children. (Spoiler alert: this dream came true.)

The interesting thing about fear is that it never goes away, even as a successful full-time artist. There are days when even I still doubt myself, only, I embrace these fears instead of pushing them away. See, fear is an ingrained part of our DNA. It’s not going anywhere, no matter how hard you try to make them disappear. So rather than developing a negative relationship with the things that scare you, how about putting a positive spin on it?

Acknowledge these doubts, questions, and fears. Take the time to understand what it is that you’re truly afraid of, the root cause. And then be kind to yourself, to these negative feelings, because they are with you for a reason. 

Above all else, take action and pursue your dreams in spite of feeling afraid. Make mistakes, test out new art materials, take a new type of art class, and try anything and everything without letting fear stop you. Because if you stay stagnant in your comfort zone, you’ll never grow and become the person you were always meant to be.

Never Give Up

There’s this quote I really like by Austin Kleon, which is “Lots of people want to be the noun without doing the verb.” Basically, it means that everyone wants a certain kind of job title without putting in the necessary hard work and labor.

To be fair, most people are pretty good at starting something, whether that’s a new exercise routine, a new hobby, or in this case, a certain niche of art. But the trick to success is pursuing it day after day, night after night, for years and years on end. And that’s where most people give up because they’re bored, tired, afraid, you name it. 

Here’s the thing though: no matter what you pursue, you’re going to experience setbacks. You’re going to get bored sometimes. You’re going to feel tired. And you’re going to start doubting yourself. But if you stay on course, and just focus on the work and honing your craft, you’ll find your way to success. Because you’re doing something that most people aren’t, which is staying disciplined no matter what.

If you need a burst of motivation to get you through the day, I recommend setting a daily mantra for yourself or signing up for mobile notifications that send you inspiring quotes. For me, I always get the notification on my phone to be unapologetically ambitious, which I’ve continued to be despite all of the doubts and setbacks I’ve experienced.

Ignore the Haters

There was a transitional period in my life when I sold my business, Beautypartner, to pursue art. One of my friends said verbatim, “Maybe this art thing isn’t for you,” while another person, an artist, said, “The world doesn’t need another portrait painter.” There were so many people along the way who doubted me, who didn’t believe in me, and who felt the need to judge my instincts. 

At the time, I felt so insecure about their thoughts and opinions of me. But I soon realized that it was incredibly pointless because they had no idea what I’d been through and what I truly wanted to do with my life. And when people don’t understand you, they’re more likely to judge you.

I know it’s so easy to say, “Just ignore everyone,” but it really is true. Put your blinders on, keep your head down, and just keep creating art. Listen to constructive criticism and supportive comments but nothing else.

Just Be You

There have been so many successful artists throughout history, so naturally, some of us may feel the need to copy or replicate their work and success. But these successful artists have reached the top because they were unapologetically themselves, not because they felt the need to copy someone else. 

So my last piece of advice is one of those tried and true ones: just be yourself. You are a unique individual with your own vision for how you see the world and how you want to create art. And it’s wonderful to be inspired by other artists, but don’t let that dictate your work. Let your own imagination guide you and the art that you create. Because at the end of the day, being a successful artist comes from a place of authenticity. There’s no one else like you and that’s something to celebrate and transform into beautiful pieces that will help shape the world.

Start Your Journey Today

No matter what type of artist you want to be, the best time to start is right now. Take that first step by investing in yourself and reading as many books and articles as you can. Hone your craft and practice every day, even if you feel afraid. Don’t listen to the haters that will bark along the way. And above all else, be you, be yourself.

If you want to learn more about becoming a full-time artist and how to market yourself, be sure to check out my YouTube channel and courses on WendyBuiter.Academy, where I’ll teach you how to navigate the art industry with a confident mindset.

Stay tuned for more exciting content soon!

Love and take care,

Wendy