How do you think like an artist? Hang on – do artists actually think differently from ‘normal’ people? Do they also act differently? Then how do you act like an artist? In this post, we are going to delve deeper into what it means to have an ‘artist mindset’, and I’m going to share with you 5 strategies to help you think more like an artist & act like one!
How do you think like an artist? Hang on – do artists actually think differently from ‘normal’ people? Do they also act differently? Then how do you act like an artist?
Since Pablo Picasso famously said:
“Good artists borrow, great artists steal.”
we all know that you can ‘steal like an artist’. But interestingly, you can also think like an artist. There are specific habits of thinking that artists cultivate.
In fact, studies showed that artists tend to have an analytical mind and a very specific way of seeing the world around them. So if you feel a calling to be an artist, you can help a little bit along by learning how to think like an artist!
What do you think makes someone an artist?
What does it mean to think like an artist?
We are all creative beings, and every one of us can learn to think like an artist.
Artists are creative, intuitive, curious, inquisitive, and playful. They come up with a lot of ideas, they ask questions, and many express their subconscious, inner world through their creations (for example through surreal art).
In fact, many artists see art as a means of self-expression. But they also approach art with a very specific mindset that everyone can acquire and benefit from!
How can you think more like an artist?
In a nutshell, artists cultivate certain habits that allow their creativity to flourish. So if you want to think more like an artist (and be more creative in return), all you need to do is adopt those habits.
Here are 5 powerful mindset strategies that you should consider picking up in order to think and act like an artist! Let’s go...
5 Mindset strategies to think like an artist
1. Embrace uncertainty.
There are many things that artists struggle with. What are the challenges of being an artist? Well, there’s a huge amount of uncertainty in every artist’s life.
You never know whether or not your audience will like your next artwork, you don’t know if you’ll be able to make sales next month, and maybe you don’t even know what to create next.
This state of uncertainty, of not-knowing, is extremely uncomfortable for many of us. Still, uncertainty has already led to many great creative breakthroughs!
So the problem is not that you are struggling as an artist. The problem is that you are not allowing the uncertainty.
If you want to think like an artist, you’ll need to learn to embrace ambiguity and get comfortable with not knowing what’s happening next. Be ready to leave your comfort zone!
2. Be adventurous.
Apart from embracing uncertainty, thinking like an artist means being adventurous and playful.
Do you know the feeling of being scared to make art? You have a great idea coming in, but you are hesitant about bringing your vision to the canvas because you are afraid of what people might say.
Or maybe your inner critic kicks in and tells you that you’ll never make, this just cannot work, it’s bound to go wrong…
If you adopt a more adventurous attitude, it will be much easier for you to experiment and try out new things. After all, it’s important to take risks in art.
So, the next time an unconventional idea comes to your mind and you like it, just create it!
You don’t need to create a masterpiece, simply enjoy the process and have fun with it!
3. Make bad art.
What?! Thinking and acting like an artist means to make bad art? Are you kidding me?
Wait, wait. As weird as it may sound, but to think more like an artist, you need to become more open to the fact that not all of your creations will turn out exactly the way you imagined.
In order to be able to create ‘good’ art, you must have made a whole lot of ‘bad’ art.
This is what traditional painters refer to as ‘brush mileage’. You will never be able to create an awesome painting, if you haven’t practiced enough and screwed up a lot in the process.
Every craft needs practice, and the same is true for art. When you are just starting out, you pieces will look everything but perfect. Regardless of whether you make traditional or digital art, there is always an entire set of skills you’ll need to learn before you can create great art.
But even if you have gathered a lot of experience as an artist, there will always be pieces that just don’t turn out as expected.
But that’s normal. Just take a look at the portfolio of your favorite artist. Chances are you will find works that are better in terms of technique or vision, and others that are not as ‘good’.
That’s why I say that in order to think like an artist, you need to learn to embrace making ‘bad’ art. No artist can create a masterpiece every time they make art. Not even the greatest artists. So, go and make bad art. A lot.
4. Create on a schedule.
If you pick up any book about the habits of creative people, you’ll notice that all of them tend to create on a schedule.
Nearly all great painters, designers, musicians, writers, and other artists have fixed times of the day set aside for creative work.
Even though being creative when your time planner tells you – instead when inspiration strikes you – may sound funny at first glance, but it absolutely makes sense.
Nowadays, there are so many distractions awaiting us around every corner that having specific creative time slots in our routine is immensely helpful.
When it’s time to create, you put away your phone and don’t check your social media feed. You don’t let that phone call disturb you. You don’t do the laundry now, you do it later.
Maybe you want to create a bit every day, maybe you want to create for a couple of hours every weekend. You do what works best for you.
As weird as it may feel at the beginning, you will quickly appreciate the creative consistency. Just give it a shot!
5. Seek an audience.
First and foremost, you create art for yourself. It should be a source of joy and happiness for you. It’s an expression of your personality and identity as an artist. That’s why making art should be a fulfilling experience for you.
But at some point, we all have the desire to connect with like-minded individuals, be it other artists, art lovers, buyers, or collectors.
Forging a community, showcasing and selling art is also part of the mindset of an artist.
If you don’t showcase your work, if you don’t create at little bit of exposure for you art, you simply cannot be found by an audience. There are people interested in all types of art, so the challenge is only to find those who like what you create.
Finding an audience is also to do with marketing your art. Now, before you throw your hands up in horror and cry out that you are an artist and not a marketer, think about it that way: every artist who has a following and is selling their work has done some marketing.
If you are an introvert like me, marketing will never be your favorite activity, but there are so many things you can do to make your art known and sell a couple of pieces. One of those things is building an artist website and optimizing it for search engines.
For more tips and advice, check out the section Showcase & Sell Your Art here on my website!
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I hope these five tips were helpful to you to forge an artist mindset. Please leave questions and comments below. I’d love to hear from you! Make sure to sign up for my email list below so you don’t miss out on new blog posts and other cool stuff. ♥
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