MBA Industrial Design here. I think that all art should start with the ability to draw. A foundational book like Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is a good jump start if it is important for your ego to see quick feedback. Like mastering anything, drawing is about repetition. Exercises are key for building muscle memory. I personally like to start with pencil/prisma. Don't get in the habit of erasing. From there you can work up to other medium like pen, chalk, etc. Even if you eventually end up being a sculptor, mixed media artist, 3d animator, painter, being able to draw (sketch) well is the foundation you will always use! After learning to draw well, I would suggest learning design. Things like order, rhythm, emphasis, etc. is the underpinning of all art.
Ask HN: How to Become an Artist?
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Re: Ask HN: How to Become an Artist?
#12Traction can be difficult if you mean social media, depends on how much you want to pander honestly. Social media fame can be attained by drawing the latest flavor-of-the-month meme, and good old fashioned ass kissing. Drawing fanart of popular characters, drawing fanart of other (more popular) artists characters, etc
It's frankly a depressing grind more often than not. I've been a hobby artist for about 5 years now, and I have ~6k followers on two platforms. About 60% of that came in the last 2 years. It kind of snowballs the longer you keep at it. Consistency is incredibly important!
Re: Ask HN: How to Become an Artist?
#13[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: How to Become an Artist?
#14For the high end, give the book Seven Days in the Art World, by Sarah Thornton a read. It covers the contemporary art world from the viewpoints of art critics, students, artists, auction houses, etc. An easy read that gives you the overview of that world.
For more ground level practicality, try What They Didn't Teach You In Art School, by Rosalind Davis or I'd Rather Be In The Studio by Alyson Stanfield.
Re: Ask HN: How to Become an Artist?
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
> see the recent shed posting What was it? Can you link to it?
Submitted 23 hours ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29770105 (If you scroll to the very bottom of the page, there's a search box.)
Oh yeah ok, but that post didn't have anything to do with art, and the critics weren't about how the shed looked but how it's built dangerously, ignoring many basic security features.
Re: Ask HN: How to Become an Artist?
#16I went to undergrad for graphic design and worked along side several artists in the art building, and I also know of a few working artists. I'd like to present you my brief anecdotal understanding of their art careers.
Recognition and shows usually come from connections, many of which are formed over a four year liberal arts education. Indeed, college and university art programs put on multiple shows a year, and a local community college art class can be a very cheap way to enter into a small but passionate art world. Many of the fine artists/illustrators from my school's art program ended up working for commissions in one form or another, promoting their work and socializing with other artists constantly on Instagram and social media.
There are tons of small coffee shops running small sales and shows of art all over: it doesn't take college connections to show art here per se, just a certain amount of charisma and a good portfolio.
If you are interested in becoming an artist, I'd encourage a HN reader to keep a few analytical and rational practices when approaching the art world, but to throw away the engineer's notions of done, perfect, and exact. One should gravitate towards art they love and imitate it until they are enjoying their artistic process.
Re: Ask HN: How to Become an Artist?
#17This is from a fashion photography perspective. I've start taking photos for over 5 years. I slowly gained recognition in my area and a lot of agencies, models, industry people, etc. started to recognize my name. I've stopped because I had a bit of burnout, and Covid stopped me from taking photos of people with a team.
To start gaining recognition, you need to start producing a ton of work, a ton. You also have to think critically about your work and constantly look to improve. Look at a ton of art for inspiration. Basically look at a lot of art, and produce a lot of art.
Then you need to start showing off your best work everywhere, be active in all the social media, create a Website, etc.
If your stuff is good enough, you will start getting recognition. It won't be overnight. These days, especially with social media, there are tons of work of every kind. You need to have both quantity and quality (maybe even gimmicky) to stand out.
Also, start networking with other people in the industry. In my genre, I reached out to makeup artists, stylists, models, other photographers, etc.
Re: Ask HN: How to Become an Artist?
#18a few years back I was complaining to a friend about how much crappy art there is on the internet, and instead of sympathizing he answered with "that means I can make crappy art too" and felt empowered by the permission to not have to be good at it at first. As for gaining talent at art this is my best advice to allow yourself to be bad at it for a long time until you are good at it. This takes years, usually like 10 years or more, but you will see significant progress in a month, a half a year and a year.
But let's try to answer your other questions.
Making money - look up the 1000 true fans article, that's the core of it. With this there are many routes like having a storefront online, money from ads on YouTube, creating products (like a coffee table book or a card deck with art on it, or a coloring book, or others), but as for getting into galleries that requires being somewhat known in that local community, for that you have to do competitions, go to shows, and participate at the local level, basically focused networking.
Getting Known - Besides that you'll be doing what most marketing people do for yourself an your art, lots of social media posting(probably daily multiple times a day even - see successful Instagram campaigns), joining and building communities interacting with them and tailoring/catering to them. Ideas for content include 1.showing the art, 2.my process commentary, 3.speed painting, 4.tricks & techniques, 5.reverse engineering another artist's work, 6.inspiration and references - these matter as artists are a big part of the audience themselves.
Shows - once one has talent, network/community and awards then they get invited to shows and galleries. It would probably be best if you asked someone that works at a local gallery how they do it and what they look for, and what they know.
But all of that said the first steps is to get good, for that I recommend "Draw a Box" or college courses - professors are a good source of networking too, after that the local community is where it's at, go to art meetups, figure out where they hang out, some communities even have studio space to rent or live in things like that. It pretty quickly becomes a small world, so careful who's toes get stepped on along the way.
Re: Ask HN: How to Become an Artist?
#19If you just want a hobby, then do art as a hobby have fun. For the most part, ascension in the "art world" starts at a young age with going to art school and following what is a traditional and boring path.
I studied fine art at a top 3 art school in the US (CalArts). I’m compelled to completely disagree with you on “art school leading to ascension” (and that it also must be traditional and boring...) The best artists I know would have to be taught how NOT to be successful despite their worst effort. My advice, admittedly cynical and maybe unpopular, is that you either ”have it or you don’t”*. The asterisk being that yo…
"Having it or not having it" is completely divorced from having a successful career in art. I suppose what having a successful career means is subjective, but realistically, if you don't have art school pedigree, then you're not very likely to have a path that involves gallery representation, etc...
I agree with what you're saying though, most people who want to "make it in art" have to find their own path which is ultimately entrepreneurship, but there's not really an answer to "what works", is there?