Why is it so Hard to Be a Successful Artist?
- Kathy Buskett
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Now and then I answer a question on Quora. If it's interesting I bring it over to my blog.
Q: Why is it so hard to be a successful artist?
A. I’d say one of the leading reasons is everyone (at least where I live in the USA) seems to think everything should just fall into your lap. But it doesn’t work that way. It takes hard work to do anything. And to succeed at anything, it takes persistence. It takes resilience - failing and trying again. And again. And again. Thousands upon thousands of times
We don’t hone those skills here in America. Here we say have it your way. We give participation trophies and we don’t reward hard work.
That’s why it’s so hard. You have to break past that barrier before you can break past any other. You have to be willing to put in the work.
That's one reason AI is so popular. People who always wanted to make art can now deceive themselves into thinking they can make it without any sacrifice or practice.
But it takes work and dedication. Not just to hone your craft (which must come first). But to learn to market yourself. Build a website. Start a YouTube channel. Get on social media. Make business cards. Get a business license. Get a studio. Pound the pavement and go to galleries and fairs and festivals. Read books on how to do it. Watch videos. Do your taxes. And a million other things. And keep going - and not ever give up.
Just like anything else in life - if it’s worth doing and it’s your dream, you can do it. But be prepared to put in the work.
My name is Kathy Buskett. I'm a working artist - a caricaturist, which makes me a Unicorn. (there are fewer caricaturists than brain surgeons!)
I travel all over drawing caricatures for events. I have 27 years of experience, 10 of them drawing caricatures in Las Vegas, and I have had clients such as Samsung, Top Golf, Coca Cola, Cirque du Soleil and more.
I currently live on the Gulf Coast in Fairhope, AL near the Grand Hotel, and I draw at conventions, weddings and trade shows all over. As one of the fastest caricaturists in the world, I can draw 30+ faces per hour.
You can see some of my work at www.caricaturesbykathy.com
And you can reach me at kathybuskett@gmail.com
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