Paul Klein on How to Succeed as an Artist
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- čas přidán 11. 03. 2013
- This is a talk I gave for Tandem Press' 25th Anniversary at the Chazen Museum in Madison, Wisconsin. For additional information please visit kleinartistworks.com/. If you have a question, please email me at paul@kleinartistworks.com. Thank you.
- Jak na to + styl
Summary of How to succeed as an artist
Success is about relationships
There are much more a lot of different art villages.
There are no obstacles. The only obstacles that exist are the obstacles we put in front of ourselves or the lack of knowledge.
- Mentors and teaching convey a ton of knowledge about how the art world operates
3 key ingredients to having successful art career
1. Be distinctive
- be yourself. Be who you are. Be honest. Dig down inside yourself. Reveal who you are. All of us on this planet as human beings are unique.
- You have to fine what makes you distinctive from everybody else.
2. You got to get your ass in the game.
- You’ve got to get engaged.
- It is no longer sufficient to sit in your studio and expect the world to come to you. You’ve got to still give it the opportunity to get seen
- Associate with people better than yourself.
- Create opportunities where your work gets seen.
- Hustle
3. Make good art
- Good art means distinctive.
- Can’t all of us name artists who are doing really well monetarily whose work we think sucks? Don’t we all know and maybe we could out ourselves artists who are making fabulous work that nobody’s paying any attention to? All of this stuff that makes the art world so wonderful is that all of the stuff is subjective. It’s not like its objective.
You need to adjust your strategy to your objectives.
- What is succeed? On would assume that’s money. But that isn’t the case for everybody. Some people want to get attention for what they’re doing. Some people want to communicate. There are lots of kinds of objectives that an artist can have. You need to know what your object.
I believe that give or take 20%, 50% of an artist’s effort should be outside of making art. That means 30 to 70% of an artist time and efforts should be about focusing on their career.
More and more artists can benefit by having business partners the same way a corporation would have business partners.
It’s really important that artists apply the creativity that they bring to their artwork also to their career. ]
It’s wise to have a role model or several role models. You don’t have to follow their path but you can see what worked for them and what didn’t work for them.
- Do not assume that you cannot pick up the phone and call. Say “hey, I am wondering hot it worked for you when you did.”
Somebody asked George Burn the secret to acting. He said sincerity.
- The idea is that people want to associate with people who they think are upbeat, positive, successful. Have a good attitude. Even if you’re not successful today have an attitude that conveys my trajectory is rising and I’m going to be a success.
Spend at least 20 hours a week making art to have a chance an art career. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for going to openings growing your community.
Lots of personal art comes from powerful life experiences
Communicate and grow your audience over the internet.
This lecture is on point. I have no formal art education. All I have done is go to the best museums in Europe and the US, watch documentaries, read books, and ask artists questions. My first solo museum exhibition is happening in May among other recent successes. It’s mostly a question of motivation...
Which museum did you show with
Nice i made it like you, but didnt had the money for the best museums. I think this is a good way to do it like this, you get an other view on the art and the painting process.
you think there is room for digital art out there?
Yes, imo all artists need a digital practice, at least for branding but it also for engagement of modern audiences. @@dhungryarchitect
That particular show was at the Panama City Arts Center, but since then I have exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris and I've been invited to show all over Europe.@@callumjones9951
1. Be distinctive, be yourself. “You might as well be yourself: everyone else is taken”. Vision is what distinguishes you from everyone else - write it down in a dynamic artist’s statement.
2. Get your ass in the game. Get engaged. Associate with people better than yourself. Hustle. Strategy is how you differentiate your art. Be affable. Be upbeat. Have your elevator pitch.
3. Make good art. Again, be distinctive. Recognize that art is visceral, emotional. Set real objectives, based on your vision, and let it inform your strategy.
4. Know the right people and kiss their asses. 😉
As an artist in her sixties, your talk on how to be a successful artist is inspiring and lets me know that even at my age, I can still have a ten year plan with my positive attitude. Indeed.
It is never too late to become a successful artist, each artist has their own unique perspective on everything around them and often our ages and experience and insight we have gathered along the way help to inform our artworks as well. As such, you will always eventually find an audience who can relate because you will always have others who will be in the same age bracket and more often than not your artworks can transverse generational gaps if you tap into universal themes that are common amongst all individuals, if that happens to be your angle with the works you produce.
Best of luck on your path. 😊
I'm not far behind you and had the same reaction. It was a very good and informative talk.
I was just reading your comment and it is a true Inspiration to me ! Thank you !
Liz, I too am well into my sixties, but have been in love with making art since childhood. And so, there is a great struggle within me, to keep the faith. Nevertheless, I must be who I am ! And so, let us continue to do just that. Not for glory, because having that, is no guaranty of success.
The video tells about the importance of public relations. Yet your channel here does not feature any content. I perceive a slight contradiction there. Where are the videos showing your works, your studio and last not least yourself ?
He's talking about creating an art career guys. Not sitting in your room "doing what you love". Honestly that won't get you far, you'll need a day job if that's the case.
He is saying to be an artist, you'll need to be an entrepreneur, you need to make money so you don't need that day job. And why is that? Because you won't have the time it takes to make GOOD art. And yes to be good you need time, you need to be original. And how can you be distinctive without spending 6 days a week working your art business. Yes BUSINESS is necessary to have a career as an artist.
Your human capital is your art, your career is your art, your sales is your art.
There is no such thing as selling out unless you are committing forgery.
And by the way what really well known, or truly remarkable artist did not embrace the business of art? Not many my friends. A Van Gough here and there maybe. Good luck, have a vision that includes capitalising your work 🤗
Totally agree 👍
Bullshit
It is so true about what you say about making oppertunities for yourself. If there are none- make them!4 yrs ago I had an idea to start teaching art and since no one was willing to hire me, I decided to create my own - renting out a space and teaching. I found a business partener-4 years on I am still teaching in my own studio and now get asked to teach at other places.I now have another idea and have started that.It's a lot of hard work but , I dont wake up everyday feeling miserable.
Hi inspiring account. How did you fund getting the work space, studio and did you worry you would get students? Do you live in a city? Thanks..
Simeon Banner I rent a space monthly. It's part of a buxiban ( afterschool center for kids)I rely on advertising and word of mouth. reputation goes a long way too.it is in the city yes. lots of hard work and like any job challenging, it has it's ups and downs . then again if u want it you'll work for it. i still go around with the notion that if i have an idea i must try it, you know the old saying if u don't try you'll always wonder. if u try and even if it is a no- what matters is you tried.
@@expatleanie Yet you are not really using your account here for promoting your work?
@@simeonbanner6204 Are you a gardener or an artist? Or is gardening your art? Just curious.
Bravo!
When I enrolled in art school--1966--it was $300 per year for The Art Institute of Boston...5 days a week with nothing else but art.
Man I’m envious of that $300. That would pay for 1/3 of one class now
That sounds like bliss
Excellent talk. Phil says, “So much of what makes an artist significant is their life experiences, more so than their formal education." BAM! How very true.
R.I.P Paul Klein. Thank you so much for everything.
Words of wisdom: the only obstacles are the ones you put in front of yourself, or lack of knowledge!
the first question from the art student is a huge reason many artists do not succeed. The financial issue is ALWAYS in the forefront so the focus of needing money to pay off student loans and, well, to be able to live (including eating sometimes). So what ends up happening are two things - they become art teachers or they take day jobs which require time - both of which take away the time of their art-making and artist career building. As an artist working for over 20 something years, what I have seen of the ones who do succeed is some form of financial backing whether from their spouses or elsewhere so that the artists can then take the time to focus on their art career. As for me, I took a day job as an artists' model which does not give me an annual income of which I could live alone but it keeps me in the art scene and allows me time to work on my career. Luckily, I do have a roof over my head and a husband with a "real job". Still, as I get older, the reality of my bleak financial future becomes ever so present.
Spot on. Kierkegaard - yeah that one - lived of daddy's money.. Give me free rent and food for ever, and I will also become "the islandic guy with the sphears"...
You just need to be self taught instead of going to art school and get in debt
@@Andrea-fd2bw actually, the best way is through apprenticeships with known artists that you admire, but again, none of this equals income to live on.
@@annmarietornabene uh …I never thought about that
I do work in the field of arts and what you say it 100% true. None - none of the artists I know did not come from a wealthy background or has a partner that provides the basic income.
You gave a lot of very good advice. I have created my own career as an artist. I have worked as an entertainer drawing cartoons, not caricatures, for exhibitors at trade shows coast to coast for over 40 years. I have also been on the college circuit drawing on campuses.Two Presidents have sat for me. I have drawn Governors, Senators, Congressmen, and even Royalty.I have several companies that book me for all of their shows for over 15 years.
Nice.
This guy is freaking brilliant. This is one of the best talks I’ve ever heard relating to the art industry. I’m going to look for sky up and follow more of his talks
Who is sky up?
It is interesting to see this lecture on how to succeed as an artist at the age of 71. My career since art school has included being an art director for NBC, lawn mower mechanic, jewelry designer and model maker in NYC, book illustrator, furniture designer and builder for private clients, woodcarver, landscape painter, and TV camera man. I was always looking for a wide variety of work to get into because I've always subscribed to the idea that being diversified in ones abilities allows success in different circumstances. During all of the trials and tribulations in each of these working experiences, I've always maintained a good attitude about what I was doing at the time and have enjoyed what life has to offer. In my opinion, it's all about attitude and knowing what brings true happiness to one's life, not having a big house, fancy car or a yacht tied up at the dock.
Some say "be one thing - how can I market you, if you are eveeything at one time?"
I feel energized by your words "life experiences are often greater than formal education" best advice ever and may apply to many ...
I say - Never LOSE Your Enthusiasm.
We never stop living (until we die, right)… so the time we have can be used wisely, or spent frivolously. The worst thing in the world...is thinking it doesn't matter what you do. I think it does matter - even if all you want to do is play cards with fellow friends.
But I tell seniors at this Center I work at - the only thing that holds you back, is You --- at OLD age. One gal, is in her 80's... she is starting to get on a treadmill to walk. She is up to 20 minutes. The excitement on her face, is the most Life I have seen in HER, for weeks!!!
Yet, another woman who is 102, still plays piano & shows no excitement at all. For her, it's commonplace, she is almost robotic. Yet, she is so quick to criticize, what a spitfire! LOL
At 67, I decided I wanted to go back to singing...took over a year to find local musicians who are playing (I live in a very isolated area). Finally, by chance, I met up with three GREAT Acoustic players, they were playing at a local poetry reading - the bonding was almost instantaneous! I'm now working with them *smile*.
My brother critiqued me, saying that my voice as no identifying quality to it,... tho' it is good. I felt almost crushed by his opinion. I just told HIM, that he hasn't been listening to me long enough...and to STOP COMPARING me with others! While I like other women's music, and enjoying singing their songs...never did I want to COPY their Style. And short of starting an argument over his comment... I realized something for myself! I do have my own style - IF I don't compared myself.
Just wanted to add this to the discussion -
Comparison is the sure fire way to stop our OWN Journey & KILL YOUR OWN Speciality.
We can always learn by the negative comments...but don't let it STOP YOU finding Your Way.
Juliana
We are born and we die... but, haha... we never stop living! Our precious consciousness goes on, nothing of importance is lost, ever. Well, that's how I see it as a devoted Tibetan Buddhist. ;) Good luck B Juliana. ;)
@@jennyconnatty7635 The desire to live longer has brought up alot of myths in human existence. NOT that we want to die. It's an ingrained quality that is actually stated in the Holy Writings.
Mankind was created to Live long especially since the Creator's plan was for Life Everlasting. And I am sure you know the story of how that Life Possibility was lost? Paradise lost
But what is so interesting - is that we are no different than the Animals that live
around us when we Die - WE all go back to the elements from which we were made.
Beside having the ability to Reason, and being able to live not by instinct. ONLY difference, we have a 2nd chance through the sacrifice of God's Son, a Future Hope as it were. Since Mankind inherited Sin, we had no control over that outcome, right?
So because God Loves mankind...he made compensation for the Future of all.
NOT that everyone would be deserving - but the HOPE was offered for all, because Change is possible for anyone, if they Choose.
The idea that Spirits are flying around (or consciousness) really goes against even the Scriptural writings Inspired from the Creator, Jehovah God. Ecclesiastes 9:4,5 mentions this - WE just cease to exist. Back to the elements we came from - From dust to dust.
But even to consider that things are in another cosmic realm... is more of a fairy tale, than I would invite in my thinking.
There are Spirit creatures that exist within God's standpoint - and there is a physical World. Even Jesus recognized this - when he was resurrected. And perhaps that is why so many struggle with the concept of a Heavenly Life. WE were NEVER made to exist in Heaven. WE were made for the earth. I personally would never hope for heaven... And IF people were so Bent on living in a spiritual Realm? Well, we'd have alot more folks jumping off bridges, right?
But sadly the idea of killing one self...is met with tragic results. Not good. DEATH is a horrible thing. I do not know of one person who welcomes it, unless it's to End Suffering. AND that was never in God's Plan for happiness.
You really have to see the Big Picture in this - from Genesis down to Revelation. And there is a brighter future ahead. We just have to patiently wait on His Timeline. HE knows better than any of us. Thank you for listening Juliana
True. You just never know.
@@jennyconnatty7635 Ditto.
@@pphedup Funny thing, I forgot about my comment. And not to many weeks later, I'm still back to square one. Still looking to find people to sing with. Life is a chance, and circumstances may not always line up with your Dreams. But I'm not giving up. Maybe, I love something too much to let it go? It never hurts to try. I would regret Not trying.
Hopefully your name (phedup) doesn't really mean Fed Up! hugs, Juliana
Thank you so much for sharing this. Really needed to hear this. So on the money.
Priceless knowledge that applies to writers too. Thanks, Paul.
I learned so much. Thank you Paul!!!!
You just answered most of the questions that's been eating my head from years!!! Thank you so much for this video Paul!!!
This was packed with great info! Thanks!
Life experiences ....oh yes that's the spice of art!
Thank you for this. Affirming and important.
" It's all about relationships. Believing what you are doing is valuable"....I enjoy this talk very much and gave me some good insight...Thank you Paul!
Fantastic information and appreciate how honest and direct you are.
Just paint and draw whatever it is you like and do it. Don't give a hoot about what others think, and don't try to please anyone... if you're going into art to make money or become huge, you expect too much. To me, that's what makes a successful artist... recognition, money, or galleries aren't what make you professional, it's being able to translate your idea on a canvas and being satisfied with the result. Be a hobbyist and let the people find your work on their own. Otherwise, you're depending on people to like your work and you'll just be conflicted by whether to paint what you want or to paint what others expect from you.
agreed
United States academia is so poisoned by the capitalistic obsession for moneys. I complete agree xx
That's not what Klein is saying at all.
If your looking to turn your art into a business then you have to approach it like a business, if your just looking to make art then you can do that too, I have 2 kids and a wife so I think about the money part too, but I do it because I love it first and ultimately that fire has to burn stronger
damn... i'm not even going to watch the video because of what you've said, thanks for sparing my 40 minutes and very good advice
Tremendous talk here. I may be revisiting this as the years wear on.
I loved this. Thank you for sharing.
I really find this very helpful! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing this
Cheers. The best lecture I have seen till now.
Love listening to Paul, great speech!
This is my FIRST exposure … I was Saddened To Read Of The Speakers Recent Passing - Thank you Mr. PAUL KLEIN, This is The Best lecture Of it’s Kind ( IMHO)… And THANK YOU to the Publishers Who posted it & The Other Resourses Available From Mr. KLEIN ☮️❤️👉🏼💪🏼🎨🎨🎨To all 🤺
Great talk! Thanks for sharing this video.
Loved this talk! Thank you!
this videos has really helped me. so much. Thank you Mr. Klein!
I really liked this talk, thank you very much for sharing
brilliant talk , thank you for sharing your incites!
Thank you for the speech......
thank you so much for this talk
i love this.. i appreciate the time that others who found success with their dreams, give to shine a light for those who are just finding their way around all this. It is encouraging and some good thing to come out of utube.
This just changed my entire perspective! I'm ready to get out into the world now😁 I took notes the entire time. Thank you so much for sharing.❤✨❤
I love this man, he's right on!
Thank you Paul, well said
What a great teacher. Thanks
Profoundly useful. Thanks Mr. Klein.
Brilliant talk, thank you.
I really enjoyed this video, thank you Paul.
Thanks dude. I feel the soul.
I very much appreciate this!!! 😊
This video is AWESOME!!! Paul Klein ROCKS!!!
Thank you so much for this!
Very informative! Thank you for sharing Paul. Definitely a lot of information I can apply to my artistic vision.
Wow I stumbled into this by accident, but it made me realize that I have not been working hard enough at all. Thank you so much for the opportunity to hear such a great discussion !
So many helpful tips here. I am an artist just starting out and I am grateful for your mentorship!
Amazing, thank you for the tips & knowledge
Thank you for sharing this.
It was a great pleasure to listen to this video. Thank you for sharing.
Outstanding because it is interesting, honest, straight and concrete/valuable. Thank you so very much PK!
Really good. Every art school student should hear this. Thank you.
I'm GRATEFUL for you, Sir. I've just learned of you and your contributions to the art world, and artist like me. Thank you!!!
Really appreciate the insight that you shared Mr. Klein. I am inspired to work harder on my art.
Enormously helpful, thank you.
Very good information for artists who really wants to make it in the business! 100% respect to people like you Paul Klein!
Thank you for this talk about the business of art. It was very informative and helpful.
Thank you!
Great teaching information!👏👏👏👏👏
this has been an most educational and positive input. thank you
Awesome! Needed to hear this , well said!
25:01 so strong and I needed to hear it again! Thank you!
Fantastic seminar, I've suggested to Facebook art group to give this video a watch. Top notch. Kudos.
This is a very informative talk.. I learned a lot..
My perspective just got a whole lot wider.. Thanks! :)
I appreciated this a ton.
I’d like to call myself a successful artist.
There are a lot of bumps in the road, I’ve strayed away from these teachings
Very good refresher of your vision.
Thank you.
Great lecture - thanks for posting.
This is a really great share. Lots of wisdom and experience and offered freely and with little ego at all.
This is fantastic for musicians and actors too...stuff to take home, for sure....Great quotes all throughout!! ....Thank you Paul Klein!!
I DO LOVE THE THOUGHT.......
love this! All the advice and wise words are good to hear!!
Many thanks for all that u share!
Thoroughly enjoyable, interesting, encouraging! Thank you. I regret not finding your talk 10 years ago, however now is great.
Thank you for saying, "If you think something is good get it out there."
After hearing this, i noticed a few things i need to improve.thanks Paul.
You speak with so much authority it shakes up my hustle spirit, your amazing human to this world. I appreciate you
this guy is so good. He's a great speaker. Im motivated
About the blended career question--it's actually not that complicated. I'm a full-time artist now, but when I was starting out I worked twice as many hours as a 9-5 employee. I worked my day job, then I drove home and worked on my art until I fell asleep. I worked on art all weekend. I used Instagram to promote my work, and I cold called galleries to ask about opportunities. My cold calls led to shows, my work got better, I started making more money on art and then was able to spend 70% of my time on art, 30% of my time at the day job. Now I work full time on art, 60 hours a week minimum. It's not a complicated answer, it's just a challenging solution. You have to become a workaholic. Identify with it and be proud of yourself for it. It's a very fulfilling life if you can romanticize the process of it!
Started really learning art after HS by studying with local artist on the cheap while learning brick masonry. Then becoming a master mason with a small business, eventually a home builder and then early retirement. All the while painting amateur paintings whenever I got a chance in cramped quarters, poor lighting ... Yes, I was a workaholic, mostly out of fear. Now that I can freely paint more often in less cramped work room, I find myself studying deeper into diverse subject matters and pushing much harder against the rules of shape design and color coordination/ stepping slightly over the lines. I find myself also pushing against the popular modern exclamations of dark world subjects and instead fight for exclaiming a better, more pleasant world for the future of humanity. It is easy to grab the eye with fear based violence, vulgarity and so on. Because they are fear based. It is much more challenging and rewarding to cause the viewer pleasantness and hopefulness for the future of humanity. As writers artists and musicians, we are the major communicators of humanity; always have been and always will. We have a choice on how we can influence the future lives of humans. Angels, affection and human morality are not as exciting as devils, drama and so on. I choose neither. I choose to dig much deeper, imagine harder and push beyond this mostly fear matrix the humans created for themselves in order to simply procreate. There is a greater world behind the curtain and we have the responsibility to communicate it for the better future of humanity! Push harder, make us greater! Stop recreating this stupid matrix we invented to live and get ahead of others. It's straight up ignorance!
this video played randomly after a tutorial video while i am working on some digital art......thank you, it was exactly what i needed to listen to. thank you!! -
i am an artist and i have succeeded - with or without you
Brilliant. Very inspiring. Thank you.
one of the most educational podcasts I've ever listened to
Thank You, great talk.
What a fantastic talk, by someone who really knows what they’re talking about! Thank you thank you thank you 🙏😊👌🍿🎬🐟
More words i will always remember and think back too, thanks ^^
I really like this down to earth advice.
At first I wasn’t sure about listening.. and boom, I listened.. I’m very happy and grateful for your video and honesty.. I appreciate ☺️🙏🏾.. Aloha and ThAnkyou ..
Thank you so much for this lecture Paul.
Thank you, really inspiring and interesting talk.
I feel greatly inspired listening to him.
like omg this guy is amazing he knows everything about art and stuff like that.
I thoroughly enjoyed your video. Thank you so much for the words of wisdom and advice. These are all the things that are on my plate at the moment, deciding on grad school location and the career beyond. Enjoyed it all.
-K.Anthony Lawler
AMAZING !!!!!!!!!! TRULY ENJOYED WATCHING IT, PAUL! Great important points mentioned, loved the viking excerpt, and so glad you support the idea of not having one body of work but "interesting" multi dimentional or multi-disciplinary art. Much love!
Thanks so much for sharing this