“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”
― Andy Warhol
I am an artist. It took me a long time to admit that to myself. Before making this realization I would describe myself as crafty. Even after doing pyrography professionally for three years, it is hard to call myself an artist. As an artist, I struggle to to decide if I should focus on making what I love, or what I think other people will love. If I make what other people will love I have to sacrifice my own desires, but if I make what I love I don’t know if there will there be a market for it.
“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down simply by spending his money somewhere else.”
– Sam Walton
I will often find myself trying to follow trends. Trying to understand what the customer wants and creating something that will satisfy them. At the end of the day making art is ultimately appeasing the customer. This often means walking around markets and seeing what others are making or searching trending hashtags on Instagram to see what people are excited about. The problem is trying to follow these trends often means that my products are carbon copies of what is at everyone else’s table at the shows or what everyone else has on their website.
“Know what your customers want most and what your company does best. Focus on where those two meet.”
– Keven Stirtz
The best thing I’ve found to do is determine what you are good at that. Do your absolute best to create a unique product and talk to customers to adapt your style to match what they love. This may mean making some concessions to your particular style. This is not a bad thing. If you can learn to adapt to your customers, ultimately, you will find a place where your talent and what he customer wants meet.
“To practice any art, no matter how well or how badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. So do it.”
– Kurt Vonnegut
At the end of the day, it is important that you are making art that both you, and your customer, will love. And, as always, stay unique.
“Ignoring what sells doesn’t make you a better artist, it makes you a starving artist.”
– Marie Forleo
