How to Know if You’re a Professional Artist or an Amateur

Are you a professional artist? And how does one even define “professional” artist?

Here’s the thing about building a career as an artist – people will only take you as seriously as you do. It doesn’t matter if you’re working a day job or have only sold a couple of paintings online – if you treat art as your job, you are a professional artist. If you don’t – you’re an amateur.

And let me be clear, there’s nothing wrong with being an amateur. In fact, the root of the word amateur is love. You’re doing something you love. That doesn’t make you less talented than those who work for profit.

In this article, I’ll explore some of the key differences that separate professional artists from amateurs. If you want to be pro, there are some hard truths here. So if you find that you’re relating more to the ‘amateur’ traits, don’t feel disheartened. You can change your approach anytime you choose.

There’s no better time than right now to start developing your career as a  professional artist.

Do you wait for The Muse to strike?

Professional artists know that if they sit around waiting for The Muse to visit they’ll never get any artwork finished. Professional artists show up consistently and have regular practice. Not everyone has the time to paint everyday, but professional artists understand the importance of showing up in the studio, even when you don’t feel like it.

Amateurs on the other hand, wait for conditions to be just perfect. They wait for inspiration to strike before they put paint to canvas. If you find yourself falling into this camp, you may be harboring some subconscious perfectionist tendencies.

Are you prone to ‘shiny object syndrome’?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, success as an artist is all about craft and voice. And it takes years of consistent practice to truly hone your craft and develop your voice. So if you’re constantly changing mediums or styles, that’s a sign that you’re lacking focus as an artist.

Professional artists understand that a jack of all trades is a master of none, so instead they focus on mastering their chosen medium before experimenting in other fields.

Now you might say well what about all those successful actors that are also musicians, and the painters that also write novels? There are exceptions to every rule. But if you haven’t mastered any medium yet, you’re best off sticking with one thing until you consider yourself a professional at it.

Do you believe that your art will sell itself?

It’s not enough to create a painting, take a photo of it and list it for sale on Instagram. Amateur artists operate under the false belief that ‘if they build it, an audience will come’. Not true I’m afraid!

Professional artists understand that creating an artwork is only one piece of the puzzle. Professional artists work hard to understand the process of marketing art, especially when looking to sell their art online. Professional artists approach their art as a business, following the typical marketing principles that all entrepreneurs follow. Professional artists figure out who their ideal audience is and where they’re hanging out. Professional artists are strategic about where they hang their work in order to give it the best chance of selling.

Are you in perpetual “student” mode?

Don’t get me wrong – learning is great and essential on your path to becoming a professional artist. But if you find that you’re spending proportionally more time on reading books, attending workshops or taking classes than actually creating art – you’re not yet a professional artist.

Professional artists understand that there will always be more to learn about their craft and technique, but they don’t let a lack of knowledge inhibit them from creating. Experience is always the best teacher, and the fastest way to learn is to start making mistakes in your art.

Are you part of an artist community?

Amateur artists tend to isolate themselves from the artist community. And you might do this for a number of different reasons. You might feel insecure about showing your art to other artists, afraid that it won’t measure up. You might feel jealous of other artists who are further along in their artist career. Or you might feel too vulnerable to handle any sort of criticism.

But artists need to surround themselves with other artists. And professional artists understand this. As a visual artist, it’s so important to get out and take a look at other people’s artwork or photography and get valuable feedback on your own.

Artists tend to support their fellow artists too. These are the people that will attend your first show, purchase your artwork, or recommend you to potential buyers. Connecting and building relationships with other artists will enrich your life. This is also one of the best ways to feel more like a professional artist.

Do you have trouble finishing a piece of art?

There comes a point when you have to decide that your work of art is finished. There’s a difference between perfectionism and knowing when to stop working on a piece. Professional artists understand that nothing they produce will ever be 100% perfect and so a piece is done whenever it feels finished.

Amateurs on the other hand will edit and edit and edit and still feel unhappy. By staying stuck in perfectionist mode you don’t have to actually show your art to the world. It’s another sneaky tactic our brains play to keep us in our comfort zones.

If you recognise yourself in this, try not to get hung up on every piece of art you create. Realize that no matter how close to perfect you get it, there will be a few people that just won’t like it. And that’s ok. Each piece of art is another stepping stone on your artist journey, it’s not your final destination as an artist.

How do you define a professional artist?

In my opinion, a professional artist is simply someone who takes their art and the profit of their career as an artist seriously. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t quit your day job or cultivated a huge online following yet. It doesn’t matter if you are yet profitable, these things take time in every business. But if you consistently show up and do the work, you’re a professional artist.

Is your Art purely a hobby?

Art amateur and enthusiasts may dedicate many years or even a lifetime to creating art solely for their own enjoyment. They have no interest in running a business or building a following. Selling their oeuvre or making a living from it is not their goal. These individuals create art simply for the pleasure of it, without any pressure to improve their skills or turn it into a career. They may take art classes for fun, but their main focus is on the joy of creating without any professional expectations.

When the art outshines the hobbys

At a certain point, hobbyists or amateur artists may come to realize that their hobby is quite costly and they might want to consider turning it into a business in order to deduct expenses on their taxes.

With their growing skill in art, they receive praise from family and friends who suggest selling their work.

Motivated by this, they establish a business, start selling and promoting their artwork. Excited by the experience, they decide to take their art even more seriously.

At this point amateur artists are willing to invest their time into creating and selling art, but often struggle to figure out how to make a sustainable income from it.

The question of becoming a full time artist

As amateur artists gain confidence and improve their skills, they may begin to seriously contemplate pursuing a career in art. They appreciate the income generated from selling their artwork and find it beneficial to be able to deduct expenses during tax season. Once their expenses are covered, they are actually earning a profit.

This newfound ambition may lead them to strive to solely sustain themselves through their art. Some artists may engage in various forms of art marketing and eagerly pursue any “opportunity” that presents itself, regardless of its financial viability. Despite investing most or all of their art earnings in classes, some amateurs artists may still lack a clear understanding of what it takes to make a living as an artist. They simply realize it takes time to learn how to thrive in the art industry.

Don’t give up on your artistic dreams just because you don’t see a clear path to success.

It’s important to have a roadmap to guide you and stay focused on what needs to be done. Avoid wasting time on unproductive activities.  You have the power to break away from the crowd of artists who give up too easily. If you’re ready to transition from a hobbyist to a serious artist, take the plunge – there’s not much to lose if things don’t work out. You can always go back to your hobby.

Taking the leap from being an amateur to a professional artist requires a greater commitment, but the rewards are worth it.

Many artists I work with successfully balance their art career with part-time or full-time work, earning a significant income from their art.

The transition from amateur artist requires dedication, hard work and commitment

Achieving success in transitioning from amateur to professional artist requires dedication and commitment.

It is essential to have a deep passion for your craft, dedicating the majority of your time and resources to pursue your artistic career.

To be successful, you must be willing to invest your time, energy, and finances into building your art business.

Developing a distinctive style and expanding your portfolio are crucial. As an artist entrepreneur, your art must be at the forefront of your business endeavors to achieve financial success.

Continuous professional growth is key to staying relevant in the art industry. Whether it involves honing your skills, navigating the art market, or managing your business, ongoing development is imperative.

Promotion of your work is also crucial, requiring a proactive approach to showcasing your art.

In this day and age, I frequently advise those pondering a leap into the world of professional art to maybe hold off on resigning from their current job just yet.

It’s a major decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. You don’t want to have any regrets down the line, and who needs more money troubles, right?

Before you dive headfirst into the art market, take the time to strategize not only your launch and market strategies, but also your exit plan while laying the groundwork for a successful art career. Map out your path to success and figure out how you’re going to get there.

Being a professional means becoming a person who has studied a particular discipline, achieved competency in it, and then declared their ability to offer services in exchange for payment.

Every artist begins their journey as an amateur, driven by love and passion for their art. Some of these amateurs may transition into becoming professionals as they seek to connect with an audience and perhaps make a living from their creations.

Making money is not necessarily a requirement to be considered a professional artist, but it is important to consider your audience and the relationship with your viewers in your artistic pursuits.

Being a professional artist means having a wealth of experience under your belt and actually getting compensated for your creative talents.

Build and maintain your community presence

• Am I actively interacting with clients and followers professionally and proactively?
• Am I following, sharing, and responding to potential buyers and other artists?
• Do I attend relevant art exhibitions, and fairs, and museums?
• How many professional artists and meaningful connections do I have in my network?
• The key is to connect with your audience where they are and engage with them genuinely and consistently.

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Working in the international world of contemporary art, Crista Cloutier has spent her career selling art and marketing art to art galleries, museums and private collections. 

Using her professional experiences, Crista has created The Working Artist Masterclass, where she’s developed a global reputation as an artist’s coach. Crista can teach you how to be an artist; including how to sell your art, how to sell art online, how to sell photographs, how to price your art, how to succeed at art fairs, and even how to find your art style. 

Crista has worked with established, blue-chip artists to raise their profile and attract greater opportunities. And she’s also helped thousands of emerging artists to build a professional art practice. To learn more, visit https://theworkingartist.com