This article is by Keith Bond, Regular contributing writer for FineArtViews.  You should submit an article and share your views as a guest author by clicking here.

Last week I wrote about setting goals and making resolutions. This week, I wish to expound on the theme a bit.

Let’s look at two common goals set by many artists:

Example 1:

By the end of the year, I will be accepted into Show or Gallery X, Y, or Z.

Example 2:

By the end of the year, I will be able to make a living selling my art.

Both goals are lofty. Which goal is more easily attainable? Which goal do you have more control over? Do you have similar goals?

Regardless of how much effort you put forth, you simply cannot control the actions of the gallery owners or show jurors. Your art might even be a perfect fit for the venue, but they still may choose not to accept you. Therefore, Example 1 is a poor goal. If certain galleries and/or shows are important to you, redefine your goals to be more achievable. Such as: “By the end of the year I will have an impressive portfolio to show Gallery X, Y, or Z.” This is an attainable goal. You may also establish secondary goals as a way to help you gain an audience with the gallery owners. With these goals, you will have succeeded regardless of whether the gallery chooses to accept you or not.

Let’s look at Example 2. Today, more than ever before, you have a lot of options and control over the outcome of whether you are able to sell your work. Of course you cannot force collectors to purchase your work. But your efforts are much more likely to result in significant progress in this area. But it requires work and determination.

There are hundreds, even thousands of other artists all trying to get into the same handful of galleries or shows. On the other hand, there are potentially hundreds and even thousands of people who will simply love your art. Some won’t have the means to purchase, but many will. So if your efforts go into finding these fans, the odds of reaching the point of making a living at art will increase. Do you want to be one of a thousand or one attracting a thousand?

Even so, you might not attain the goal in a year. Maybe you will. Perhaps rewrite the goal to be even more achievable. “To increase sales, I will begin marketing in these ways: X, Y, and Z.” Now, that is more achievable than the original goal. And it will lead to making a living at it.

Now, I would like to take these two examples one step further.

We have established that the first example is quite a bit more unattainable than the second example. Even when the goal was re-written and attained, the outcome may not be what you were hoping for. You may never get into your dream gallery. Many of the big name artists who sell at those top galleries were denied for 4 or 5 years before finally being accepted. Other artists are added to the galleries’ rosters, but are put in the back corner because of the demand for the bigger names. For those artists, is the prestige really worth it? Perhaps, perhaps not. Only they can say.

So where does this leave us? Long ago I read a proverb that has always stuck with me. I don’t know its origin, but it reads:

“He who seeks to pluck the stars will miss the jewels at his feet.”

If all of your energy is put into reaching the ‘stars’ you may pass up the opportunities that are right there in front of you. The other opportunities may indeed be the very things you need to take advantage of to attain the goal in the second example.

I think many artists are guilty of this. I know that have been (and perhaps still do it from time to time). We think that the certain show or gallery will be the golden ticket. It rarely is.

This same principle applies to many other facets of your career. For whatever you want to accomplish or attain, there will be stars or jewels. Which do you reach for?

In short, establish goals that get you where you really want to be. Not necessarily where you think you need to be. First and foremost, determine what you really want to accomplish as an artist. What is success to you? Then establish well-thought-out goals that are attainable.

As a final thought, yes, you can still try to get into those shows and galleries. But let that be a secondary priority. First find ways to build your career. If you pick up enough jewels at your feet, you will find that either you don’t need the stars or you will find that the stars suddenly want you.

Best Wishes,
Keith Bond