Life as an artist or performer is not always easy.
More often than not, we even question whether we are still on the right path. Expectations sometimes turn out differently than you thought, and the life as an artist sometimes takes strange turns.
Since every artist has different goals, there are also various problems that can hinder their progress. Whether it’s financial security, finding originality, or facing a creative block, there is always a solution worth pursuing.
The 10 most common struggles of an artist:
Whether you are a writer, designer, composer, or have another artistic passion, these 10 struggles occur to a greater or lesser extent in every artist. Discover if you recognize yourself in them and what you can do to break free from them:
1. Lacking artistic direction
Creating work that is original attracts attention and builds an audience eagerly awaiting your latest creations.
However, finding this unique voice can be a challenging journey. Particularly in the early stages of artistic development, it’s difficult to determine which aspects define your own style.
As you grow and evolve as an artist, your critical voice becomes louder. Striving to surpass yourself, you become increasingly critical.
On one hand, you know what you’re doing, but you also doubt yourself because you have a clear view of what you have already created.
Are you satisfied, or do you only see room for improvement?
What makes me original?
Which aspects will make my work stand out?
What works: The key to finding your artistic direction is that you never really know for sure. It’s like trying to answer questions such as “What is the purpose of life?“. The things that inspire you and shape your experiences will determine your style and direction, which you will only recognize as a path in retrospect. It’s about valuing what you create and inspiring others with it.
How to find your originality as an artist >
2. Nobody Understands You
Walking the path of creativity is not always well-received by everyone. In fact, often, it is not supported by many people. It can be incredibly frustrating when those around you do not support the creative plans you wish to pursue.
A life as an artist or performer is often filled with uncertainty, especially in the early years. Many people who have chosen a “safe path” often come with frustrating questions. People are often adept at unconsciously discouraging one another.
What is so important to you as a creator is not understood by other people. This is largely because they evaluate it based on their own tastes and styles. Not everyone is going to appreciate what you create, and sometimes that will result in critical feedback.
They tend to tell you if they find something “weird” or “different” instead of encouraging your unique perspective.
Know that for everything you create, there is always an audience.
The world thrives on creative individuals who believe in themselves.
What helps: It all boils down to staying true to your beliefs and what you create. The longer and better you do this, the more people will also start believing in you. The art lies in “winning” people over and capturing their attention. Therefore, know that you are on the right track, even if many people around you may not understand it. Stay focused on what you want and what brings you fulfillment.
The life of a creative person can be uncertain, but it can also be the most adventurous and inspiring.
3. Financial Insecurity
The percentage of artists who can make a living solely from their work is relatively low compared to other professions. Therefore, living off your passion becomes a goal in itself for many creative individuals.
Being creative is not just about earning money. However, making a living from your music or stories can sometimes seem like an elusive dream.
Know that many artists we admire today have experienced years of financial insecurity. Despite that, they continued to develop their passion, which eventually became their source of income.
Create a plan: If your goal is to make a living from your creativity, it requires a realistically thought-out plan. It may happen that you get discovered and become wealthy overnight, but often, things go differently. Think about building a network, making meaningful connections, and finding places where you can showcase your art, book, or music to an audience.
4. Getting Recognized
Being understood as an artist is crucial for maintaining motivation in the long run.
It is deeply disheartening when you invest your soul and work into projects that attract little or no audience. This leaves many creatives discouraged, thinking that their work lacks value.
Being recognized and appreciated for what you create is indeed gratifying. Creating artwork is one thing; promoting it is another. Many artists believe they lack the skills to bring their work to the forefront.
How to get recognized: The current era has both advantages and disadvantages for artists. The competition is fierce, but there are more opportunities than ever before. You can share and promote your creativity on numerous online platforms. You can find an audience and hear their reactions from the comfort of your home.
In addition, it requires some marketing skills, which you can also outsource to agencies or firms specializing in artists and performers.
Original and high-quality works will always be appreciated. It is up to you to get it out there.
5. You Don’t Like Your Own Work
When ideas flood your mind, it can be an overwhelming feeling. You work on them, only to realize later that what you found exciting is not as special as you thought.
As a result, you quickly decide to start over or end up with multiple unfinished projects. Many artists struggle with issues of self-worth and compare themselves to other artists, instead of using them as inspiration.
If you’re not satisfied, it often means it needs further attention. Consider a different form, plot, or an additional climax.
Find a balance between enjoying the creative process and being satisfied with the finished product.
What works: It’s not wrong to occasionally take a critical look at your own achievements. What would make my new project even more interesting? How can I challenge myself again?
The goal is to surpass yourself, not others.
If your perfectionism causes your creativity to come to a complete halt, there may be various reasons behind it.
Why perfectionism is the enemy of artistic progress >
6. Balancing Wanting and ‘Having To‘…
Creative pursuits are often seen by many as mere hobbies, nothing more. Something you do from time to time to relax.
But to truly grow and deliver quality, doing it solely for enjoyment is not enough. Taking the leap to treat your passion seriously and dedicating the time it deserves can make artists doubt themselves.
You want to give it the attention it deserves, but you lack the means to bring its potential to life. This can be due to:
- Lack of time
- Insufficient funds for resources
- Absence of a mentor or access to lessons to develop skills
- Other priorities in life
These reasons can certainly cause you to not give your passion the time it deserves. However, not making that choice can lead to incorrect expectations in contrast to how you perceive your creative development.
Without growing pains, you cannot grow.
What works: First and foremost, it is important to make the choice yourself regarding your goal. Are you using your creativity to relax occasionally? Absolutely fine!
However, know that you will most likely not take the steps to become significantly better. You will remain at the same level for much longer than if you challenge yourself and invest sufficient time.
The true difference is that an ‘artist’ puts a significant portion of their time and effort into ‘sculpting‘ their work, be it writing novels, painting, or acting.
7. The everlasting creative block
Inspiration comes in waves. Sometimes, you are inspired for weeks, and other times, you feel like the muses have abandoned you forever.
These artistic blocks are a pain in the ass for every creator because you feel like your creative engine is turned off. Often, there’s no clear reason why you feel this way.
These periods of creative blocks hinder many artists, even though it’s not necessary. Your creativity encompasses much more than just that spark of creative insight.
What works: It’s good to know that inspiration is only a part of the entire creative process. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel it coming. The art lies in starting something and pushing through.
The first minutes, and sometimes even hours, can be painfully difficult, but will ultimately lead you into a state of relaxation where you can let go of your expectations and perfectionism. It’s during this time that new ideas may just come to you if you take the time to get into the flow.
Break your artistic block today
8. Stagnation due to competition
We live in a world where the winners are celebrated and the ‘losers‘ trail behind. In a highly competitive field like the one you often find in the creative sector, as an artist, you can develop a sense of inferiority due to all the people who appear to be better.
You often feel discouraged because others always seem to be more successful, have more talent, and find it much easier. The bar is constantly raised to deliver quality and original work. It adds the necessary tension to your creative process not only to complete something but also to have the intention of creating something unique.
It takes time and a lot of dedication to navigate through the mass of other artists to make your voice heard, which can be a great struggle, especially when you’ve just started.
What works: Competition exists in every field you can enter, including marketing and the creative world. People always seek the ‘newest’ and the ‘best’ to make a choice where the most attention goes. Let this make you think and use it as inspiration.
Consider how you can stand out by looking at things from a different perspective. Remember that there isn’t just one winner and that creativity is never a competition.
Competition also ensures that the original works are distinguished from the rest of the mass of creators who imitate each other.
‘You only see the 10% that the maker wants to show you, not the 90% of frustration, hard work, and dedication that went into it.’
9. Finding connections
For many shy artists who want to bring their work to attention, connecting with others is quite a challenge. It is the artist’s task to ‘sell’ themselves and thus give their art an audience.
For this, a network is needed that you largely have to establish yourself.
You need others to progress yourself. Especially in the creative world, knowing the right people is a must to move forward. But at the same time, it can also be a difficult task.
Wrong connections can also greatly hinder your artistry. It can sometimes be difficult to prevent others from taking advantage of you for financial reasons. Making good agreements is something that artists can overlook when someone promises them the world.
What might help: If you don’t have a network or struggle with making contact with people, start by looking within your own environment. Collaborate with someone you already know. You can also create a list of people you would like to work with and email them.
Networking is about business and not about making friends, initially.
10. Time management
Having a full-time job requires a lot of energy and time. Many artists struggle to find time for their greatest passions. As a result, their creativity takes a backseat and sometimes fades away completely.
Many artists experience their ‘fluctuations,’ where there are periods when they are diligently working and then take a break for three months. It becomes even more difficult to get back into the flow and find the motivation to pick it up again.
What you could do: Ask yourself first:
What are my priorities in life?
Do I have enough time but don’t feel the urge to schedule my creative activities properly?
What works well is scheduling specific times for writing, painting, or composing. This may feel forced, but it will force you to include your passions in your schedule. This consistency is the only way to grow and explore new artistic territories.
Don’t be discouraged
Life as an artist can be difficult and frustrating, especially when things don’t turn out as you envisioned. Know that there is a solution for everything and that perseverance always pays off. Finding inspiration and making time for your artistic work can be a challenge, but with consistent dedication, it will gradually improve.
In this way, your work will receive the attention it deserves, and you will be able to realize your dreams.
