Art Lab - Why Every Creative Practice Needs a Destination

Apr 25 2023 23 mins 3

Creativity is a special form of communication, and when it’s shared, magical things can happen. But, what if you don’t have a clear endpoint in mind?

This episode is for all the creative folks who struggle with what to do with their work once they finish it. This is especially common amongst recent art school grads who’ve come to rely on the structure of that environment. I also know creatives who have a growing collection of partially completed artwork, and others who get stuck when breaking into a particular field. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, you need to have a destination for your creative work.

Having an end goal signals to your brain when it’s time to move on to the next thing. Plus, having a clear marker for when a piece of work is done allows you to engage even more deeply in the process and take the stance of a neutral observer.

Sharing your work online is one of the most accessible ways to get your art out into the world. If you’re anything like me and enjoy the idea of a cozy bubble of anonymity, I have some ideas for how to post your work on social media without attaching it to your name.

Having a group of creative friends, or even just one person in your life who gets what you’re going through, can be super helpful when it comes to sharing your work. Besides getting feedback from them, they can also be great for gifting and knowing that it’s going to someone who will receive it lovingly.

Finally, if you want to pursue your art commercially, coming up with an imagined client or use case is one of the best ways to set a target. It provides clear guidelines for purpose, audience, and scope of work.

Resources Mentioned:

Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland

FakeClients: fakeclients.com

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.