Advice From 10 Creatives That'll Inspire You To Start Pursuing Your Passion

If you are an artist or someone interested in pursuing a career in a creative field and need some inspiration to help you get started, we are here to help! We have pulled together 10 tips from some of our favorite creatives that are taking their work to the next level. From painting to photography and graphic design, check out these 10 inspiring tips from artists & creatives who are living the mantra "do what you love"

Julia Messinger - Acrylics Artists

A great life lesson I’ve learned is actually from a Dr. Seuss quote, “those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” I think that it’s a great lesson to keep in the back of your head, especially when doing something out of the “normal” job path. Anyone who judges/questions you in a negative sense doesn’t matter, and it’s important to focus energy on the positivity from those who support what you’re passionate about.

Cate Brown - Photographer

Part of being a creative is you have to learn how to promote yourself, your work, pitch ideas, explore new growth opportunities... and build a thick skin to not take critiques about your work personally because you get a lot more "No"s than "Yes"s

Ceri of Tropicool - Graphic Artist

I’m sure every artist and freelancer can relate to this. It is incredibly daunting stripping yourself of stable income, quitting your side job, and devoting all your energy and faith into your art. And as many artists will know, most businesses neglect the importance of design, so never like to pay according to your worth. It’s really hard to get off the ground with art. And because you’re in need of work you say yes to these underpaying jobs, and this cycle is hard to come out of. It’s super unsettling turning down work when you don’t know when the next project is coming in, but this is the hand we shake when merging into the creative world. It’s risky, unstable, but mega rewarding. 

Pepa Llama - Muralist

My advice would be, no matter what stage you are at in your artistic journey - really push yourself to create every single day. Don't be afraid to experiment with different kinds of mediums.

Nanou - Collage Artist

Trust your intuition; let it guide you through your creative process.

Fabian - Painter

Persistence is key. You don’t have to be the best at anything to keep pursuing a passion. But being persistent is more important. Also, never think it’s too late for something. It isn’t. I was rejected from art school when I was 20. Back then, I thought that I would never be able to pursue a career in art and that everything in my life had already been decided. How wrong I was.

Emily - Illustrator & Tattoo Artist

I usually write a 'to-do' list for the next day before I go to sleep. So my mind can fully switch off, and I'm prepared for the day when I wake up. I think most creative folks are often bubbling with ideas so much that they easily slip into moments of procrastination

Taylor Faulkner - Charcoal Artist

Behind all that fear and uncertainty, the need to create will never stop. So just keep drawing, listen to music, go for a surf. If you feel like you’re in a rut, just remember art is always there for you and will be stoked when you return.  

Steph Edwards - Illustrator 

The biggest lesson I've learned is that no matter how much research you do, you're still going to make mistakes along the way (especially at the beginning), but you learn a lot from them very quickly. I've learned a lot about my worth this year, too; I've turned down work with very big brands who weren't willing to pay me properly for my work.

Janina Casanova - Graphic Artist

Keep going, keep growing!