Sometimes it's easy to feel.....

Well to put it bluntly, like your are going nowhere fast as an artist. Maybe like you don't measure up, or your missing something. Maybe you feel like you aren't getting noticed and it frustrates you. I've felt all of these things and many more. It's easy as an artist today to let the doubts creep in. We exist in a digital realm where everyone out there seems to be an artist. Good, bad and ugly, you name it. It's out there. There are a lot of great artists who don't sell very much or any work simply because they aren't getting noticed. It is so easy to put your work out there that so many people are at present. We have all become needles in haystacks. You can paint your ass off, and still get barely noticed. A lot of this isn't your art, but rather how you are presenting it and more times than not, where. I've had pieces of art get no play on one website, and get overwhelming applause on another. Every website attracts it's own flavor of consumer. one of the biggest mistakes is to exhibit where other artists exhibit. Talk about fish in a pond. You have to your own thing in your own place, otherwise you just end up getting passed by for no other reason than numbers. Deviant art, fineartamerica, etc these are great places and great communities but don't rely on them for a second to sell your art. That will just frustrate you. People in those places are so overhwlemed with art and artists, they simply default to finding names they know, or picking out the first random painting they see to by. It is essential these days to have your own website, and more importantly to paint your own way, in your own style. Copying will get you shuffled to the back of the deck and unless you have something individual to offer the world at large, you won't find success as an artist, because nothing will ever set you apart. Subconsciously people will look at your work and say hmm, I think I've seen that before, or that looks just like so and so and he's famous, and you're not so I'll just go check out what so and so has to offer. Wow people with your individual style and creativity. paint along your own path. Walk your own road, however you say it. Quit reading tutorial and paint and draw, there is no substitute and failure only helps you learn faster. It's honestly one of the best teachers out there. Everyone you respect found their artistic voice through failure. Ask them, and they will tell you. Failure is a misnomer anyway. It's just something that didn't work as expected. As long as you learn from it, you're good. In terms of selling artwork. Try to think about the ways people aren't selling artwork these days and pursue them, it automatically makes you stand out. Schedule gallery appointments in person. Too many people only do the email and internet thing these days. You have to get out there and talk to people. Go to art fair, exhibit. Go to the cons in your region and get a booth. It gets your name out there. Art is no different than any other business and the same marketing strategies apply. No businessman ever got rich or even made a living sitting in his bedroom or home office. You might sell some work that way, but not nearly as much as you could by getting out there and meeting people. Don't get discouraged by the way the climate is today, buck the trends and get moving. You will find your way. It might take time and effort but nobody ever said doing what you love would be easy. Best Wishes and Luck to you all! D