5 Mistakes I Made When I Started as an Artist (So You Don’t Have To)

Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Well, Picasso wasn’t wrong, because when I first started, I found myself thinking, “Wait, am I doing this right?” I thought being an artist meant you just paint beautiful things, post them online, and boom - the world magically falls in love with your work.

Well, the truth is - there’s no magic, and it’s a lot more complicated than that. Just know, you're going to make some mistakes. Lots of 'em. I sure did. When I started out, I was full of passion, hope, and enough artistic ambition to fill a gallery - too bad I also had zero clue about what I was doing.

I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, and now I’m here to share the top 5 Mistakes I Made When I Started as an Artist, so you can hopefully skip a few of them.

1. Waiting for “Inspiration” to Strike

You know, Picasso loved a good quote. The guy had a lot to say, and honestly, most of it is still pretty spot on. One of his best? “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” You just know he said that after staring at a blank canvas for hours thinking, “Why isn’t this happening today?"

I’ve been there too. When I first started, I thought I had to wait for some magical surge of inspiration before I could even think about touching the canvas. I’d sit there, coffee in hand, waiting for the universe to send me a sign to start creating my next piece. Well, the universe doesn’t care about your schedule.

The reality is - that If you sit around waiting for inspiration to hit, you might end up binge-watching Netflix instead of painting. Some of my best work came from the days when I didn’t feel like creating at all, but I got started anyway, and the ideas followed.

Solution

Don’t wait for inspiration to just magically appear. Get yourself into a routine, even on those “meh” days when you’re not feeling it. Once you start moving the brush, the creative juices usually start flowing. Picasso was onto something - sometimes, inspiration has to find you already covered in paint!

2. Overthinking Every Single Piece

When I started with abstract expressionism, I was so in my head. I mean, who knew throwing paint on a canvas could be so stressful?

I’d sit there, staring at the canvas, thinking, "Does this represent the complexities of human nature or does it just look like someone spilled their drink?" I can’t tell you how many times I’d repaint the same section 30 times, thinking, This needs to mean more. I know that is crazy.

Guess what? It doesn’t matter! Don’t overthink every brushstroke.

Your art doesn’t have to be perfect or even fully understood. Sometimes, it’s just about the feeling, the movement, the freedom.

And folks, if someone tells you it looks like their toddler’s finger painting, just smile and say, "Exactly - sometimes it takes a lifetime to paint like a child again!"

The quote "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child" was famously said by Pablo Picasso - the guy had a quote for everything. Seriously, Picasso was a genius with a paintbrush and with words! He knew what was up when it came to capturing the raw creativity we often lose as we grow up.

3. Ignoring the Importance of Pricing

Pricing - the part of being an artist they definitely don’t teach you in art school. When I first started, I had absolutely no idea how to price my work. So, naturally, I just winged it. Some days I’d think, "Eh, this seems fair," and other days it was more like, "Well, I spent forever on this, so maybe I should just double it?" Neither approach really worked.

Sound familiar? Pricing can feel like a total guessing game at first ( when you just starting), but it doesn’t have to be.

Reality check

Pricing your art takes a little strategy.

First, research artists with a similar style and experience level to see how they’re pricing their work. Don’t compare yourself to Picasso just yet - find people in your niche and at your stage in the journey.

Then, think about who your buyer is. Are you targeting local art lovers, national collectors, or an international audience? Your pricing needs to make sense in the market you’re selling in. What works in one place may be too high (or too low) in another.

Pro tip! Adjust your pricing based on the audience and market.

If you’re selling locally, for example, consider what people in your area typically spend on art. If you’re selling internationally, factor in shipping, customs, and what buyers abroad are willing to pay.

It’s all about balance - making sure you’re valuing your work while still staying competitive where it matters most.

4. Varnishing Before Taking Pictures

Here’s a fun little lesson I learned the hard way: don’t varnish your artwork before you take photos! Seriously, whether you’re using glossy, satin, or even matte varnish, once that stuff goes on, it can turn into a reflection nightmare for your camera. Every light source suddenly turns into a big, distracting glare, making it way harder to get a clear, professional-looking shot.

Even if you skip the varnish and your paint is naturally glossy, you might already be playing a fun game of “find the blank spot” with your camera.

So what’s the fix?

Take photos before you varnish. You’ll save yourself a lot of frustration trying to angle your camera just right to avoid reflections. Get those crisp, clean shots first, and then go ahead with the varnish to give your work that final finish. It’ll save you a ton of time and make sure your photos really show off the best of your art!

5. Not Diversifying Income Streams

In the beginning, I believed the only way to make money as an artist was by selling original pieces. If I wasn’t selling enough, I thought it meant my art wasn’t good enough. Big mistake. It took me a while to realize that many successful artists don’t just rely on selling originals - they diversify their income streams in all sorts of creative ways.

As Picasso once said, "I'd like to live as a poor man with lots of money." It’s not just about creating art; it’s about creating freedom.

Selling originals is great, but if you’re putting all your eggs in that one basket, it can be stressful and inconsistent.

Successful artists often make money from prints, art licensing, teaching, commissions, workshops, and even creating merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, or tote bags with their designs. Some artists also make digital downloads available for purchase or offer online classes to teach others their craft.