Do you want a successful art business? Make art that is as authentic as you.

The Parade by Ting Yuen, Acrylic on Canvas

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“You were born an original, don't die a copy.” ― John Mason.

Hey artist, Do you follow art trends, and should you care about them? Does it help or hurt your art career? 
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Well, I think that depends on how you use the trend. Do you incorporate it into your art and develop it into your own, or do you follow it blatantly without originality? 

My opinion is if you want to follow trends, do it because it speaks to you and you have an idea of how to incorporate it into your style and messaging. Don’t do it just because it’s trending. I understand sometimes you do it for business reasons, but be very wary of that. 

This is what happens when you follow trends.

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Let's say you are an animal painter but XYZ Art (fictional) is trending, so you’ve decided to abandon your animal paintings and start chasing what’s current and start doing a collection of XYZ Art.

What do you think is going to happen to the initial customers that have followed your animal art all these years? Unfortunately, you will lose their trust in your brand, and most likely, they will unfollow you and unsubscribe from your newsletter. 

You might build a new fan base for your XYZ Art but what happens when that art is no longer trending? You’ll end up with a closet full of unsold work. To make matter worse, since your initial followers have lost faith in you, you’ll have to rebuild your business all over again. And that’s why following trends can actually be detrimental to your business instead of help. 

Build a sustainable art business  
Here is the thing, if you wish to be a respectable artist with a long lucrative career, find your voice and hone in on your uniqueness because art is about self-expression and individuality.

Work on developing the style that is intrinsically yours, and build a strong connection with your fans. Your art career will flourish from these commitments.

To build a sustainable art business, you have to be a genuine brand. Be authentic and original by having confidence in your art style and messaging, let it be as unique as you. 

Here is my Story
And just because your art is not the norm doesn't mean it won't sell, quite the opposite.

I am a self-taught artist,  my biographical figurative artwork is about women empowerment. In the popularity measuring stick, figurative artwork is #7 on the chart. Although I am well versed in painting landscapes, ( #2 on the popularity chart), but what brings me true happiness is creating figurative art that encourages women to find their self-worth, forge independence and equality in their life. 

My work is unconventional, but when someone loves my art, they get addicted to it because it is unusual. And that is the reason why I sell well. I don't sell well because I paint what is popular. I do what I love, and then I find my customers that want something meaningful and unique.

Here is my advice.
Artist, find your true artistic calling. Don’t copy, don’t follow trends, put away that tablet, quit checking out what others are doing on Instagram or Pinterest. YOU do YOU and no one else. Can I get an AMEN for that?

If you want your customers to care about what you do, you have to be passionate about it. Your art has to be authentically yours. I understand that there is so much creativity out there, and nothing is really Original anymore. But that is further than the truth, I believe we are all unique, and if we keep working on what we care about genuinely, we will find the originality in our work. By doing so, we will also find our loyal tribe.

So, where do you stand on trends? I would love to hear from you. If you believe in originality, clear messaging and enjoy this kind of encouragement, come and join my FB Group, I would love to welcome you there and help you build a profitable business that you love.  

With Creative Joy,
​Ting