HOW TO BE AN ARTIST 101

First let me say that this has been the subject of rather long, diffuse, alcohol fueled conversations with my buddy Slick. He feels that, not only art, but being an artist can be taught. I disagree. I feel that being artist is somewhere between a calling and a curse. It's like having an extraneous nipple. It does you absolutely no good, but you either have one or don't. Nonetheless, for the sake of argument (and it being 5 below zero and way too cold to do paid work) I'll take on the premise that one can teach another how to be an artist. Here goes.
First, put away any notion that the ability to draw is somehow connected to art and your "art career". Even though every art school- k-phD still looks at drawing as an indicator of your "talent", it's completely wrong headed. I can draw a little, but I know plenty of very good artists that can't draw a lick. Because artists are so difficult to spot, institutions rely upon this simplistic, antiquated barometer. Who knows how many real artists are dissuaded and rejected every year because of a weak showing with the #2 pencil. Conversely many people who have a knack rendering that apple, but are void of what it takes in the long run to be an artist, get in Yale and are now selling carpet in their father's store.
Still want to be an artist? OK. Get a job. I suggest a really shitty job involving manual labor or as a Walmart greeter during the holidays. If you enjoy your job you must quit and find another one. Got alot of money and don't have to work? No matter. You still must get a job. I had some of my best ideas when I was around 25 years old, making pizzas for a 16 year old (son of the owner) boss. My mind was working faster than you could say "large pie, extra cheese, hold the anchovies." I hated that job and my kiddie boss so much, the only way I could deal was to lose myself in various art schemes that involved murder and sausage making. When you can't stand it any longer, quit your job. This is crucial in the artist making process. See how good you feel? Stock up on tuna and top raumen and note where all the pawn shops and blood banks are. You'll need these later.
Traditional art education is way over rated but not without value. If you already are starting to think of yourself as an artist and can come up with a way to pay for it, art schools can be a useful place to make connects and bide your time, avoiding the real world. In the process you may even make some art. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. I can see you are lacking in confidence. How do you know that what you are doing is art? You don't. Doubt is good. In fact if your peers tell you that you are not a very good artist and never will be, be assured you are on the right path. Do more of it. If, on the other hand, you are embraced by the community, sell your work, get shows and reviews early on in the process....WATCH OUT! This is the worse possible thing that can happen. Pick up a 20 year old ARTFORUM and see if you recognise 99% of the hot artists of the time. Failure and self-doubt are crucial components to this quest. Toughen up that ego.
Lets review. You've worked. You've quit. You've made art and nobody responds positively. You have been rejected, discouraged, ridiculed. You can't go back to school and that pizza job is now not looking so bad. You feel like a complete failure. This is the most crucial time in the artist making process. An artist will redefine failure. You aren't failing. Quite the contrary. You are succeeding through obstinance and perseverance. Notice I have not mentioned talent. You do not need any talent to be an artist. That's one of the best things about it. But....and this is a big but...you DO need talent to work. You must find a job that you can do to a degree throughout your life and not kill yourself. This will sustain you financially when none of your art sells. I chose carpentry, but it could be anything. Bukowski worked for the post office.
Obviously, I have a rather old school, romantic view of what an artist is. An artist, to me, continues against all odds. He (or she) is a bur under the saddle of conformity, constantly irritating societie's ass. And in the end only faith in art will save the individual. Every day an artist faces the beast with it's rancid breath, whispering "Give it up. You're getting nowhere." No one is saying do some more work, yet the work gets done. Once in a while someone will look at the work and approve or disapprove. It really doesn't matter. Rewards? Sure you get the self satisfaction of completion. But simultaneously you realize nothing is ever complete. In fact, that's another good thing about this "career". You never have to retire. Want to be a successful artist, traveling the world and making the big bucks? I can't help you there. But let me know when someone teaches that course. I'll be the first to sign up.