Become a Hungry Artist, not Starving Artist

The narrative of the “starving artist” has filled the cultural consciousness, painting a picture of creativity and passion intertwined with sacrifice and struggle. Let’s challenge this narrative.

What if, instead of starving, we choose to be hungry — hungry for growth, success, and the fulfillment of our creative potential?

The Problem with Starving

The notion of the starving artist romanticizes suffering, suggesting that true art can only emerge from hardship — and that we will be poor while doing it! This myth can lead to a dangerous mindset where financial instability and personal wellbeing are neglected in the name of artistic integrity.

But let’s get something very clear: true creativity flourishes not in deprivation but in a state of thriving — a state where the artist is fueled by ambition and a voracious appetite for success.

The Power of Hunger

Hunger, in this context, is more than just a metaphor. It represents a burning desire to achieve, to innovate, and to make a lasting impact. Unlike the passive suffering implied by starvation, hunger is active; it drives us forward, urging us to seek out new opportunities and to continuously evolve both our art and ourselves.

Hunger is just another word for motivation. Be hungry. Be motivated.

Cultivating Your Hunger

So, how do you transition from a mindset of scarcity to one of creative and financial success, from starving to being hungry for what the world of art and creation has to offer? Here are actionable steps, broken down into sub-steps, to guide you on this journey:

Step 1: Define Your Vision

1. Reflect: Take a moment to consider what truly drives you. Is it storytelling, visual expression, innovation, or perhaps a combination of these? In order to succeed you will need to keep creating art or films or writing that fills you.

2. Visualize: Imagine your ideal future as an artist. What are you creating? Who are you impacting? Even, who is your audience?

3. Write It Down: Put your vision into words. This act makes it more tangible and serves as a constant reminder of what you’re striving for.

You combine each of those elements above and you have now created a path to get started on and an idea of where you want to go. You won’t be able to see 100 steps ahead. Just focus on the first step and the next few steps.

As you begin your journey, more of your path will get illuminated and you will see steps that you did not know even existed. This is important, because it is easy to get hung up on knowing and seeing how it will all turn out, and that just isn’t the case for anyone. You have to take the steps first.

Step 2: Educate Yourself

1. Learn the Business: Understanding the business side of art can be empowering. Educate yourself on marketing, branding, and the economics of your field — especially audience growth. Your audience is the key to revenue.

2. Skill Up: Continuously hone your craft. Whether it’s through formal education, workshops, or online courses, never stop learning.

3. Seek Inspiration: Look to those who have successfully navigated their paths. Study their journeys, their failures, and their recoveries.

Asking questions is my favorite way to learn. It could be to just leave a question in the comments section of a YouTube video you found helpful, or you can directly reach out to someone and ask a question. Don’t be afraid to ask, it will be one of the fastest ways you learn.

Step 3: Build Your Audience & Community

1. Connect: Engage with fellow artists and creators. Platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and local art communities are great places to start.

2. Collaborate: Look for opportunities to work with others. Collaboration can open up new avenues for creativity and exposure - even revenue.

3. Share: Don’t keep your art a secret. Share your work, your process, and your story with your community. I love the concept of building in public. You don’t want to show off what you are creating AFTER it has finished. Show what you are working on WHILE you are working on it. This builds trust, authenticity, and a deep connection with your audience, who will eventually pay to see, read, or hear your work. They will want to consume it. They will become a consumer and consumers spend money. This is where you will earn a revenue.

Step 4: Set Goals and Take Action

1. Set SMART Goals: Make sure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

2. Create a Plan: Break down your goals into actionable steps. What can you do each day, each week, and each month to move closer to your vision? You write one paragraph a day so that in a week you have a page and so that in a month you have a chapter and in a year you have a book.

3. Hold Yourself Accountable: Regularly review your progress. Adjust your plan as needed, but always keep moving forward.

Iteration is my favorite word here. I love to look at what is working and what isn’t working. Lots of times we look at why things are failing and then aim to fix those. We usually miss out on looking at what is working, understand why it is working and then doubling down on that.

Step 5: Embrace Failure as a Learning Tool

1. Reframe Failure: See each setback as a lesson, not a defeat. What can you learn from this experience? Learning from failure is failing forward. Giving up after a failure is failing backwards. Though it is okay to give up to move on to something else and using that failure to help in your next journey.

2. Stay Resilient: Persistence is key. The path of a hungry artist is paved with challenges, but each one is an opportunity to grow, feed off of those challenges.

3. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge your successes along the way. These victories, no matter how small, fuel your hunger and keep you motivated.

The Single Actionable Step: Crafting Your Personal Blueprint

If there’s one action to take away from this, it’s the creation of your Personal Blueprint for Success. This blueprint, informed by the steps above, is a comprehensive plan that aligns your vision, education, community, goals, and resilience strategies. It’s a living document that evolves as you do, guiding you toward the future you envision for yourself as a hungry artist.

1. Draft Your Blueprint: Combine your vision, learning strategies, community engagement plans, goals, and resilience techniques into a cohesive document.

2. Review and Refine: Periodically revisit and refine your blueprint. As you grow, your needs and goals will change, and so should your plan.

3. Share and Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to share your blueprint with trusted peers or mentors. Constructive feedback can provide valuable insights and new perspectives. Even get feedback from your audience.

Make a Choice.

Will You Be Starving or Will You Be Hungry?

The transition from a “starving” to a “hungry” artist is more than a change in mindset; it’s a comprehensive reevaluation of how we approach our craft and careers. By embracing hunger, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities, where creativity is not hindered by hardship but propelled by passion, ambition, and a relentless drive to succeed.

As we journey through this transformative process, let’s remember that our hunger is not just for personal gain but for the enrichment of the world through our art. It’s a hunger that, when nurtured, leads not only to our own fulfillment but to a legacy that inspires future generations of hungry artists.

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