Julia Couzens

Advice from VoyageMIA

Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
Earning a living from the sale of work is hugely difficult. Success as an artist cannot be measured in economic terms. Too many worthy artists work in relative obscurity and support themselves by other means. Art is an inexplicable force that comes from the center of the earth. It has nothing to do with the worldly concerns of sustaining a career. Nevertheless, the biggest challenge an artist may face is sustaining the quality of will to work over the span of a lifetime — to stay working in the face of parades and recognition that may pass them by. Some artists choose to only work on the work and some artists choose to strategize a career. It’s possible to do both. But the primary relationship must be to the work itself. Follow the work, follow the work, follow the work … and help other artists, for success raises all boats.