Ask a stranger on the street to describe the life of an artist and many imagine them as solitary geniuses, toiling away in their studios. They picture them brooding over their masterpiece like Mozart with a concerto. They often believe that artists require years of rigorous schooling in order to be successful. The truth is that many successful artists have developed their skills without a formal degree through life experiences, including jobs, relationships, and challenges. Each of these contributes to shaping an artist’s unique perspective and abilities.
This is the path I took to becoming a professional artist today.
In 5th grade, my artistic side blossomed when I tackled a science fair project on insects. The focal point was a large, hyper-realistic drawing I made of a grasshopper. My teacher was impressed and said I had a talent for detail and drawing. That was the first time someone recognized my artistic potential, a moment I cherish to this day.
Fast forward to high school. While taking a drawing class in 10th grade, my teacher nurtured my love of reflections, surrealism, and color. He encouraged me to enter local art exhibitions, and later to submit to a community college art scholarship. I won and had plans to become a Special Needs Drawing Teacher.
Due to personal circumstances, I failed to complete even one semester of college. Instead, I went off to the business world working in various positions such as secretary, shipping manager, accounts receivable clerk, and eventually marketing director for a large corporation. While it seemed these positions were unrelated to art, the experiences unknowingly equipped me with valuable skills.
When I became a mother, I left the corporate world to focus on raising our son and homeschooled him for 16 years. During this time, I also taught art at a private academy and ran a mural business. Although I was teaching the next generation of artists and painting murals, I felt that I wasn’t doing anything for ME.
Rekindling the Artistic Flame
When our son started college, I had a “What do I do now?” moment. I believe many of us who raise families and care for others find ourselves with this thought in mid-life. We’ve devoted so much of ourselves to others, we tend to forget about our needs and what our future will look like.
I enrolled in a Design class through our local community college. Although at 43 I was the oldest student, my teacher encouraged me to delve back into art wholeheartedly. I rediscovered my love of color theory, paint, pen, and various art styles. My creative spark now ignited, I enrolled in Painting 1, Watercolor, and Life Drawing. Life Drawing allowed me to smear charcoal and pastels to create abstract nudes. This was a turning point for me as it allowed me to embrace messiness and enjoy the creative process itself.
As I was taking a handful of community college art classes, I had an idea for a children’s book that I wanted to write and illustrate. Not knowing anything about this world, I attended several local Children’s Book Illustrator chats to learn more. I was in awe of these creative artists and saw how challenging their careers were. Although I wanted to do what they did, I felt the timing was not right. Something else was waiting for me ahead.
From Car Shows to Canvas
In the Fall of 2014, my husband purchased a classic car, a 1961 Ford Thunderbird. We began going to car shows, and I was captivated by the stories behind the vehicles and the way light reflected off their polished surfaces. The shape, shadow, and lines of these vehicles mirrored my fascination with the human form in life drawing class.
At one show, my husband challenged me to do a painting of a car. Despite my initial doubt in my capabilities, I chose to paint an orange GMC truck. To my surprise, it was a delight to capture the reflective chaos onto canvas. Encouraged by this initial attempt, I continued to explore more car paintings. My first attempts were far from perfect, but they were valuable learning experiences. They paved the way for me to become a professional realistic vehicle painter in February 2015.
The Value of Life Experiences
The experiences you have in life absolutely make you the artist you are today. For me personally:
- Being a corporate Marketing Director honed my skills in meeting deadlines, presenting my ideas to decision makers, and advocating for myself.
- Homeschooling and caring for elderly/infirmed loved ones taught me the importance of lifelong learning and truly listening.
- Painting murals helped me conquer my fear of painting large surfaces.
- Life Drawing classes, where I used my fingers, palms, and brushes to smear materials, prepared me for the balance of realism and abstraction found in my car paintings.
- Teaching art instilled patience and the understanding that art appreciation is subjective.
Learning from Rejection
Realizing that everyone sees our art differently is incredibly important to our growth. For example, I submitted my work to a statewide competition early in my career. No matter the outcome, each entry would be provided with critiques from three judges.
While my artwork was not accepted, one judge commented: “They are just cars.”
Although this stung deeply, it was a valuable lesson. It taught me that not everyone will appreciate my art, and that’s okay. The most important thing is to create art for YOU. Those who appreciate your work will find you.
Delight in Your Journey
Life experiences shape us as artists. Formal art education is valuable, but so are other experiences, from working various jobs to volunteering in your community. All of these are training for your creative process. Each a lesson on how to create, market, network, and plan your art career. Even challenges like doubt, rejection, and slow sales periods can make us better artists. They teach us to look at a situation differently and to find a better solution.
Your Future Self Will Thank You
As you navigate your artistic path, actively document your creative process. Keep a journal, photograph your work, or even record videos to create a rich archive. Then, consider your past experiences, both triumphs and challenges.
How have they shaped you as an artist? Perhaps they hold the key to unlocking that coveted gallery exhibition, publication feature, or even your dream painting commission. Never underestimate the power of life experiences – they are the fuel that propels you to becoming a more successful creative.
~ Shannon (“Shan”) Fannin
Realist Vehicle Artist since Feb 2015
www.shanfannin.com
Share your art journey with us in the comments below.
