This lecture is on point. I have no formal art education. All I have done is go to the best museums in Europe and the US, watch documentaries, read books, and ask artists questions. My first solo museum exhibition is happening in May among other recent successes. It’s mostly a question of motivation...

As an artist in her sixties, your talk on how to be a successful artist is inspiring and lets me know that even at my age, I can still have a ten year plan with my positive attitude. Indeed.

Summary of How to succeed as an artist  Success is about relationships  There are much more a lot of different art villages.  There are no obstacles. The only obstacles that exist are the obstacles we put in front of ourselves or the lack of knowledge. - Mentors and teaching convey a ton of knowledge about how the art world operates  3 key ingredients to having successful art career 1. Be distinctive - be yourself. Be who you are. Be honest. Dig down inside yourself. Reveal who you are. All of us on this planet as human beings are unique. - You have to fine what makes you distinctive from everybody else. 2. You got to get your ass in the game. - You’ve got to get engaged. - It is no longer sufficient to sit in your studio and expect the world to come to you. You’ve got to still give it the opportunity to get seen - Associate with people better than yourself. - Create opportunities where your work gets seen. - Hustle 3. Make good art - Good art means distinctive. - Can’t all of us name artists who are doing really well monetarily whose work we think sucks? Don’t we all know and maybe we could out ourselves artists who are making fabulous work that nobody’s paying any attention to? All of this stuff that makes the art world so wonderful is that all of the stuff is subjective. It’s not like its objective.  You need to adjust your strategy to your objectives. - What is succeed? On would assume that’s money. But that isn’t the case for everybody. Some people want to get attention for what they’re doing. Some people want to communicate. There are lots of kinds of objectives that an artist can have. You need to know what your object.  I believe that give or take 20%, 50% of an artist’s effort should be outside of making art. That means 30 to 70% of an artist time and efforts should be about focusing on their career.  More and more artists can benefit by having business partners the same way a corporation would have business partners.  It’s really important that artists apply the creativity that they bring to their artwork also to their career. ]  It’s wise to have a role model or several role models. You don’t have to follow their path but you can see what worked for them and what didn’t work for them. - Do not assume that you cannot pick up the phone and call. Say “hey, I am wondering hot it worked for you when you did.”  Somebody asked George Burn the secret to acting. He said sincerity. - The idea is that people want to associate with people who they think are upbeat, positive, successful. Have a good attitude. Even if you’re not successful today have an attitude that conveys my trajectory is rising and I’m going to be a success.  Spend at least 20 hours a week making art to have a chance an art career. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for going to openings growing your community.  Lots of personal art comes from powerful life experiences  Communicate and grow your audience over the internet.

1. Be distinctive, be yourself. “You might as well be yourself: everyone else is taken”. Vision is what distinguishes you from everyone else - write it down in a dynamic artist’s statement. 2. Get your ass in the game. Get engaged. Associate with people better than yourself. Hustle. Strategy is how you differentiate your art. Be affable. Be upbeat. Have your elevator pitch. 3. Make good art. Again, be distinctive. Recognize that art is visceral, emotional. Set real objectives, based on your vision, and let it inform your strategy.

He's talking about creating an art career guys. Not sitting in your room "doing what you love". Honestly that won't get you far, you'll need a day job if that's the case. He is saying to be an artist, you'll need to be an entrepreneur, you need to make money so you don't need that day job. And why is that? Because you won't have the time it takes to make GOOD art. And yes to be good you need time, you need to be original. And how can you be distinctive without spending 6 days a week working your art business. Yes BUSINESS is necessary to have a career as an artist. Your human capital is your art, your career is your art, your sales is your art. There is no such thing as selling out unless you are committing forgery. And by the way what really well known, or truly remarkable artist did not embrace the business of art? Not many my friends. A Van Gough here and there maybe. Good luck, have a vision that includes capitalising your work 🤗

It is so true about what you say about making oppertunities for yourself. If there are none- make them!4 yrs ago I had an idea to start teaching art and since no one was willing to hire me, I decided to create my own - renting out a space and teaching. I found a business partener-4 years on I am still teaching in my own studio and now get asked to teach at other places.I now have another idea and have started that.It's a lot of hard work but , I dont wake up everyday feeling miserable.

Excellent talk. Phil says, “So much of what makes an artist significant is their life experiences, more so than their formal education." BAM! How very true.

When I enrolled in art school--1966--it was $300 per year for The Art Institute of Boston...5 days a week with nothing else but art.

R.I.P Paul Klein. Thank you so much for everything.

the first question from the art student is a huge reason many artists do not succeed. The financial issue is ALWAYS in the forefront so the focus of needing money to pay off student loans and, well, to be able to live (including eating sometimes). So what ends up happening are two things - they become art teachers or they take day jobs which require time - both of which take away the time of their art-making and artist career building. As an artist working for over 20 something years, what I have seen of the ones who do succeed is some form of financial backing whether from their spouses or elsewhere so that the artists can then take the time to focus on their art career. As for me, I took a day job as an artists' model which does not give me an annual income of which I could live alone but it keeps me in the art scene and allows me time to work on my career. Luckily, I do have a roof over my head and a husband with a "real job". Still, as I get older, the reality of my bleak financial future becomes ever so present.

This guy is freaking brilliant. This is one of the best talks I’ve ever heard relating to the art industry. I’m going to look for sky up and follow more of his talks

Words of wisdom: the only obstacles are the ones you put in front of yourself, or lack of knowledge!

I feel energized by your words "life experiences are often greater than formal education" best advice ever and may apply to many ...

You gave a lot of very good advice. I have created my own career as an artist. I have worked as an entertainer drawing cartoons, not caricatures, for exhibitors at trade shows coast to coast for over 40 years. I have also been on the college circuit drawing on campuses.Two Presidents have sat for me. I have drawn Governors, Senators, Congressmen, and even Royalty.I have several companies that book me for all of their shows for over 15 years.

It is interesting to see this lecture on how to succeed as an artist at the age of 71. My career since art school has included being an art director for NBC, lawn mower mechanic, jewelry designer and model maker in NYC, book illustrator, furniture designer and builder for private clients, woodcarver, landscape painter, and TV camera man. I was always looking for a wide variety of work to get into because I've always subscribed to the idea that being diversified in ones abilities allows success in different circumstances. During all of the trials and tribulations in each of these working experiences, I've always maintained a good attitude about what I was doing at the time and have enjoyed what life has to offer. In my opinion, it's all about attitude and knowing what brings true happiness to one's life, not having a big house, fancy car or a yacht tied up at the dock.

Life experiences ....oh yes that's the spice of art!

I say - Never LOSE Your Enthusiasm. We never stop living (until we die, right)… so the time we have can be used wisely, or spent frivolously. The worst thing in the world...is thinking it doesn't matter what you do. I think it does matter - even if all you want to do is play cards with fellow friends. But I tell seniors at this Center I work at - the only thing that holds you back, is You --- at OLD age. One gal, is in her 80's... she is starting to get on a treadmill to walk. She is up to 20 minutes. The excitement on her face, is the most Life I have seen in HER, for weeks!!! Yet, another woman who is 102, still plays piano & shows no excitement at all. For her, it's commonplace, she is almost robotic. Yet, she is so quick to criticize, what a spitfire! LOL At 67, I decided I wanted to go back to singing...took over a year to find local musicians who are playing (I live in a very isolated area). Finally, by chance, I met up with three GREAT Acoustic players, they were playing at a local poetry reading - the bonding was almost instantaneous! I'm now working with them *smile*. My brother critiqued me, saying that my voice as no identifying quality to it,... tho' it is good. I felt almost crushed by his opinion. I just told HIM, that he hasn't been listening to me long enough...and to STOP COMPARING me with others! While I like other women's music, and enjoying singing their songs...never did I want to COPY their Style. And short of starting an argument over his comment... I realized something for myself! I do have my own style - IF I don't compared myself. Just wanted to add this to the discussion - Comparison is the sure fire way to stop our OWN Journey & KILL YOUR OWN Speciality. We can always learn by the negative comments...but don't let it STOP YOU finding Your Way. Juliana

Just paint and draw whatever it is you like and do it. Don't give a hoot about what others think, and don't try to please anyone... if you're going into art to make money or become huge, you expect too much. To me, that's what makes a successful artist... recognition, money, or galleries aren't what make you professional, it's being able to translate your idea on a canvas and being satisfied with the result. Be a hobbyist and let the people find your work on their own. Otherwise, you're depending on people to like your work and you'll just be conflicted by whether to paint what you want or to paint what others expect from you.

This is my FIRST exposure … I was Saddened To Read Of The Speakers Recent Passing - Thank you Mr. PAUL KLEIN, This is The Best lecture Of it’s Kind ( IMHO)… And THANK YOU to the Publishers Who posted it & The Other Resourses Available From Mr. KLEIN ☮️❤️👉🏼💪🏼🎨🎨🎨To all 🤺

Priceless knowledge that applies to writers too. Thanks, Paul.

" It's all about relationships. Believing what you are doing is valuable"....I enjoy this talk very much and gave me some good insight...Thank you Paul!

Networking, I have found, is so key - you could be making absolute crap, but if you're the one getting out there and networking, then you're the one that's going to sell (which also has a lot to do with the subjectivity of the matter). Subjectivity is the other key element, or, rather, accepting it. There are seven billion people on this planet, so that's seven billion opinions, all of them valid. Some of them are going to be negative, and it's okay if they are. I've found that coming to terms with the fact that it's okay for people to hate what I do was very important. It frees me from public opinion in ways that can hamper a person's creative self. I think there's this bias in some artists, that wanting to making money is somehow evil, or that it invalidates your work. I never believed in this idea of the nobility of the starving artist. There's nothing noble about starvation and being in a position to be unable to afford the tools that are essential to your craft.

How important is formal education? "Not." No hesitation, frank, flat, loved this 😂 this got me in the feels. Really enjoyed this lecture, thank you

Wow I stumbled into this by accident, but it made me realize that I have not been working hard enough at all. Thank you so much for the opportunity to hear such a great discussion !

i am an artist and i have succeeded - with or without you

My goodness, where have been ...i have needed to hear these words for a long time....i love you for sharing this...thank you thank you thank you

very wise he is, for the spirit of the artist, and the nature of the business

About the blended career question--it's actually not that complicated. I'm a full-time artist now, but when I was starting out I worked twice as many hours as a 9-5 employee. I worked my day job, then I drove home and worked on my art until I fell asleep. I worked on art all weekend. I used Instagram to promote my work, and I cold called galleries to ask about opportunities. My cold calls led to shows, my work got better, I started making more money on art and then was able to spend 70% of my time on art, 30% of my time at the day job. Now I work full time on art, 60 hours a week minimum. It's not a complicated answer, it's just a challenging solution. You have to become a workaholic. Identify with it and be proud of yourself for it. It's a very fulfilling life if you can romanticize the process of it!

I appreciated this a ton. I’d like to call myself a successful artist. There are a lot of bumps in the road, I’ve strayed away from these teachings Very good refresher of your vision. Thank you.

This is so inspiring…… over the years I have been more often in my studio creating artworks than out making relationships….. From now that has to change a great deal….

Thank you Paul, well said

I learned so much. Thank you Paul!!!!

Amazing. Thank you.

Thank you so much for sharing this. Really needed to hear this. So on the money.

this video played randomly after a tutorial video while i am working on some digital art......thank you, it was exactly what i needed to listen to. thank you!! -

Thank you for sharing this.

Love listening to Paul, great speech!

Thanks dude. I feel the soul.

I love this man, he's right on!

Thank you so much for this!

More words i will always remember and think back too, thanks ^^

Loved this talk! Thank you!

Many thanks for all that u share!

Thank You Paul

You just answered most of the questions that's been eating my head from years!!! Thank you so much for this video Paul!!!

this has been an most educational and positive input. thank you

Thank you for this. Affirming and important.

Cheers. The best lecture I have seen till now.

wonderful, thank you

Three minutes forty five seconds in and I'm hooked. This Mans wisdom isn't shy but it is a little subtle. Can't wait to hear the rest.

I DO LOVE THE THOUGHT.......

Thank You, great talk.

Fantastic information and appreciate how honest and direct you are.

Awesome! Needed to hear this , well said!

This was packed with great info! Thanks!

i love this.. i appreciate the time that others who found success with their dreams, give to shine a light for those who are just finding their way around all this. It is encouraging and some good thing to come out of utube.

Thank you for the speech......

What a great teacher. Thanks

Thank you!

This is gold!

Love this quote, "Together we know a lot of stuff, lets find out."

fantastic talk, so freakin nailed it

I really enjoyed this video, thank you Paul.

Just watched the Paul klien video on becoming a success, it has given me renewed hope of something I was born to do as an artist paulanthony

this videos has really helped me. so much. Thank you Mr. Klein!

"Every single artist can succeed. Everybody... *sip water" Okay, I'll watch the rest. That right there was already a huge confidence boost. I'm a long-time artist but a first-time seller of said art. Wish me luck.

"So much of what makes an artist significant is their life experiences more so than their formal education." I couldn't agree more Mr. Klein. Thank you for the very informative and enlightening talk!

One of the basic things to succeed is skill and to be able to,produce original,work which catches the attention of clients and galleries.It does help also to be well connected in life!!

Thanks so much for sharing this

Thank you, really inspiring and interesting talk.

“If you believe that something in this you are creating is any good, you have an ***obligation*** to get it out into the world”. Beautiful thought. Can be said about any career not just artists. I am struggling to become a data scientists. I believe what I am creating does have something good for society. I will try to reframe my task as an obligation to get it out into the world. This is so empowering!

This just changed my entire perspective! I'm ready to get out into the world now😁 I took notes the entire time. Thank you so much for sharing.❤✨❤

Great information, thank you.

Profoundly useful. Thanks Mr. Klein.

I really find this very helpful! Thank you so much for sharing!

Brilliant. Very inspiring. Thank you.

Thank you. Took all of the stuffiness out of ART! Be yourself! Be who you are. Make good art!

Tremendous talk here. I may be revisiting this as the years wear on.

Great talk! Thanks for sharing this video.

I loved this. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you so much for sharing this

brilliant talk , thank you for sharing your incites!

Awesome speech!

one of the most educational podcasts I've ever listened to

Kind of like Tom Waits: "If both of us bring exactly the same things to a conversation, one of us is redundant". Define success in terms of your contributive goals, rather than your aspirational goals. Don't confuse your artistic goals with how others praise, or reward, you; use feedback to see if your approaches are having the effect you desire, take a second job if you never make enough as an artist. Don't be a sunflower, letting the blinding light of praise turn your head only to follow the light. 'Strategy' has a taste of artifice about it; just call it marketing and be honest. Find a gallery/rep you respect, and who respects you, is honest but not pushing you in ways that benefit financially at the expense of your art. The more time you spend considering what others think about you, rather than making your art, the less the world at large is likely to absorb your work.

Good advise thank you Joaana Weaver from the UK

thank you so much for this talk

Enormously helpful, thank you.

This video is AWESOME!!! Paul Klein ROCKS!!!

I really liked this talk, thank you very much for sharing

I feel greatly inspired listening to him.

Amazing, thank you for the tips & knowledge

Really good. Every art school student should hear this. Thank you.

Thank you! Great teaching information!👏👏👏👏👏

Had Frida Kahlo been spared that horrible accident she might well have been who she was: the daughter of a German photographer who welcomed her into the studio, the daughter of a Mexican mother who inspired her reflections on culture and ethnicity,spunky student who could stand up to the great Diego,and the free spirit who pursued international friendships with French surrealists and Russian Revolutionary with warmth and compassion. Art can surmount pain and poverty, Art does not require pain.

Outstanding because it is interesting, honest, straight and concrete/valuable. Thank you so very much PK!

I'm GRATEFUL for you, Sir. I've just learned of you and your contributions to the art world, and artist like me. Thank you!!!

Even in 2019, your words have value. I'm a senior in high school right now and have been stuck trying to figure out what I want to do after graduating. I finally decided that I didn't want to go to college after all in favor of working on my art solo in order to build discipline and practice the skills I need to hone the most. However, I ended up doubting myself and didn't know exactly how I'd go about that plan. This helped me center my thoughts and regain my confidence. I'm certainly going to be looking at my plans again so I can fine-tune them, just to be sure I get the most out of my time fresh out of high school.

Very inspiring conversational speaker!

Very informative! Thank you for sharing Paul. Definitely a lot of information I can apply to my artistic vision.