Philadelphia based visual artist, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

Tatyana, on being an artist:

“a friend asked me for advice on being an artist. this is what i said. i dunno if it helped. lol….”

“well. 

you have to motivate yourself. 
you gotta create all the time. and you have to promote all the time.
you have to put yourself out there for consumption. 
you can create a masterpiece, but if no one sees it, you’re the only person who’ll know how awesome you are. 

which is fine. 
if you aren’t tryna make money as a professional artist. 

but if you are: 
you need a website. 
you need a portfolio. 
you need to email. and visit. and shake hands. and smile. 
you need business cards. 

and even with all of that,
people will tell you your stuff is dope, and will keep it moving. 

they’ll spend 3 seconds surveying your website, and then will keep it moving. 

and so you’ll doubt your talents. 
you’ll doubt your purpose as an artist. 
you’ll open up a tab for craigslist.com and think of getting a job. 
(or, an additional job). 
you’ll think that there are plenty of other artists that do exactly what you do
and want exactly what you want
and maybe there just isn’t enough room for all of ya’ll to be successful. 

you’ll roll your eyes hard as shit when 
people tell you you should be bigger than you are. 

but, you’ll keep creating. 
you’ll create create create
even when you don’t even know what to create
even when you think that what you’re creating sucks.
you’ll keep creating. 

you’ll find inspiration
you’ll realize that you have some shit to say with your art
and even if there are plenty of other artists like you, 
you’re special. 

and you aint gonna do shit else but be an artist so, this shit is just gonna have to work out. 

and then you’ll update that fucking website. 
email more people. 
shake more hands. 
exhibit. make prints. create new work. 
go to galleries. go to museums. 

you’ll keep being an artist

cus that’s what the fuck you are. 

as far as do’s and don’ts. 
i dont really know. i’m still figuring it out. 
what i know so far: 
do make new work as often as you can.
do build relationships with people. that’s important. 
do make deadlines. do meet them. 
do promote yourself. 
don’t give up.”