5 pieces of Art Advice I would give to myself as a young Artist

Kiri Leonard working on her painting tablet.

1. People purchase art that they connect with. This can be for several reasons: Sometimes, they find it beautiful, sometimes it awakens a memory, sometimes it reminds them of someone they know, sometimes it fits the couch, and so on.

It's always about the collector and their experiences, not you as an artist. You can use this to your benefit. However, the art-making is about you as an artist, and this is how people will connect with you.

2. Presentation matters more than you think. Having a clear presentation of your artwork shows that you love and care for it. It shows your audience it has value.

3. It takes time to find your audience, give it time - and nurture the audience you do have instead of being obsessed about numbers.So many people forget about engaging with those already enjoying their artwork.

4. It's easier to sell flowers than zombies, but that doesn't mean you can't sell zombies - it just means it's more difficult.

5. Work in series and collections.
Explore things you're interested in in series, instead of single pieces. It makes it easier to build a body of work and create good work because you get more practice. It also makes it easier for the audience to dive into what you're making, as there is more to see.Don't be afraid to redo work, this can become part of the series!

6. Bonus tip, being an artist doesn't mean you'll be a good illustrator.
It's a surprisingly different skill set. Illustrators bring a client's vision to life, artists bring their vision to life. There can be cross-overs, and some people are good at both.