I loved this article. It reminded me of the War of Art book which I felt kept repeating "keep going, keep showing up, keep doing the work". Share it, connect with others and "do the mahi" as we say here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
I read 'No one wants to read your Sh*t' by Steven Pressfield, and it was great. I often refer back to it. I'll plan on reading the War of Art as well. It sounds like a perfect read for me at this juncture.
Reading "The War of Art" by Stephen Pressfield played a pivotol role in my work as an artist, gallerist and curator. It showed how to conquer the Resistance, the artist's premier nemisis. Shagun Singh provides valuable insights proving that (sucessuful) artists must manage their career and become entreprenuers. As I say, "today, an artist must not only create but also market, sell, and ship their work. Building an audience is essential, as it is the key to their success."
I 100% agree with you! I think so many of us makers don't want to be entrepreneurs but we have to accept it. I guess we all just need to find our way to do the marketing etc. that works for us. And I'll just add we are pretty lucky to live in a time when we have so many different platforms that let us market ourselves!
I used to drag my mother’s art to all the art fairs as a kid, help her set up and run the ‘table’ —Not the ones in NYC or Miami— the ones at the town squares. Believe me, she would have done anything to have the opportunity we have. Or the power to market in our hands that also happens to be our phones?! Common! 💪🏼❤️🔥
That is such a good example! We are so lucky to be able to market ourselves all around the world right from our phones. I never would have sold my products outside of New Zealand had it not been for technology.
"Artists with recognition, a chimeric personality, and a level of artspeak are leading the way." The solitary genius working late into the night producing their work, generally remain solitary with a dwindling following, while complaining others are selling out their aesthetic. Well done, Shagun Singh.
The road seems to be varied, but it looks like a combination of consistent output, consistent exposure where it's most accessible, consistently making yourself visible on social media, and consistently seeking connections.
Yes, consistent output and exposure! Additionally also, cognitive flexibility. People have grand plans and work hard at them, but they give up when something doesn't line up or goes wrong. The idea isn't to keep going forever but to keep adapting.
“Consistent” is the word of the Day, both in the studio and creating exposure. From today forward, instead of looking back, I would also suggest artists return to finding exposure methods they can own and control. There is nothing wrong with relying on IG or whatever the latest platform is or will be, but have your own place to park your own IP. Stop giving it away to the machine. Use it, don’t lose it with the next whim of a billionaire or political party.
I mean, anyone who is already here, is someone interested in finding new talent, and sees what's going on here could get a head start on the competition.
There is so much indie artistic talent here already and the artists are consistently sharing their deeper back stories.
If I were a talent scout, I'd be jumping on the Substack indie arts community before others discover it.
Absolutely. News is out. As more cancel their meta and X servitude, those that make a living discovering new content will come here.
The question is whether the industries are looking for the next big ‘art’ thing of real value versus just a leg up in a struggling content war—budgets are cut, lay offs, the outward need to appear ‘current’ for no money at all takes its toll. Validating picking from Substack with have to build a track record.
Until then, we all should keep true to our authentic selves. Use the important knowledge shared in this article but throw the net wider to include ways to keep control over as much of our work as possible. If TikTok has taught us anything, it’s to count on nothing. Use it. Don’t be afraid to lose it.
Great article. I find those three key points to be generally accurate but when you have the facts behind it make this case stronger, it really goes to show the areas to focus on the most from the business side of art. Connections and networking is so important, I do however find it a bit hard to break through sometimes but as you wrote, persistence be a payoff eventually. We just have to keep going. And lastly, marrying that with the sole purpose of being an artist, being seen for who you are is so important. Thank you for sharing your research, I’m keen to read more of what you have to share Shagun.
You did 200+ hours of research and all you could come up with were three bogus studies, none of which actually measures success as you define it?
The first study was published, as you state, in 2015, before Reels, shopping, and influencers took over Instagram, and never mentions how many collectors it surveyed, only percentages, nor reveals its methodology.
The second study was published in 2019, also pre-Reels and shopping, and it’s methodology is completely bogus: part 1 studied likes and comments on ~397K posts from 706 accounts and part 2 tabulates survey results from 35 artists. Here are the questions it sets out to answer, according to the authors themselves:
Study1:
• RQ1: What kind of artwork gets the most likes and comments?
• RQ2: What makes people press the “like” button and comment on the artwork?
• RQ3: What is the relationship between interactions, likes and comments?
• RQ4: Are female artists more popular?
Study 2:
• RQ5: Do the most-liked artwork also the best artworks considered by the artist?
• RQ6: Do the most-liked artwork influence the artist’s creation?
I would encourage everyone to skim through the study, because not only does it not measure success but most of it’s conclusions are the opposite of what is claimed here. For example, 80% of artists surveyed answered “no” to RQ5. In other words, you want to be Insta-famous, make shitty art!
Neither study is peer-reviewed and MDPI is a predatory paper mill known for publishing any garbage study for a fee. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDPI
The persistence study, also from 2015, is equally bogus. Paying 24 Northwestern undergraduates $8 to generate ideas for 30 minutes, or third-world Mechanical Turk workers 2 cents per idea to generate ideas for 8 minutes, and calling it “persistence” is idiotic. This is junk research. Here is a link to the full text of the study; just read the very short methodology sections and try to stop yourself from laughing.
I would’ve been less harsh, or simply ignored this random post that popped up in my feed if you’d simply made your argument without the “200+ hour” boast and the bogus citations. We’re already drowning in bullshit, stop adding to the flood.
Artists art were preserved and protected by the ancient rulers all over the world. Their livelihood was guaranteed by the ruling kings.
It was so because they were treated as above other people and their nearness to godliness is the reason behind keeping them around.
When 4200 year cycle of hot weather dried the Nile and there was acute food shortage in Egypt.
Then the first ever labour strike was done by the artists of the Egyptian empire with shouting slogans against the king for not making food available to even artists and through them they informed state of hunger of the ordinary people.
This is the real success of being an artist for me. Raising voice against the King to highlighting problems of the peoples of their state.
Now it looks shameful that the rulers all around the world have stopped patronise them, so they can easily raise their voice but instead the greed/ego has taken over most of them. And so such artists are no more than common man or common businessmen.
But there nearness to godliness is never compromised by the god. So I advice here to them to start practising awareness or mindfulness meditation for few minutes in any one act of their life. It will sure help them discover godliness within which is already within their easy reach. Only after discovery of reality within their life as real artist is going to begin.
My posts are from my own experiences of discovering reality within so the experiments suggested by me may he of some help to them.
This is a really interesting comment and I'm glad I read it. Do our 'ruling kings' owe artists livelihoods, do artists owe the kings and king-makers beauty and flattery for being allowed to exist and create? Some of the modes of success in the article - posting on instagram, connecting via social media - immediately enriching Meta and devaluing attention before they ever turn into a future sale or connection. I think the goal of being a full time artist within our existing cultural machine is inherently With the king, as it were, and so I wonder if it's all a bit of a doomed question, or a third rail that few venture towards asking. I'm with you though, it's a great reminder to ground in the source of inspiration and connection, whatever that means to each artist, which might change as both their lives and the world changes.
Artists art were preserved and protected by the ancient rulers all over the world. Their livelihood was guaranteed by the ruling kings.
It was so because they were treated as above other people and their nearness to godliness is the reason behind keeping them around.
When 4200 year cycle of hot weather dried the Nile and there was acute food shortage in Egypt.
Then the first ever labour strike was done by the artists of the Egyptian empire with shouting slogans against the king for not making food available to even artists and through them they informed state of hunger of the ordinary people.
This is the real success of being an artist for me. Raising voice against the King to highlighting problems of the peoples of their state.
Now it looks shameful that the rulers all around the world have stopped patronise them, so they can easily raise their voice but instead the greed/ego has taken over most of them. And so such artists are no more than common man or common businessmen.
But there nearness to godliness is never compromised by the god. So I advice here to them to start practising awareness or mindfulness meditation for few minutes in any one act of their life. It will sure help them discover godliness within which is already within their easy reach. Only after discovery of reality within their life as real artist is going to begin.
My posts are from my own experiences of discovering reality within so the experiments suggested by me may he of some help to them.
I loved this article. It reminded me of the War of Art book which I felt kept repeating "keep going, keep showing up, keep doing the work". Share it, connect with others and "do the mahi" as we say here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
I read 'No one wants to read your Sh*t' by Steven Pressfield, and it was great. I often refer back to it. I'll plan on reading the War of Art as well. It sounds like a perfect read for me at this juncture.
I’ll have to look that one up thanks, it sounds good!
Reading "The War of Art" by Stephen Pressfield played a pivotol role in my work as an artist, gallerist and curator. It showed how to conquer the Resistance, the artist's premier nemisis. Shagun Singh provides valuable insights proving that (sucessuful) artists must manage their career and become entreprenuers. As I say, "today, an artist must not only create but also market, sell, and ship their work. Building an audience is essential, as it is the key to their success."
I 100% agree with you! I think so many of us makers don't want to be entrepreneurs but we have to accept it. I guess we all just need to find our way to do the marketing etc. that works for us. And I'll just add we are pretty lucky to live in a time when we have so many different platforms that let us market ourselves!
I used to drag my mother’s art to all the art fairs as a kid, help her set up and run the ‘table’ —Not the ones in NYC or Miami— the ones at the town squares. Believe me, she would have done anything to have the opportunity we have. Or the power to market in our hands that also happens to be our phones?! Common! 💪🏼❤️🔥
That is such a good example! We are so lucky to be able to market ourselves all around the world right from our phones. I never would have sold my products outside of New Zealand had it not been for technology.
Suddenly managing ourselves at our finger tips doesn’t seem like such a bad deal after all.
Keep doing The Work! Yes. Great book.
"Artists with recognition, a chimeric personality, and a level of artspeak are leading the way." The solitary genius working late into the night producing their work, generally remain solitary with a dwindling following, while complaining others are selling out their aesthetic. Well done, Shagun Singh.
Great breakdown, Shagun.
The road seems to be varied, but it looks like a combination of consistent output, consistent exposure where it's most accessible, consistently making yourself visible on social media, and consistently seeking connections.
Consistency and endurance:)
Happy Valentine's!
Yes, consistent output and exposure! Additionally also, cognitive flexibility. People have grand plans and work hard at them, but they give up when something doesn't line up or goes wrong. The idea isn't to keep going forever but to keep adapting.
Yes. That's something I am blind to. I tend to hammer through instead of reading the situation and being flexible.
“Consistent” is the word of the Day, both in the studio and creating exposure. From today forward, instead of looking back, I would also suggest artists return to finding exposure methods they can own and control. There is nothing wrong with relying on IG or whatever the latest platform is or will be, but have your own place to park your own IP. Stop giving it away to the machine. Use it, don’t lose it with the next whim of a billionaire or political party.
Enjoyed your breakdown. Do you have any sense of industry scouts starting to come to Substack to find talent?
Interesting comment!
I mean, anyone who is already here, is someone interested in finding new talent, and sees what's going on here could get a head start on the competition.
There is so much indie artistic talent here already and the artists are consistently sharing their deeper back stories.
If I were a talent scout, I'd be jumping on the Substack indie arts community before others discover it.
Absolutely. News is out. As more cancel their meta and X servitude, those that make a living discovering new content will come here.
The question is whether the industries are looking for the next big ‘art’ thing of real value versus just a leg up in a struggling content war—budgets are cut, lay offs, the outward need to appear ‘current’ for no money at all takes its toll. Validating picking from Substack with have to build a track record.
Until then, we all should keep true to our authentic selves. Use the important knowledge shared in this article but throw the net wider to include ways to keep control over as much of our work as possible. If TikTok has taught us anything, it’s to count on nothing. Use it. Don’t be afraid to lose it.
I built this algorithm brick by brick. This is the type of content i’m excited to see.
So glad this was a helpful read.
Good insight 😌 Can i translate part of this article into Spanish with links to you and a description of your newsletter?
Thanks for asking, and yes, feel free to do so!
Great article. I find those three key points to be generally accurate but when you have the facts behind it make this case stronger, it really goes to show the areas to focus on the most from the business side of art. Connections and networking is so important, I do however find it a bit hard to break through sometimes but as you wrote, persistence be a payoff eventually. We just have to keep going. And lastly, marrying that with the sole purpose of being an artist, being seen for who you are is so important. Thank you for sharing your research, I’m keen to read more of what you have to share Shagun.
Thank you for your hard work. Your insights are appreciated!
So interesting! Thanks for sharing!!!
Excellent work, really inspiring to read this, thanks.
Thank you!
Me: I’m giving up.
Also me after reading this: Actually I’m iconic and just need better peer support and cognitive flexibility!
YASSS!
You did 200+ hours of research and all you could come up with were three bogus studies, none of which actually measures success as you define it?
The first study was published, as you state, in 2015, before Reels, shopping, and influencers took over Instagram, and never mentions how many collectors it surveyed, only percentages, nor reveals its methodology.
The second study was published in 2019, also pre-Reels and shopping, and it’s methodology is completely bogus: part 1 studied likes and comments on ~397K posts from 706 accounts and part 2 tabulates survey results from 35 artists. Here are the questions it sets out to answer, according to the authors themselves:
Study1:
• RQ1: What kind of artwork gets the most likes and comments?
• RQ2: What makes people press the “like” button and comment on the artwork?
• RQ3: What is the relationship between interactions, likes and comments?
• RQ4: Are female artists more popular?
Study 2:
• RQ5: Do the most-liked artwork also the best artworks considered by the artist?
• RQ6: Do the most-liked artwork influence the artist’s creation?
I would encourage everyone to skim through the study, because not only does it not measure success but most of it’s conclusions are the opposite of what is claimed here. For example, 80% of artists surveyed answered “no” to RQ5. In other words, you want to be Insta-famous, make shitty art!
Neither study is peer-reviewed and MDPI is a predatory paper mill known for publishing any garbage study for a fee. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDPI
The persistence study, also from 2015, is equally bogus. Paying 24 Northwestern undergraduates $8 to generate ideas for 30 minutes, or third-world Mechanical Turk workers 2 cents per idea to generate ideas for 8 minutes, and calling it “persistence” is idiotic. This is junk research. Here is a link to the full text of the study; just read the very short methodology sections and try to stop yourself from laughing.
https://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Lucas_nordgren_2015_persistence_creativity.pdf
I would’ve been less harsh, or simply ignored this random post that popped up in my feed if you’d simply made your argument without the “200+ hour” boast and the bogus citations. We’re already drowning in bullshit, stop adding to the flood.
Artists art were preserved and protected by the ancient rulers all over the world. Their livelihood was guaranteed by the ruling kings.
It was so because they were treated as above other people and their nearness to godliness is the reason behind keeping them around.
When 4200 year cycle of hot weather dried the Nile and there was acute food shortage in Egypt.
Then the first ever labour strike was done by the artists of the Egyptian empire with shouting slogans against the king for not making food available to even artists and through them they informed state of hunger of the ordinary people.
This is the real success of being an artist for me. Raising voice against the King to highlighting problems of the peoples of their state.
Now it looks shameful that the rulers all around the world have stopped patronise them, so they can easily raise their voice but instead the greed/ego has taken over most of them. And so such artists are no more than common man or common businessmen.
But there nearness to godliness is never compromised by the god. So I advice here to them to start practising awareness or mindfulness meditation for few minutes in any one act of their life. It will sure help them discover godliness within which is already within their easy reach. Only after discovery of reality within their life as real artist is going to begin.
My posts are from my own experiences of discovering reality within so the experiments suggested by me may he of some help to them.
This is a really interesting comment and I'm glad I read it. Do our 'ruling kings' owe artists livelihoods, do artists owe the kings and king-makers beauty and flattery for being allowed to exist and create? Some of the modes of success in the article - posting on instagram, connecting via social media - immediately enriching Meta and devaluing attention before they ever turn into a future sale or connection. I think the goal of being a full time artist within our existing cultural machine is inherently With the king, as it were, and so I wonder if it's all a bit of a doomed question, or a third rail that few venture towards asking. I'm with you though, it's a great reminder to ground in the source of inspiration and connection, whatever that means to each artist, which might change as both their lives and the world changes.
Agree with you.
Artists art were preserved and protected by the ancient rulers all over the world. Their livelihood was guaranteed by the ruling kings.
It was so because they were treated as above other people and their nearness to godliness is the reason behind keeping them around.
When 4200 year cycle of hot weather dried the Nile and there was acute food shortage in Egypt.
Then the first ever labour strike was done by the artists of the Egyptian empire with shouting slogans against the king for not making food available to even artists and through them they informed state of hunger of the ordinary people.
This is the real success of being an artist for me. Raising voice against the King to highlighting problems of the peoples of their state.
Now it looks shameful that the rulers all around the world have stopped patronise them, so they can easily raise their voice but instead the greed/ego has taken over most of them. And so such artists are no more than common man or common businessmen.
But there nearness to godliness is never compromised by the god. So I advice here to them to start practising awareness or mindfulness meditation for few minutes in any one act of their life. It will sure help them discover godliness within which is already within their easy reach. Only after discovery of reality within their life as real artist is going to begin.
My posts are from my own experiences of discovering reality within so the experiments suggested by me may he of some help to them.