Era of the Thriving Artist

Your life without a computer: what does it look like?

Artistically it looks very different, considering I’ve based the majority of my artistic practice around computer technologies like the iPhone, iPad and laptop computer. I’d still draw as much, but it would probably be more for my mental health… a bit like knitting or something. I certainly wouldn’t have the opportunity to make some money or even make a living from my art.

But I suppose what this does highlight the fact that there has never been a better time for the thriving artist. We have the ability to create, exhibit and distribute our art to anywhere in the world from the device in your pocket.

You could argue that there is so much competition now that you still don’t have any chance of being ‘discovered’ or found. But my answer to that is to stay consistent and productive and you’ll out create about 90% of the artists out there. Because being consistent and disciplined is possibly one of the hardest things to do. Especially when the very framework that you are creating and distributing your artwork on has been designed to be as distracting as possible.

So if you can stay consistent, focussed and disciplined with your art and the way you show up online, i believe that you will thrive… eventually.

Before the computer I wouldn’t have been able to illustrate my books. Sure I could have done it old school with pen and ink. But I simply wouldn’t have had the time, because all of my art creation happened in my car between lawn mowing jobs. I illustrated my first kids book on my phone. The whole idea of this still blows my mind.