What is contained in this article can apply to the pursuit of any job. For me, these were skills used for Imagineering.

Many of you have continued to ask the question, “What are some of the practical steps to becoming a professional artist?” So in this article, and perhaps my next two or three, I’ll address this very subject.

You can post any question you want answered here or in the future as we go along. You can also email them to me, [email protected]

Your participation will help you and many like you gain the insight you desire.

It’s going to take a few articles for me to share this with you properly. I want to be thorough and bring you from my world to today’s world. I’m 57 years old and what worked for me was different than what would work for you today. After all, back then there was no such thing as a personal computer.

What does remain the same is your mindset and attitude as you continue on your journey. Keep your head high, believe in yourself and promise to take action when the doors of opportunity present themselves. Keep an open mind and an open heart.

I believe that to become a professional today is easier then when I was working to become a professional artist. However, with that said, today you’re also exposed to a heck of a lot of input good and bad. This can create confusion.

Remember, you never stop learning and reinventing yourself, adapting to whatever comes your way. I’ve done this all my life and it’s the key to surviving in this ever-changing world.

That which cannot bend will break. Learn the art of flexibility.

Everyone is an artist and I traveled the world speaking on that very subject and teaching people just like you how to turn what you love into a career.

I often hear many folks say, “I’m not an artist,” “I can’t draw a straight line,” or “I’m not creative.”

Think about this for a moment and understand that this isn’t you talking, but the negative voice in your head, direct result of someone at sometime planting this evil seed in your brain. These negative thoughts can hold you back and keep you from exploring what could be possible and stop you in your tracks, stealing your dream.

Before I give you the practical steps to becoming a professional, I want to be sure that you understand this philosophy. You are an artist and I can prove it.

Think about what you are good at. Is it math, or cooking, or as one person posted on my last article, fixing cars? Would you call yourself and artist? If your answer is NO, why not?

If a person cleans the bathroom and it sparkles like a diamond, is that person not an artist? I don’t know about you, but when I clean a bathroom my attitude is to get it done as quickly as I can so that I can get to the good stuff. What do you think my bathroom looks like, I mean it’s clean and sanitary, but it’s no diamond.

I once had a cleaning company come to my house to do this very thing. I wanted them to clean my bathrooms. When those ladies were done the bathrooms looked better then when I bought the house. They sparkled like a diamond. I’d never seen anything like it before.

When I told these ladies that they were more then cleaning ladies but true artists at their profession, they stood straighter and smiled brightly.

Think about that. The next time you see someone doing an exceptional job call them an artist and see how they react.

It doesn’t matter what you do, if you do it well you’re an artist.

Whatever it is, do you give it everything you have? When you’re doing that which you are good at do you zone out only to become aware again and the project you started is nearly finished and you’re not quite sure how you got there.

I call this using the force, Luke. Truly. (got to sneak Star Wars in here once in a while.)

No matter what it is, this happens. I was commissioned to create a one-of-a-kind Nativity. I offer this opportunity to anyone who has something they want created and just can’t find it. Yensid comes to mind. I know a guy who collects this character and is always challenged to find the character as a figurine.

Many have a special occasion or want a portrait of someone special. Basically if you need it sculpted I can create it for you.  As I am sculpting, I often feel that I am in the zone. The zone is when everything falls into place perfectly flowing freely from your hands to the project as if you were in a trance.

I’m ambidextrous, which means that I can do most things right or left handed. I do favor my right hand when writing. But sculpting I can use either hand.

So while in the Zone sculpting the Nativity I realize how great it’s going and I think to myself it must be because I’m using my right hand. But I was sculpting with my left hand. It was freaky. It was cool.

Here are a few Steps.

STEP 1- Keep In Mind That You ARE An Artist

Start by telling yourself that you’re an artist every day. Pay attention to how saying this makes you feel. Do it right after you wake up and just before you go to bed. If this is a little difficult for you, write the word on a piece of paper and tape it somewhere that you can read every day.

The subconscious mind is very powerful. It perceives everything as real. After you do this exercise for a while just see if you don’t feel like an artist.

“Okay now I believe I’m an artist, now what’s next?”

STEP 2 – Love What You Do

Try to do what you love every single day.

When you’re young this can be pretty easy. For a young artist the hard part can be trying to focus on School or life that doesn’t have anything to do with art.

Do you secretly draw your Manga when you should be crunching numbers for Algebra class?

Does you mom or dad have to call you over and over to come to dinner or take out the trash only to hear you say “In a minute” for over an hour?

It’s important that you remain open to all teaching and all that life has to offer. Yes, even taking out the trash. These “other things” are little tests that form your core values and create integrity. Both are very important in the professional world.

Should you ignore these tests and just do what you want all the time you may develop selfishness and entitlement within you. Neither of these is appealing in the workplace and especially discouraged at Walt Disney Imagineering.

For the older artists life can get in the way. Marriage, kids and responsibility can cause you to put what you love on hold as you work to take care of the family you’ve created. Sometimes this dream can disappear entirely.

But it’s equally important for you to take some time for yourself. For moms and dads this can create a guilty feeling. If this is the case with you I suggest involving your children when doing what you love. Whatever it is you love to do, sharing can make it even better.

I suggest you ask your kids to help you. Let them know that you need to do this and they will keep you on track.

When children understand the importance of doing something fun every day there’s no better coaches on the planet. This is the wonderful thing about kids.

Doing this activity as often as you can, will keep you happy and young. Who doesn’t want that?

That being said however, be sure you listen to your children when they tell you it’s time to take a break and don’t dismiss them with “Not Now”.

Don’t have a family? Create one. My new client Frank flew me to Washington to brainstorm together with Mary (the owner of an awesome workspace called “The Foundry”).

While we were up there we happened into this very cool place called “CreativiTea.” This is a place where you can paint pottery or create cool glass and have tea and scones while you work. He was my family for a couple of days and we learned something new. Score!

STEP 3 – Document Your Creations

Take pictures of everything you do, even if you don’t like it. My mother gave me this advice when I was very young and it was the best thing I could’ve done. Keep the photos on file and date and name them. Once you have a few of these, go back and take a look at the first piece you did and compare it to the last piece. This is a great way for you to measure your progress. REMEMBER don’t discard anything.

You never know what is going to be the one thing that will either trigger your brain to have the moneymaking idea, or be the piece that will excite someone into giving you a job. Today this is so easy as just about everyone has a camera in their phone or tablet. Digital photos cost nothing to take and to store. Computers, drives and sticks are lifesavers for this.

In my day we had to take the picture, have it developed and pray we didn’t lose the negative in case we wanted to use the picture again later.

(A negative is a super fragile weird looking reverse image that came in a wafer thin envelope.) If you’re still confused ask your parents. I’m sure they have some lying around.

HOW ABOUT A LITTLE HOMEWORK – Pick one of the steps above and put it into action. Don’t strive to be perfect and be open to your mistakes as they can be the “ Happy Accident,” that can change your life.

Then let me know how it’s going in a post or an email.

Nowadays it’s so easy to document as just about every device on the planet has a camera.

See you next time.

FEEDBACK

Thanks to everyone who posted on the last article. You are all so kind to take the time to do so. I love reading your posts.

Sxcy Mike – I think now is the time for you to try painting while running, right?

That could be really fun.

And to CO_Klutch and all who wanted an article like this one, here it is and there’s more to come.

To everyone please keep asking and posting as the answer to any question unasked is always, NO.

My new website is finally up. I can take only a little credit as I buckled down and got the photos and stuff the web designers needed to get it up and running. The site will change and grow now that it’s up and running. www.TerriHardinSpeaks.com – I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t excited.

If you’d like to feel free to sign up and I’ll send you a free gift as a thank you. And a fanpage on facebook, one that works. www.Facebook.com/terriHardinfanpage

Social media is a constant learning experience for me. The reason I share these with you is that I’m a little shocked and excited they finally exist. I want to share them with you and that’s the true reason for this plug. (for now, tee hee!)

FINALLY, keep an eye out as there will soon be an announcement here at MiceChat about a project that I’m about to share with you.

See you next time.