"It's called artWORK," Jeffie Brewer
Jeffie Brewer reads "How To Be An Artist," an excerpt from his book, "Joy Machine."
Step One:
Make something interesting.
Make something that other people find interesting. This can be achieved in several ways. Have so much talent that it cannot be denied. Use said talent to make something that people say ... how did they do that? If you are meh in the talent area, work very hard and make people say ... why would someone do that? This means they haven’t seen it, and new is good.
Step Two:
Be on time.
Show up to work, work very hard. Show up for others and do it with a smile. Make people want to work with you.
Return the calls and emails.
Time is all we really have.
Step Three:
Don’t be an asshole.
Do two of these three things well and it’s all yours.
Advanced training on being an artist
• Learn art history. Do this in art school, online, books, or just find old artists and listen.
• Learn to steal. This is tricky. It’s not really stealing. Pay attention to everything, and find the things you like and incorporate the idea, not the image. Copying is lazy and is a total step three move.
• Say yes more than no. (But learn to say no when you need to — or a passive aggressive maybe.)
• Learn to draw then forget you learned to draw, but remember, learn to draw.
• Art is subjective. Lots of people buy bad art.
• Find art mentors, and be a mentor. This is more useful than any art degree.
• Do the work. Work very hard. Don’t piddle on one thing. When you get stuck, grab something else and work. When you make something good, don’t revel in it. Make ten more, and shut up and work. It’s called artWORK. Don’t be discouraged by criticism or failure. It will lead to better work, and at some point, you will learn to spot good advice. Don’t compare your work or success to others’. It’s the killer of dreams and serves no purpose.
Now, get to work.
Nacogdoches artist Jeffie Brewer is a nationally exhibiting sculptor with an unmistakable visual language whose work is immediately recognizable and widely celebrated, appearing in exhibitions, public spaces, and museum and private collections across the country. He shares advice for artists, along with his story and inspiration behind his iconic sculptures, in his book “Joy Machine."
“How To Be An Artist,” from “Joy Machine,” by Jeffie Brewer, (K.Co Press 2024.) Copyright © 2024 Jeffie Brewer. All rights reserved.
Photos: David Kimling.
