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How to be an artist?
In the issue that hit stands November 26,New YorkMagazine art critic Jerry Saltz shares his33 rules.
But heres what actual artists said when we asked them.
Who gave you the best advice on being an artist, and what was it?
Also: Dont repeat yourself.
Marina Abramovic
Paul Rego: Work, work, work.
And take many lovers.
Natalie Frank
Kerry James Marshall: You have to do this for the love of the work first.
Beyond that, anything else is gravy.
Mickalene Thomas
Alighiero Boetti: Never write bullshit!
(I dont think It was entirely meant as a compliment.)
Hank Willis Thomas
My mother, who was also an artist: Never stop.
Its good to be bored.
Narcissister
Elizabeth Catlett: Make art every day.
Derrick Adams
Charles Ray: The medium of sculpture is space.
Before hearing that, I had always thought of sculpture in terms of materials.
Frank Benson
Nothing happens without the work.
Jordan Casteel
My mother: Remain grounded and clear.
Being an artist doesnt mean leaving all of the personal self-care and self-reflection behind.
Xaviera Simmons
Mase: Stay humble, stay low, blow like Hootie.
Jayson Musson
Dont have a go at be original.
Jon Rafman
Whats the worst advice you ever got?
When I was in grad school, one of my teachers told me When in doubt use yellow ochre.
Marilyn Minter
One of my art dealers told me, Do different variations of your pieces.
Maurizio Cattelan
Be like so-and-so, go to dinner parties and shmooze.
Kenny Scharf
A grad school professor: Politics and identity in art are a waste of time.
Marina Abramovic
This idea you cant trust anyone is always bad advice.
People want to help one another.
Kayode Ojo
People have told me to stop being a perfectionist and make more work, more quickly.
This is not bad advice in theory, but it does not work for me.
Frank Benson
A gallerist said I should stop using paint straight from the tube.
Claire Milbrath
Did anyone ever give you permission to be an artist?
Marilyn Minter
Everyone who never let permission dictate their own vision of success.
Jordan Casteel
My seventh-grade English teacher Mrs. Gonzales.
Deborah Roberts
No one gave me permission, Im just good at being poor, idealistic, and solipsistic.
I cant imagine not having had that support.
I realized it was a habit that wasnt going away, and I needed to take it more seriously.
I guess I gave myself permission.
Simone Leigh
There wasnt some romantic gates of heaven moment.
It just took unlocking the mind and really saying it out loud, I like making things.
Im still waiting for it, myself.
Derrick Adams
God himself.
Marina Abramovic
Was there a moment when you felt like youd made it?
There is a larger audience that wants to see my work.
Mickalene Thomas
When I discovered the only person you should probably c’mon is yourself.
They all turned and applauded, saying Bellissima.
Artie Vierkant
The Whitney acquired my large paintingWhen the Worlds Collidein 85 and showed it in the Biennial.
The owners were never friendly to me and the products were so expensive.
I knew then that things had changed.
Marina Abramovic
When my episode onAmericas Got Talentaired.
To have that endorsement of my work from such an unexpected source was exciting and validating.
Narcissister
I felt really good when I was able to put my electricity bill on auto-pay.
Jayson Musson
Its incredible to walk into my studio every day.
My surroundings constantly remind me of the fortunate position Im in.
Kennedy Yanko
I still dont feel like Ive made it.
Marilyn Minter
Theres no having made it, only the work of continuing to make it.
Paul Sepuya
What was your plan B?
John Waters
Im doing my plan B.
Plan A was to be a lawyer.
Raul de Nieves
Chemical engineer.
Midwifery is on the same spectrum of creating and seeing the creative process unfold.
Xaviera Simmons
A gardner.
Kenny Scharf
There was never any plan B. Tyler Mitchell
Bartender.
Ive got a great rack.
Natalie Frank
Id like to be a philosopher.
Joyce J. Scott
Its not a job.
Being an artist and being a person are the same thing to me.
Hank Willis Thomas
