tine sparkles

Many artists have a dream that not only will they someday become rich and famous from their art; they’ll also reach a point where they no longer have to deal with fear. Unfortunately, says entrepreneur, author and creativity guru Lee Silber, fear never really disappears. Silber, author of six books, including “Organizing from the Right Side of the Brain” and “Career Management for the Creative Person,” does have some good news: You can move beyond fear and learn to lessen its effects on your life. In an exclusive interview with Studio Friday, Silber offers these tips:

Accept that everyone feels fear. Whether you’re a full-time professional photographer or a closet collage artist, you are going to face fear of one sort or another, says Silber. Don’t think that one day you will move beyond fear; the types of fear you face may change, but it will still be there. “Although it helps to say, ‘I’ve done this,’ it can be harder,” he says. Suddenly, you’ve got a reputation to protect, an audience to please, a career to promote – and those things bring a whole new set of challenges with them.

Recognize that most fear for newer artists comes from fear of being judged. This is why so many artists have trouble with procrastination, Silber explains. “Once it’s finished, it will be judged,” he says. As a result, if you can just keep your painting or jewelry to yourself, incomplete, it will never have face all those possibly disapproving faces.

Figure out why you create. What drives your art? Do you have something to say? Do you want recognition? Do you do it for the money? Most artists start because they can’t help it – there’s something in them that must come out, whether or not the finished project ever see the light of day. The benefits they receive from publication, sales, etc., is just icing on the cake. If you are creating first and foremost for you, keep that in mind, suggests Silber.

Focus on the process. Take the pressure off your creative process, Silber urges. If every time you sit down to draw you tell yourself that this has to be sales-worthy, you’re putting undue stress on yourself. “The answer is to not focus on the outcome, but to focus on the process,” says Silber. Tell yourself, “I’m doing this for me.” Don’t expect anything commercial from your creations at all while you’re creating. Focus on the fun and joy the process brings you.

Let the muse guide you. While some creative-types can be very disciplined about their art, more are inspired by the muse, says Silber. Put your materials out where they’re easily accessible when inspiration strikes, and work when you’re in the mood. A benefit of taking advantage of small blocks of time is that you can get into your art before your logical brain has a chance to get in the way.

Set goals. Know what you’re aiming for, whether it’s becoming a self-supporting artist, writing a book, or taking part in a craft show. Even if you don’t have things spelled out in such detail, Silber says you should still set goals – create a bulletin board above your desk with inspirational pictures, quotes, or photos that represent what you’re aiming for. “It gives you focus,” he says. One challenge for creative people is that everything is interesting, so it’s easy to get off-track. This way, you have some sort of criteria for judging what to let into your life. You can ask, “Is this going to help me, or is this going to sidetrack me?” he says. “It helps you push a lot of things to the side.”

Give yourself a break. While Silber is a big proponent of setting goals, he also believes that there is plenty you can do to move yourself towards your goal that doesn’t involve actual creating. Administrative tasks like updating your website, or housekeeping items like filing or running errands can occupy your left brain, leaving your right (creative) brain free to do what it does best – dream, imagine, create.

Give yourself deadlines. One thing that keeps Silber on track is the external deadlines his publisher gives him. He knows he has to get moving at a certain point, or face the consequences. “A lot of artists need that drop-dead deadline,” he says. He suggests instead of punishing yourself, reward yourself when you complete a piece or make a self-imposed deadline. Buy a new piece of photographic equipment or a new software program – “Something that’s not just frivolous, but something that relates to your goal,” he suggests.

For more information on Lee’s books, or to read his blog, visit him online at www.creativelee.com.