The #1 Thing You need to Do When Starting Your Career

I’ll cut straight to it:

Building your portfolio is more important than making money.

You might want to turn down that illustration commission and get a job as a waitress instead. I’m dead serious.

Usually, the commissions you get when you’re starting your art career have nothing to do with your actual style of art. Think: "Can you paint a picture of my dog?”

You're desperate for money so you accept jobs that drain your creative life force.

You’re probably undercharging as well, so you are creatively empty and overworked. This leaves no energy for your art practice.

If this resonates, it’s ok. I was stuck in this loop for years.

Instead of cat portraits, you need to focus on building your portfolio of True Work.

(If your True Work IS cat portraits then, congrats! you’re in a profitable niche!)

When I say build your portfolio I’m not talking about having “10 images that make a collection,” as you learned in art school.

I’m talking about your True Work.

I teach this concept to my art business students: Your True Work is the art that you came here (to Earth) to make.

Your “True Work” is your best work and your most important work. It’s the work that differentiates you from other artists and contributes new perspectives to the industry as a whole.

Your True work lights your soul on fire and consumes your mind. When you are creating your true work, you forget all else.

In sum, your True Work is the most profitable part of your business.

The sooner you have a portfolio that shares your True Work with the world, the sooner you can start making money creating what you love most.

If you are not making your True Work because you're stuck in a commercial art loop, then you need to get out.

One of the best things I ever did was take a waitress job at age 27 so that I could pay my bills while only working 4 days a week.

When I took the job, I also made a rule that I was not going to take any paid art commission work for at least one year unless it was 100% aligned with my true work.

Instead, I focused on developing a portfolio of original pieces while my restaurant job supported me financially.

This period of my life is what birthed the Yoniflower project, which I’m now known for.

What is your true work?

You might already know exactly what I’m talking about because you are already very connected to your true work. Or you might be still searching for your true work.

If you’re not sure, then your “True Work” is your journey, learning, or process of self-discovery.

Your true work becomes more coherent and polished as you find your artistic voice.

Your true work is the art that aligns with your mission and values.

If you aren’t clear about what these are either, then check out my blog post on the subject here.

Your true work is the foundation of your business because it’s where you draw the most energy and inspiration.

The value this provides to your career is unmeasurably great.

Knowing your true work will help you make choices about your branding, presentation, collaborations, and scheduling.

Because your true work makes you stand out from other artists, you’ll want to present this work front and center when you share your career with others.

If you are unsure of your true work, it can help to journal on the following questions:

• When do I get the most joy from creating?

• What is the artistic legacy I would like to leave behind?

• What kind of work am I most excited about in the future?

• What work am I most proud of?

• Where do I get the greatest sense of inspiration?

Once you’ve defined your True Work- go out and do it!

You must prioritize time spent doing your True Work. If you don’t value it, no one else is going to either.

Failure to create your true work is the reason many creative people feel like life is passing them by, or they don’t know their “purpose.”

If you need help structuring a business around your True work, I suggest checking out The Quantum Artist Business School.

You’ll learn how to build a profitable business that supports your True work, and is flexible enough to accommodate creative growth. 

Community helps keep us on track, and business classes can teach you how to create the financial reality that truly supports your creativity.

Good luck!

-Gabrielle Abbott