Here is one response I received recently to this question. I thought I'd share it with you. What does it mean to be a successful artist?

I think one must, first, define the term success.

With regard to a career in the arts, it may involve finding a different way to view success or at least defining it in a way that makes sense to the artist - it is therefore a very subjective thing. I am professionally trained as a lawyer, and so I reflexively attempt to analyze life through the lens of objectivity- to the extent that an objective vision is possible when the filter of individual experience is applied. To assign a subjective or personal definition to the concept of success feels like "cheating" in a sense, but when discussing art, it may be the most appropriate way to begin the discussion.

SUSAN BOURDET is a working artist. She is a popular Audubon print artist, author and teacher. She has a degree in biology and loves photographing wildlife in her home state of Oregon. She is the author of two books, THE ALLURE OF NATURE and CAPTURING THE MAGIC OF LIGHT in Watercolor (also available at Creative Catalyst). She produces a “Songbirds of America” calendar every year, many wildlife related greeting cards and numerous prints for Wild Wings Press. She teaches workshops across the country and her originals are in high demand by collectors. Her stated goal is to remind people of the beauty and fragility of nature.

Susan has filmed two workshops with Creative Catalyst Productions. The first, Bold and Beautiful, Backyard Wildlife in Watercolor is really four workshops in one. In it you get a quick visit to Susan’s backyard, and see what she has done to attract wildlife. Then you visit her studio and see how she organizes her reference materials for easy retrieval. Susan then walks you thru the elements she considers when putting a nature subject together. You get a thorough workshop on the techniques Susan found works best for her to achieve 1) luminous smooth backgrounds, 2) textured wood grain, 3) a soft yet strong life-like bird, and 4) fresh convincing flowers and leaves. This workshop is a very packed 75 min and is available in both vhs and DVD.

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