Whether it’s crafting, designing, drawing, painting, or sculpting, artistic talent is seemingly god-given but often self-taught. Yet, for one reason or another, many skilled artists remain stuck somewhere between rough and refined. As such, they never develop their artistic talents to the point of using them to make a good living.

Rather than let one’s creative potential fall by the wayside, we ought to do everything possible to nurture those talents and encourage artists to pursue a career putting those skills to good use. With this in mind, let’s take a look at five essential tips for taking artistic talent to the next level:

Enroll in an accredited university
While art school isn’t for everyone, it’s also not for every type of artist. Many artistically gifted individuals would prefer an education geared more towards design. Discipline aside, the important thing is to attend a fully accredited institution. The list of options stretches coast to coast, from New School, a San Diego architecture & design college, to Parsons and the Tisch School of the Arts in New York City. Each institution has its advantages and specializations, giving artists and other creatives a chance to find the perfect fit.

Continue to develop
Learning is a lifelong process. The best artists don’t stop developing their skills upon graduation. They study different disciplines, philosophies, and systems to broaden their creative horizons and refine their artistic abilities. Many go further and dive headfirst into seemingly unrelated subject matter, like history, math, and science. In doing so, they follow the path paved by Leonardo Da Vinci and other polymathic masters of the past.

Open an Etsy Shop
Earning a living as a self-employed artist is not easy. However, don’t get fooled into thinking it’s impossible. Those with a knack for handcrafting items or creating vibrant and visually stunning works of art ought to open a shop on Etsy and similar online platforms. Many Etsy seller-artisans work out of their living rooms and garages at a steady clip throughout the week, to the point where keeping up with demand is the most challenging part! While becoming an Etsy power seller might not be the life’s ambition of the typical artist, it’s a viable means of putting yourself out there and making some money in the process.

Open yourself up to constructive criticism
The life of an artist is one of constant exposure to what others think and feel. Ranging from acclaim to disgust, strong reactions are what the best artists are good at generating. With that said, all artists must be willing to listen to criticism, particularly constructive criticism. Acknowledging fault or weakness in your approach, especially when it’s something you’re proud of, is one of the hardest parts of creative-based work. However, it’s the only way to efficiently and reliably improve over time. Learn to develop a thick skin (you’ll need it) but leave a soft underbelly exposed to constructive criticism and objective analysis. The chance to use the insights and expertise of others to improve your own abilities is too good to pass up!

Set up a studio
As a budding career in the arts starts to blossom, artists need to establish a dedicated space for getting their work done. An artist’s studio is their sanctuary and laboratory in one, a place where the possibilities are endless, and productivity is subject to inspiration. It needs to be - for lack of a better word - the perfect place in the eyes of the artist working there. The layout, lighting, sounds, and smells are all things to take into account.

Natural artistic talent is more common than most people think. The relatively minimal number of artists able to refine their skills makes it seem so rare. With this in mind, the artists in our lives need every bit of motivation and encouragement they can get to nurture and hone their artistic abilities. From there, it’s a matter of staying on course for success while always staying true to themselves.