Keep Some for Yourself

November 19, 2024


In the world of art, there’s often a tension between creation and commerce. Artists are frequently told to "put themselves out there" — to market their work, build a brand, and find buyers who can appreciate their craft. While these are important steps for anyone trying to make a living as an artist, there’s a quiet truth that’s often overlooked: An artist must never market or sell everything they make. You must keep some things for yourself.

Art and the Artist

When an artist creates, they often pour a part of themselves into their work — their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and unique perspectives. Art is not just about the end product; it’s about the process, the journey, and the personal expression. In this way, art is a reflection of the artist, almost like a mirror of their soul.

But when you begin to sell or market everything you make, you risk losing that personal connection. The work becomes something transactional, something to be evaluated for its worth or popularity rather than something that comes from a deep, personal place. The act of parting with every piece can dilute the essence of what made it meaningful in the first place.

Connection to Your Work

Art is, in many ways, a dialogue between the artist and their creations. Whether it's through painting, writing, music, or sculpture, the process of creating is an intimate conversation between the artist's inner world and the external one.

When an artist sells a piece, it’s a way of sharing that dialogue with someone else. But if the artist gives away too many of these intimate exchanges, they risk losing touch with themselves. The act of keeping a few pieces for yourself is like holding onto a private conversation you don’t want to share. It’s a reminder that your art is still a part of you, that you are still the creator, and that not everything has to be commodified.

Art as a Form of Self-Expression

Art is often a form of catharsis, a way to process emotions, thoughts, and experiences. It’s a space where artists can be vulnerable, honest, and raw. When everything you create is sold or put up for public display, it can feel as though your inner world is being offered up for others to judge.

Not every part of you needs to be on display. By holding onto a few pieces of your work, you retain the space to be truly vulnerable, unguarded, and personal. You don’t have to worry about how others will perceive it or whether it will sell. You can make something purely for yourself — as an act of self-expression, as a form of healing, or as a way to understand the world.

Risk of Creative Burnout

Another reason artists should hold onto some work is to protect themselves from creative burnout. If you sell everything you make, there’s a pressure to constantly produce more, to keep meeting the demands of the market. This constant output can drain you, leaving little room for experimentation or growth.

By keeping some pieces, you create a boundary between your commercial work and your personal practice. This allows you to take a step back when needed, to recharge, and to explore new ideas without the pressure of having to sell everything you create. It’s important to remember that your value as an artist isn’t just in the quantity of work you produce — it’s in the quality and the depth of what you make, and the personal meaning it carries.

Joy of Artistic Freedom

One of the most beautiful aspects of being an artist is the freedom to create without limits. When you start thinking of your work primarily as a product, the joy of creation can start to feel like a chore. The need to meet deadlines, satisfy buyers, or live up to expectations can overshadow the passion and excitement that inspired your art in the first place.

Keeping a few pieces for yourself gives you the freedom to experiment, to take risks, and to follow your creative impulses wherever they lead. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to fit into a mold or create for an audience — you can create simply for the sake of creation.

Value of Retaining Work

Some of the work you create may not be ready for the market, or it may not fit the current trends. Sometimes, an artwork needs time to mature, or perhaps it’s a piece that is too personal to share with anyone else. Holding onto these pieces doesn’t mean you’re holding back from success; it means you’re allowing your art to evolve and mature on its own terms.

There’s also an emotional value in keeping your work. The pieces you hold onto can become touchstones for your own growth as an artist. Years down the line, you may look back at the works you kept and see how far you’ve come, how much you’ve changed, and how much your artistic voice has developed.

Finding Balance

The marketplace is a necessary part of being an artist in the modern world, but it’s not the only part. If you’re always focused on selling and marketing, you risk losing the very essence of what makes your work unique: your personal connection to it.

While sharing your art with the world is a beautiful thing, never forget that not everything needs to be sold. Keep some things for yourself — for your growth, for your joy, for your own creative well-being. In doing so, you preserve the sanctity of your artistic journey, ensuring that the work you create always remains as much about the artist as it is about the art itself.

After all, your art is a reflection of you — and you are priceless.