6 Amateur Habits Blocking Your Progress

Have you ever wondered what practices separate professional illustrators from amateurs? We break down six of the most impactful habits and mindsets you can adopt to enter your pro era.

1. Pros embrace the novice stage.
   Maybe it’s pride, maybe it’s ambition, but many amateurs try to skip past the beginner phase. They fear failure but avoid the work required to achieve mastery. Professionals, on the other hand, embrace a spirit of life-long apprenticeship and are never above broadening their skillsets with workshops, research, practice, and even failure. They don’t allow the discomfort of newness to hinder their progress, putting in the reps until what at first feels unnatural becomes automatic.
2. Pros separate self-worth from feedback.
   If every criticism you receive feels like a personal attack, it makes sense that you’d want to avoid feedback at all costs. Illustrators who progress learn to take feedback for what it is: an opportunity to improve, not a reflection of their personal value. In fact, they seek analysis from artists they admire because they know critiques contain the keys that unlock their potential. 
3. Pros don’t wait for inspiration.
   “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” Professionals take Picasso’s words as their anthem, choosing to make art whether or not they’re in the mood. Practicing discipline helps them unlock new skills faster and creates more opportunities to hit new ideas. To become a pro, schedule consistent creative time and declare it non-negotiable.
4. Pros use reference.
   Beginners fear that relying on reference will limit their style or make them unoriginal. In reality, reference can be bent to accommodate any style. It broadens your understanding of the world, lends richness and detail to your work, and helps you avoid repetition. Use it, not as something to copy, but as inspiration for the world you want to create. 
5. Pros embrace the boring stuff.
   Email, promotions, social media—these are the other side of running an illustration business. As much as we’d all prefer to spend our days drawing, admin is what allows us to enjoy art-based careers, so don’t neglect it. 
6. Pros rely on skill, not fancy tools.
   Beginners have an obsession with tools, hunting for the best brands of sketchbooks, pens, and paint. No shame in that; we all love visiting the art supply store and walking out with a stack of fresh supplies. However, a pro knows that the quality of their art depends more on the skills they’ve developed than the brands they purchase. They don’t use cheap paper as an excuse for a bad drawing; they hone their abilities until they can make a masterpiece with a napkin and a ballpoint pen. They assume responsibility for their output, rather than blaming their materials.