OK. Time to ditch the metaphysics of art and get pragmatic for a while.

Apparently, "making it" is hot right now. For brevity's sake we'll define "making it" as producing and selling enough work to quit your day job and live off your creations. Most artists harbor this dream, but few ever achieve it. Gone are the days of art patrons - wealthy folks who bankroll individual artists whose work suits their tastes. Grants and fellowships have taken on the role of patrons, but the competition for state sponsorship is profound.

Art sales, as you may have noticed, aren't what they used to be.

So what's an artist to do?

We'll, here are a few suggestions to get you started. None of them have to do with making money. That comes later.

First, get serious enough about your chosen medium(s. Brit sensation Banksy asks, "Most artists are prepared to suffer for their art, but why are so few prepared to learn how to draw?"

If you paint, paint every day. If you make music, do it every day. Set aside an hour each day. Dabblers don't "make it." You can't skip the part where you spend the time and energy necessary to be good at what you do. Pick a medium, or family of mediums, and become a master. Paint every day for a year, and you'll be better than most people you know.

Second, just say no to yes-men. The typical alternative to working hard and mastering a chosen medium is to create mediocre work and hope you can surround yourself with enough yes-men and women to perpetuate the illusion that you're really good. Most people settle for the praise of a small group of friends, who are likely to shower compliments regardless of the quality of work. If you want to "make it," be brave enough to show your work to people who aren't guaranteed to give you a predictable pat on the back.

Third, hang out with people who are more talented than you are. Set aside your ego and be prepared to learn from people who have achieved what you desire. That requires some degree of humility, and an openness to criticism, feedback and suggestion that may reinforce the notion that you haven't arrived yet. Which is fine. You probably haven't.

Fourth, set aside your ego - seriously. A fragile ego is the artist's greatest enemy. Ego preservation requires us to use our creative power to sustain the illusion that we've achieved something that we haven't. You can't skip the awkward, stumbling, difficult road from amateur to master. But you can fool yourself into thinking you have. And you'll feel really good about yourself and your work.  If you're really good at lying to yourself, that is. Meanwhile, people who know better will still think you're an amateur - an egotistical one, no less. 

Finally, be prepared to master skills that have nothing to do with the creative process. "Making it" requires a lot of hard work, and not all of it is as fun as painting or jamming or sculpting. Be prepared to delve into the mystical worlds of business, taxation, marketing, budgeting, time management, networking, booking, presentation and prioritizing. You're going to need to learn to use that other hemisphere of your brain, and use it well.

Next week, we'll talk about how to get free money to make art.

No really.