Mark Gould's 10 Rules for Being a Professional Artist

1. Creative efforts take priority over other activities whenever possible.
2. Simplify all aspects of life in order to think and act creatively.
3. Ensure the creative process is always challenging and enjoyable; always balance a risk of failure with the potential for success in order to keep efforts honest and engaging.
4. Be the eternal student, always willing to learn.
5. Welcome other opinions-good, bad or indifferent-but never relinquish final judgment to another.
6. Seek out people who are positive in their approach to the creative process and welcome their constructive critique. Avoid negative people and their attitudes, even when personal sacrifice is required.
7. Think before committing time, money or other resources to any future aspect of the creative endeavor. Be certain that both feeling and logic regarding the decision are sound.
8. Release to the public only those works that are fully "competent and satisfactory," those that are properly executed with a high degree of creativity.
9. Never become problematic for any gallery or collector. Be sincere and forthright in all gallery dealings. Require absolute honesty in return.
10. Be truthful and self-aware in regard to your creative efforts. Only then can artistic vision be trusted and improved.