My goal this year was to paint a whole lot and build up a body of work. Yes, I want to be a prolific artist. I have completed 40 paintings in the first seven months of the year, with 18 more in progress. Feeling smug, I decided I had met my goal and earned the title.

 

Just to be sure, I asked ChatGPT.

 

To my surprise, it listed five traits of a prolific artist:

1. High volume of work
2. Consistency
3. Range or depth
4. Longevity
5. Creative urgency

I had always associated “prolific” with quantity. But this list asks more of me—pointing to attitude, commitment, and a sense of purpose. It was strangely affirming. It speaks of things that matter to me, and makes me want to rise to the standard.

 

Curious, I asked Gemini too. It echoed similar ideas: a prolific artist is someone with deep passion, unwavering discipline, and a strong work ethic. But then it added something more: practical skills and business acumen—marketing, networking, time management.

 

Oh dear. That is where things get fuzzy. I have never had much interest in the business side of art. I am one of those dreamy artists who just want to paint. Can it really be sold?

 

This is a wake-up call if I want to be a good artist. I will need to reflect on these definitions of “prolific”.  I will also need to make some plans for the 40 paintings I have made this year—and the hundreds more from the past 18 years.

 

After all, what becomes of a prolific artist’s work if it is never seen, shared, or collected?

 

What do you understand by a “prolific artist”?

 

 

Featured image: History Lives On, mixed media on canvas, 36 x 36 inches, available

This painting was inspired by memories of painting over the years. It incorporates images from some of favourite paintings over the years.