Great work doesn’t come out of a vacuum.

No one succeeds alone.

During his early 20s Van Gogh had many occupations then at 27 he taught himself how to draw and to paint. With no formal training created an enormous body of work. Through sheer stubbornness. Today he is remembered for his creativity and intensity.

But you may not know that he wasn’t a lone painter. He had help. His younger brother, Theo, was his biggest advocate. He supported Vincent and encouraged him when times were tough and they often were.

In Paris, Vincent met The French Impressionists who helped him improve his sloppiness and learned. He eventually joined them and thru Theo’s connections formed The Painters of the Petite Boulevard.

Van Gogh was not an island. He was part of a rag tag group of misfits who banded together.

Thriving artists seek out places art is made and formed their own networks of advocates and fellow creatives.

A starving artist tries to work alone and tries to make art in a vacuum.

Be a thriving artist.

Source: Real Artists Don’t Starve, Jeff Goins