Success in the Arts: What It Takes to Make It in Creative Fields

by A. Michael Shumate

Talent is not enough, sometimes it's not even the most important quality to promote success in the arts, says author A. Michael Shumate. His new book, Success in the Arts encourages straight thinking and professional attitudes in aspiring artists. He means artists in the broadest sense: musicians, visual artists, actors, dancers, filmmakers and writers. Each page contains an essential tip, entertaining illustration or pointed quote to guide any would-be artist. Shumate shoots from the hip with real-world advice plus realistic counsel and encouragement.

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

In my first month of teaching college Branding Design, I reviewed a student's concept for a logo project. I told him that his approach wouldn't work.
He asked why.
I told him I didn't know why. It just wouldn't. That was like hearing your dad say, "Because I said so." I didn't like saying it, and I knew that my answer to this student was arbitrary, unhelpful and even ridiculous. Still, I knew in my gut that his work was violating some underlying and important principle. But I couldn't articulate what that principle was. That day, I made a solemn commitment to learn the whys, not just the whats, of branding design.
I never gave up on that commitment. Over twenty-five years, while supervising thousands of student projects (as well as creating my own professional work and considering the work of others), I studied, pondered and probed. I watched various fads and fashions in branding design come and go. On the other hand, I observed that identities by great designers like Saul Bass, Paul Rand and Chermayeff & Giesmar were used for decades–-some for more than half a century–-and still looked modern and fresh.
True principles in graphic design trump fad and fashion every time. You can break those rules, but, in reality, you only break your work, like waves against rocks.
There are few areas where this is more evident than in designing corporate identity. Designers whose identities violate those principles will find that, sooner rather than later, their creations get replaced.
The underlying principles of identity design don't change. Those who cater to temporary swings in taste will find their identities go out ofstyle quickly. Designers who think that they can do anything and call it an identity don't understand the nature of identities. Those who vainly seek to be on the leading edge find out, more often than not, that they are on the bleeding edge. Those who refuse to learn the craft of identity design are forever mere amateurs.
I guess you can see I take branding design very seriously. But I don't take myself too seriously. The first day of teaching new college students, I tell them to call me Michael, not Professor Shumate or Mr. Shumate. Then I tell them that if they forget my name, they can always call me Grand Poobah. The term comes from the Gilbert and Sullivan musical The Mikado and is one of many titles that an officious character has bestowed upon himself. It has come to mean "anyone with no real authority but who acts otherwise" (as defined, appropriately enough, in Wikipedia). There you have it. I speak with great authority where I have none, except that which experience has given me.
What is my experience? I graduated with a BFA degree in Graphic Design, and I've been a professional designer and illustrator for nearly fifty years. My design and illustration clients have included the National Football League, Simon & Schuster, Kelly Services, British Airways Magazine, the Screen Actors Guild, Business Week and Prudential, to name a few. In addition to freelancing, I was a professor of Graphic Design and Illustration at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario, for twenty-five years.
After reading Logo Theory, you may look at the art of branding design with new eyes and perhaps be a little wiser and more directed in your work. I hope so.
I wish you success.

Reviews

[Rasheed Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

...there are three qualities that promote success in the arts. They are: 1) talent; 2) an ability to accomplish laterally what you can't do directly; 3) a passion for the work that compels you to work until it is right.

Short and to-the-point. There are a few rehashed sections from A's other book that I read, Logo Design Theory , but there are also some legitimate nuggets of gold in here.

I know an artist knows what he's talking about when he denounces the modern and Romantic idea that "art is self-expression." No. Art is the making of a work. Creativity is solving a problem with the guidelines of principles. Not breaking rules because "i'M dIFfeRenT."

A. also gives a secret shortcut to doing the type of work that you actually want to do. He calls it "facing the bully"; I call it "lighting a fire under your ass." Basically, set yourself up in a survival-mode situation. This could be randomly quitting your job, booking a one-way ticket to a faraway country, or depleting all your savings such that you are forced to put yourself out there. God will provide.

Near the end, A. turns Robert Frost upside-down with a new interpretation:

Many people in the arts are willing to sell their morality, their artistic integrity or their very souls to get certain breaks in our industry, but I haven't. I chose the path less traveled by and that has made all the difference. (p. 118)

It reminded me of rapper Sukihana on social media crying and admitting that she sold herself to the devil for a record deal and doesn't know how to get out. Don't be like Sukihana.

Or do, but at least survive long enough to write a juicy memoir about it, please.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid business advice colored with a few too many positive affirmations for my curmudgeonly self. There is a lot of meat here, nonetheless, if you can sift through the inspirational nonsense.