What if I discover during validation that people prefer different work than I expected?

This is extremely common and valuable. You might find that a piece you considered secondary is actually what buyers love most. Don’t get emotionally attached to your original plan—be willing to follow the market’s lead. For example, one artist thought he had amazing fish tacos but discovered buyers loved his steak tacos instead. Another artist painted a subject he’d never done before and had the biggest reaction of his career. When validation surprises you, lean into it. That’s the market telling you where the opportunity is.

---

Asked by an artist receiving unexpected feedback · Answered by Nick · art-marketing-podcast · 2020-09-24