"Yet." I recently listened to a podcast that shared the value of using the word "yet". When we fall short of where we think we should be, add the word "yet". No one is noticing my work...yet. I don't have enough sales...yet. It gives you back control and a positive mindset.
While I hear your point about individualism and creativity, it's also true Vincent Van Gogh likely didn't sell a painting his entire life. 2000+ paintings highly prized today didn't do Vincent a damn bit of good. There is nothing wrong with compromise, especially when you need to put food on the table. Live to paint another day.
Recently I stood 2 feet away from two Monet paintings and photographed them both. One was from earlier in his career and was very realistically painted, while the other was from his impressionistic period. For me, I will be happy to take the realistic one off the Biltmore Estates hands because they were both exquisitely painted. Regardless of your style of art you will have to convince someone to buy it even if you think up the next great technique not thought of yet. It's ok to emulate other artists you admire to build your own style. That;s called painting the type art that inspires you. Difficult to paint anything when you aren't inspired.
The best part of being an artist is finding your visual language. Trends change tastes change, and fads come and go. For instance, in the 80' Wild Life Art was all the rage, and selling it at the mall was where the money was. There were thousands of wolf paintings, countless Cardinals on a feeder in the winter, and a million lion and elephant paintings. It seemed that everyone wanted to be Robert Bateman. Many imitated each other, striving to be the next Master Wildlife artist. Eventually, the public became saturated with the same images, and the fad ended. Today, the mall shows are gone, and so is the money made from them.
Now we have a new fad, Classical Realism—many artists' have an overwhelming retrograde desire to do work that looks like the late 19th century. The "realist revolution "is the rallying cry. Thousands of students are flocking to ateliers to seek how to do the predictable work of academy figure drawings and paintings. Classical realism was the outstanding work of a few artists in the 1990s. But it has commercialized, becoming the desire of many of what an artist should be like if they want to be accepted. A significant industry has grown around it, with savvy entrepreneurs pushing it. It's like advocating a religious dogma. Most of the work produced looks so similar that it can all be piled in a room together, and no one will know who drew or painted what. It sells, but I suspect the buying public will soon grow weary of it, and the money flow will decrease.
What makes art memorable beyond a fad is the creative boldness of an artist to invent something no one has ever seen before. These remembered artists study the past, learn techniques, and transform all this information into a personal expression that will expand what all humans can visually experience. That is an invented, unique language, and I believe it's an artist's true goal.
...right there with you Joey! Been at this art biz for over 40 years, have close to 300 originals, and just did a show...a dozen really sincere compliments, and not one sale. Yep, gets real lonely, and makes you wonder "why keep painting, if no one wants what I create, and I cannot bring any thoughts or beauty into another person's life"... well, take care!! Betty
But Betty! Your paintings were SEEN. You did bring thoughts and beauty into peoples' lives, even if just for a moment. You have impact and that is not measured by sales. Don't stop being you.
Katherine, thank you for "hearing", not merely reading!! Yes, I agree with you. Along with what I shared, also went thru 2 other "losses" at the same time...won't go into that. But as you so kindly mentioned, yes, I will continue "showing" not for sales, but for all the wonderful few that I did touch, for the children and all the little dogs that touched my heart<I do NOT want to lose that, even if only for 2 days a year. Someone I met thru his purchases of 3 small cloud paintings from my eBay store, with whom we have "chatted" for 17+ months online, of all that Tim has shared, one line has stayed with me: "ALL things that happen are important, because they bring you to where you are suppose to be." I guess now, is to discover "What's next on this journey?"!!! AND from the bottom of my heart Katherine, thank you!! Hope you have a most wonderful week!! Hope we "meet" again! God bless!
I've subscribed to John's newsletter for several years. He's just getting better and better, following his own advice. Glad you're sharing his work with others.
"Yet." I recently listened to a podcast that shared the value of using the word "yet". When we fall short of where we think we should be, add the word "yet". No one is noticing my work...yet. I don't have enough sales...yet. It gives you back control and a positive mindset.
While I hear your point about individualism and creativity, it's also true Vincent Van Gogh likely didn't sell a painting his entire life. 2000+ paintings highly prized today didn't do Vincent a damn bit of good. There is nothing wrong with compromise, especially when you need to put food on the table. Live to paint another day.
Recently I stood 2 feet away from two Monet paintings and photographed them both. One was from earlier in his career and was very realistically painted, while the other was from his impressionistic period. For me, I will be happy to take the realistic one off the Biltmore Estates hands because they were both exquisitely painted. Regardless of your style of art you will have to convince someone to buy it even if you think up the next great technique not thought of yet. It's ok to emulate other artists you admire to build your own style. That;s called painting the type art that inspires you. Difficult to paint anything when you aren't inspired.
The best part of being an artist is finding your visual language. Trends change tastes change, and fads come and go. For instance, in the 80' Wild Life Art was all the rage, and selling it at the mall was where the money was. There were thousands of wolf paintings, countless Cardinals on a feeder in the winter, and a million lion and elephant paintings. It seemed that everyone wanted to be Robert Bateman. Many imitated each other, striving to be the next Master Wildlife artist. Eventually, the public became saturated with the same images, and the fad ended. Today, the mall shows are gone, and so is the money made from them.
Now we have a new fad, Classical Realism—many artists' have an overwhelming retrograde desire to do work that looks like the late 19th century. The "realist revolution "is the rallying cry. Thousands of students are flocking to ateliers to seek how to do the predictable work of academy figure drawings and paintings. Classical realism was the outstanding work of a few artists in the 1990s. But it has commercialized, becoming the desire of many of what an artist should be like if they want to be accepted. A significant industry has grown around it, with savvy entrepreneurs pushing it. It's like advocating a religious dogma. Most of the work produced looks so similar that it can all be piled in a room together, and no one will know who drew or painted what. It sells, but I suspect the buying public will soon grow weary of it, and the money flow will decrease.
What makes art memorable beyond a fad is the creative boldness of an artist to invent something no one has ever seen before. These remembered artists study the past, learn techniques, and transform all this information into a personal expression that will expand what all humans can visually experience. That is an invented, unique language, and I believe it's an artist's true goal.
So strong! Thank you so much for your wonderful words!
Right on. Exactly how I feel. I don't blend in and it hurts.
...right there with you Joey! Been at this art biz for over 40 years, have close to 300 originals, and just did a show...a dozen really sincere compliments, and not one sale. Yep, gets real lonely, and makes you wonder "why keep painting, if no one wants what I create, and I cannot bring any thoughts or beauty into another person's life"... well, take care!! Betty
But Betty! Your paintings were SEEN. You did bring thoughts and beauty into peoples' lives, even if just for a moment. You have impact and that is not measured by sales. Don't stop being you.
Katherine, thank you for "hearing", not merely reading!! Yes, I agree with you. Along with what I shared, also went thru 2 other "losses" at the same time...won't go into that. But as you so kindly mentioned, yes, I will continue "showing" not for sales, but for all the wonderful few that I did touch, for the children and all the little dogs that touched my heart<I do NOT want to lose that, even if only for 2 days a year. Someone I met thru his purchases of 3 small cloud paintings from my eBay store, with whom we have "chatted" for 17+ months online, of all that Tim has shared, one line has stayed with me: "ALL things that happen are important, because they bring you to where you are suppose to be." I guess now, is to discover "What's next on this journey?"!!! AND from the bottom of my heart Katherine, thank you!! Hope you have a most wonderful week!! Hope we "meet" again! God bless!
I've subscribed to John's newsletter for several years. He's just getting better and better, following his own advice. Glad you're sharing his work with others.