Artists love to hate this question they hear from buyers and customers. And, yet, you continue to hear it over and over again. What's your best response to this . . . How long did it take you to make that? For the best response today, I'm giving away a CD of the "Best Of" […]
Deep Thought Thursday: How long did it take you to make that? Read
In the June issue of Art Calendar magazine, Jack White says: When you made the choice to become an artist, you committed yourself to a life of solitary confinement. That is, if you plan on being successful. I’m of two minds on this. The first is that, yes, you must spend a great deal of
Deep Thought Thursday: Going solo Read
From the moment a work of art enters a museum, it is treated as the special one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable object it is. It sits in a crate in the loading area and acclimates to its new surroundings. After sufficient time has passed, it is uncrated by the preparator or registrar who is wearing white gloves. A
Treat Your Art Like It Belongs in a Museum Read
Painting and art cannot be taught. You can save time if someone tells you to put blue and yellow together to make green, but the essence of painting is a self-disciplined activity that you have to learn by yourself. There are no goals that I still want to reach. I don’t believe in goals; goals
Deep Thought Thursday: Can art be taught?–a 2-fer Read
How much affect do circumstances and location have on the type of art you make and they way in which you make it? For instance, your circumstances . . . No studio? Do you have to make work smaller? No bank account? Can’t afford bronze casting? And what about location? Does where you live influence
Deep Thought Thursday: Circumstances and location Read
As a mature exhibiting artist, you need to create enough work to have a couple of solo exhibits simultaneously. But I know that you want a number. You’d be happy if I’d say that you’re sitting pretty if you have 20 works in a recognizable style. But I’m not going to do that. (Apologies) Image
How Many Pieces Are in a Body of Work? Read
When asked what advice she would give to the current generation of aspiring artists, artist Shirin Neshat said: My only advice is to spend less time on thinking about success and put all the energy in making art itself. Otherwise your relationship to your art changes. It becomes less genuine and honest. Art should not
Deep Thought Thursday: Success and mediocrity Read
Question from Patrice Erickson: Is it preferred or not preferred to sign and date paintings on the front of the canvases rather than on the backs? I have always signed and dated on the fronts. On a recent visit to a high end gallery I noticed that none of the paintings were signed this way.
To sign or not to sign (your artwork) Read
from Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way, pages 183-84 Creativity is not a business, although it may generate much business. An artist cannot replicate a prior success indefinitely. Those who attempt to work too long with formula, even their own formula, eventually leach themselves of their creative truths. Embedded as we often are in the business
Deep Thought Thursday: Stuck in a rut? Read
Brad Blackman at Mysterious Flame has taken David Allen’s book Getting Things Done (which I always recommend) and applied it to the creative process in five separate posts. Since GTD is mostly about office productivity and making art is rarely so structured, it’s an interesting look. I’m wondering if it works better for artists who
Artist applying Getting Things Done to the creative process Read
Get a transcript of episode 182 of The Art Biz (Rethinking Mailing Lists for Artists) followed by a 3-page worksheet to evaluate the overall health and usage of the 3 types of artist lists.
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