Fine Art Tips and Techniques
Once I took a workshop by Michigan artist Donna Zagotta who claimed, “All life's problems can be solved by more paint or painting more.” I think she was on to something! This world can be a scary place. There are plenty of people making very good money stirring up fear and hatred and calling it entertainment. Or even news. But there’s at least one way out of fear. Be brave, make art! Why? Because art teaches us not to be afraid. Because … [Read more...]
Last week, I received this compelling infographic which illustrates our current world population of 7 billion people. To put things into perspective, during the 16th century there were only about 500 million people on earth, and the world population did not reach 1 billion until around 1800. The number of people have doubled in the last 50 years. These stats are alarming, especially with the current growth rate of about 80 million people … [Read more...]
Just like with any profession, it is important for artists to take a studio break in order to recharge their creative batteries. Last night, I asked some of social media's favorite artists, "What do YOU do for a fun studio break?" I sent out this query via direct message on Twitter ,and then I also posted this same question on my Fine Art Tips Facebook fan page , and on my Google Plus wall. Wow - I was surprised by such a quick and … [Read more...]
Gratitude is an art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture. This simple yet profound quote by Kak Sri is the perfect way for me to express my gratitude as Americans begin Thanksgiving week. The past few years have been especially challenging for many people, including artists. However, through my own personal trials I have learned the importance and the power of giving, for 'a clenched fist cannot receive anything, but an open hand can … [Read more...]
If you have ever created anything more complex than a stick figure, you have probably been asked this common question, "How long did it take to paint that?" This seemingly simple question can actually be complex for the artist to answer. For me, each painting seems to have a mind of its own, with its own personality. Literally, some paintings paint themselves, while others are a slow, and more labor intensive. Self-employed artists work hard, … [Read more...]
It seems a bit ironic to be writing this post on balancing parenthood and your art career since I officially became an 'empty nester' last month. That's right, my three kids are all out my house and leading their own lives as young adults. One just graduated from grad school and now is a 3D artist, one is in college and my youngest is working in California. I am proud of them all, but it is a big transition for me and I am grateful to have my … [Read more...]
In this fast-paced world many people suffer from information overload, and understanding how to write a bio that gets read is more important now than ever. Lately, I have been coaching social media personalities as well as artists on how to write a bio, so I decided to share my writing tips with you. The days are gone when we only relied on our boring resumes to emphasize our achievements. Unlike a resume, a bio is less formal. This gives … [Read more...]
An artist's equipment is as individual as the person who is using it. After several years of striving to find the perfect, portable watercolor painting setup, I became increasingly disappointed with the commercial offerings for watercolor painters. So, I chose to create my own design that is defined by portability, compactness, and versatility. As a watercolor painter, I have found that most easels and plein air pochade boxes that are … [Read more...]
(*Please see Editor's note below) While many are familiar with the term "starving artist," this stereotype of impoverished artists struggling to get by has been sadly true throughout much of history. Fine art painters in particular are infamous for leading poverty and grief-stricken lives. Much like today, many of history's famous artists also had to deal with rejection and negative criticisms during their lifetime. Perhaps this makes their … [Read more...]
Is selling your art a difficult activity? Is it the part of 'art' you don’t want to think about? This article will explore 7 ways to have fun selling your art. Guest author: Doug Farrick It’s no big secret that some artists look upon 'selling art' as distasteful or greedy - the last thing anyone would want to do. Why is this so? Well, the salesman stigma is everywhere. It’s in the culture, in the movies (Wall Street, Glengarry … [Read more...]
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