Pursue, Promote, Persevere

I have said before that you shouldn't quit. I have suggested that you need to push yourself, try new things and keep working and practicing your craft. That is very true, as that old saying goes "Rome wasn't built in a day.”

I have been painting since my teens and I have seen my craft develop as I have; continued to practice, work, push myself to try new things, to try new ways.

Pursue, pursue your dream, make your dream happen. No one can go after your success in the art world but you. You have to be willing to put yourself out there. Let your work be seen. Try new styles, new pieces, new forms. Go after your dream, pursue it.

Promote yourself, promote your work. Look for methods of promoting yourself. Look for shows, events, fairs that you can get a booth at and show your work. It shows the world that you believe in yourself, lets the world see you work. Look for on line places to promote and show your work. Hold open houses, donate your work to charity so they can raise money. Look for unique, creative methods of exposing yourself  to the world.

Persevere, a fancy way of saying don't quit! Give yourself time to develop your craft. Don't listen to they nay Sayers. I have been told my work isn't very good by some people very close to me. But, I have been told by people I don't know that my work is very good. My work has taken time to get to where it is. I have painted on so many surfaces, painted things others have asked me to paint, some had no success, some limited success and some  surprising success.

Without trying, showing, continuing to try I never would have sold a thing. If I didn't pursue my dream, which I continue to go after, I would have so even a painted jewelry box. If I didn't allow myself to be seen  I wouldn't have heard opinions of nine family members. Others wouldn't have had a chance to see my work or have a chance to buy it. I went to shows, used on line sites and more. I promoted myself and continue to do so. I have persevered, I haven't quit and won't quit. I love to paint and try new things.

My advice to you, no matter whether you are a visual artist, writer, musician, actor, what ever you do pursue you dream, promote yourself and persevere.

Backwoods Country Arts : A Day In The Studio

Backwoods Country Arts : A Day In The Studio: My day started at 5:30 a.m., holding a cup of coffee, to help my me fully wake up. I sat enjoying my coffee, looking at Facebook, playing a ...

A Day In The Studio

My day started at 5:30 a.m., holding a cup of coffee, to help my me fully wake up. I sat enjoying my coffee, looking at Facebook, playing a few word games on my iPad. A little later after a quick breakfast I headed to the studio.

I had four orders to work through. As I worked on each of them, setting each one aside while paint dried, I worked on a couple of unclaimed pieces. 

I can go downstairs to my studio, work on whichever project I have going at that time and feel encouraged. I get many ideas for the next project while working on a current piece.

I know of artist that will only remain true to their main artistic focus, i.e. Landscapes on canvas. They won't waver from it, they will create and hope for a sale. They will do limited advertising, go to a few art shows in hopes of catching someone's eye.

I love to paint landscapes, wild life, the occasional other subject matter. But I am realistic enough to know that I will not sell a painting everyday. I paint wall hangings to fill  in the gaps, help pay for the art supplies and more. I have sold a number of painting, but I have painted and sold over 700 canoe paddles, 50 plus dragon boat paddles. I have painted a number of wall hangings over the last couple of years. I have some of them left, but most have been sold. I advertise, have a web site and share my work through any number of social media websites.

Spending time in the Studio, relaxing, doing what I enjoy, will help me destress, feel more creative, feel encouraged. As a project progresses, I love seeing it come together. Working on a new project, I can see little improvements that can be made. 

The studio is my version of the man cave. It is where I can go and be away from the world for a while. It is where I can go and be creative, let my mind go wild . I love a good adventure, The studio is An Adventure In Creativity!

My Studio My Place To Create, Refresh, and Relax

I love to go into my studio and paint. It doesn't matter whether I am painting an image onto a canvas, or painting some new piece of décor / subway art. As I sit in my chair and get ready to work I begin to feel revived.

Everyone needs an outlet, needs a way to set themselves apart from the stresses of the world we live in. Some watch T.V., listen to music, walk, run, drink, go to the gm. Me I sit down at my desk, my easel, get some paint out, a canvas, some wood, turn on some music and then I paint.

I have tried over the last couple of years to get others to see the value of using painting as a way to refresh, distress and more. There is an area in the studio that I will sit down at and lay out larger projects, or package items that are on their way to the new owners. This is the area of the studio that I display  my art, in all forms. This is the same area that I use for classes that I open the studio for.

Some think I am crazy, but I don't think so, everyone has their own style, their own way of doing things. Their art will be their art, in their style. If my showing, teaching others how to do something creates another artist, fine, let them enjoy the possibilities that are now open to them. I am not the only artist, the only one who paints landscapes, wild life, subway / décor art in the world and won't be the last.

If the world was more into showing others how to use, develop skills it would be a better place.

Creating art is an adventure, an adventure in creativity.