ARTIST JOURNAL, SHOULD I KEEP ONE?

Thoughts for the Collector?

If you buy an Andy Warhol painting of a can of beans, are you buying the painting or are you buying the whole Warhol image and life style?
Is the back story of the painting as important, or more important than the painting?
Consider this when you buy your next painting, the Artist back story is as important as the painting.
Thoughts to ponder as you purchase your next painting.

Happy collecting.
Mark and team Galeria.

                                     ++++++++++++++

I posted this on the Galeria de las Islas Facebook page, as part of my daily thoughts to collectors. I thought how relevant it was for artists to think about the importance of this.
Your personal artist back story! 
Something many artists do not think about this.
I certainly believe that every artist should keep a journal, if for no other reason than for legacy, to make sure your history is recorded the way you want it to be remembered. That journal should have written in it stories about each painting you do, why you did it, what were you feeling about it and what they were going through at the time. I believe that it is so very important to record your life as well as your paintings, this might be hard for some Artists to believe but collectors want to know about you, the artist as well as your paintings.

I always tell artists that when collectors buy your work they are buying into your life as well. It disappoints me when the family of a deceased artist has to authenticate a painting, when the artist could have recorded it. Which would be of greater value than a family member allegedly remembering a painting from their childhood, I know my daughter could not remember many of my paintings and I am still alive.
One of the great revelations for me was when I was last in Australia visiting my Sister. My niece is a great fan of a 90's rock group, now she had all the albums and live videos, scores of them singing the same songs over and over again in different cities around the world. Then she showed me what else she had, ticket stubs to concerts from around the world that she had traded for from other fans, bits of nostalgia and mementos that I would have never considered important. All the magazines that had stories about this group, she was without a doubt a very aggressive, knowledgeable and passionate collector. Now this group was smart they made sure that their fans got letters and notes about the group’s likes and dislikes, why they wrote the songs and the whole story of recording and even stories about the backstage of concerts. Now this was not gripping reading but it was just glimpses into the back story of this rock group. At first I thought, “Why would they do it”, but for her it made her part of the groups story and I realised how important that was to keeping her as a fan.

People want to be part of your story and artists, you need to let your collectors be part of your back story.

Yes I know your paintings speak for themselves, this rock group could have said that their songs speak for themselves but they see the value of including people in their story.

Why keep a journal about all that happens in your art and life? So you have material to give to people on your Facebook page and in your monthly newsletters, to all you fans and collectors.
I keep a journal and jot down thoughts every day all the time because I know I need lots of original material for what I do. So Artist you also should be considering your fan base?
I have said in the past at every opportunity get people’s emails, especially those who like your work or have invested in your work. Email them every month with stories about your art, work practice and life, people who invest in your paintings are investing in you. Give back to them and you will connect with them on a deeper level, eventually they will connect you to more people and sales will follow. 
You say “I am too busy; I do not know what to write?”
So write just a paragraph about a painting or your studio practice with a photo, this just takes a decision to do it and do it the same day every month.
We always hear about how passionate artists are, and most are. Most collectors are very passionate about collecting too, yes they invest in your paintings, but remember they are Collectors so give them other stuff about you to collect. There really is a missed opportunity here for artists. 
If you have sold someone a painting follow up the sale with more information about you and the painting, always have at least a bio that you can give them. Remember, it is best to get their email and let them become part of your back story each month.
Artist!, keep a journal and it will be your back story and a great reference point for you in the future. You know your story better than anyone and so often you do not tell it.
Who knows when you make it into the “Big Show” you will have your life story already written, if you keep a journal now.
Also, no matter how old you are right now, if you haven’t kept a journal then start now.
 Today is the beginning of the rest of your life, make it count!

Remember my original proposal?

If you buy an Andy Warhol painting of a can of beans, are you buying the painting or are you buying the whole Warhol image and life style?
The answer is yes, the Andy Warhol diaries allow us into his back story.

I do hope that this post has been helpful to some and I do appreciate your comments very much.
If you have any questions or comments, I would be happy to hear from you and I will do my best to help. Connect with me via email or Facebook, whatever is convenient!

Love your paintings, love painting, love yourself.

Mark E Shellshear.
Art Consultant.
mark@shellshearmedia.com