Mark E Shellshear.

We all face problems, they are part of life, it is not personal and everyone has them, the rich and the poor. Artists and non Artists, it is just life. Its what we do with each problem we face that really counts. We can look for a solution to the problem or we can be overwhelmed by the problem. Think about solutions, not the overwhelming problem. We can always find a solution to the problem. We may get an answer immediately and the problem is sorted. We may be faced with a major crisis that we will have to ride out, as the solution is patience. Also always look for the good that can come out of every problem, the solution might be we needed to learn a particular lesson, so we would not pass that way again. Being over whelmed with a problem is not a solution it will just makes the problem worse. Artists, you are problem solvers in your every day art practice. Artists, you are very creative people who apply their creativity to each problem they face in their...

Dear Artist friends, I understand what it can be like when things are not going well. No sales. You have taken the advice given and did it all, yet it's not working. Why is it not working? We all face winter times in our Art practice and in life. Its dark, its cold and its sometimes raining, I don't want to work in the cold and dark and the rain, I want it to be warm again. Winter time is not a time to hibernate, but a time to prepare for the spring, opportunity. If you sit out your Artistic winter in self pity and discouragement you will not be prepared for the opportunity of the coming spring, and it will come. In winter the farmer services the tractor, make sure all his equipment is serviced and ready to be used. He prepares the seed to be sown. He prepares the ground with fertiliser. He is working knowing that there is no harvest to this work, but he does it in preparation for the coming opportunity, spring. When it feels like winter Artists do not hibernate, start to...

Self talk will make you or break you. It is so very easy to let dark thoughts swamp you. The way you think about yourself is critical to your success, if you think you will fail or think you will succeed, you will be right It is really true, as a person thinks in there heart, so they become. What you think about most of the time, most of the time you become. The world is a nice place, think nice thoughts about yourself and paint your life.

A professional golfer I played with a couple of years ago at a memorial day for my brother, was very, very good. When we finished I asked him why he was teaching and not on the professional circuit. I was astounded by his reply. “ I have one bad shot every round.” Now that is self realization. He saw things the way they were, not worse, he did not blame anyone or criticize himself, he just stated the fact and said how much he loved teaching and interacting with other golfers. He always wanted to be a golf pro, he was, that's what mattered to him. See things as they are, you wanted to paint, you are painting. You wanted the opportunity to be creative, you are. You wanted the opportunity to put you art work forward for people to admire and buy, you are doing that. You wanted the chance to sell your paintings, you have that opportunity. These are all our own personal choices and we are doing what we want to do. Yes there will be good days and not so good days....

Artists we need to understand that this Art business is a marathon not a sprint. So many Artists give up to early and quit. If you are really committed to your goals, then it does not matter how many times you fail, all that means is you are now closer to success. It takes time to build a reputation in the Art world. It takes time to get known by collectors. It takes time to build all the skills you will need for success. Learn to be patient and build on your career every day. A dripping tap will fill the bucket, but it takes time before the bucket gets filled. For most Artists it takes 10 years to become well known and respected in this business. So many people desire to be Artists and they start off with a flourish and they get ignored in the beginning and they quit after a short period of time, disillusioned and hurt, this can be a brutal business. Collectors are always wary of new faces, how long will they last, will they still be Artists this time next y...

“The time and effort and creative ability isn't recognized. That's what has to be taught.” I received this to a comment I made and I feel that it does need to be addressed as I think that there are a lot of Artists out there who may agree with this statement.  Unfortunately no one is going to educate people about Art, other than people themselves and yes your time effort and creative ability isn't recognized, it will be if you become famous but for the average Artist it will not happen, unless you educate people. Instead of saying someone should do this, if we see the need, meet it. We as Artists can educate every person we come across as we explain our Art to them. Now we are to do this in a way that will win these people to us, most people are interested in the Artistic process, the Artist and the why of the painting, story tell your Art. If we want people to love and appreciate our Art, tell them about it, why you love the painting, what the painting is about a...

Over all the years I have been in this business I have seen many Artists come and go. All start out with wonderful enthusiasm and big dreams to hit the heights of the Art World and sadly a few years later they don't paint any more. I am sure you all know someone like this, disappointment and discouragement slowly wears them down until they give up and stop painting. I had a friend who did wonderful paintings of military machines, beautiful paintings and nice landscapes. He sold a few to family and friends, had a one man show but today years later, he does not paint and all the paintings are stored in a shed. A woman I knew painted wonderful happy paintings that radiated joy, she sold a few had some shows, paid for publicity and now years later she does not paint any more and her paintings are stored away. What happened? Its what I call “ The struggle.” This battle is not fought at the end of the brush but in the mind of the Artist and if you cannot win this battle then y...

Buying original Art.I. When you are looking for a painting that you will love and enjoy living with for many years, here are some thoughts on buying. I cannot say this enough, do not be rushed into the sale. Buy your painting, not from a sales person, but from someone who loves Art, and sells it for a profession. Do not let sales people or the urgency of an Auction rush you into buying, if you miss it then it was not meant to be. I have people bring me paintings that they bought in the excitement and feeding frenzy of the auction or from sales pressure and find they have spent to much for the painting and now they cannot even sell it for what they paid for it. I say all of this just to caution you. Buy the Art work because you love it. Buy the Art work from someone who loves Art and is not just a sales person. Buy work you have thought about and have not been rushed into the sale. Buy work the gives you good value for your money. Buy work that will bring you j...

This a question that I get asked many times in a week. The issue of how much are my paintings worth and what formula should I use to price them? The simple answer is, at the price that they will sell at. I am not sure why Artists become so engrossed in this issue of pricing. How much should I sell my paintings for? Are they to cheap or are they to expensive? Do I price by the square inch or do I use a formula, time plus supplies plus profit? Now I do understand your need to price your paintings. But if you have been in this business for only a few years, then I believe the question should be, “ How do I get my paintings onto the walls of strangers at a price that we both can be happy with?” I really believe that price in the beginning should be that you recover your costs and sell your paintings. Now I know I will get lots of comments saying I want Artists to give away their paintings, but I do not. I want Artists to build a business from their...

Small disciplines produce lasting results. If you do not do it, it will not get done. You can dream about it all you want. You can procrastinate all you want. But only doing it will make it happen. Sometimes self motivation to start work can be so difficult especially for Artists. That is why I believe that Artists should have a set work time every day, it is so important for Artists to work a normal day just like everyone else. If you wait for inspiration, then you could be waiting a long time. Start painting and the painting will come. “ The advice I like to give young Artists, or really anybody who'll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work.” …. Chuck Close, Artist.

You might sat that it has all been done before. Remember, once there was no Facebook, now there is. Once there was no Picasso, now there is. Once there was no Rothko, now there is. Once there was no I Phone, now there is. Once there was no you, now there is, so be original. No one cares about boring. No one cares about copies. No one cares about average. People care about original, different, breathtaking and extraordinary. Yes, it will be scary Yes, it will be fought with fear. Yes, it will take a leap of faith and much self belief. But, there is only one like you and to be original, you must be you. Believe it and act on it. Artist, pick up your paint brush and paint. Be original and be extraordinary.

Everyone can make excuses for what you know you have to do. A painting to be finished. A commission to be finished. An Art Competition you should enter. A street market you should be part of. A gallery you should ring. Excuses stop us from achieving all our potential as an Artist. Excuses are “the termites” for Artists, they eat away at our creativity. No more excuses, pick up the brush, paint and complete the painting and sell. ..

I get lots of correspondence from Artists especially about pricing paintings and I am always very happy to give my opinion. Many Artists seem to believe that because you have picked up a brush and have started to paint that success is guaranteed, unfortunately it is not. Many starting out Artists are so concerned about how to price their work? Do I calculate it by the hours it takes plus supplies used? Do I do price it by the square inch? I read about all the different formulas for pricing Artists work. If you are starting out, in my opinion, pricing your work is not as important as getting the attention of the buying public and getting your paintings onto the walls of strangers and lastly, being taken seriously by collectors. At this point I get criticized for saying Artists should give their paintings away. I am not saying that, I am saying price then so that they are good value. When you are starting out the name of the game is getting your paintings onto the walls of strangers. ...

I thought I would share this with my Artist friends so you get a look at how we portray you when we are talking about your art and you the Artist. It is often a nice reminder of how others see you and think of you. An Artist is a very important part of our social fabric not only as a recorder of the visible world around us but also a recorder of human emotions played out on the great stage of life. Your work shows where you are or were at a particular place and time and wherever you were encountering in that journey is reflected into your work. Artists are necessary as you are really, as a collective, I believe, the only truly honest interpretation of our world as you show it through your emotions and creative instinct and often you are unaware of doing so. That is why paintings last centuries and The News lasts minutes. Buying original Art III. When you consider purchasing a painting, an original piece of Art, remember our first point, buy what you love. The pain...

Artists I want to let you into a very well kept secret? Your collectors, buyers do not see you the way you see yourself? You see yourself with all your failings, problems, insecurities, fears and short comings? Your collectors, buyers see you as this incredibly talented, creative person who is an Artist, that they admire and envy and want to know you. Imagine that?? They do not see one of your fears, insecurities or inhibitions, you see that, they see a talented Artist. Start seeing you the Artist also and not you standing in front of the mirror, it will make such a big difference the next time you are approached by a collector or buyer. Break the mirror and let you, the talented Artist, talk to your collectors and buyers.

I have an Artist friend and they are always super busy, but seem to achieve so little. They are always painting, but so few paintings are ever produced? They are always preparing for shows, but most never seem to happen? Every time I see them I always ask what they are doing and when will I get new work? Of course they are very busy so I must understand, but new work will arrive next week, three months late. Next week comes and goes and no new work. I ring and of course they are super busy and will get the work to me, soon. Now I am really not interested any more and if work arrives, nice and if it does and if it not, that's life. Why say all this? If you are super busy but produce very few paintings considering the time you are working, then you are too busy. Yes, too busy, get rid of some of the your busyness. An Artist should  prioritize  these things. + Of course painting, that is your main work. + Selling and exhibiting. + Marketing an...

I do argue that this is the reality for some, “Artists who are living in the now rather than being anxious about the future” and “some artists are happy selling the occasional piece and just getting by” and if that is you, then that is wonderful for you and if you are happy, then you should do that. I find that the majority of Artists I deal with want to earn a good living to support their families and have a nice life, yes they want some mate rial things and I find no fault with that. Know what you want as an Artist and go out and get it. If you want to paint purely for the love of painting and give your paintings away, then you should do that, if that pleases you, I admire that. If you want to paint and sell the odd painting now and again, great, go and do that, I find no fault with that. If you want to be a big success in the Art world then go and do it and I will give you all the help and encouragement I can to help you to do that. There is room in the Art World for everyon...

For many Artists they have attached themselves to the story of the starving, brooding Artist and believe good art comes from starving? Nothing good comes from starving, a little struggle is good for the soul but starving helps no one. If you do not have to earn a living from your Art it is very easy to say that you paint purely for the love of painting and you give your work away, I think that is admirable. But if you have to earn a living from your art, then it is an entirely different ball game. Selling and learning to sell becomes a priority. We all need to live and if you are being supported and you can paint and not worry about having to sell, so you can feed your family tomorrow, then you are very fortunate indeed. There are so many Artists out there who need to sell to survive. People have attached themselves to the story that you must paint for the love of painting and selling and learning to sell is wrong. I hear many say that some Artists are selling out because th...

I talk a lot about the Art Business and what you need to do to earn a living from your Art. I talk about changing yourself so your whole world changes and I mean what I say and practice all that I write about. A few days ago I had to deal with an Artist with a substance abuse problem and I also realize that within all the striving to be the best you can be and always being positive, we also need to care. Some people slip through the crack s and it is up to us to reach out a helping hand, not a judgemental hand. We all need to be concerned for the Artist who is doing it tough and feeling lost, dealing with the overwhelming problems that life throws at them. If that is you and you are in pain and struggling, ring someone, please friend get help. I am all for being tough in business and setting big goals but I also see that we are human and we are all dealing with what life throws at us. You are not alone, we are all going through life, it is the way it is, so please be gentle on yo...

Ancient text, “There is a lion in the road. A fierce lion in the streets.” Unseen fears, produce excuses and often cause us to procrastinate, and rob us of painting time and it is such precious time, because we can never get it back. There are three areas that Artists often struggle with. Unseen fear…. That if I do it I will be laughter at, I will criticised and ridiculed. I know they will dislike my work. I am afraid to speak to strangers. Procrastination… I will do it tomorrow, I just need to rest now. I need a break. I need to recharge my batteries, you know I will do it. I don't want to miss my show. Excuses….I am doing it, but first I need to answer my emails and check Facebook and buy some art supplies and wow my studio needs to be cleaned, I am so busy, but I will get to my painting soon, but I have painters block, anyway I am not inspired today, I am tired, I just cleaned my studio. All these three are interrelated. If you are procrastinating, you are robbi...

I believe I need to have goals, I write them out every day. I also need to learn as much as I can if I want to be a continued successful person, the world will not wait or change for me. I need to work on me to be better able to face all the challenges that the Art world can throw at me. I do not want to wake up one day a tired, complaining old man, it is my desire to continue to improve right up to my last breath. Why? Because that is good for me, I want to change for me and so should you want to change for you, to be a better you? Not for someone else but for yourself. Remember you put the oxygen mask on yourself first, before you help others. You can blame the economy for lack of sales if you want, it will not change anything, still no sales? You can blame the customers for not buying your paintings and how terrible they are, but it will not change anything, still no sales? Or you can decide to change and become a better person, learn to sell, get good people skills, set goals...

I could go over all the different things that I have told you before and they are very important, being on social media platforms, being part of Artists groups on line, sending out your emails to collectors and friends of your Art and being part of group shows and art Fairs. I am sure you all doing most of this but still I still say you need to get attention. One of the most successful selling Artists that I knew, who knew how to get peoples attention, will never show in the MET or in a National Gallery, or any high brow gallery but his paintings are in lots of homes and loved by many. The reason I say that he was successful is that he made a consistent living from his art and he got peoples attention. He painted portraits and houses and pet portraits and you all know my thoughts about those but he knew how to gets peoples attention and if you use the principles he employed, I know that they will work for you. He used to turn up every Sunday morning and set up his easel on the s...

 I just want to thank everyone who comments on my posts and those who share my posts thank you very much. Now, I had a great question come from yesterdays post. “ I know I need to pull out the weeds, but how do I also fertilize and add nutrients to my plants to help them grow?” Such a good question. The fertilizer and nutrients that you add are what you are doing to improve your self. Read good books that will help with your ongoing Art education and what will help you with your Art Business education. All these books are available to help you grow your Art Business, but until you read them they are of no help to you at all. Learning new skills to make you a better Artist, do some workshops in art practices that you do not practice, stretch yourself. Learn new people skills, improving how you interact with people. Finally work on your own self improvement as well as pulling out those weeds. Self improvement is hard work, because it takes disciplin...

I was thinking this morning about how every day can seem the same. You can write out you goals each day, have good positive thoughts about the day, yet some days are long? You work hard in your studio or hard at the office, dreaming always about the day you will sell your art and go full time. Yet sometimes in the monotony of the day, you can wonder if it is all worth while? All your wonderful dreams? All your achievable goals? All the expectation and positive attitude? Yet some days are very long? How do I deal with these long days? Remember all your dreams, goals and expectations are your seeds planted in the soil of life and they are growing at their correct growth rate. Be like the good Farmer, don't worry about the growing seeds, for they will grow, your job is to deal with the weeds. The miracle of life will take care of the seeds. You need to pull out and kill the weeds, because they will strangle your growing dreams, goals and expectations. The weeds of disappointment...

I knew an Artist who was very experienced, 40 years painting, he had sold reasonably well but never built a great career. He loved the Art Business or “the game” as he called it, but he had one major problem. His Art work was very good, he was extremely talented and was able to capture his subjects with wonderful line and minimal of brush strokes. He would be what one would call a minimalist abstract landscape painter. He had the ability to go into the landscape and capture it with the minimum of brush strokes. I like his paintings very much and I collected his work. His prices were very low. His work was very good. He had sold very few paintings over the years. What was his problem? His Attitude. He really believed that because he had been around for a long time and he knew lots of named painters and he deserved respect. His work was very good and he would tell people so when they looked at his work and of course people did not buy. Sadly he was very dismissive with peopl...

You can be safe. You can be a very good Artist. You can be the nicest person and best person in Art. But if you do not get peoples attention, you will remain unknown. Nothing is more obscure, than being unknown. Getting attention will mean, * getting talked about. * getting critics. * getting haters. * getting known. * getting an audience. * getting admired. * getting sales. * getting a successful long term career. Get peoples attention, so people know you.

In this day of people always asking for advice, not wanting to take personal responsibility for their lives, always needing permission to live their lives and approval from those around them, the Artist because they are creating work from within to go on a canvas, must learn to be self reliant. Self reliance, is learning to trust yourself in regard to your Artistic expression. Yes, it is ok to ask your Artists friends for pointers and of course to do workshops and get art education, but I am referring to those solitary times in the studio when you have to reach deep inside to your creative center to find that new, original painting that you are about to paint. Trusting completely on your creative self to produce an original work of Art, that is the Artist. Self reliance, produces extraordinary paintings from the Artist creative