Mark E Shellshear.

I read this sentence this morning and it really made me think, “ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The key here is, what is the thing your heart desires, other than family and loved ones, for when we know what our hearts desire is we will understand our heart and how it is fulfilled. So many people live unfulfilled lives, going through the motions every day, doing a job they do not like and the only thing to look forward to is going home to watch television or the coming weekend. Most people go through life never doing what there hearts desire is and wonder why they get sick. We know that hope postponed makes the heart sick. I know people who want to write, but will never do it. I know people who want to paint, but will never do it. I know people who want to write beautiful music, but will never do it. I know of people who want to go and work in an orphanage in Thailand, but will never do it. So many people want to do things that...

For all my Artist friends who find the struggle very constant. First you are an Artist and the battle within with the “thief” will rage every day for as long as you desire more of yourself and more from your craft. This is a creative journey that you are on and it is dangerous, not physically but personally. The “thief” does not want criticism, or you pushing yourself further out into the unknown, doing exciting new original work, it prefers procrastination, double mindedness, indecision, apathy and copying, these it can live with because then you will be safe and accomplish very little. This is not where the Artist lives, an Artist lives with the unknown every day, pushing boundaries and always wanting to get outside of their comfort zone. It is a daily struggle, because then you know that you are on the right path, if the “thief” says, “No, don’t do that you will be criticised and laughed at” you say “Let’s go and do it and see what happens.” Enjoy the journey you...

One of my dear friends wrote this to me today, “ Also it feels lonely often. There is no real measurement, none that satisfies, or if it does, it doesn't last a day!” I n my life I have done many things, I learned to fly aeroplanes because I thought how thrilling and exciting it would be, but it’ s not, y ou have to be perfect and boring, and a non incident flight is considered good? I was bored, I wanted excitement, so I stopped flying and I am sure the flying public is grateful. I loved surfing but after a few years when you c an do it well it kind of becomes boring and the only great thrill is surfing larger and larger waves and it slowly becomes living a death wish, so I stopped that. The only thing that has ever truly satisfied me is Art, it is certainly not boring and it is scary, more scary than big waves. Why? Because every day it is like you start from the beginning again, not in your ability to create but with the constant struggle within. I work al...

Art chooses you and then you have learn to listen to the muse and not to all the negative voices within and without. Art is a very jealous Mistress, she wants your attention always and requires everything from you and often gives little in return, but she demands your work be done for her with the strictest obedience, this a calling not a hobby. If you are struggling with your Art, rejoice she requires that, she knows struggle builds endurance, if you always feel you are just inches away from a break through, rejoice that is how she stretches you. If you are nagged with self doubt and fear, rejoice she wants you to overcome that and learn to go where there are no sign posts. She is always there but just out of reach that is how she gets you out of your comfort zone forces you to go into new and dangerous places with your Art, she want you to be scared then she knows you are in an unsafe place, the place of miracles and magic, where original Art is created. She will give...

Behold the possibilities. Can we keep doing it until the inspiration/muse arrives? Beware the compromises. Ideas are useless without taking positive action to turn the ideas into reality, paintings. The miracle is in doing the work. The answer is, “Yes, do it now.” Please feel free to share. Watch “ The Mark Art Show” on my Facebook page or please click on the link below, https://www.facebook.com/100002529820315/videos/1437066103054370/ If you would like a free copy of my book, “Thoughts from an abstract life.” Please PM me on Facebook and I will send you the link for your free copy.

It is amazing what you can accomplish in the Arts when you are not interested in the criticism or the praise. It does not matter what others think because we will never please everyone with our Art, so don’t try to. Yes it is nice when people like our Art so be grateful for those people even if it is only one or two. When you get to that place as an Artist where only the work is important and in itself is the only validation that you need, you will then find fulfilment in your work. The most important thing you do as an Artist is paint, create, do your work. Your job is not working at pleasing everyone because that is impossible, a distraction and a lie of the “thief.” You must please yourself, give yourself permission, validate yourself and do your work. You must come to the studio every day and do your work and build the discipline of continues improvement. Then let our work define us, not the opinion of the “thief” or other people. Please feel free ...

Unfortunately many Artists are plagued with self doubt, the “thief” convinces them to practice indecision and procrastination, because it’s safe, the reason for lack of progress in their Art career, always playing it safe. Ours is a discipline the demands that we produce a high standard of original work that will be accepted by a discerning market place. If we have self doubt this will undermine our ability to constantly produce this high standard of original work, we will play it safe because that’s what the “thief” wants and we will not put ourselves in a vulnerable position where we can be challenged or criticised. Do the opposite of what the “thief” wants and strengthening your self worth by getting out of your comfort zone and doing the original work you were born to do. You are an Artist, don’t let the “thief” rob you, be the best Artist that you can be. Pl ease feel free to share. Watch “ The Mark Art Show” on my Facebook page or please click on the l...

I talk a lot about being a successful Artist and to most that is fame and fortune. I am not saying that those dreams and aspirations are wrong because they are not, but we must know why we are wanting those things and we must be able to define success for ourselves and what that is. There are a few sentences in an ancient book that speak so very clearly to me and I would like to share them with you. It says, “ Buy the truth and do not sell it. Also wisdom, instruction and understanding .” Why? So we can apply wisdom into our lives to become better people. See if we get wisdom , that will give us the knowledge we need to improve our lives, but we need instruction so we can learn that wisdom and apply into our lives to make us better, wisdom without the ability to personally apply it, is lost. Then understanding is the ability to take that learned wisdom and apply it in our lives to help and benefit others. The most important things in life are not wealth...

I was asked the question, what did I mean by after sales service? I believe that Artists should give sale and after sales service and this is what I mean by that. Every time we have an exhibition the goal is to sell and also to get the contact address of every person who shows interest in our work, email and phone if possible, so that you can keep the conversation going. The paintings in the exhibition, please Artists put your name, phone number and email address on the back of the painting so you can be easily found by your buyers. Also Artists must have their small exhibition handout packs ready during the show to give to those who take interest in their paintings. In this pack there should be a short resume of yourself, photograph, the address of your studio, your email address and phone number, your Facebook account and your web site if you have one. This is so important because if the buyer decides later they want one of your paintings they can contact you easily. ...

Building an Art business that is financially successful, takes self discipline, sacrifice and hard work. It is not easy to do, because an Art business is not only about painting and drawing, it’s about managing your time, your effort and most importantly your money. Everyone wants more money but if you do not manage your money well when you have only a little, you will not manage it well when you have a lot. Most Artists think that when they have a lot of money they will be better off, but remember, the past is the prediction of the future. How you handle money now will not change in the future when you have more, unless you change . If you spend it all now, you will spend it all when you have more. At some point we all need to change and discipline ourselves and learn how to handle our money. Learn to save when you have a little and you will save when you have much. H ave a bank account just for your savings, no spending allowed. Know where you spend your money,...

In all you do Artist with your Art work, remember you control the brush and the outcome of your painting. So do not paint to others expectations, paint you always. People will always offer good advice and direction, but it is your passion, your creativity, your painting and you control the final result. Learn to see with you imagination and paint your imagination. So many Artists are intimidated by the opinions of others that they paint what others want rather than what they, the Artist wants. See with your imagination and paint what your imagination sees. Paint to change the world, do not let the world change you. Please feel free to share. Watch “ The Mark Art Show” on my Facebook page or please click on the link below, https://www.facebook.com/100002529820315/videos/1430715573689423/ If you would like a free copy of my book, “Thoughts from an abstract life.” Please PM me on Facebook and I will send you the link for your free copy. ...

Those Artists who have goals for their future which are written down are saying to themselves, this is where I want to be in 10 years, they will have a much greater chance of accomplishing those goals than those who do not write them down. Those who write down goals and how they plan to action those goals will build their future. Artists need to have goals, so they will know where they are going and when they have arrived. Goals are very important. Have you written out your goals? It is better to plan your Art Career than leave it to chance. Chance is like the Lottery, it might happen but most likely it will not and if it does happen by chance, will you be able to keep the success? If you have not planned for that sudden success, most likely after a while you will go back to where you started. Success does not stay with the unprepared. When success happens by plan then you will get to keep the success because you will have grown as a person and will be able to...

Always strive to be is the best Artist that you can possibly be, we are not in a competition, we cannot be another Artist, we can only be ourselves. If we envy other Artists, which is not good and copy their work to prove to ourselves we are as good, you must remember it is not your original work it belongs to another Artist, so it can never be as good, at best it’s factory Art, a poor reflection of someone else’s creative ability. Sadly many Artist look at their own work and criticise themselves so badly that they never show the work and go and copy another Artists painting because others have said it was good, yet that can never be your work, if you copy their painting it will always be just a pale shadow of someone else’s original work, a copy. No matter what you think of your own painting, show it, it is your original work, don't let that self defeating inner voice, the “thief” rob you of your own creativity, the work that you produce defines you as an Artist. An o...

I know this might not be for all of you, because many people need rules in their art practice to go forward because that is how they were taught in school. You are not a camera either but that was how you were taught to see to paint and draw. My daughter painted a painting at school and made the sky orange and the teacher said she was wrong to do that and fix it because the sky is blue. My daughter said that her daddy paints the sky orange and he is right because he is an Artist, the teacher said nothing more. There are no rules my friends, be like a child and paint the sky orange if you want to. You don't have to ask first, give yourself permission and do it. Please feel free to share. If you would like a free copy of my book, “Thoughts from an abstract life.” Please PM me on Facebook and I will send you the link for your free copy.

We all being watched by someone all the time, so we need to always be doing the best we can do and being the best we can be. Out there young Artists, new Artists are watching what older Artists are doing and trying to emulate them, to be like them. Be an inspiration to those watching you. Beware of the enemies of being an inspiring Artist, Complaining. Criticism. Selfishness. Jealousy. Fear. Don't complain, encourage and see the best in each situation. Don't criticise, find something good to say, encourage us. Don't be selfish, there is enough success for everyone. Don't always make it about you, be generous. Don't be jealous of others, promote others . Don’t give in to fear, use the “thief” to guide you, it says stop, you say go. You are unique and original, put that into your Art and through you doing that you will reveal your inner creative self and inspire others. Be a leader, people are looking for someone to inspire them not disappo...

One question for you. “In your opinion, why is it that women have such a difficult time in breaking through to the 'big time' so to speak in the art world? Thanks.” This is such a good question and really made me think, so I will say what I think, with this caveat, that it is only my opinion. I do not think woman or men are more talented than each other, so for me talent does not come into it. We are in an industry that wants longevity of sales, a student comes out of art school gets into a gallery and sells through the Galleries for years. Most men can do t his but it is much harder for women, in the beginning out of art school they are seen as the same but what if the female Artist decide s to have children. Unfortunately once they have children and are now full time raising children and have to earn extra money, they often leave the art business as it is not stable enough to guarantee a steady income. They leave the business to raise their children, stil...

The interview of Mark E Shellshear  was conducted and produced by the students of Mapua Institute of Techonology in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines.

You have no idea of what you can accomplish and could become. You just need to imagine it. Ignore the thief. Become stronger, become smarter and become wiser. P repare for the unexpected. Work as hard as you can to accomplish your dreams. Be the best Artist that you can possibly be, for you. That will change your world. Please feel free to share. Watch “ The Mark Art Show” on my Facebook page, If you would like a free copy of my book, “Thoughts from an abstract life.” Please PM me on Facebook and I will send you the link for your free copy.