Mark E Shellshear.

I was at an auction house reception last night in preparation for an auction on Saturday. I saw a painting by one of the masters of Philippine Art, Vicente Manasala and when you see a very good painting by a master you understand why their work stands out from the crowd. There were a few pieces in the auction that were really factory work, an Artist repeating themselves because they had a ready market, but the masters painting was different, it looked majestic, you had the sense that the Artist loved the work and bought it to life with a gentle caring hand, not like the other work that looked manufactured. I have seen a lot of Manasala’s paintings and his style is not something that I personally would warm to, but this was a painting by a master and it was stunningly beautiful. This is one of those wonderful pieces by a true master Artist , yet in saying that, have I seen what I think is average work by this Artist? Yes of course, not every painting is a masterpiece, ev...

We live in a time of great change in the Art industry, it is a time when Artist can communicate and exchange views and ideas with other Artists from all around the world and this is because of the internet. Today Artists have the technology where they can promote themselves and sell their work in any country in the world without the need of a Gallery or dealer and they can cut out the middle man and not pay commissions and many think the old Gallery system can last? More and more in the future collectors will go straight to the Artist and deal directly with them and not go through a Gallery and this will continue to grow and become the normal. Art Galleries are going to have to evolve and innovate and embrace the new technology and change just as Artists are having to do so. With such change going on in every industry, of course that change was going to impact on our industry and I believe it is one of the most exciting times to be an Artist and to be able to run your Art ...

When you experience failure in this Artist life, you will need the courage to force yourself to get back up and try again and do it the right way next time. When things do not go right and they often don’t, you have two choices you can give up and walk away and say it is to hard or you can get up and lick your wounds and determine to do it better next time and learn from the experience. Even a bad experience can teach you what not to do in th e future and that is a positive outcome. To be a successful Artist you will fail a number of times it is just part of the process, failure allows us the clarity to look at what we have done through chastised eyes and to understand how it happened and then how to not do that again and to make whatever personal changes need to be made. Often it is out of failure that our greatest successes come, because it gives us the determination to never let that happen again and the desire to be a better person. Learn well from failure, determine to never ...

The Artist life is not about the day when you win the prize, it's about all the days in between. There are going to be good days and there are going to bad days. On the good days, work hard on your Art and your business, make each day pay. On the bad days work hard on yourself. Taking whatever has happened and working on your feelings to turn them around for your benefit. Usually the answer is to do the opposite that you feel like doing. Sometimes we want to feel sorry for ourselves, complain about how unfair it all is and that we are just a failure, do not go to that place where you think that there is no answers. Do not listen to that whining inner voice going on in your head telling you what a failure you are and how you can do nothing right. Do not get so down on yourself, just stand up and look outside everything is normal, the sun is shining the birds are singing, life is going on, the problem is not the whole world just what is going inside your head. ...

The Artist life is all about learning and we learn from our own life experiences and also we can read what other successful people have done before us and apply what they have learned to our lives. Reading about successful Artists and their lives can help us navigate the Artist journey, all success leaves a trail and when we find it, it will teach us what to do or not to do. I do not believe we should imitate others on the contrary, I believe that we should learn all we can off successful people and then build those principles of success into our lives. We do not need a map we need a compass because what we are doing has not been done before, we are trail blazers we are not following a road map. The group follows a road map because that keeps the group together and compliant, “ This is how we do it” they are not looking for different and new because that will threaten the stability of the group, the group needs compliance, average and mediocre, not cutting edge an...

Consider the upside of being able to sell your work, you are in control of your financial future. This is a subject many Artists do not think about but should. If you control your financial future then you have the freedom to pursue your goals in Art and life. There is nothing worse than be under the constant stress of financial pressure, having to find the money to pay bills and live and it is a monthly cycle that many cannot get out of. Yet with a little initial pain and sacrifice we can all get ourselves to some kind of financial freedom. I am not talking about getting rich but I am talking about being in that place where we are not constantly burdened with pressure to pay bills with money we do not have. If we learn to control our money we take control of our future and our life. Learn to sell, it’s a skill that you can master. Learn to save money, it’s a discipline that you can do. Be frugal and sacrifice, it’s a choice you make. These three skills are...

As Artists it is so important to be daily aiming higher in all we do in our Art practice. Every day expecting a little more out of ourselves, not huge leaps of faith but small deliberate steps of improvement. A small improvement every day will help us to achieve our goals both Artistically and personally. Every new day we need to approach our Art with a personal question, “ What little thing can I do today that will improve my Art and improve me.”

We all need to watch what we say, our words and our life conversation, because life and death is in the power of the tongue and they that love it(the tongue) shall eat the fruit thereof. We need to all understand that there are consequences to our words. As Artists our words can be kind, positive, encouraging and enlightening that contributes to health and life in ourselves and others, or our words can be critical, negative, corrupting language that will bring death and decay to ourselves and others. The tongue has the power to bring life into our lives or death, this is the fruit of our words and conversation. Fruit takes time to grow, first a seed, then the tree must grow and then at the proper time it will bear fruit. We can plant the seeds, our words in our life, positive or negative. We grow the tree, our life conversation, positive or negative. We bear the fruit, the results of our life conversation. The fruit is the long term consequences of our life co...

I was asked the question why do people copy other Artists especially the famous ones? First it’s easy to do. If you have drawing skills and patience you can copy any painting it just takes time to learn to do. It must be easy because so many do it, it is a learned skill it is not being a talented Artist, it is being a factory worker. Second they avoid being responsible. When you copy someone else you do not have the responsibility of coming up with the original thought and idea, you are just like Xerox machine and copy off the painting. Of course many will tell you how talented you are and that your work is even better than the original, but it’s not it’s a copy and a fake. If people do not like the work you have an out because you can say, I did not do the original painting, I just copied it, I cannot be blamed. Third, it’s safe. When you copy the fear is quiet, because you are not pushing any boundaries because you know the painting can be done as you can see it an...

So many very talented Artists never start on their own original Art journey, because it is easier to be like everyone else and part of the crowd, paint similar work, talk the same, look the same, if you are like everyone else then you will never rise above everyone else. I see so many older Artists trapped in crowd think, their work has never changed and just keep repeating themselves. Success means you have to find your own original Art direction, your own calling not that of the crowd. To walk as an Artist can be challenging and lonely at times but when you discover yourself, your calling and who you are as an Artist then your work becomes special and yours. Success for the Artist is not in crowd think, but in that alone place creating something that has never been created before, that’s Art.

I said in my video this morning that the two most important things for Artists to do is; 1. Create wonderful original Art. 2. Sell the original Art. I also said the next thing to do was to be able to look into the future and see the opportunities that will be available and the way to do this was to learn all you can about what is happening in business and technology on the internet. There is so much information available on You Tube to help you to recognise opportunities and them to implement them into your Art practice. The opportunity that you will find will be outside what you already know that is why we need to be exposed to new thoughts and new ideas and be prepared to embrace change because it is coming. Now after we do this what we need to do is learn to recognise the problems that may come in the future with such change happening. If you now have a world wide audience then you are going to sell into some distant markets, how are we going to collect the money and deliver the ...

I believe in power of storytelling your Art work. We love stories it is part of being human, we love movies, books and series on Television because they tell us a story and lead us into a magical world where our imagination is stimulated. I love to tell stories about paintings because it can lead the viewer into the painting and stimulate their imagination and they then tell themselves their story. Not all people who look at paintings have a flash of association with the painting most ask, “ What is the painting about?” or “ What is the back story to this painting?” and many other questions and if we have a story to tell the customer it brings the stranger into the painting and allows their imagination to tell them their story. Some paintings by themselves attract attention but the majority the stranger wants to know what the Artist is trying to communicate here. It does not have to be a novel but a few lines talking about the painting, one Artist I have writes lo...

In my last blog I was referring to commercial, for profit Galleries, not public funded Galleries and Museums, they are not affected like commercial Galleries as they do not need to make a profit. My reference is to privately owned Galleries because they rely on sales and commissions to survive. Many people are very romantic about these businesses but if they do not make a profit, how can they stay in business? No matter how much we love them in the final wash up the bottom lines is what counts. The big challenge for commercial Galleries is to innovate in this new situation and find ways to build new business models in this new internet age, some will and prosper and many will not, because change is hard and we always want it to be the way it was, but in this new day commercial Galleries will have to learn new skills and change what they do, to fit into the new era we live in. The Internet is disruptive and how we respond to this challenge will distinguish the winners ...

. I saw this on an Art group page and I thought what a provocative statement. As a Gallerist I hope long term that Galleries will not go the way of the music industry and many others industries that failed to grasp what was happening with the internet, the great disruption, but if they do not make major changes and innovate they surely will. Though many Artists think people will always want to go to Galleries to touch the Art to buy it, people buy so much on line now and it will only get bigger and more and more Art will be sold on line, it is happening and all the denial and finger wagging will not stop it. Again the business model for Galleries is broken and unless Galleries can change and reinvent themselves most will disappear. There will always be very high end Galleries, that is a growing elite market and they like to touch what they buy. The problems with most Galleries is that they have to survive on commissions and that is not sustainable. Most Artists have...

In the Art business these are going to be slow times and it will be during the slow sale times that you will need to be creative and innovate with your Art business. It is during these slow times that your after sales service network will help you get through. If you have been diligent in doing your monthly emails and newsletters then your lines of communication to your collectors, friends and supporters will be open and you will be able to offer great specials to stimulate sales. If people are happy receiving your emails then you have permission to offer them great specials but do not hard sell. Be wise during these difficult times and take whatever sales come along and be grateful because it is about maintaining cash flow not getting rich. Cash is oxygen. It is about being creative with price promotions and turning over small items at various price points that keep the cash register running, if it stops you stop. It is those Artists that have saved their money an...

Sometimes at some Art events we may have to deal with some disagreeable people. Maybe they have had a bad day or maybe they are just negative and disagreeable by choice whatever the reason we have to deal with them and usually it is with a crowd in attendance. Arguing and contending with them will not help your Art business as we know there is always someone watching, so we need to smile them off. Artists if we respond with gentleness and friendliness we will find that these are always stronger than argument and anger, no body wins an argument, just one person goes silent. You do not change peoples mind by argument, you just consolidate their position. Kindness and a friendly approach and attitude can make people change their minds more readily than all the anger and criticism in the world. Next time you have to deal with a difficult person at an Art show use the opposite approach to them, try a little drop of honey.

Fear, the “thief” is the real reason painting and creating new Art does not get done. It saddens me how many talented artists play it safe and are afraid and fearful to push themselves and strive to do new exciting work. I know if you are painting something that is very new and different and it has never been seen before that it might not be accepted and the thief does not want this, it wants safe, comfortable and predictable. The thief say, “ Why not stay safe, you are so talented. Why not be comfortable and keep painting, it’s ok don’t change. Wait until tomorrow to start that, then everything will be ready and in place.” Do it now, b e original, be yourself, d are to walk against the thief and live in the scary . Work on paintings that will define you, that set you apart from others, yes it may be scary to do but the joy of accomplishment out weights the risk of being invisible. The scary is risky, but safe is where the crowd is .

Always remember what the hard times were like, never forget, it will motivate you to never to allow that to happen to you again. Be sensitive to others, you are not an island and we all need each other, allow yourself to be touched by the theatre of life, feel it and make it part of you Artistic expression. Be moved by the plight of others, a helping hand and a smile or hug may change the way a person is feeling. Always be ready to listen to those in pain, often no response is necessary, they just needed someone to take time and listen. Use all these emotions and feelings to motivate and inspire yourself to paint life and put all these human emotions into paint on your canvas. You are only at this point in time and space for a moment, capture it and record it in paint for others to see and appreciate, your Art reveals the human condition through your creativity. Record the drama of life through your creative eyes for others to experience.

As Artists we really need to manage our time well because we can never catch up time, make time up, or save time, it is what it is, use it or lose it. Time is finite and we only have so much, if you waste it, it is gone forever and you can not replace it, you cannot buy, borrow or steal more time, what you have, is what you have. Use your time wisely, be the Artist that works harder and smarter than the rest, a good use of your time. Television is designed to waste your time, sell you things, destroy your creativity and keep you constantly in fear and worry, not a good use of your valuable time. The wise way to use your spare time is to read and learn new skills that will benefit your Art career, learning something new is a good use of your precious time. Do not procrastinate if something has to be done, do it, don't put it off until tomorrow because tomorrow will never come, we only live in the now, so you must do it now. Time is the most priceless possession ...

We measure success by the people we touch and the impact we have on them for the better, not by the amount of money we make. We all need to make money as we all need to live, but making money should not be the reason we make Art, we make Art because we love to and also to bring change into peoples lives. If our Art changes a person for the better and bring joy into their life, then we have made a difference in this world. Our responsibility is to be the best Artist and best person that we can be and make our Art count and bring positive change into the lives of people, be the Artist that others admire and look up to as a role model. Let your Art bring change into this world, joy, happiness and a chance for people to appreciate beautiful original Art work. .Art is about people.

Being invisible, you are controlled by fear and do all you can to fit in with the crowd. Being courageous, you are controlled by self belief and determination and you will stand out like a celebrity. So often I have heard in group Art shows, the invisible Artists see that one Artist who is out there mixing and talking with the collectors and strangers and they say,” Who do they think they are, the star of the show? This is a group show and we are all supposed to work together.” In other words, they should be afraid like us. They should be invisible and let the Art speak for itself? No overcome the fear, be courageous and when the fear says, “ Don’t talk to the strangers, they will laugh and criticise you.” Immediately contradict the fear and go up and talk to the strangers like a celebrity Artist would. You might not be a celebrity Artist yet, but better to act like one now than to be invisible. This is not wrong, the reason I know it isn’t wrong is becaus...

When we show our Art we must be ready for many different comments I remember someone saying to me at one of my openings that they did not want to buy my paintings because they were so different and they had never seen anything like that before. I was not offend, I was amazed, because I thought original Art should not be like anyone else’s and I was also happy because I did not want my work to be like the rest of the Art crowd. To many painting look like to many other paintings. I always painted things differently to other Artists because I wanted my paintings to reflect me and be from me, I never wanted to paint like everyone else. I certainly admire a lot of painters, like Picasso, Pollock, Fairweather but I have no interest in being them or painting like them. Be different, discover what makes you the Artist produce your best work. What inspires you? What makes you need to put marks on a canvas? You are on a journey to discover your Artist in you, the Art t...