Mark E Shellshear.

We buy things in our head before we purchase them. We build a house in our mind before we construct it. Every great success started out as a dream, a thought in someone’s head, then they made it happen. Unfortunately many people defeat themselves by continually daydreaming about when they are so successful and bring disappointment into their hearts because it never gets past being a day dream and then becomes a defeated dream. So we must plan our success in our minds, then write out how we do it by asking the right questions and then working the plan. I think it is so important to get your dreams and goals down on paper, it makes it real and you can then plan out what you are going to do to accomplish that dream, step by step. Seeing it on the paper, reading it and speaking it out loud and having it locked in your imagination covers all the ways we can use to motivate ourselves and own our dream and to go forward. Writing it out and setting out the steps to achi...

Dreams need action to become reality, just dreaming about it will not make it happen. So the next time you dream about your future success you need to ask yourself a question, “ What steps di d I take to become successful ?” Write down your answers step by step. You need to day dream with your eyes wide open and your journal in front of you, ask the questions and write down your answers, then act on the plan and do it. Dreams can become a reality, it’s doing the work that makes the dream a reality. The miracle is in the work.

One of the most difficult things an Artist has to do is accept the fact that they could be successful, yes very successful. The reason why it is difficult to believe is because we cannot see beyond where we are right now, because of the reality of the now, where I am at this point of time. It is our dreams and visions that allow us to see the future and drive us on, no matter what. Do not let set backs and disappointment stop you from going after your dreams they are just part of life. Hard, yes, difficult, yes, unfair yes, life can be so unfair and things can happen that you have no control over but you have your Art skills and the dreams and desires to build a successful life. Someone once said to me that the Art life was just to hard and they would just give up and I said it was up to them but I would rather give it my total best and never ever give up, than to give up and then regret the rest of my life wondering, what if? Your dreams and visions are so very...

Beware of what you do when something new comes along, you protect the old to your determent. How many old railroad companies went into the new business of airlines? None. They were to busy protecting what they owned doing what had always worked for them in the past, they did not embrace the new technology and own it. Kodak was to busy protecting the old, they didn’t believe it would ever change. The music industry was to busy protecting the old, they didn’t believe it would ever change. Neither exist today, the new came along and destroyed these perfect businesses. As Artists we must grab onto new technology on the internet and apply it into our Art business because that is where the Art business is going. Today like never before every Artist can show their work to millions of people and speak directly to all their buyers and make the sale without ever having to go into a Gallery and get paid instantly through Pay Pal. We live in a wonderful time where Artists...

One of the most important things that you can do is to learn to accept the fact that your collectors and buyers do not see your failings they only see you the Artist and your work. We need also to see ourselves as the Artist and not see all our failings and weaknesses, because if we are wise we will be working on them and overcoming those liabilities and getting better and better every day. Accepting the fact that you are an Artist will make such a big difference the next time you are approached by a collector or buyer. Your attitude about yourself is reflected in how you respond to those who admire your work, do not be to humble and say it is nothing and even joke about it, when someone says that your work is wonderful, say thank you and look them in the eye as you say it and take that as permission to talk to them about your work. You deserve the complements, you work hard and your paintings reflect that, just smile and say, “ Thank you so much, yes I did this, ma...

I have relearned the tough lesson again that with every major setback is the seed to your next opportunity. Do not be so blinded with disappointment over the loss of something that you thought was vital to your Art career that you fail to see the opportunity hidden within that setback. Learn the valuable lessons to be gained through obstacles, set backs, rejection and disappointments because within these are the opportunities to improve your Art business and improve your thinking, the key is to focus on the new opportunities before you, not the loss.

Thinking outside the box is expansive and opens us to new wonderful opportunities in our Art business. Most people have what I call enclosed thinking and that means we want to be safe and predictable. To only venture into areas where we know the results before we start. This is safe yes, but it is mediocre, boring and average. To think outside the box will require you to go out into uncharted waters, to do things you have not done before, where the old rule s you used before do not work here, you have to be prepared to push out onto the edge. This is a scary place, it is where the important and uncomfortable topics need to be addressed about our Art and Art business and the fear is definitely here and will not like going out onto the edge because it is not safe. The question for us who push out onto the edge is, can we push so far out that we will fall off the edge? That will be what the fear will tell you, “ Stop go back, this is unsafe, people will laugh at you when you fail.” But...

An interesting thought is how can we as Artists be instrumental in changing how painting is perceived by ourselves, other Artists and the Art public. We can change how others see paintings through our personal story of our Art journey. We can change how others think about our painting through the stories we tell about our paintings. We can change the story we tell ourselves about our paintings. Just because it has always been done a certain way, does not mean it cannot be changed and improved. We all need to think outside the box as how we can change Art. Be the one to do it differently, show your Art through videos, blogs, social media, Facebook your Art, Art shows, get out into weekend markets, we need to be where the people are and show our Art. We as Artists are the ones who will bring the change, not the Art Galleries and museums or the Art market, Artists will make the change happen as they apply their creative genius to not just creating Art but also by bri...

Think about what you want and keep that thought always at front of your mind. What do you really want? Not what you think others want you to do. Not what you think your love ones want you to do. Not what you think your peers want you to do. So what do you really want? If you had a magic wand and could make a wish and get it, what would you wish for? What would you say you really wanted? Say it, write it down with you ball pen, your magic wand. Will this bring you happiness and fulfil your dreams? If so, then work out a strategy to accomplish that dream and make it a reality. Life is to short to settle for other peoples dreams for your life, you must fulfil your own dreams and ambitions and not be moulded into what others want, time is running out. Dream it, write it down and make it your reality.

Listen carefully to what your customers and true fans are saying, they care about you and your journey. You do not have to do everything they say, but we must hear them, listen and think about what they are saying. Sometimes they will give you little gems of knowledge that will help you get to the next level in your Art career. I am not advocating that you do everything they say but listen and sift out the gems that can help you. These gems could be the next step up on the ladder of your Artistic success. Some of your successful, wealthy collectors have skills and knowledge that will help you, listen attentively and sift through all that is said for the gems of wisdom you need, we are always learning and some of these people understand business better than we ever will. Be wise and learn to be a good listener and comprehend what they are saying and use what will benefit you and your Art business and make your decisions based on your own conclusions. ...

Why not me? Why not now? What am I waiting for? If you want to be a successful famous Artist the first thing you must do is accept the fact that you can be, so why not me? You have the same opportunities to be successful as any other Artist. You might say, “ I have not been given any opportunities, no one has opened any doors for me, no one has discovered me.”…. I did not say that I said you have the same opportunities to be successful as any other Artist. The opportunities are what we make for ourselves. If you are waiting for others to help you, they might not come. If you are waiting for an opportunity to arrive, what if it doesn’t arrive? We must make our own opportunities, find our way, “ If it is to be, then it is up to me.” Find your way, do not ask, is this the way? If you have to ask then many others will be on that road before you, so you have to find your way. You have to tell your Art story. You have to make your videos. You have to write yo...

Anything that is new and difficult and birthed out of your creative you, will bring on the fear/thief and it will do all it can to stop you. It wants you to live in that safe place where there is no fear and you try nothing new, you will be mediocre and average and constantly repeat what you paint but you will not rock your inner boat, you will always be dreaming of a better place and great success, just day dreams, because average is a safe place where a lot of Artists live. Living in the scary is a decision to change your creative world, to walk against the negative inner voice that wants you to only do what is safe and being safe is not the life of the true creative. You can never defeat the thief, that negative inner voice but you can use it to help guide you in your creative journey. A ll your inspired work is just on the other side of scary where you defy the thief and do what is new, exciting and challenging. Don’t settle for average when you can be extraordi...

Self-understanding is freedom, the realization that it is always up to you build your success . Once we comprehend this we will not rely on others to open doors for us or romance ourselves with the myth of the knock on the door to be instantly discovered. Our Art career is our responsibility not someone else, therefore we must apply ourselves to build our Artistic success and know that we are also taking our true fans on this journey with us. Always be open with your true fans, let them into your Art journey and tell them your story and get to know them by building relationships. These are the ones who will buy your Art and support you both financially and emotionally in your Art journey. Never underestimate your true fans they aren't just buying art, they are buying into you as well, they become emotionally involved with you in this journey, it can become quite personal. If you make a promise to them , make sure you keep it and if you can’t be open and hon...

I believe it is much better to live on the Art fringes than to be in the crowd running with everyone else. If you are in the crowd there will be pressure on you to conform to the group and its vision, because this is what people like us do. The unspoken pressure to conform is always present within a group of Artists and if you want to be different, to be innovative, to push the artistic boundaries and to live on the edge, then running with the crowd is not for you. Because you will find that the group will push back intentionally or unintentionally, its just the conforming nature of what a group does, to be the same and stay the same and be afraid of those who are different. Living in the Art fringes, you will need a compass not a map, because you must find your own way, there are no trails to follow, no directions given, it is a journey of discovery and you must find your own new original Art work. Do not conform to group think, be an original thinker and trail blaze you...

The Art I love to see is the n ew, original, different, extraordinary, unloved by the A rt public in general because it is new, original, different and extraordinary art and has not been done before. I see the courage it takes to break out from the crowd and be different, to be prepared to deal with the fear of rejection and isolation . To walk against the establishment , the status quo, the constant repetition of same and to be courageous enough to produce the work that they believe in , knowing full well that it may not be accepted but dismissed without thought and often malice . I admire these brave women and men who so believe in the honesty of their work that they are prepared to be literately outcasts to produce it. There are many isolated Artists out there because they choose to be original thinkers and trailblazers not map followers, they believe in their original Art totally. I admire the dedicated Artist, the true creative soul, who approach es the i...

Remember that all the great Artists also started from the beginning as unknown Artists just like all of us have to. So what do we have to do to build an Art career that is original, different and extraordinary? Stop being mediocre and average trying to fit into the crowd . Stop thinking, “ I hope everyone likes this.” Stop being the ordinary you and start to be the best you that you can be and strive for excellence in your Art. Start to take risks with your painting, be courageous and stop worrying what others will think and say. Start to paint with freedom and without constraint, even if you are really scared while you do this, that’s the exciting part. Stop worrying if its good enough compared to others, because as long as you are doing your Art and giving yourself permission to paint in whatever way you want to, it is your original work. Don’t be sabotaged by what others may say or what they may think, they cannot paint you, only you can do that. Be true ...