Mark E Shellshear.

As Artists in the market place we must be the best we possibly can be. The best paintings we can produce. The best smile we can have. The best greeting we can make. The best explanation of our Art work we can have. Because I really do believe that to get the best results we must be the best we can possibly be. When we make the decision to be the best we possibly can be it effects all we do, our mannerisms, our attitudes and our own happiness and the happiness of people around us. Positive and enthusiastic people are fun to be around and these people get results. It is so easy to be the friendly Artist at the exhibition opening or Art Fair. It is so easy to just chat to strangers who have come to look at your work, smile and just have a friendly chat. If you want the best results, then just be the best you can be, do not compare you self to others, just be your best self. By being the best you can be now, you are planting seeds into your future and your best harvest will come from it...

You can look to the Art Market to validate your success, but often the market likes what is popular and trendy and ignores what is cutting edge, new and different? Success and satisfaction comes from doing the work itself. Do not compare yourself to others, that is a sad road to follow because you will never see that you are ever good enough. There is no one to compare you to as you are a one of a kind, so let self belief drive you on, create original organic work, be different, be you. Accept praise and ignore criticism and keep away from negative people, they are like the measles and you will get infected. Build positive relationships with other Artists and talk to strangers about your work at every opportunity you get and build relationships with them and turn them into friends and life long collectors. You are the key to your Artistic success, believe in yourself and believe in your Art and never be less than your best.

There is no natural path to success in the Arts anymore, once we had the gatekeepers, the Galleries, curators, competitions and dealers who were all instrumental in picking the winners, but the internet has changed all that and now you can pick yourself. You can pick up the microphone if you want to and promote yourself, no one can stop you. Every Artist can do videos, write a blog, have a pod cast the opportunities to get peoples attention are limitless. We have social media to show our Art and let the world see it and get peoples attention. So start, do not wait for an invitation because it’s not coming, you have to start, pick yourself. Most importantly be passionate about your work and touch people with your passion and stand out from the crowd and be noticed, get attention. Don’t just show good work, there is so much good work on show now good is average, show your very best work always, because best is always better and best gets peoples attention. Don’t just show up, show off...