Mark E Shellshear.

Sometimes the simplest truths can hold the most potential, and like all truths you have to act on them. “The best best study of life is how it is, not how you want it to be.” So then we must take advantage of how it is. Therefore we must consider the things that we have, the things of life. Here are just a few. We have time, do we take advantage of it? Do we use the time we have to get the best out of each day, or do we squander away time on unnecessary distractions? When we should be painting are we? Are we being our most productive with the time we have to create, be it one hour a day or eight hours a day? Take advantage of the time you have, its yours to use, its how it is. Talent. Are we taking full advantage of this wonderful gift we have been given? Or are we in fear of what others may say, therefore we are not as adventurous as we could be with our talent. Do you just let your creativity have full reign? Do you strive to be the best you can be, to develop your ...

If we really are Artists, then our first desire is to create and do beautiful original art work. Second, we want to give of ourselves and our art work, I find most Artists are very generous. Third, selling can be so difficult, for all the reasons and excuses we can imagine, but we do need to sell? Fourth, we put everything that is us into our art work and we then put it out there in a public place, naked and exposed, fearing that we will be rejected or mocked. Very valid fears, but how courageous of every Artist to do that? Rejection or acceptance, it takes real courage and self belief to put your work on sale in front of strangers. Artist, you are courageous, believe in yourself and sell.

Turn off the noise…… people talking at you about what you should do or not do with your paintings, they are your paintings, paint how you want to, you do not need anyone’s permission. Please paint. Turn off the television……... the destroyer of original thought, creativity and painting time. Turn off the radio……. Endless chatter full of unwanted views and advice. Turn off the music…… Quiet is needed Turn off the internet…. It will still be there later. Please turn off the noise…. All of it is noise and clutter. And get back to the place where Artists need to be… within your own creative self….Quiet. For many people, no noise, quiet, is a difficult place to be, they are not used to it and many are scared of quiet, no noise. At night, I so enjoy my place where I can turn everything off and have silence, to think, reflect and ponder. Asia has taught me that there is a personal solitude that is a very calming and healing place, a place to go to be alone, I enjoy my quiet solitude. ...

Artists try and learn to depersonalise rejection and criticism. We have all been in that situation where we are showing our paintings and some unthinking person comes along and criticises our paintings and it is hurtful. We take it very personally and if we are not careful it can effect us for a long time. What we need to do is not take it so personally. I know it is very easy to say, but had to put into practise. We need to develop coping actions to help us try and depersonalise the negative words. We first of all need to recognise that they are criticising one painting and not us personally. Yes I know our paintings are very personal to us, but we do need to learn to stand apart from them. A wise old Artist once said to me, “Some people like Avocados and some people dislike them intensely and voice their opinion. The man selling the Avocados is not being rejected, the Avocados are.” I know you will say, paintings are different and yes I agree, but the principal is the same. We nee...

I was listening in the taxi to Michael Jackson singing his song, “I am looking at the man in the mirror,” and I thought how profound that song was. How true it is, yet every day we see the man, woman in the mirror but we do not look at them. Looking at ourselves in the mirror is learning to think about ourselves, correctly. Thinking is so very important and yet we so often just allow any thoughts to flow through our head, unchallenged and unhindered . As Artists often the difference between success and failure is the way we think about a situation and what we tell ourselves, and so often its automatic. One person says, “ I knew this would happen and I know I will not sell.” Another person facing the exact same situation says, “ What a great opportunity, I will sell here.” Same situation, but seen through different eyes and different thinking. How you think is everything. We are all the enter of our own universe, so how we talk to ourselves can define the reality that we live ...

The Artist life can be filled with rejection and disappointments, but these are not just reserved for Artists, everybody in all walks of life must experience these negative things. The question we face as Artists is, what are we going to do about it that will make a real difference in our lives, when we are challenged by these negative emotions? It rains on the happy and the sad at the same time. The sun shines on the rich and the poor at the same time. Life is Life, and it happens to us all, how we handle it is the important question? As difficult as it may be sometimes we must respond to setbacks. We must forgive people who hurt us and say unkind things to us. We must, no matter how heavy the rain or how dark the night is, choose to smile and be positive. Always look past the harsh word or insensitive comment and ask what is going on inside that person? What could I do to help that person? I believe we as Artists are on this earth to bring joy and happiness into peo...

Invest in yourself so you are able to build more value into your Art practice. Make sure you do workshops in other disciplines than what you use, it will extend you and cause you to think more about your work practices. Read books on Artists and learn from their life experiences and build those positive lessons you get from them into your practice. Be a good student, take what is good for you only and leave the rest behind . Go to museums and look at the masters learn from them, I remember the first time I saw a Rembrandt in Victorian Art Gallery I wept, I couldn't imagine someone could paint such a beautiful painting, the light, the shadows, by the hand of a master. Always be learning, no matter how old you are. Work hard on yourself, change you and you change your world. Welcome the disciplines, no change without discipline, this is what creates value in your life. Live with intensity, put everything you have into everything you do. Ignore the critics, they will always be...