Mark E Shellshear.

“ I can’t sell my Art. I have tried and tried but I just cannot find anyone who wants to buy it?” Now you can see this sort of statement often in Artists groups and it is said in different ways but basically it’s the same question, “ Why doesn’t my Art sell?” Of course I could offer lots of reasons, but basically no one knows you and if you are unknown, then you are unknown. When I offer advise about having to get out and get known and sell, then I am told Artists are shy and introverted and they say that is what Galleries and dealers are for. But my question is, what if Galleries and dealers don’t want to sell your Art, because you are unknown? You must get known, face and name recognition so make videos, they work. Learn to sell and learn public speaking and read self help books.. This is your career and no one is coming to rescue you or discovery you. The thing about self help is, it only works when you help yourself. .

Producing work is more important than being busy. It is so easy to get caught up in the urgent and become super busy but the important stuff, your priorities, the work that must get done is left undone. If you are super busy but produce very few paintings and art works considering the time you are working, then you are too busy. Yes, too busy, get rid of some of the your busyness. An Artist should prioritise these things. Of course completing your paintings and your Art work, that is your main work. Combined with selling and exhibiting, marketing and keeping in contact with your clients and lastly personal development and learning new skills. If you can keep busy doing those things then your Art practise will prosper.

Do you think if I asked Henry Ford about one of his cars he would have just looked at me and said, “ It’s a car.” No, he would have taken the opportunity to tell me everything he could about his car. He knew his product and he wanted to share that knowledge and his enthusiasm for his product. Know about your product, your Art work. What did you call it? Why did you call it that? Is there some deep meaning behind it? Why those colours? What influenced you to paint this? You also have a story that you can tell those interested in your work, why you painted it and what it means to you. You want your customer to get emotionally involved and love your painting as much as you do.

  Some customers you do not need, if they do not see the value in your work and want it discounted, just smile and say, “no” knowing it’s not for them. I have watched Artists who are so desperate that they discount their work only to regret it later, this business is hard enough without working against yourself. Give good value to your customers and they will support you. So always be leaving the sale, that is my attitude, I refuse to be desperate for the sale, I refuse to argue or defend my decision, I will tell the story of the piece and then ask them questions and if all they want is discounts, then end the transaction and leave, the seller can leave the sale just like the customer can. Life has taught me that there will always be another day and another sale, so be gentle on yourself some customers, you don’t need. .

We do not paint it for the critics and fault finders, it’s not for them. We paint for those who love and care about your work and the change it makes in their lives. We waste to much emotional energy on the critics and fault finders and what others think and say about us, when really we should just ignore them all and put all our energy into those who care about us and love our work and are inspired by it. Your paintings matter, paint for those you are leading up the mountain, not for those who are trying very hard to pull you down and keep you in the dark valley. Selling is about making a difference and impacting on the lives of others and helping them to be better, because you and your paintings matter.  

  It is so difficult for many practising Artists to make changes. They can be inspired one day to make both personal changes and Art practice change, but very quickly they fall back into the old ways because those ways are comfortable and safe. It can be a very uncomfortable feeling when we decide to do something new and challenging that takes us out of our comfort zone into a new place where the thief is going crazy to get us to stop and everything feels like we will make a fool of ourselves and fail. Change can be hard, because we have to break old habit patterns and that takes self discipline. Self discipline to keep doing what is difficult, new and challenging, even if the thief is trying so hard to stop you, deny it and do what is best for you. Walk against the thief, embrace difficulty because you will master it if you do not give up, it takes time for new habits to form. All the good stuff in your Art career happens when you are outside your comfort zone livin...

  Fear says that people will laugh at you if you are going to do something, you say, I will do it and see if they laugh? Fear says do it tomorrow, then you say, I will do it now. Make a list of all the things that you have been putting off doing in your Art practice from the easiest to complete, to the hardest to complete. Why? As you complete the easiest tasks and tick them off, so your confidence will grow and you will see that you can over rule the fear and you will be motivated to complete all the tasks on your list. Taking action bolsters your self belief and the belief in your ability to succeed and shows you that you can use the fear and not be immobilised by it. Excuses are very revealing. The next time you hear yourself making an excuse, ask yourself why am I doing this? The answer you get may be quite telling and will prompt you into action. Once you have done what fear is trying to stop you from doing, it will get easier and easier each time you do it....