Absolutley wise words you speak there. As a wood sculptor just starting my own busyness, i haven´t found advice that feels more like someone is speaking the truth. Especially the part about accepting and even embracing your failure gave me such positive motivation . I notice that i am putting myself under a lot of pressure to NOT make failures and that every step has to be well informed and perfectly planned. But that mindset actually makes me feel stuck because every decision and action could possibly fail. In the last time i was concentrating on finding the trust in myself again, which i think is the key to the issue and really makes me get forward step by step, slowly but steady.
It is 1:32 a.m. in Beaconsfield , Quebec and with your inspiration and words I finally finished a painting that got me stuck for weeks. So thankful ! Merci!
I deeply appreciate all of your tips, advice& expertise. I have been following your art journey for some time. Love all of your art. Thank you very much!!
I’ve been painting for over 20 years and lost inspiration years ago because I can never seem to finish any of them. Until I seen your page and I realized that a lot of them were already finish. Thanks for been fun and not afraid. Also but very much, thanks for being a mental art phycologist.
Wonderful advise, frank and to the point, I love your videos so much, it's like listening to a friend that has your best interest at heart.. wonderful!
I agree with your sentiment, you have to work hard and not sit back. I am in Cornwall where 1 in 5 people is an artist so there is huge, huge competition, most of the art is very bland and predictable and the cost of running a gallery or even putting work into a gallery is cost prohibitive. Because of this, you have to think outside the box and be different to everyone else. Considering I've only been going for six years (the first two was making cards and doing small collages), I have done amazingly well, which is only down to me working at it constantly, everyday, paying out a lot in promotion, setting up an art fair which turned out to be time-wasting, attending markets and fairs and building a studio gallery so I can be based from home. I am now in the midst of having a website built. It is hard work, but enjoyable, which is what keeps me going as an artist because I have confidence in my product. What with the internet and social media which is all free there is no excuse. Love your work and your mindset. Thanks for sharing your tips.
Hey thanks for the videos! And its crazy but this expensive selling gallery in Jacksonville Beach Florida, wants to represent my art with the whole kit and kaboodle. And while looking into all of their past refrences I can find, so far so good. But I'm already in a federal art case, and Im so not tryna keep getting fucked over. Ive always watched your videos tho, and I would love to Thank you!! My biggest tip for anyone, is if someone fucks you over highly. Dont let them win by you quitting your art, these massive failures will make you even more sturdy and firm in your art. Make art from all those emotions, never back down, and fight for your art even if you get death threats, so much hate and discontent. Stay creating and dont stop.
Failure! In younger days I was a potter, specializing on wheel thrown pots. There were occasions when I could see I was losing the pot I was working on - it would start to slump or torque. I learned to accept that this one was a goner, and then I set about trying to save it. I learned a lot about my craft doing that, and I actually did occasionally save the pot! So the point is, failure is a bummer, but you can learn from it if you make the effort.
Whoa Whoa Whoa... Your hat matched the couch and pillows. Also, the advice is priceless and your work is inspiring, but I’m sure everyone else pointed that out already.
I think i found my muse... Your art is breathtaking. It's time to get off of my butt and back to the massive half complete charcoal drawing I have been dragging my feet on for 6 months. You have inspired me...thank you. I can do this.
I agree with you totally....my goal is to be a great artist...I am persisting in spite of my failures....Im never going to give in...great artist is a euphemism...but in my mind I will be
Thank you so much for putting into the internet your experience and wisdom you've gathered for a long time! I have started to paint 10 years ago and at the first 2 years I already sold my first realistic landscape for 4000$ and though: "that's it, I got this", then moved to Germany and no one was buying art. In the meantime I always though about doing real abstract art and how to combine it in my work. Today I am still trying to sell paintings and think about abstract ideas and figure out how and when to bring them to life. It is truly a matter of getting up, do your work with passion, share it with the world and the rest will come. And the part of failure that makes us better artist is the truest and also hardest part to explain. Thank you again for your input!
Just stumbled upon you....brilliant! I’m now going to watch your video during my morning coffee before I slink off into my home studio. I’m in the transition phase of setting up “professional” or rather art dedicated webpage and social media sites - daunting to me. Looking forward to watching your other videos and the new ones to come. Thanks!
Thank you for advice, really enjoy listening to your inner workings. I would really like to find a mentor like yourself (in my own country) and just absorb it all. I think there is something deeper in what you are saying and that is the ability to put things into action, some people like myself find that the hardest step. I am working on my own blocks one step at a time and sometimes it feels insurmountable but listening to you really pushes me along and reminds me that the limits I think I have are ones that I've given myself.
Good morning Swarez, thank you for sharing. Consistency, wow... that's a hard one when my work days are rather long followed by early mornings; creating at the end of my work day is very challenging. But like Frederick Douglass said: no struggle, no progress, and I am definitely on the struggle bus... Thank you, I will try harder!
That's really hard. I hope you can find a way to overcome that. I have had the same struggle. My overwhelming job often spilled over into weekends. And at the end of a long day of sitting and focusing on one thing it was SO hard to even fathom sitting down in the same position to focus on another thing. My situation is improving now, thankfully. Shorter hours and less stress because I gave myself a demotion at work. Smart move even though the job is pretty boring. Who cares....
My next step is to get a bigger working room to finally have my own gallery!! Can you imagine that in Finland the galleries don't just take about 50 % of the selling but you also have to pay the rent (usually for three weeks)!!!
@@traiguen1000 Wow, that´s incredible. I would not like to work with galleries then. Maybe it is better for you to host your own exhibitions? Well, you probably need to rent a room but it should be worth it. I personally always do so and it pays off. Best wishes and greetings to Finland from Austria!
I love your gallery, huge and full of great paintings. And very well displayed. By the years we realize that painting good stuff is not enough thanks for the tips.
Thank you so much for the motivation I just watching your video for the first time I love you work I started paint. Pouring last year I will be trying some of your technics I
Incredible advice! One of the best in RU-vid ! Looking forward to more. The art displayed around you really put what you were saying in context. Thank you.
Very good advises, thank you I was thinking of getting a website but its money and needs a PC, but thank you I think you are right people will look for you and when someone looks for an artist they looking for their website, so better get to it 😅, and yes consistency is a hard one but it is the way. Working on that 😬
As I look at your beautiful paintings, I feel like I'm traveling in another dimension. Just GORGEOUS work! And great advice BTW, especially #7 BE CONSISTENT. Thank you Ed. :) Much Love from a fellow artist in New Mexico USA
Oh, and the "BE CONSISTANT" thing.... it doesn't matter anymore. I go to my studio whenever - at least twice a week. And I do the social media thing, but you can get too wrapped up in that. So I have just gone back to doing my art for ME. Whenever - whatever....and I stay true to myself. You have to isolate yourself now and then. And immerse yourself in listening to your soul....playing on paper, messing up, and just experimenting! And I don't paint for the "Market". I try to MOVE FORWARD from where the market is. To develop into a style that jumps off of that cliff. Bit I have enjoyed this video. Best of sales to you, my friend! Big hug, cat
Hello. I appreciate your videos. And I think your very good at what you do. I appreciate that in the commercial setting you have worked very hard on what you are doing. I think you have a very specific idea of what determines success. For you this appears to be selling work through a website successfully. For that I respect your advice . I'd like to see what you create without the commercial pressure you seem to be putting on your self. But I respect that this appears to be a very important process for you and you seem to be very good at it. Keep up the good work but don't forget to have fun dude.
My friend! Bravo! I have just watched a good 8 or more videos and have filled a page of notes, thank you from the bottom of my heart, you have answered so many questions I have. I am a new up and coming Artist and absolutely loving it! I know I have what it takes and already started selling some canvases. I have many more questions.. like how to finish the canvases, putting resin on then verses other options. So thank you.. I have Subscribed, liked and will be back for more. Can I just say what a pleasure it is to hear someone so CLEAR and honest. Good on you! @SRLART SRL ORIGINAL ARTWORKS on ETSY and FB. I will be building a website now.
Simon Edmondson haha, you noticed? Have to do one take videos as I literally can’t edit to save my life! Have to rehearse a bit beforehand but I am remarkably ill prepared 😆
You are brilliant. I've just discovered you today and am slowly working my way through every one of your videos! So useful and love your personallity, thank you!
Thanks for this advice, I am in the process of developing a web site, but your info on other media is new for me. You are doing artists a great service, you are a generous and thoughtful person. Amazing.
I diversify to the point where I believe I haven't developed a strong identity. I do painted Portraits.. Abstract... .sculptures.... .satisfied customers but without a distinct ,consistent style it is impossible to look at one day becoming 'collectable'. Still chasing my tail !
Yes I know what you mean! I don't think about becoming collectable even though I am told repeatedly that this is important. I think diversity is actually a massive advantage. After all Banksy isn't just a street artist right? What about Dismaland and the ice cream truck or telephone box? Not graffiti is it? I'm gonna keep going with different things because I like it. If others do to then happy days... thanks for the comments, much appreciated
It really gets so overwhelming these days about what all things you need to do that I wonder whether I will be left with any time to do what I started off to do & that is... Paint!!!
It's really commendable that an artist of your scale can find time to respond to each one of the comments too... & btw what a lovely space & what a lovely & massive body of work you have & the way it is displayed is very impressive too.. it also must be a lot of investment to create that body of work. Thanks for all the information & All the best wishes!
@@arteworld You are very welcome and thank you for the feedback. I really try to reach out to as many people as I can who take the time to do the same. :)
I am new to your art work. And have enjoyed your tips. I hope some day my name will make you proud. I’m a nobody right now but I will keep learning and practicing!
I like the term mastermind-group. I'm at the beginning of my journey as a writer, I'm moonlighting still and I expect to stay at that level for at least a few years. I've been thinking about diversifying in the long run by making sculptures based on characters, symbols or objects from my books. What else would be a could way of diversifying for a writer of fiction? Appreciate your videos, keep up the good work!
Thanks you Jelmer - that's kind of you. Love your ideas, that brings the characters to life doesn't it? How about sketches or drawings as prints? Maybe of the characters as you visualise them in the story. I have seen authors and writers extract quotes from their work and put them on all kinds of objects and sold as prints. Cheesy maybe - but a great quote can be very inspiring and entertaining. I will have a proper think about this though.. really like the way you think!
@@SwarezArt Thanks a lot: spot on and I might actually end up doing some of those things...! This really is the day and age to get started for yourself...
Yes I agree just need to find the right person to make a website I tried so many times but I suck at it even the easy ones I don't understand how to use I do have a youtube which I like also FB,IG ,ect.I'm a one women show I don't get any support from my family my husband thinks it's just a hobby,he can't see me making any real money.It's slow going kids husband work just chipping away at it one day at the time.
That's all you can do Natalie - one small step at a time. Website building became the same issue for me so I forced myself to learn how to do it - before platforms like Wix and Squarespace which now make things a lot easier. But for sure it's an uphill task but worth it if you can make the climb. Keep going and keep moving, that's the secret. Wishing you well on your journey... :)
The knowledge and information that you have is really inspiring! Thank you for pushing us even when we don't feel like being pushed! It would be awesome if we collaborated on a painting sometime in the near future!
Thank you so much for your encouraging and inspiring words. I really appreciated this video. I'm always questioning what I'm doing if I'm on the right track. You always have something helpful to put into practice.
@@SwarezArt I'm no re-looking at my website and all my social media to freshen it up and to actually make it reflect me instead of what we get lured into thinking what it should be I.e Gallery & Industry speak etc. Seeing your fantastic website and its reflection of you was such a breath of fresh air, my art is funky, quirky & often unusual but I've made it look so boring because the layout & text doesn't reflect me it reflects what I thought I had to be, it's time to strip it all right back & start again. Cheers Ed, you're a star & PS, Love your work, Tony Welch
Tony Welch so glad you’ve found all the information useful. Really kind to give me your feedback too. Being genuine and authentic is, for me, at the core of who I am and I think that should be reflected in your voice wherever you speak. Good on you Tony. Make it happen!
This might be off topic but you should make a post called Painting 101. Things you have learned about putting things up here. What is the phrase (Treat us as stupid and you wont offend us). Are the number of hits you get and the number of subscribers you get the same thing? What is the difference? Are there rules you need to follow ie. Do not evaluate other artist work (even though I think TV painters are rubbish, you can not get quality in half an hour) and I suppose bad words are out. I am going to be doing what you are right now (next year). This is your competition, but we are all in the same family....You do not need to write back! This is Christmas day! I wonder if Monet and Van Gogh painted on this day? Take care mate.
I see the point of diversification, but I can also see it as somewhat counter-productive if you are trying to establish a voice or a brand. You need to be known for something first, before you can branch out into other things. That was my own problem for too many years, I liked to do everything. When people ask " what do you do?", they don't want 5 different answers, they want one. Hopefully you give them the one they need. So I would say get really good and comfortable with something, establish yourself ( all of that could take years ), then think about diversifying. I do see your points on the other stuff though. The yellow painting at the start, looks a bit "Georgia O'Keefe", if you know what I mean. Or maybe that's just me.
The Easel Rider yes! That’s a superb piece of advice and one we should all listen to. I was nine years in before I considered doing anything other than paint on canvas. Thanks for the comment. Really appreciate that. And yes, I do indeed know what you mean about the yellow painting! Love her work by the way!
Thanks for this and your other videos. They are great advice and also a kick up the a…. I find calculating my prices very hard, as I also work with online galleries, who have their take, it automatically doubles the price. Have you got any advice on calculating? Once again, many thanks Best regards Gary
Yeah - don't use them! 😂 Seriously though, it's a very hard thing to manage and I have no clear answers I'm afraid as I only ever use one price point as I am the only seller. Thanks for your kind words Gary - very much appreciated
Me gustaría leer los subtítulos en español, voy traduciéndose con traductor de Google desde mi teléfono móvil mientras veo tu video por tablet, pero pierdo mucho tiempo , mi inglés no llega para entender bien los subtítulos en inglés, muchas gracias por el entusiasmo que nos trasmites
Thank you only just found your channel, you videos are illuminating and helpful I will probably plod through them all. If I have a question at the moment it's do you ever take off your hat?
Kirsten McIntosh thanks Kirsten. I don’t rate the Saatchi platform. Too much commission and the artists I have spoken to have difficulty getting noticed because of saturation. Tricky to quantify of course but based on my own experience and of others it’s pretty much a waste of time for many genres.
I want to hear that rant on Saachti Art!! It looks like it’d be good!! Any advice for someone without a Mastermind group locally- I have to build my own shipping crates even. I live in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, America. The closest big city is 4 hours away.... businesses here are very limited- I don’t understand these ‘business breakfasts etc’ you mention....??
Although I don't meet up with other businesses these forms of social business gatherings can be very popular. But if you nothing near you then that can be a problem. Not huge though - just one less things to think about. You don't need a mastermind group but you can soon find one from your loyal fans. The more you show up online the more chance you have of attracting those who engage with what you do. Embrace them and let them be a part of your process.
In the beginning stages of developing yourself as a painter, did you give some of your work away for free or donate it to get yourself noticed? If so, did it work?
Thanks Joseph. I gave some away yes but it did nothing I'm afraid. I gave to charities and events as prizes, I blagged radio interviews to promote it and even randomly gave it to anyone who would tweet or post online about it. Sadly I got zero return. So for me it was a waste of time.
@@SwarezArt I have given away 17 paintings! One of them mural sized (15 feet x 10 feet) and absolutely nothing beneficial has come out of it! Perhaps practice time, but I should have definitely kept them! Oh well, live and and learn; I suppose.
