Thank you for saying all that. This video deserves more attention than it already has. I'm an artist and I've been told I could be one of the great ones out there, but I always treat it like a hobby rather than a lifestyle. I want to make that switch now and these tips are a wonderful jumping off point. Thank you again 💛 If you find yourself in the SC area, I'd love to paint with you!
Great advice! The hardest one for me as a young artist is consistency with my process, especially when one painting doesn’t turn out like I hope and then I feel like questioning everything I do. But like you said, I’m sure experience will help :)
Sarah Asby, part of being an artist is making lots of bad paintings - its part of what you signed up for. Who cares, its just a painting! Simply move onto the next one, that’s what I do. Only about 60-70% of my paintings are keepers. Trust the process. You’ll always make bad paintings, its just part of being a painter.
@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 Amen, sir. I can't upvote that enough. In my case, keepers are more like 35%, but that's up from a few years ago. Part of it is always being cognizant that there's no end to developing, improving, honing one's skill. I stress that to everyone who questions what they do and feel like quitting when they turn out one for the dumper.
John Swaim we all make crapping paintings and we all sometimes get into ruts when nothing comes out right! It’s part of life as an artist and part of the creative process. It’s also the fun part of the challenge - always trying to move forward!
That's sooo helpful. I'm such a critic of my own work that I spend too much time thinking about painting and then not enough time actually doing the art I can see in my head. I need to just jump in there and do a lot of work thoughtfully but daily. Thanks for all you said. It makes perfect sense.
This is TRUTH. I am one who spends weeks/months on a painting because I sculpt on them with gels and molding paste/ crackle paste. Drying takes time! When I do them, I often have two or three in process plus drawing practice and watercolor/ink. Always working and LEARNING. The people who do not want to learn the FUNAMENTALS are not artists at heart, they think they can throw paint on a canvas and sell. My passion is to show others what I SEE by drawing/painting and sculpting. Thank you for your time to teach us. God BLESS you! 🎨🖌
Thank so much for sharing. I just came across you today and now I'm subscribed to your channel and following you on Facebook. For a while I've been fighting with myself head banging against the wall, to become a better artist and business person, I have always wanted to open my own studio, no space at home, and have used it as an excuse to not paint constantly. Now at least 9-11 years that I have not done much art per year and hearing you today makes me realize just how much time I have lost trying to figure out how to do it big as an artist and not actually doing much of it. Great habits you have shared!!! I am looking forward to painting daily starting immediately. Hope I become a very successful artist you know. Glad I came across your channel.
Hello, I found out that time brings out ones style and that not everyone will understand it or appreciate it. But one should stick to that which is a personal signature of ones art style. Like you expressed, that anyone that knows ones work can identify it anywhere it sees it. Thank you for sharing your experience, artist are in a constant learning process.
So much common sense here. Best advice on RU-vid, thank you! I'm one of those artists who does very detailed work, only managing 10 or so works annually. But I've got a good gallery who knows how to market my work, for good prices!
3:10 This part right here is very helpful to me. I have perfectionistic tendencies. I am opening myself up to the freedom to suck. LOL. It will be okay. It's encouraging to know that even professional artists don't make great art every time.
Thanks so much David for this video! I have listened already to a lot of your video's, and I can learn a lot from them! Looking forward to the next one…..thanks again from Holland! (Europe)
James, that’s cool - all artists, no matter who they are, make a lot of bad work that gets thrown out, burned, or painted over. That’s just part of being an artist. You should always be moving forward learning as much as possible about the fundamentals so you can develop a good foundation for your art making. Best wishes moving forward.
I hear that a lot of the most successful artists create consistent work with a common thread. I can't disagree, but I'm curious if they had necessary learning periods of variance and experimentation before they found their style? If that's the case, I wouldn't want to necessarily create a "style" as a near beginner.
You should never think in terms of style. Whatever “style” you may eventually paint within will find you - you don’t find it or search for it. You have to spend years painting and experimenting to find what works for you and is comfortable for you. You have to figure out how to get what’s in your heart out onto the canvas so that your expressions will be yours alone. It will take hundreds of paintings to figure that out. Enjoy the journey and don’t force it.
If you really want to create in a few different styles just sell them under different names. That won’t work if you want to show up in person of course but online sales for example, just adopt an art name or names for selling.
That’s an approach, but no really successful artists do that. The reason is there is no time to do marketing for multiple types of artwork. Unless you have tried this, you have no idea how difficult and time consuming it is. Then you are also not known for a particular type of work. Successful professional artists have the unique ability to focus their efforts on doing one thing and doing it well. Here are some examples: Wolf Kahn, Brian Rutenberg, Monet, Van Gogh, Manet, Vermeer, Franz Kline, Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, etc.
@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 Thanks. Yeah but sticking to one style or look is limiting. For me. Although basically I have a main style. And I’m very familiar with famous artist’s work.
@@angelwings7930 the point I am trying to make is that consistency is the key to a successful art career. It doesn’t mean everything looks the same it means your work is consistent and visibly yours. Every amateur artist says they can’t stick to one thing, just as you have stated. Come back and talk to me 5 years from now.
@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 I happen to KNOW that. You have no idea of my success level or how long I’ve been an artist. You’re assuming I’m a beginner. 😂😂😂. And you’re very threatened by ideas that don’t match yours. It’s absolutely possible to sell different styles. Take a chill pill.
@@angelwings7930 sure its possible - anything is. I’m hardly threatened by you are anyone else. I know hundreds of the best artists in the US. This list was done based on the common denominators of all those artists. There are successful for a reason. I have taught thousands of folks that say the same things you say. I’m giving you the truth. You can have any career you choose, but YOU have to understand (which you never will) that some ways are better than others. You have a great day.
Thanks so much for that! Common sense but not eady to achieve... For me, the hardest thing is to produce a lot of work that doesn't sell, as i don't have a lot of storage room and supplies cost a lot of money... what do you do with the paintings that you are unhappy about or that you like but do not sell? Re-paint over/ give away?
I never give paintings away, because it devalues your work. I work hard making paintings and developing what I do and people have to pay for that. Paintings I don’t like get thrown away or gessoed over. Ones that are good that don’t sell I keep.
I paint over until it’s so messed up I have to toss out. But I’ve tossed out only a few. My process in my tiny space and small amount of money is to create different styles, pop, abstract....until it makes me feel good. My art is not all the same. It depends on my mood.
Hello sir, I'm a beginner in doing commissions.i love using linseed oil,but will take longer drying time. So I use liquin for my oil paintings. How long shall I wait to varnish ?
Hello sir, I'm a beginner in doing commissions. I love using linseed oil as my medium. But longer drying time may not be apt for commission work. So I use liquin. How long shall I wait to varnish?
@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 Alright! No worries. I see you are coming to my area in March, I may be attending! Thanks for all of your inspiring videos.
