Of course for those you you who want quit your day job and have a successful fine art career, we highly recommend the following blogs. 1.  ArtBizBlog by Alyson Stanfield 2.  Empty Easel by Dan 3.  Art Business by Alan Bamberger 4.  The Painter's Keys by Robert Genn 5.  Paul Dorrell's Blog by Paul Dorrell 6.  Art Print Issues by Barney Davey 7.  Making a Mark by Katherine Tyrrell Sincerely, Clint Watson Software Craftsman and Art Fanatic PS:  Shameless Self-Promotion - we would, of course, add: 8.  FineArtViews by Clint Watson [...]

It's funny how life seems to bring ideas to us in themes.  This past weekend, I read a book called The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell.  I'll get in to the specifics of the book at a future time, but one of Gladwell's observations is that humans act differently in different situations.  In other words, context matters.  For example, a person who is generally considered "honest" will turn into a liar in the right situation.  He goes on to outline how the New York transportation department cleaned up violent crimes on the subway by targeting graffiti.  The idea was that if [...]

Ooh La La! Yesterday we shared an essay by Robert Genn entitled "Friction-Free Selling."  It's funny, we thought our essay about "Gallery Protectionism" would have been the controversial one...boy were we wrong.  Artists, marketers and collectors have been pounding away at their keyboards to give us a piece of their collective minds regarding "Friction-Free Selling." We've decided to devote today's missive to addressing the opinions that you shared with us yesterday.  However, before we begin, we need to clarify.  "FineArtViews" provides a forum for views about fine art to be shared.  It is not necessary that we agree with everything presented.  It's probably not even productive if we agree with everything.  After [...]

Nigel Spivey, in his insightful book "How Art Made the World," speculates on "peak shift." It's a concept that comes from research into both human and animal behaviour. A neurological principle, peak shift says we need exaggeration to make our lives interesting. Spivey asks, "Is it possible that a primeval instinct explains why humans like to create unrealistic images?"Spivey cites the Venus of Willendorf, a round little female figurine that just happens to be 30,000 years old. Some anthropologists think this broad-beamed and buxom girl is the world's oldest three-dimensional joke. Others think differently. Fashioned by someone in a harsh, ice-age [...]

Robert Genn has a way of "cutting to the chase."  I've often looked at a boring piece of art and wondered "Why was this created?"  With a great work, you never ask "Why?"  You simply say "Wow!"Robert contends each piece should have a "climax."Here are some points he encourages artists to think about:To have climax, you need quietude.To have light, you need dark.To have focus, you need lack of focus.To have delicacy, you need roughness.To have surprises, you need plain facts. To have colour surprises, you need grays.To have activation, you need blandness.To have birth, you need death.For the entire essay [...]

Robert Genn Writes Today, you may read my reply to Mr. Genn at the bottom of his letter:Yesterday, Cherie Hanson of Kelowna, B.C., Canada, wrote, "My work explores several directions at once. For me it is not a linear path, not a clearly designated roundabout with branches shooting off at well defined distances to clearly marked destinations, it is a dance. Consistent work that is the same year to year is what galleries seem to need in order to sell. How do I sell my art and still stay true to my need to experiment and explore? Most artists do not [...]

Today's entry is by guest author Robert Genn.  You can find out more about Robert Genn by follwing the links at the bottom of this entry.The Da Vinci Mode by Robert Genn[Originally sent May 23, 2006] Dear Artist, Leonardo da Vinci's life was a living demo of his "seven virtues." For those artists of life and of art who might plot to develop higher levels of accomplishment and greater self-realization, here are his seven virtues, as I understand them: "Curiosita"--an attitude of curiosity and continuous learning. What, when, where, why, and how? "Dimostrazione"--an ability to learn and to test knowledge by experience. Experimental nature. "Sensazione"--a development [...]