What do art writers want? I'll tell you. We want information. Repeat: We. Want. Information. (Art collectors want information as well!). You, the artist, can provide this information easily. After all, YOU know your art better than anyone else. YOU know what drives you. YOU know the context in which you create your art. YOU know if you embrace specific art theories. YOU know the parameters of your art practice. YOU know what you would like us to write about. Tell us about it! Guide us. Anything less is a 'guessing game'... which can lead to missed opportunities. [...]

I know the experts will say you should find a niche, a technique, a subject, a look, and then you can be a success. Galleries often only want in your painting what you had brought them before. I know it may make good business sense, maybe, but does it make good artistic sense? I guess each artist will have to make that judgment for themselves. [...]

We all have a personal definition for what art is. I, for one, feel that art is anything made with art in mind. I feel that the intention of creating art should be present during the creation of the piece. In other words, something is art if the creator of the piece intended it to be art from the get-go. I know that some readers will agree with my position -- while others will challenge it. These are arguments that are recycled year after year, decade after decade, century after century... it will continue. [...]

When you look at a work of art, you've got about three options 1. you like it 2. you don't like it 3. you are completely ambivalent, which for all effects and purposes is just the same as #2 [...]

If you 'run away' from your art practice during tough times... reflect on the reason why. Take a deep look. Write your thoughts down. After doing so -- decide how to improve upon those weaknesses. Find ways to alleviate the struggle you feel when faced with specific art world related situations. You may not be able to eliminate every angle of doubt ... that said, you may -- by means of self-reflection -- be able to bolster some inner grit. A little grit can go a long way (just ask Jack White). [...]

I would suggest that the current direction in graffiti art -- at least the institutionally critiqued version -- can be described as a selfish act. It is a thirst for fame and fortune, rather than a tool for facilitating real change... it is a market ploy rather than a tool for exposing social struggles -- a chunk of culture reduced to a mere gimmick. I refuse to defend that. I won't. [...]

The artist can't take a cookie-cutter approach to developing a 'thick skin'... the artist must take a strong look at his or her personality traits -- and 'build' from there. Needless to say, self-reflection is a must if the artist desires to develop a thick skin. [...]

The exploration of video games as an art form has been a buzzed about topic in recent years. [...]

Consider this a call for a discussion about apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic themes in current art. These directions are clearly on the rise... and the familiar 'Good vs. Evil' interpretations of the past don't necessarily apply today. [...]

If you demand the censorship of what you consider 'unacceptable' today... you leave yourself open for views / opinions that you cherish ending up deemed 'unacceptable' tomorrow. [...]

Artist Helen Minkes is known for exploring abstraction as a painter and photographer. [...]

As individuals, we learn just as much from seeing someone else's work being critiqued, as we do from critique of our own work. In a group environment, it's like receiving numerous 'little lessons' for the price of one, so to speak. Our minds register all these little nuggets of information for future use, even if we're not aware of it happening. As a result, every member of the group ends up growing as artists. [...]

We can spend our whole lives hating the state of art in America, modern art, represenational art, galleries, and everything else we deem problematic in the art world. But does this help anyone? Are our opinions on these matters greater than teaching others about our world and how we create our art? [...]

Is it unethical for an artist (or art gallery) to profit from tragedy? Let me know what you think. [...]

Artist Eric Bowman is known for exploring the human form in his paintings. His exploration of the figure is deeply rooted in his love of jazz music. [...]

Artist Susan Feller focuses primarily on mixed media, encaustics, and digital collage. Concerning her artwork, Feller has stated, "I often incorporate digital imagery and photography with painting, finding ways to combine or multi-layer these in collage and assemblage or with encaustics (painting with wax)." She has described her current artwork as "visual explorations". [...]

Artist Ron Bigony is known for creating scenes that are full of mood. Working primarily with watercolors and oils, Bigony captures the mysterious quality of what may otherwise be viewed as a typical landscape or cityscape scene. [...]

Award-winning artist Linda Benton McCloskey states that she is influenced by the impulsive approach of the abstract expressionists. [...]

Carrie Waller is an award-winning watercolor artist. Waller has stated that she is on a quest to add beauty into the world by means of painting visually stunning works of art. [...]

Artist Ken Steinkamp has established a reputation for creating powerful works of abstract art that he describes as an exploration of his inner-self. [...]

This focus on increased art exhibit size has spurred acceptance of mediocrity in art. [...]

Artist Jenny Fuller focuses on landscape, still life, and abstract oil paintings. [...]

The release of Thomas Kinkade's autopsy has re-fueled mainstream art world bashing of the late artist. [...]

Independent art writing has grown steadily over the last decade. Independent art writers -- by utilizing blogs and social media -- have widened the scope of art criticism and appreciation. [...]

The art competition known as ArtPrize was ridiculed by the mainstream art world from the get-go. Trust me on this -- I was an early supporter. Almost every art writer I know of -- specifically in NY circles -- knocked it at first. [...]

This article points to recent questions asked on the BrushBuzz Art Forum. [...]

This is what I want to stress: if we are to criticize the late Thomas Kinkade for creating "comfortable art" -- we should criticize 99% of the artwork hailed by the high profile (mainstream) aspects of the gallery world, art market, and museum world. I suggest that because most of that art is just as 'comfortable' in its own way -- at least to the audience frequenting those exhibits. [...]

You can spot a David Leffel or Richard Schmid clone when you see their first painting. It’s interesting to thumb through art magazines and see artists copying these and other masters. Copy is all they will ever do, because they will never reach the level of their master. I don’t blame the teachers for being so powerful; it’s the fault of the student not to seek their own level. No matter how well you paint David’s style you will always remain a copy. Your voice will belong to your teacher. Those who stand out have their own original voice. [...]

The death of artist Thomas Kinkade has triggered a 'barrage of arrows' from specific circles of the mainstream art world. Notable art critics, ranging from Jerry Saltz to Paddy Johnson, have taken it upon themselves to offer one last 'jab' while, as the saying goes, the corpse is still warm. [...]

The challenges proposed by art critic Jerry Saltz, challenges that he fails to stand by when people DO accept them, are starting to chip away at his credibility. [...]

Shepard Fairey has damaged his legacy -- there is no denying that. That is something he will have to live with (and something other artists should learn from). [...]

The dark night of the soul is inevitable, at some point, in our artistic lives. It is born of frustration, the inability to do the sort of work we want to do and not being the artists we want to be. Primarily, I believe, it is profound self-doubt. Self-doubt is not a bad thing. [...]

How can you receive 'honest' constructive criticism for your art? Below are a few suggestions: [...]

The fact that close friends may not be 100% honest about your artwork may be hard to accept(unless you are pranking them). [...]

Artist Lorette C. Luzajic, writing for Canada Free Press, recently offered criticism of art-focused Occupy Wall Street splinter movements -- such as Occupy Art World (OAW) and Occupy Museums (OM). [...]

Jerry Saltz implied that an entire generation of artists have failed to expand on the conversation of art. I think the same could be said of art critics in my generation. [...]

The merit of the art itself is of little significance to these 'professionals' once the artwork is drenched in a sea of cash... welcome to the doldrums of the mainstream art world. [...]

As observer, I might question whether the artist was successful in his attempt – not so much in capturing the scene, for I have not actually seen that – but has the artist given me something interesting and affecting to observe. Am I moved by the painting as I observe it as the artist was probably moved by the scene as he painted it? It is the painting, not the scene, that is the point of connection. [...]

If you have a unique amazing idea is it better to ask others for input or just take the idea and go for it? [...]

There is a 'world' of art in the United States that has went under the mainstream radar simply because most professionals within the mainstream gallery and museum 'world' fail to really 'look' for art today. [...]