Art Links for Artists Who Want to Change the World [...]

Selected Upcoming Exhibits by Informed Collector Artists [...]

What is it that we want out of our art? Do we want a successful career? To provide for our families? To make a bold artistic statement? Is it the simple need to express ourselves? To point out the beautiful creation around us? It is a passionate drive... the reason we are here? Like many of us, it is a combination of all these things and more! [...]

We're migrating from the old fineartviews blog to this one so that everything can all be together on one website. You can read the old blog for now at: http://clintwatson.net [...]

blah [...]

'Journey Home IX' by Keiko Tanabe was selected as a Finalist for Outstanding Watercolor in the December FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

I definitely experienced the phenomenon of being completely taken-over by my art. I literally painted all day every day, dropped out of school, quit many jobs (some after just weeks...or even days in a couple instances), and moved back home with my parents several times. Art was more important than just about anything else. [...]

You can help me out by asking burning questions about marketing your work. I'm not going to try to answer your questions here, but will address the most frequently asked questions in upcoming blogs. [...]

'Reverie' by Jacquelyn Bischak won 3rd Place in the December FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

The blogosphere is all buzzing about the release of Seth Godin's new book, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? I admit that I have not read the book yet, and that I do plan to as soon as I can get a copy since I've always found Seth's work to be enlightening and insightful....Seth has the authority and insight to redefine words in this brave new world, and this time he seems to be redefining the word artist to include just about everyone...If I my insurance broker, my coffee shop waitress, and my mechanic are all now artists, then what do I call you as someone who creates paintings, sculpture, fiber art, or photography? Do I have to go around now, always saying you're a "visual artist?" [...]

Forsythia and Chickadees by Kathy Anderson was awarded Best of Show in the December FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

Don’t neglect your mailing list. Regardless of how large or small that list is, use it. Keep in touch with them. You don’t want to wait so long, that they have forgotten who you are. Treat them special and they won’t forget you. [...]

Compelling, provocative work. A unique sense of color, form and style. [...]

Art Links for Artists Who Want to Change the World [...]

Selected Upcoming Exhibits by Informed Collector Artists [...]

Here’s a good tip for finding your tribe. The next time you find yourself preparing a a major step forward, look to see who’s right there with you [...]

I've been thinking more about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and artists...So I decided to look up some Alexa data on what keywords drive search traffic to several artists I know are successful and selling their art. [...]

'Alert! - Black Bear' by by Marion Rose was selected as a 'FAV 15 Favorite' in the November FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

I am always a little conflicted about how to answer when people ask me about showing in beauty salons, restaurants, and Jiffy-Lubes [...]

Since it is a given that in order to attract a collector clan, I'll need an easily defined, connected body of work with a unique style, why not make that body of work something that I'll never tire of? [...]

'Precious in Sunlight' by Carol Epperson was selected as a Finalist in the November FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

'Jude' by Frank Ordaz was selected as a Finalist in the November FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

What kind of artist are you? Do you tell your viewers everything in such exacting detail that they are bored out of their mind? Are you a story teller? Do you create wonderful narratives in your art? [...]

'Tones of Dusk' by Steve McGinty was selected as a Finalist in the November FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

Art Links for Artists Who Want to Change the World [...]

Selected Upcoming Exhibits by Informed Collector Artists [...]

Last year around the holidays, a good friend sent me a list entitled: "40 tips for a Better Life." As I read over the 40 inspiring tips, I realized with a little tweaking, some of the themes could easily be applied to us artists [...]

'Moments III' by Aldo Balding was selected as a Finalist in the November FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

...it's a cost...The wrong kind of traffic costs you time, money, bandwidth and resources...Think about this: if you set up a toll-free phone number, would you be happy if the phone rang off the hook all day long? Not if the people calling were simply wasting your time (and your money). [...]

Clint recently shared how he accepted artists into his gallery even when their presentation materials were poor - because their artwork was "kick ass". It's absolutely true, great artwork has intrinsic value to collectors [...]

'Double Vision-encaustic mixed media' by Kohlene Hendrickson was selected as a Finalist in the November FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

'Powell Street' by Scott W. Prior was selected as a Finalist in the November FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

There’s a common thread among artists who succeed. They are passionate about what they do and, they don’t want to do anything else. In some cases, they don’t even feel they can do anything else...If you’re passionate about your art, then this message is for you. [...]

I think it is a natural evolution going from the over-confident amateur to the self-doubting artist. But with time the mature professional has learned to balance both. I think both confidence and doubt are healthy for the artist, but balance is the key. What is the formula? I don’t know [...]

'Peaceful' by Darrell Hill was selected as a Finalist in the November FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]

Art Links for Artists Who Want to Change the World [...]

Selected Upcoming Exhibits by Informed Collector Artists [...]

The Echo Chamber tells artists that SEO is extremely important, but I say it's not all that important. The Echo Chamber says that you need to develop a USP, but I say you are already developing a Wordless USP. The Echo Chamber says that having a really professional looking portfolio and image is important, but I say chill out - that's not all that important either. The Echo Chamber goes crazy over Facebook, but I'm not so sure. The Echo Chamber currently loves Twitter, but I questioned that too (and have sort of had to eat crow on that one). The Echo Chamber thinks a gallery must be in a great high-traffic location, but I used to sell tons of art from a location that had zero walk-in traffic. [...]

When we have no other examples to learn from, we believe the right way–the ONLY way–is what we see around us. We look to the people around us to learn “the right way” to do things. That’s perfectly fine, if we are surrounded by excellent examples. But ask yourself: Perfect examples of what? [...]

'Surrender the Frost' by Joshua Cunningham was selected as a Finalist in the November FineArtViews Painting Competition. [...]