'National Past Time' by Kathleen Newman was selected as Outstanding Pastel in the July BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

If you listen to your watercolour as you paint, it will actually tell you where it wants to go. [...]

THANK YOU! Thanks to everyone who contributed to the conversation about Abstract vs. Representational art. I appreciate everyone’s point of view. The conversation was great. And as promised, this week I will summarize your comments and add mine. [...]

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

I took stock of what I had. I took more stock in what I didn’t. My glass is half full and I want it to overflow. Not so much with the things money can buy, but with the things it can’t. [...]

Don't clutter artist websites with "cleverness" like animation and moving visuals. Keep it simple and visitors will look at your artwork. A proper online presence for every artist begins with a good old-fashioned website. Your art website is your "home base", your "hub." If you branch out into other online tools...great...but individual artist websites are where art collectors begin and end when connecting with artists. As such, make sure that your website utilizes a design that is clean and consistent. [...]

'His Name was Raymond' by Tom Heflin was selected Outstanding Acrylic in the July 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

There are other reasons why performance artists change their names...So I’ll leave this open to you – the visual artist – would YOU change your name? [...]

Risk is painful... trying new things will slow you down and discourage you. You'll have bad painting days. But ultimately, you'll be a better painter. Who has fun following a formula for life? Who has fun looking at one? [...]

'Chicago' by J.M. Brodrick was selected Outstanding Acrylic in the July 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

Want the ultimate SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tip for artists? It's this: make sure that your name is so important, as a visual artist, that Google would be embarrassed not to have your name come up on page one when it's searched for. [...]

'Sun' by Ann Vaillencourt was selected Outstanding Watercolor in the July 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition [...]

Still in Beta, so feel free to ignore for now, we're experimenting with a new service called Canvoo Art News. [...]

To debate is healthy, in my opinion. I think it is good to hear another point of view. But it doesn’t need to be heated. It can be civil. Let’s begin a conversation about it. [...]

We humans must just be wired to experience the "maker's high." In fact, deep down, I suspect that everyone has a creative drive. In some, it may be long-suppressed and dormant. But, if you dig long enough and deep enough - it's there. I seriously don't think I've ever met anyone who had absolutely no creative drive at all. [...]

'Sarah's Diary' by Kevin Beilfuss was awarded 3rd place in the July 2010 BoldBrush Competition. [...]

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

Our esteemed judge, Aaron Westerberg, has completed the judging of the July 2010 BoldBrush painting competition. [...]

"one of the reasons artists in fifteenth century Florence made such great things was that they believed you could make great things. " - Paul Graham [...]

'Lust' by Marcel Franquelin was selected as a Finalist in the June RayMar Fine Art Competition. [...]

When I first started selling my work, I talked and talked and talked. I talked about my techniques. I talked about my inspiration. I talked about my process. I shared everything I could about my art. Sometimes I saw a few glazed eyes, but most people seemed interested. So I kept it up for a few years. [...]

'The Green Hanbok' by Cynthia Feustel was selected as a Finalist in the June RayMar Fine Art Competition. [...]

Art is the fruition of soulful gifts; not a tool or a commodity, it is almost immortal - having meaning beyond everyday life. It is not needed for survival. But none the less, it is treasured. [...]

'Rugged Serenity' by F. Michael Wood was selected as a Finalist in the June RayMar Fine Art Competition. [...]

When it comes to your art, are you making good decisions? Or are you making the best decisions? Or do you even know? [...]

If, to maximize your chances of creating great art you have to pursue inspiration every time it strikes and, if you never know when it's going to strike, then, to produce great work, you will, necessarily have to "blow off" some tasks if you want to take advantage of that inspiration...So you tell me - when inspiration does strike, should you head to the studio and start creating or should you run errands? [...]

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

If art works were the fruits of a tree, exchanging ideas must be the rain falling onto it. Without it, the best art is destined to dry up. One goal of the 100-day initiative was to provide a vehicle through which I met new people, particularly people with new ideas and interests. I can conclusively say that the initiative has reached this goal. [...]

Scenario: Leo Davinci has an artist website at leodavinci.com and wants to start blogging. He is also wants to make sure that he sets up his blog in a way that helps him the most with search engines. In other words, he's concerned about SEO...There are a few options available to Leo for starting a blog [...]

OK, so what is the bottom line? It is very simple – you use emails every day. You've got an audience. Use it to promote what you do. [...]

'Paradise Valley Sundown' by Josh Elliott was selected as a Finalist in the June RayMar Fine Art Competition. [...]

'Sunshine and a breeze' by Tammy Callens was selected as a Finalist in the June RayMar Fine Art Competition. [...]

"Working" on your "SEO", checking your web traffic stats, conversing on Facebook, updating your Twitter status, "stumbling" on StumbleUpon, seeing who commented on your blog, and checking your email may make you feel like you're "marketing" or "working" or being "productive", but be aware that they are addictive ...addictive in the same way that slot machines are addictive. [...]

'Pete' by Emanuel Ghinga was selected as a Finalist in the June RayMar Fine Art Competition. [...]

Your teacher cannot chart your course. The constellations cannot decide where you want to go. The fundamentals of art will only serve as a guide. You, and only you, must decide where you want to go and how to get there. Everything you learn is merely how to problem solve. [...]

'The Working Lady' by Hodges Soileau was selected as a Finalist in the June RayMar Fine Art Competition. [...]

My point is, control your marketing channels. They are your lifeline to your customers. That's one reason that we continually beat the drum of utilizing an email newsletter as your primary marketing channel. [1] That's something you control and can use to connect directly with your customers. Nobody has the power to take that away from you...except you. [...]

Think about this: Somewhere, in this world, there is someone who, if they saw your art, would weep... or laugh... or cry. Canvoo is about providing resources, so you can figure out how to make that moment happen. [...]

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

I have been a professional Portrait Artist for over 25 years and actually I did not think that I needed a Website. As I "surfed" the internet, I began to find out more and more of what is going on (outside of my secluded studio). Then I came to the conclusion that I wanted / needed my own Website! [...]