'Kestrels' by Laura Buss was selected as a Finalist in the November 2010 RayMar Art's Fine Art Competition. [...]

For your art to truly soar ? and to enjoy the elation that comes with creating ? you must work hard for your worms. Do not trade your feathers away. It will only hurt you in the end. [...]

SCOPE Art Show is one of the most notable of the mainstream global contemporary art fairs. SCOPE Art Show holds annual fairs in New York, East Hampton, London, Miami, and Basel. Total sales at SCOPE fairs have reached well over $100 million since the fairs creation nearly a decade ago. Mollie White, the current Show Director for SCOPE, offered her time and experience to FineArtviews in order to answer key questions about SCOPE, how the internet is impacting the art world, and advice for artists. [...]

The act of painting may take place in solitary in the studio, but eventually the result will go out into the world. Building support is necessary to get it there. [...]

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

I need a constant source for images of varied subjects. Sometimes I can take these photographs myself, especially nowadays that my smart phone has a decent size built-in camera, available at any time. But in many cases, I just don't have the right picture for what I need to paint. Whether it's exotic animals, plants from different continents, or buildings found in far off countries, there is no limit to subject matter that is just not right at our fingertips, yet we can still feed our creative juices. [...]

'Spring Run Off' by Bob Beck was awarded Best of Show in the November 2010 RayMar Art's Fine Art Competition. [...]

No matter how good you are at what you do, you can always get better. [...]

Two award winners by Marc Hanson in the November 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition; Dinghies and Winter Harmony. [...]

Our esteemed judge, Bryce Cameron Liston, has completed the judging of the December 2010 BoldBrush painting competition. [...]

'Still Life With Oval Tray' by Pat Kelly was selected as a Finalist in the November 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

There are many alternative ways to connect with your clients and potential clients ? especially with the advent of the internet. But there could be place for old fashioned advertising, if you want. It does have its pros and cons. [...]

'La serveuse à café Florida' was selected as a Finalist in the November 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

Most artists will never receive the spotlight they deserve-- but an artist can easily leave his or her own mark within the global art community, so to speak. Leave fame and fortune up to chance-- focus on creating art and gaining exposure for your art today. Take as many steps as you need to realize that you can truly be a successful artist beyond the bar that has been placed above you. [...]

Instruction is nice and will get you down the road faster than trying to "invent the wheel" by yourself, but in the end you must put brush to canvas. There is, and never will be, any substitute. [...]

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

Ask your true collectors to step up to the plate and commit to you. The worst they can say is ?no'. [...]

'Passage' and 'Surface Dance' by Sarah Yeoman were selected as award winners in the November 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

The ways in which art is marketed are rapidly changing. Ten years ago, I wrote a chapter on artist websites for Calvin Goodman, author of The Art Marketing Handbook for the 21st Century. Calvin has been a consultant to galleries and artists for over 40 years, but he didn't have the desire or knowledge to get involved in counseling artists about web design, so he asked me to author that chapter for his book. Ironically, I interviewed a guy who was co-owner of a gallery and had just created some websites for artists. That guy was Clint Watson. [...]

'On a Rainy Day' by Kathy McDonnell was selected as Finalist - Outstanding Pastel in the November 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

'5th Ave from Washington Square Park' by Iain Stewart was selected as Finalist - Outstanding Watercolor in the November 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

Don't neglect the power of the quiet. Don't neglect the power of reflection. Don't miss out on the opportunity to find those deeper thoughts, feelings, and emotions which are too often suppressed by the bombardment of outside noise. [...]

'Morning at Gangaghat' by Prafull Sawant was selected as Finalist - Outstanding Watercolor in the November 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

An art dealer once told me, "No art sells itself." And he's right, but that doesn't mean you hawk it like timeshares or used cars. Perhaps the most important key to "selling" art is giving people reasons to care. With all the other stuff out there for people to care about, why should they care about your art? Why do you care about your art? That's a great place to start. [...]

What makes art good? It's the conscious act of boldly putting brush to canvas. It's those unintended "mistakes" that turn out to be game changers that send your piece in a whole new exciting direction. It's never being afraid to experiment. It's accepting failure as nothing more than an opportunity to create something you never thought you could create. It's speaking to masses in your own unique way. It's never stopping until your creation is everything you envisioned it to be. [...]

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

Have you ever crossed that line and created a Call for Artists for an art exhibition? Tell us your experience and what you learned from it as an artist. Any things to be careful about? Nightmarish experiences are welcome too! We can all learn from bad experiences and know what not to do [...]

'The Least of These' by Joshua Clare was awarded Best of Show in the November 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

Hanging on a famous artist's coattails will not do anything for your art career because, It's not Who You Know, It's What You Know - and how you put that knowledge to use. [...]

Though it may not be intentional, it is imperative we artists be aware of our tendency to get caught up in the distractions of the moment and forget to listen. As we develop our artistry, we also must develop our ability to listen; to drop everything and concentrate on something other than our own brain on its never-ending creative binge. [...]

'Grand View' and 'Last Light' by George Handrahan were selected as Finalists in October and November 2010 RayMar Art's Fine Art Competition. [...]

What do you do when you have artist's block? What do you do when you just can't seem to get yourself going? I'm sure each of you experiences this from time to time. Or am I alone here? [...]

'Frasca Kitchen' by Robert Spooner was selected as a Finalist in the October 2010 RayMar Art's Fine Art Competition. [...]

Good business practice is based in solid reality. Leave the fantasies to the worlds you create in your studio-- and take a very ?real world' seriousness in how you conduct the business of your art outside of it. [...]

The Least of These by Joshua Clare was selected Best of Show in the November 2010 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

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

If it were only about the money, then perhaps the path would be easier, straighter, and more clear. And money is important, no doubt about that. But for me, it never has been 'just about the money'. [...]

Hush of Winter by Kimberly Casebeer was selected as a Finalist in the October 2010 RayMar Art's Fine Art Competition. [...]

When critiquing your own work, take your feelings out of the process, because feelings aren't always accurate and change from day to day. [...]

Black Beret by Dan Beck was selected as a Finalist in the October 2010 RayMar Art's Fine Art Competition. [...]