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". [...]

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

'Poppy Farm' by Romona Youngquist was selected as a Finalist in the April 2012 Raymar Art Painting Competition. [...]

Our esteemed judge, Jesse Powell has completed the judging of the May 2012 BoldBrush painting competition. [...]

I made it clear that the wedding guests could potentially be introduced to his artwork IF the happy couple is willing to include a link to his artist website on the wedding invitation and wedding program. [...]

The purpose of this article is to persuade you on the importance of the potential client getting to spend a few minutes on the phone with the artist. If I owned an art gallery I would ask all of my artists to be willing to help by saying a few words to those interested in their work. On second thought...I do know a few artists I'd have to pass on, they have zero personalities. [...]

'More Than You Can Chew' by Joel Carson Jones was selected as a Finalist in the April 2012 Raymar Art Painting Competition. [...]

Some changes happened with Facebook.com over the weekend ? changes that you may not be aware of. [...]

'Girl with silk headscarf' by Cheng Lian was selected as a Finalist in the April 2012 Raymar Art Painting Competition. [...]

While you may not be comfortable setting up your own blog site, or tweeting, or Linking, or posting and re-posting funny sayings ? YET ? (we've got plenty of fodder for future discussion here) don't let good opportunities pass you by. When you're offered something ? like the ability to pass on updates about your business to a legitimate site ? look into it closely, research the validity, and if it checks out, go for it. The more that you write about yourself and your art, and the more venues you take advantage of to post these writings, the more that your name ? and your art ? is floating around in cyberspace, where a lot of people travel. [...]

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. [...]

'Odalisque' by William Schneider was selected as a Finalist in the April 2012 Raymar Art Painting Competition. [...]

"But what if?I fail?" This is your fear talking. Let me turn it around, "But what if?you succeed?" Is it worth the gamble? Is it worth the sacrifice? Is it worth the discipline? [...]

But this is what I think: The same philosophy that worked when things were good should be the same philosophy you use when times are difficult. I know that flies in the face of most business models, but then again, a lot of businesses go under in bad times. What I mean is that when times were good, I tried to make the best painting I possibly could. When times are hard, I try to make the best painting I possibly can. Doing the old "paint what sells" may sound like reasonable advice, but it is fraught with peril. Trying to figure out what sells in hard times is like trying to shovel steam into a bucket. And if you alter what you do, change your style to chase a trend, you'll stray further and further from what was once successful. I believe you have to stay true to yourself. [...]

I was recently asked what to do if a past art buyer demands a signature from an artist. [...]

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

'Wild Roses' by Glenn Harrington was selected as a Finalist in the April 2012 Raymar Art Painting Competition. [...]

If we apply this advice to making art and to running an art business, we will see that many things can be done to enhance our chances of success while actually building on the dealt hand. Each of us is different. We have different experiences, different understanding, and different intellectual and creative impulses. Depending on our motivation, we can learn new and useful things for improving our artistic skills, our business skills, and our people skills. [...]

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

My first impulse is to tear out those pages. But then I stop, and set the notebook aside, too. I realize that sometimes, in order to go forward, it's necessary to go backwards for awhile. It's good to remember that hard times pass, that most failures are a prelude to a new path, a bright new direction. [...]

Online art competition jurors (and other online art viewers) don't want to be distracted by watermarks when viewing art online. [...]

'Galata Tower, Istanbul' by Ahmet Ogras was selected as Outstanding Pastel in the April 2012 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

And bit by bit I became less and less of an incompetent, to the point that my mother ? who knows nothing about computers ? is actually impressed by what seems to her to be a vast level of expertise. My point? If I can do it, mon ami/e, so can you. I encounter far too many artists who bemoan their ignorance of the computer, lamenting that they "just can't do it." [...]

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. [...]

'Kitchen Shelf' by Patricia Tribastone was selected as Outstanding Pastel in the April 2012 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

You really do only have 2 options. You can have the discipline to pursue your art ? which requires sacrifices, or you can look back years later and wish that you had. You will have regret or disappointment in the dream you never dared pursue. [...]

Some recent questions / discussions from the BrushBuzz Art Forum. [...]

To me, influenced means "inspired by" while not being obsessed with copying or emulating the actual works of this great artistic giant. This is an important distinction. [...]

'unspoken' by Aldo Balding was selected as a Finalist in the April 2012 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

The biggest mistake is to fear failure so much that you do nothing. Remember, the tortoise only makes progress by sticking its neck out. Do the same and make more mistakes. Don't think of them as failures. View them as results, as feedback, opportunities to learn and improve. [...]

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

According to the money experts, we can expect many more months of this weak economy. The Wall Street Journal thinks the economy will become tighter before loosening up. Do what you have to do to keep your chickens in the air until the market comes back. Don't be concerned what others will think. [...]

'Sam' by Robert Stebleton was selected as a Finalist in the April 2012 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

You can do this, but in the same way you do everything, including the artwork you create, you will do it your own way. You probably won't sound like a used car salesman (funny how we think they're all the same, isn't it?), but you will sound like you, communicating with and talking to another person. It won't necessarily be easy, especially starting out, but then nothing is easy when we first start. With practice we improve, and with failure we finesse. [...]

'Green Apple' by Karen Budan was selected as a Finalist in the April 2012 BoldBrush Painting Competition. [...]

Artist Timothy Rees notes that he has always had an affinity for drawing. That natural love for drawing eventually developed into a strong interest in painting realism. [...]

Being a slave to your reference hinders creativity. Slavishly regurgitating what you see is not creating. It does not show me anything more than your ability to copy. I want to see your voice. I want to see your thoughts and ideas. I want to see your creativity. [...]

You don't need reality TV OR a virtual farm -- art is (or should be) your reality. Live it. [...]

Some recent questions / discussions from the BrushBuzz Art Forum. [...]

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