Recent Links Clint Has Shared on Twitter

You can accomplish what you dream of! :

"Commit to your craft and don't look back. Never give up. Realize that you can live the lifestyle that you dream of. It's within your reach. Remember that you are making a contribution to the world, and it's important." - Maria Brophy
at 2/26/2010 10:15:24 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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It may be tempting to continue to do work you know your collectors will love, but look out for boredom. :

"When your work has achieved a "look," you need to make sure your look has legs. Blessed with an energetic, variable style, the artist can inflict herself on a challenging range of motifs. " - Robert Genn
at 2/26/2010 9:47:53 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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It's exciting starting a new relationship with a gallery, but still pay attention to those details!:

"Make sure you ask the store or gallery for their contract BEFORE sending any work." - Harriete Estel Berman
at 2/25/2010 1:33:18 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Don't wait for someone to "save" your art career - take control of it!:

"You must take charge of your career decisions, whether or not someone else is working with you." - Aletta de Wal
at 2/25/2010 1:19:05 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Stacey Cornelius reminds us that forcing something rarely comes from that state of flow we all crave.:

"Wanting to get it right drives you to do better, but it doesn't matter whether you're trying to learn something or get your message out - pushing too hard drives you crazy." - Stacey Cornelius
at 2/25/2010 9:56:19 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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How well do you understand your customers?:

"When you know who your ideal customer is, you have a strong sense of how they think - what delights them, what bugs them, and what they really, really want. All the marketing books in the world can't replace that kind of understanding." - Stacey Cornelius
at 2/25/2010 9:52:57 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Sometimes our creative urges can be inexplicable, but if you don't follow them, you'll never know where they lead!:

"Do what you must, even if you don't know why at first. It doesn't have to make sense. It just has to move you toward your center." - Ken Roberts
at 2/25/2010 9:34:41 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Don't undervalue what you do and how much it costs to make your art.:

"Many artists neglect to take all their expenses into consideration when pricing their artwork, and therefore, falsely believe that they're making a profit, when in truth, they have not begun to cover the cost associated with running the business. " - Lori Woodward Simons
at 2/24/2010 1:59:49 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Sometimes we forget what our work can mean to others. :

"I think we artists sometimes forget we do something most people think is extraordinary." - Philip Koch
at 2/24/2010 1:50:37 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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As much as harsh criticism hurts, it's important to remember it's just their opinion, and to carry on with your art. :

"No critique, no matter how blistering, can impact your drive unless you let it." - Edward Winkleman
at 2/24/2010 1:27:41 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Stape shares his checklist for ensuring his paintings are of the highest quality. :

"A PAINTING HAS NO REASON TO EXIST OTHER THAN THAT IT BE WELL MADE!" - Stapleton Kearns
at 2/24/2010 1:19:18 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Some really great advice on how to optimize your gallery relationships. :

"The Gallery just wants to sell paintings. You have to persuade the Gallery to sell more of YOURS." - Michelle Basic Hendry
at 2/24/2010 10:20:04 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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It's easy to focus on all the things we haven't done - try to remind yourself of what you have accomplished!:

"No matter where you are in your art journey, you have accomplished something." - Miranda Aschenbrenner
at 2/24/2010 10:03:13 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Instead of bowing down to an unreasonable contract, this artist stood up for what she knew was right.:

"Next time you run into a difficult situation, don't be afraid to take action and be the "maverick." " - Harriete Estel Berman
at 2/24/2010 9:50:52 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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It's scary being an artist, but you can't make decisions from a place of fear.:

"Fear undermines us. It justifies bad behavior. It is the road to the collapse of self-respect. I can't live my life without fear, but I can look at it straight in the eye and refuse to be bullied by my own fear. There are a million reasons in making a decision, but only one lousy one-"I did it because I was scared."" - Quinn McDonald
at 2/23/2010 1:57:05 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Some life advice from artist Sue Smith:

"Trust in your talent and ability to create even in the face of the unknown." - Sue Smith
at 2/23/2010 1:34:17 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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You never know who is going to be the link to the people you need to know. :

"Each person you know and meet has a "lifetime value" in terms of your career that is most certainly not immediately apparent." - Clint Watson
at 2/23/2010 1:23:37 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Your collectors don't care about fancy terms - they just want to know why your art should matter to them. :

"Whether in person, in print, or on-line, beware of slipping into shop talk, academic phrasing or artspeak. Don't get complicated. Keep things simple and direct. Forget the jargon. Eliminate the verbal clutter." - Karen Miranda Augustine
at 2/23/2010 9:42:52 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Constantly striving to be better is vital to being an artist.:

"If you think everything you do is good, you aren't reaching to be better. " - Stapleton Kearns
at 2/23/2010 9:28:02 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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If you take your art seriously, you're more likely to be successful.:

""Acting professionally breeds professionalism." " - Robert Genn
at 2/23/2010 9:13:08 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Sue Smith wants to know how you deal with creative overwhelm.:

"In the blog world, in our local artist communities - there's overwhelm in the information available, telling us how to do everything except maintain balance and create in the face of the unknown. " - Sue Smith
at 2/23/2010 9:03:44 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Make sure you address your marketing to the right audience - your collectors. :

"Put yourself in the shoes of those you MOST want to reach and ask yourself "Are you talking to me?" If you can answer "yes", you are on the right track. " - Keith Bond
at 2/23/2010 8:58:57 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Rest is just as important for effective creativity as hard work and discipline. :

"As Poincare digs into how hundreds of other people got their "Eureka" moments, he finds a common element. Most people stumble upon their breakthrough right after a period of rest." - Ankesh Kothari
at 2/22/2010 1:58:46 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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If you're interested in self publishing a book on your art, here's some great advice to consider first. :

"A published collection of an artist's work can be a powerful marketing tool. But only when the publishing process is carefully planned well ahead of the actual design and printing." - Ralph James
at 2/22/2010 1:27:13 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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If you resent your own prices, you need to put them up. :

"You've earned your stripes selling art over the years, and you're tired of hearing how "affordable" the work is. It turns your stomach to sell your art so cheaply. When you no longer enjoy making or selling art, it's time to make changes." - Alyson Stanfield
at 2/22/2010 1:15:44 PM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Do you work with a sense of purpose? Do you have strategies and plans in your marketing?:

"You set your intention, you maintain your purpose, you follow through. People notice. You build your brand." - Stacey Cornelius
at 2/22/2010 10:13:26 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Our fears can yell pretty loud sometimes, but it doesn't mean they're accurate. :

"Your most vivid fears...are almost certainly not the most important ones. " - Seth Godin
at 2/22/2010 10:00:50 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Learning when to stop working on a painting is vital. :

"You can continue to work on a painting as long as you can continue to make good decisions about what to do to it." - Stapleton Kearns
at 2/22/2010 9:52:44 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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Enthusiasm is contagious - make sure you share your enthusiasm for your art with people!:

"Are you having fun? Is your delight in art evident to others, or are you caught whining and complaining too often?" - Alyson Stanfield
at 2/22/2010 9:39:19 AM

Submitted By Sarah Lacy
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