This article is by Clint Watson,  former art gallery owner/director/salesperson and founder of FineArtViews. You should follow Clint on Twitter here.

We understand that artists must create. There simply is no option. It is in their DNA. That's because the Creator really gives artists two gifts - the talent and a burning desire to create.  If you're an artist, you know what I'm talking about.  

But what happens after the act of creation? What do you do after the paint dries?

On a surface level, if you want to keep creating, you must sell your art and "make a living."  But, contrary to the "staving artist" myth - that part is really not all that complicated. Is "marketing" a lot of work?  Yes.  But the actual things you do are pretty simple. 

Canvoo is about "marketing", certainly, but it's more about a deeper level:

Before I started Canvoo, I owned an art gallery.  I vividly remember watching people stand in front of paintings and weep... or laugh.. or cry. Art is that powerful.  Art is much more powerful than most artists themselves even realize.  People love art, and they want to live with art. Sharing art is sharing love, it is sharing life.  That's what we believe. 

What is Canvoo?  Canvoo is a place for artists. It's a place for people who love art. It's a movement. It's the 21st century equivalent of an artist's guild, atelier, juried exhibition, marketing workshop and more rolled into one. It's a place where discussions can thrive and where artists can get no-bullshit answers. We currently feature an art marketing newsletter, an art website builder, a monthly online art competition, a forum where artists connect with each other and with art-lovers, and a daily compilation of the best art-related "stuff" we find on the Internet. 

But more than that, Canvoo is a group. A better question than "What is Canvoo?" is "Who is Canvoo?"  Canvoo is a band of artists who realize they are blessed with a gift.  Artists who aren't afraid to be successful while sharing that gift.  We're looking for artists who are willing to say, "Yeah. This marketing stuff isn't all that difficult.  My art is a gift to me from God AND it's my gift to you, the world.  So I'm going to share it."  

Canvoo is really about anything that convinces artists how special their gift is. And that with that special gift comes a responsibility. If you're an artist, you're not only "making a living", but you have a responsibility to share your art with the world.  A responsibility to market your art and sell your work - your art work will change the world.

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. 

After all, that's what you were put here to do.