An Artists Prayer

1. Love what you do

2. Be patient

3. Do not tolerate disorder. Inspiration finds it difficult to present itself when there is chaos.

4. Don’t question your talent, just use it. Focus on how, and forget about why.

5. Always remember the best way around fear is going straight through it

6. Never make excuses. Nobody is responsible for your life but you.

7. Never wait for the perfect opportunity.

The path you walk will always be uneven. Learn how to step over the cracks, deal will the setbacks and learn to asses how to make the most of your time and energy in order to keep moving forward.

8. Know that as an artist, you are prone to self-sabotage. Don’t deny it, because if you do you can never be prepared to confront it.

Know that there is no greater force that will try to “remove you” from your craft than that little inner voice of defiance. Know that it is there, accept some of the crap it will try to get you to believe, but carry on doing your work regardless. Time, persistence and accepting that each day is a going to be different is what will keep you winning the fight against self sabotage and that little inner voice of defiance.

9. Don’t work for applause. Be of service to your craft.

10. Know that you are not your art.

Avoid identifying yourself through the paintbrush. Society, history, family and love have given you the privilege to be an artist. If you believe you are your art, you’ll dilly dally around in your own mind instead of mastering your technique. Master your technique, use the privilege you have been given, so when inspiration hits, you will always be ready to create that masterpiece(wink).

11. Don’t be too proud to seek help. Know that you cannot do it all on your own. Ask for assistance. We all need a lawyer, accountant and a coach.

12. Accept that the art industry is a breeding ground for criticism. Critics know that it hurts you when they are critical. Criticism is the weak man’s way of tyring to get you to be obedient. He knows full well that criticism doesn’t just hurt you psychologically; it hurts you on a cellular level also. Remove the emotion and look at your art objectively. Do that and you’ll be able to watch the critics tear your work to pieces while you sit back and have a laugh.

13. Know that your career as an artist and many days five, ten, fifteen years from now will throw challenges at you. Be aware of this and it will save you from being overcome by humiliation and defeat. Be aware of it so your inner voice of defiance (self-sabotage) does not wallow in it like a pig in a sty when challenges do arise. Keep your mind on what is good. Be grateful you get to use your craft and be the performer, regardless if you have to dodge a few tomatoes from the audience from time to time.

14. Acknowledge and appreciate other artists, creators and people serving your industry.

Power to you and your art!

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Tips On How To Be Awesome (wink)

Attitude is the single biggest attribute you must attain in order to be regarded as awesome.

Your interpretation as to what is going on is FAR more significant than what is actually going on. Think like that you’ll considered to be quite awesome.

Establish your OWN way of doing your thing. This is how you separate yourself from the herd.

Never avoid doing something for fear of what other people will think. Do not be unarmed by presumption. In other words, tell yourself (not them) “I don’t give a s___ what you think, I’m going to do it anyway!”

Never take criticism personally. Lose the emotional attachment to your art. Go pro and look at your work from an objective point of view. That’s business, not emotion. Create with emotion, but ditch it as soon as your work gets to the auction house.

Know you are outstanding, but always share your wisdom and never claim it as your own. The person who claims to know it all is a fool. The person who claims to know it all AND be the innovator of his wisdom is not a just a fool, but should be avoided at all costs.

ALWAYS remember that you cannot be awesome on your own. You need other people around you who are also awesome.

BE REAL and you’ll attain real friends, business associates and collectors.

Be accommodating.

Don’t take yourself too seriously. I can assure you there are people out there who already do. They don’t need any more company (wink).

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Your aweseome!

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Don’t Get Too Personal

I was having coffee with a good friend of mine a few days ago. It’s because I’m an artist that he always brings up how he “saw some great paintings the other day”.

I appreciate his commentary when it comes to art, particularly because he is not an artist himself. But he knows what he likes (aint that all that matters? Gosh yeah).

Anyway, my friend went on to mention how he saw 5 or 6 paintings hanging in a local café recently. He explained how these paintings did not appeal to him at all.

“There was just something about them that really made me feel very disassociated with the work. I couldn’t relate to them”.

“Too personal perhaps,” I interjected.

He then looked at me with that frown  – the one where smalls rolls of skin cram together like miniature silkworms on the top of his nose and in between his eyes – and nodded his head, “That’s it mate. That’s why I didn’t dig them at all. They were too personal”.

I then raised my eyebrows, nodded my head and raised my bottom lip over my top lip, as if to indicate that my suggestion was just a lucky guess… so I wouldn’t come across as a “cocky know it all” guru type of dude.

The first time I ever signed up to exhibit my work the organiser spent twenty minutes explaining all the rules and regulations. But before she finished she said, “Oh and Carl, don’t bring your personal art. Nobody gives a shit. Bring your stuff that will match their sofa’s”.

Some artists may have taken what she told me that day as an insult. Not only did I think it was quite funny, I really appreciated her honesty.

I followed her advice and it paid off quite well.

I don’t really subscribe to the idea of producing art to match the sofa, but I don’t disagree with it either because after all – all art is essentially decorative.

But from a marketing point of view, my exhibit organiser’s advice was helpful because it immediately shifted my mindset from living inside my own art to realising that I had to open it up to the public.

In other words I knew that in order to build some foundation as a local artist, I had to come up with some pieces that appealed to majority. I did this not to conform, but to be able to communicate.

I found that folk were more receptive to my more personal pieces after a conversation with me. But what got a lot of them into my stall for a conversation in the first place was due to a piece that caught their eye.

There is nothing wrong with catering to the public now and then. Pablo Picasso used to paint portraits. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin guitarist) use to do jingles for radio ads.

Not only did catering to what the public wanted help me with selling my paintings, the biggest benefit was what it did for my confidence.

So if you are about to exhibit your work for the first time, consider throwing a couple of pieces into the mix that will cater to the public on a “Oh that’s great, I gotta have it” level – and create a bit of instant cash-flow for you.

In other words, don’t get too personal to begin with.

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A Little More Conversation

When I first started exhibiting my work, I didn’t really interact much. I didn’t completely engage myself in any real conversation with my prospective buyer.

Admittedly, I was a little preoccupied with making sure that I was organised. In other words, I was a little over anxious. A little nervous I guess.

So I was a preoccupied with…“does my stall look okay? Oh shit, I didn’t sign that painting properly! Oh no, I really shouldn’t have had that last coffee, as now I have no-one to relieve me while I go to the loo…”

But after a couple of showings I quickly loosened up and engaged in some great conversations. I remembered someone said to me long ago that people are not nearly as interested in you as they are interested in themselves.

So I simply put that piece of advice to good use and sold a bunch of paintings as a result.

Off course there were plenty of people I had conversations with that didn’t end up purchasing any of my work. But it was interesting to note that quite a few contacted me weeks, even months later about buying my art or wanting something commissioned for their home.

People will buy your art because they like what they see. But in some cases, if you are not receptive – as I wasn’t when I first started because I was futzing about and getting distracted – then it’s unlikely they will approach you to express interest in purchasing your work.

After I settled into the whole art of selling your art, I began approaching people with an emphasis on who they were, rather than the typical “Hey let’s talk about my painting” type of introduction.

I knew that if I could get someone talking about him or herself, they’d be more susceptible to wanting to know more about my art.

Essentially, I made the conversation all about my stall visitor and a lot less about my paintings.

While this is a good way to go about “not having to sell your work,” it is also a great technique for the shy artist, who is not yet completely confident with exhibiting their work. The answer is to talk less about your work and steer the conversation to being about your visitor.

It takes the spotlight off  you, makes you feel a little more comfortable and allows you to get to know more about the person you are dealing with.

The more you can get your potential buyer to open up about themselves, the more will be revealed about what they like and don’t like.

It’s through doing this I discovered many people actually wanted something that had not yet been created – so right there was an opportunity for suggesting commission work.

The main point is to talk to people without any expectation of a sale. I have spoken to so many people and never made a sale. But I have had some amazing conversations.

Some conversations have been absolutely hilarious. Some are sad. Some are truly weird. Some are a little confrontational. Some are too political. Some people are drunk, loud and talk a whole bunch of nothing. Some people are so quiet and incredibly difficult to engage in a conversation. Some conversations have been with some of the most interesting people I have ever met.

But it’s through these conversations that I have been able to understand the person who is interested in my art. It’s more inspiring to delve into the lives of your customer, client or collector than it is to talk about your art all day long.

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You Gotta Be Confident

What is confidence? My personal interpretation is predominantly derived from something I tell myself when the moment requires it, and it’s this: “I got big enthusiastic faith”.

Having a lot of faith and being enthusiastic may be the simple way of explaining confidence. But of course there are many actions and beliefs that make up somebody’s self-confidence.

Be a Finisher

One thing that will eat at your self-confidence is knowing that you have a list of projects that were started and never finished.

While this may sound counter productive, I always recommend you finish a project, regardless if you are completely aware that the outcome may not produce the results you had intended.

It doesn’t matter how tedious the job or project becomes, you have to finish it.

When you do finish, the tip then is to avoid focusing too much on the outcome and the result you did or didn’t get. Just make sure you acknowledge to your self that you completed the project.

Do + a willingness to make mistakes + Accomplish  = Confidence

Do You Think You’re Groovy?

Nothing will eat at your self-confidence like bad self-talk, such as putting yourself down all the time. Speak to yourself well. Stop telling yourself what you are not or don’t have.

Most of us know that advertising and many aspects of the media insult us enough (wink); you don’t need to add to it. Avoid focusing on what you haven’t done and simply get it done. You will be surprised at how much personal satisfaction you will get from just being a finisher.

I have finished many projects that were complete flops. But as I sit here and write this now I am happy with myself for at least finishing them.

Yeah sure, I was really discouraged by the failure of a few of those projects. Some of my failures really knocked the wind out of me and left me feeling quite flat for days, even weeks. During that time of feeling quite despondent, I thought I’d never have the courage to get up back up again. Fortunately, time (and desire) allows us to reflect and put things into perspective.

Despite my failures, I realise how important it is to my longevity as a “doer” to make sure I finish each project regardless of the outcome or result.

Personal Responsibility

I will never forget the day one of my first mentors started our first official meeting by writing on a white board, “Responsibility”.

He then went on for half an hour, explaining to us that we cannot truly operate any type of business and be successful until we decide to become responsible for absolutely everything in our lives.

It was then I realised how much as a society we point the finger at circumstances, people and events as being the culprit for holding us back in life.

Apart from it being vital for any success in your life, taking personal responsibility for everything in your life gives you are real feeling of confidence. Things really do begin to materialise when you become accountable for your own journey and success.

Where Simplicity Can Help

I once had a discussion with a fellow artist who explained to me that she felt intimidated when approaching the canvas to commence working on a new painting.

This type of intimidation can be reduced greatly if you simply do some solid preparation work.

So in other words, if you paint dogs… go take a lot of photos of dogs. Get familiar with the different angles, shades, colours and character.

Then do a series of sketches. Determine how you are going to use the space on the canvas. In other words, get your blueprint plan together. Instead of just having a photo of one dog, consider having your sketches close by to refer to. By doing this you can break your work down into smaller chunks and not get so overwhelmed with having to complete a painting based on just one small photo.

Don’t Be Afraid To Get It Wrong

I know from experience that your confidence will grow when you can eliminate the fear of getting things wrong. And when you do get it wrong, avoid brushing it under the covers. Expose it for what it is: a real genuine attempt that didn’t go to plan.

Just being confident is ok, but you will really feel the power of your confidence when you out it into action.

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