Do you

 There are more and more formulas written by so called experts and coaches for selling art, especially for social media. Not a day goes by that I don’t get unasked for advice on how I can become a great influencer and have tens of thousands of followers. I just have to pay them for their advice, or promote soap, underwear or food products. 

 

Then there are the trenders in the art world. Let’s all paint abstracts, street scenes, kids on beaches if we want to sell art. Let’s make sure we are using the Pelatone color of the year. If one artist is using good ideas for marketing their work, we must do that too. Let’s not come up with ideas that work for our own needs. 

 

I say do what is authentically you. Ignore the trends, ignore the new trending color, ignore what the popular artists do, unless you happen to love their colors or style. I have gone my own way through my career. I often stop and check whether an art venue works for me. I do let my emotions guide me. 

 

Most plein air painters in Florida have forgotten that  Cheryl Ritter and I produced the first paint out in Florida and Hope Barton and I started the Epcot Center WDW paint out. I was the project manager for that event for 10 years, and I consulted on the Forgotten Coast, Winter Park, Jax Arboretum, Evinston, New Smyrna Beach, and Wekiva Paint Outs. David Johnson and I created Plein Air Florida.  Yet, a time came when I knew paint outs were over for me. I left that world behind. It did not ruin my career, it was just time to go. 

 

Country painters have a swell life…