I think a lot of artists are overly concerned about how others in the art community view them and their work. In my youth, that was all important to me. I rested my future on the opinions of others, my peers, art professors, gallery owners, and museum directors.
I was missing the whole point of being a painter. It really isn’t about any of those people. It is only about me, what I am willing to learn so I can grow. None of those people make a living for me. Yes, I have shown in many museum exhibits, galleries, and occasionally sell to folk who run the art community, but the people who support me regularly, don’t publish art magazines. My supporters come from every career path. They love nature. They love the agricultural and primal Florida that I am devoted to.
Abstract is king to the current movers and shakers of the art world. A few years ago, plein air was the big deal. Many artists change genres like their underwear, trying to be on the latest trend. Some succeed. Many don’t!
Those of us who don’t much care about the art communities’ tastes and trends tend to be pretty happy with our careers. I go on my way, experimenting, trying stuff I’ve never done, combining experiments, painting stuff that is hard for me, often failing. There is enormous freedom in not caring about what “important” people think.
Experimenting is swell for country painters....
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