Well, we could leave our art careers in the hands of a higher power...an art critic, reviewer, curator, juror or collector!
Most of us might have to wait awhile for those people to take notice.
Happened, famously, to Vincent Van Gogh.
Happened to Henry Darger (in his case, it was no biggie!).
Many artists have complained that it happened later than it should. Louise Nevelson "...recognition from the artistic community arrived eventually, though not until Nevelson was 60." read more...)
and Alice Neel , born in 1900 seemed to feel she was ready for art notoriety earlier "Neel painted in virtual obscurity for most of her life. To some extent she rode the rise of the women's movement to fame in the 1970s and '80s. She died in 1984."
Some talented artists never get noticed.
Maybe we have to learn from the masters: Picasso, Warhol, Koons, Christo, Whistler, Dali, Leroy Neiman, the Impressionists, that it's not just about making the art, but about self promoting the artist.
HOW MUCH OF YOUR TIME DO YOU SPEND TOOTING YOUR OWN HORN?
Oh that is crass. Oh, that is rude! Oh, that is self-centered! Oh, #@!!!!, that is NOT what artists SHOULD do!!!!
OTHERS should shout your acclaim. OTHERS, like the aforementioned art critics,writers, curators, jurors and collectors SHOULD tell the world about your work!
Well, I admit to being a bit slow about some things. This is one. When I was younger people would ask me if I was good (at art) I would just shrug. I knew I was pretty good, but thought it was bad manners to say so (and I was also insecure). My mother tried to convince me I had to speak up. She said people would think I was stupid if I did not talk about my work. And that if I did not think it was good, who would?
There is one artist I know and REALLY like a LOT! This person sends out emails of new work regularly so the artist is always on the minds of many folks! Presumably the art is worth seeing and aren't we lucky to get a preview. Well we are and the artist is brilliant!
So think about making your own music about your own art. If you don't, who will? This artist, Mark Staff Brandl made a recent comment on this blog stating the same encouragement.
What tips would you share for getting your work out there?
If you think artists should wait to be discovered, tell us why! We need to hear good reasons on both sides!
An important California collector told me when I asked if he and his wife would look at my website, "if you have to ask, you are not ready!" Never did understand why asking someone to look at a website is such an imposition! Other collectors I know like artists to let them know, first, when they are working on a new body of work.
What to do or not to do about self promotion? Is it a yes! or a no!
To read newspaper review above please CLICK the article
