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That was quite the gap between entries...life started to get in the way. Here's thing #5:
It's all about connections! Joining an association can lead to unforeseen benefits.
This is HUGE. The one thing that has really helped me get on in my fledgling art career.
Years ago a colleague of mine at work bugged me to join a local art association. At that point I was a keen hobbyist, but no more. Somewhere in the back of my head I had the idea that I would one day make a go of this art thing. I must admit I wasn't sure about joining an artists' association. I had an idea that it would be a bunch of retired ladies painting peonies, but what the heck - if I don't like it I can just not go anymore...
I can't lie: there was a retired lady element, but there were also some semi and fully pro local artists that regularly attended. At each meeting a professional artist would give a talk and a demonstration. I became hooked. At one particular meeting a guest artist came and gave a talk about how he switched careers between being a house painter and a fine artist. I listened intently and watched his demo keenly. This guy had made the leap from a regular day job to making his living out of art. That was (and is) the journey I intended to make. After the talk I made a bee-line for the guy and fired questions at him. Long story short - he gave me a piece of advice that dramatically improved my painting style (and that's the next "thing").
Connections lead to connections - joining the open association led to me being accepted in a juried association which led to me finding a good framer which put me in contact with an art dealer....you get the idea.
Thing #1: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #2: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #3: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #4: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Why am I posting this stuff? maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Take a look at my Facebook page...if you like it, please "Like" it! www.facebook.com/MontrealArtis…
Look out! Here comes thing #6!
It's all about connections! Joining an association can lead to unforeseen benefits.
This is HUGE. The one thing that has really helped me get on in my fledgling art career.
Years ago a colleague of mine at work bugged me to join a local art association. At that point I was a keen hobbyist, but no more. Somewhere in the back of my head I had the idea that I would one day make a go of this art thing. I must admit I wasn't sure about joining an artists' association. I had an idea that it would be a bunch of retired ladies painting peonies, but what the heck - if I don't like it I can just not go anymore...
I can't lie: there was a retired lady element, but there were also some semi and fully pro local artists that regularly attended. At each meeting a professional artist would give a talk and a demonstration. I became hooked. At one particular meeting a guest artist came and gave a talk about how he switched careers between being a house painter and a fine artist. I listened intently and watched his demo keenly. This guy had made the leap from a regular day job to making his living out of art. That was (and is) the journey I intended to make. After the talk I made a bee-line for the guy and fired questions at him. Long story short - he gave me a piece of advice that dramatically improved my painting style (and that's the next "thing").
Connections lead to connections - joining the open association led to me being accepted in a juried association which led to me finding a good framer which put me in contact with an art dealer....you get the idea.
Thing #1: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #2: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #3: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Thing #4: maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Why am I posting this stuff? maccski.deviantart.com/journal…
Take a look at my Facebook page...if you like it, please "Like" it! www.facebook.com/MontrealArtis…
Look out! Here comes thing #6!
Things I Learned as an Oil Painter: Thing #22
After a long hiatus the TILAAOP series is back (at least for one post). Thing #22 is:
The more you do it the better you get at it.
Yes, it’s obvious, but it goes a little deeper. The reason I’ve chosen this “thing” is because I have been and continue to be working very hard to produce art for a solo show coming up next month. For almost a year I’ve kept an aggressive schedule of putting paint to canvas. I’ve been keeping count of my paintings while keeping my eye on the calendar.
There have been some dogs in there, but in general I feel the quality of my work has improved. My confidence has been booste
Web Site and Social Media News
I just completely updated the look of my web site to a cleaner, simpler, more "now-ish" design. Please go take a look: http://www.montrealartist.com/
I also started to look more seriously at using social media as a way of getting my work "out there". I created accounts specifically for my artwork on Twitter and Pinterest:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DavidKelavey
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/montrealartist/
I'd be interested in hearing any comments/advice from anyone that has used these sites for their art.
I'm still plugging my work on Facebook - if you haven't already, please head over and take a look: http://www.facebook.com/Mon
If You Go To Etobicoke...
If you're around Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada in the next few weeks I have a painting on show as part of the Society of Canadian Artists Members' Show. It's at the Civic Center, 399 The West Mall from today until August 27. The reception's on Sunday July 27th from 2pm - 4pm (but I won't be there because I'll be on a beach in Maine!).
I have re-resurfaced again...
I'm one of those sporadic deviants that lives & breathes dA for a few weeks before dropping off the face of the Earth...only to reappear and redisappear (rinse & repeat). But hey, I'm back and that's what counts, right?
My time away from dA has not been idle - here's a run-down of what I've been up to:
I started the process of organizing my first solo exhibition at a gallery (Viva Vida Art Gallery in Pointe-Claire, Quebec) in October. More info to come.
I gave my first ever demoI gave my first ever talkI got accepted into Oil Painters of America
I got myself a purpose-built art studio. Previously I was working in my basement, next
© 2013 - 2024 maccski
Comments7
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I agree. Belonging to Long Beach Arts has helped me a lot. I have been able to find out about so many opportunities through that organization.