The Biggest Obstacle of Succeeding as an Artist

The Commonly-Felt " Dread "
I'd bet you a tube of fine premium level 4 paint that we all as artists, whether professional or casual, have felt this dread before. What I'm referring to is this negative feeling that almost overtakes us in the midst of planning or producing a work of art. Many of us may feel this sense of "all of a sudden I can't do this", or "am I really in the mood to do this?" We go from the confidence of a lion to the disbelief of a martyr! It's no wonder we're artists to begin with! This phenomenon seemingly occurs universally throughout the ages, and it's not limited to art only. This sense of dread is felt in all walks of life. It leads to immense procrastination and self-doubt. So, why does it happen in the first place?

Don't Deny What You Inherently Feel
Throughout my years I had felt this dread weighing down on me and noticed it wasn't going away. Was it simply a habit I'd formed without realizing? It was important to figure out what the cause of this was, if any. After some time I stumbled across an answer in the form of Dr. Jordan Peterson, a professor of psychology. Through one of his lectures online he stated something that resonated with me and I never forgot it. He spoke of "facing one's inner-shadow" or "inner-monster" as he refers to it. That "monster" or "inner-shadow" is referring to the "dread" that can consume us. It is the feeling of your inner-self screaming at you to "take care of your responsibilities". This may sound like a bunch of impractical malarkey, but if you understand the simplicity and the details of how Life operates, then you would see it for the fundamental truth it is. The first step is recognizing you have some inner-work to do and to better understand what makes you "tick".

Is 'The Inner-Shadow' Self-Serving or Self-Defeating?
When you hear the term "Inner-Shadow" or "Monster", of course you'd feel inclined to think this is something one should work on getting rid of completely. No, it's quite the opposite in fact. It's more of a taming process. It is your defense mechanism at its most primal. You need this as a form of protection. It is your animalistic instinct that signals you when something's wrong and needs your attention. Almost like a sixth sense, it is similar to your nerves reacting when you touch a scorching hot radiator. Your nervous system, through pain, warns you to back off and remedy the situation. You would not be looking to rid yourself of such a warning system, as it's vital to your survival. In feeling one's inner-dread, this is your spirit, heart and mind reaching out to you, to mature and become more responsible; to confront and alleviate whatever clogs you may have that are holding you back from your potential. So, the reason it's called "Inner-Monster"is because like a beast defends itself in the wild, so must you from the chaos of that which attempts to stray you away from your path. In case you haven't nailed it yet, the "monster" is the childish habit of apathy, or laziness. It fosters and caters to the allowance of the worst in you.

How Does Being Responsible Help Achieve Success?
Hearing the question it's almost a no-brainer, right? If you are responsible, how could you not be successful? You'd be sent into shock if you started to really look at all the reasons set backs take place. They're usually the most basic of issues that one allows to grow into a huge problem that ends up being too difficult to overcome. I'll share an example of this. Dr. Jordan Peterson commonly uses this as a sample: making your bed. Yes, making your bed in the morning before you proceed with your day is the first step in disciplining your mind on the importance of order. Order brings about harmony, organization, things flow smoothly and easier. By tidying your bed, you then begin seeing that maybe your room needs to be cleaned. You expand your focus and awareness, then complete the task at hand in increments. Now your mind is much more clear and you're able to focus with quality attention on the task at hand (in this case, living a professional artist's career). You just apply that same discipline and understanding that "the reward will come" because the act of being responsible, is guaranteed to become the fruit of your labor. It goes that way for anything in Life. You want a cup of coffee? It's not going to serve itself for you!

Building Momentum and Learning to Fish for Yourself
Everyone has a vision of what success means for them, personally. For me, as an artist it's to become a professional that is consistent in his work, in how I carry myself inwardly and outwardly, and to have the knowledge that I gave it my all. It's all about effort and the amount you put in. You put the work in, you then reap the rewards with due time, diligence and faith in yourself. Make sure you do and be what you genuinely believe, otherwise no one's going to believe in you in return. This building of momentum, little by little adds up after a while. You begin seeing results and that excitement pushes you forward to do and achieve more! The more and more you do this and confront your inner residue, you will feel alleviation. No more dread creeping up. That's a sign of growing up and evolving toward your goals! Congratulations, you now are fully responsible for your happiness!

" It's a Gift, 

To Not Fully Know Yourself.

It's a Reminder that You are Forever. "

The Canvas of a Hair Stylist

The World Is Your Canvas
The finest artists throughout history, from DaVinci to Picasso, Rembrandt, Warhol, Basquiat; they all shared one fine tool as their foundation: A canvas. Hair Stylists are considered another form of a modern-day artist as they take their creativity to a different type of canvas, in a head of hair. Whether you’re a painter, a sculptor, actress or otherwise, every creative has a unique approach when tackling their “canvas” of choice. I, myself am a painter and a salon coordinator, so I have the ability to see how both types of artists approach their work

Inspiration Equals Energy
Before I approach a painting, my mood is crucial to being in a positive and inspired state before I begin. How can an artist, painter or hairstylist produce great work if they’re in a lax mood? A Hair Stylist will get themselves excited just from seeing a client who’s in need of change. This alone motivates them to approach that client, (or canvas) with thrilling energy and excitement. When the client is happy, there is a wonderful synergy formed, and magic is made

What Excites a Hair Stylist?
A truly motivated Hair Artist will be inspired by just about anything, as they love tackling creative challenges and setting trends. One of the more desirable “hair canvases”, if you will, is someone who is looking for a dramatic change. Imagine someone walking into your sala, and they have super long hair, three inches of roots and faded color. A Hair Stylist’s eyes will light up with delight as they happily accept them as their transformation of the day. This pushes any Artist beyond their boundaries in order to reach a new level of creativity and satisfaction. The results are always phenomenal

Getting in the Groove
Beginning the creative process itself can be different for many people. Some are motivated and influenced by certain music that plays. Others find confidence and flare in the way they dress and present themselves. Artistry is a visual stimulant after all. Especially in the beauty business, where the image is everything! If I had to select someone to trust to cut and color my hair, I would definitely choose the Hair Stylist who’s decked from head to toe, looking like a million bucks! They, themselves are walking advertisements for their artistry. For true creatives, being an Artist is their way of life. It’s a philosophy, not just a cool catchphrase or some hobby. True Artists take their work just as serious as you take the desire to become their masterpiece

The Canvas Is Alive
As a traditional painter when I paint on a canvas there’s no resistance or feedback, as it’s an inanimate object. for the Hair Artist however, their canvas is a living, breathing person with desires and expectations. I attribute an enormous amount of credit for how they are able to connect with that living canvas and make them happy. A Master Hair Stylist has the ability to even recover from any errors they might encounter during the creative journey. If that vibrant red that Elizabeth requested turns out a bit dull or not quite the shade she’d envisioned, things can go haywire and fast! Elizabeth may react in a way the Artist did not anticipate and has to be ready to handle these scenarios. Artists, Hair Stylists, all Creatives, in general, are like alchemists. they have the ability to take anything for the most part and turn it into a better version of themselves. That itself is a sacred practice we would all do better to appreciate more and give our gratitude, to the Artists of our World.

Written Originally March 1, 2019 For:
Dramatics NYC 1488 3rd Avenue New York, NY 10028

Is There Such a Thing as "Too Taboo" in Art?

A Man of Many Hats
As you may or may not know, I have worn a number of "hats" so to speak, in terms of my career development. I'm a natural born painter & illustrator. I have painted dozens and dozens of varying subject matter, ranging from landscapes all the way to super-eroticism. I understood early on that if I am to pursue all of my subject interests in art, that I need to sort of have an adaptation of myself as an artist, for each genre. What do I mean by 'adapt' ? And why do such a thing?

Here's What Happened
As mentioned earlier, I am a traditional painter and have developed multiple art portfolios throughout my career. I have a portfolio strictly for landscapes, I have one strictly for portraits, one specified for abstract art, so on and so forth. Now, most artists choose to focus on one style and subject matter, as it is considered their specialty or 'niche'. I just don't have it in me to choose but one, so I choose them all, being the daredevil I am. One of my more private collections is focused on erotic & taboo themes, as I have always had a vast interest in seeing eroticism portrayed in a certain style. I have over 20 original pieces out so far, and have collected a bit of a fan base. Today, I was looking to add some more followers, so I decided to add some old contacts from my phone list, to my Instagram page. One woman in particular, let's call her "Valerie" (not her real name, for privacy), direct messaged me online. She wrote a lengthy excerpt about how at first one particular painting of mine entitled, "Be Your Victim" triggered a great deal of anger in her. Only that particular piece upset her, not the others. It should be known that often times my erotic paintings are quite lewd, "dirty" and intense. Very raw, sexually. I also cover various approaches to sex, such as BDSM, gay/ lesbian pride, threesomes, certain sexual fantasies, etc. In "Be Your Victim", it illustrates a woman "getting it" from behind. He's a bit rough with her, but she's pleasured and turned on by that, in the piece. This young woman, "Valerie" expressed that the reason it angered her was that she sadly suffered as a rape victim. It goes without saying that of course, that is an awful, awful trauma Valerie went through. She felt compelled to reach out and let me know that it brought up past memories and asked why would I consider painting something like this. She then immediately stated that she recognizes that I am but an artist, painting a sexual piece. She said I am very talented, she respects what I do and that she sees a different perspective from the male's end when it comes to sex and art. She went on to say that she hopes I don't take this as an "attack" on my art and that she appreciates me being open and hearing her out (I mean, she didn't give me much choice either, but that's ok). I don't take certain things personal.

When Does Art "Cross the Line" ?
Here's where the meat of the controversy lies. We have a situation here that has an unfortunate victim of rape, in which she comes across an erotic artist's Instagram page and is triggered emotionally by a graphic painting. What exactly is the controversy? Well, there's a balance being tested here between the freedom of expression through art and respecting people's feelings by what is actually being painted as the subject manner. To break it down, she was offended and saddened as my "rough sex" painting reminded her subconscious of that trauma. So, what does one do in that situation? What do you do as an artist, in response to that? And this goes for any subject matter that may offend someone or a group of people (example: religion, politics, opinionated paintings, etc.) I can tell you what I did, and offer some advice to both parties at hand (the offended and the artist). My advice to the offended is that, in life there are countless elements, people, events and such that trigger us in endless ways on a daily basis. We are all vastly different and there are almost eight billion people alive on this planet. Understand that, first. Now, when it comes to art- it is one of the most free acts of expression a human being has as their birthright. Alongside speech, writing and heck, sex itself is the ultimate act of physical love one can utilize as self expression. You cannot go around deeming what you find "just" or "acceptable" in an artist's portfolio (unless it's explicitly made to harm someone on purpose), simply because you nor anyone else has any real "authority" to dictate what an artist will paint. After all, on my end I took all the necessary precautions possible as to not offend anyone who may come across my page. The first headline on the page alongside all my posts are a 'Rated Mature' icon coupled with a 'Must be 18+ yrs' to view icon. You enter at your own volition after that, you've been properly warned. Here's my advice for artists in any similar situation- You do not need to explain yourself, ever. You may choose to educate someone on the freedom of art and speech, but if they do not understand and respect that, then you move on. You will most likely never change that person's perspective and it is not your responsibility to do so. After all, you took up being an artist, not a politician or therapist. You are not to parent adults who cannot control their own behavior and thought patterns. This may sound sensitive to some, but it really is not. For example, if Valerie felt offended by my piece due to her past trauma, I have to ask- why was she on my page going forward to begin with? She decided to follow me, and without a second thought, felt entitled to direct message a complete stranger all of that personal information. Ever think (no offense), that I myself do not want to hear about your past trauma? I have the utmost compassion for her story, but at the same time I'm trying to focus on my art work and my personal journey. She felt she had the right to influence the way I act and feel (and as extreme as this is about to sound), that in itself is a form of mental rape, if we're going to draw lines. Again, this is all just to debate the example, as we ended off alright in the end, her and I. She is an artist herself, so I guess she realized right away how she was coming across as well. I admire her courage and I am always open to discussion, but not everyone is as open a me. We have to all understand this, in this world. Art, in the end whether it crosses a line or not, that is the nature of the beast so to speak. Art pushes boundaries (we gun for healthy pushes of course), but sometimes there is no clear cut black and white balance. Sometimes, we have to be willing to see the grey areas and choose to simply not look at them if they trigger negativity in you. That, is never the purpose of art, as I imagine no one in their right heart wishes art to harm someone. I certainly do not wish that.

Why Social Media has Demented Our Communication and Social Ability
Originally, I agreed to exchange email conversations with Valerie about what went down as we both felt intrigued by what we learned. Then, the more I though about it, the more I felt she and I had gotten across both our points and there simply was no need to further discuss anything. I thanked her again and told her we should just move on from here and best of luck. She immediately blocked me. Now, my main feeling about this is indifference. (I don't know her, we never met), so no reason to take it personal. Yet, she went from messaging me something so deep and private about her life to a complete stranger, expected a reaction or a reply from me and then when I expressed that I am no longer respectfully interested, she blocks me. I find that tons of people do this on Instagram and social media. It's extremely strange and abnormal when you think about it. So, on Instagram a stranger feels comfortable enough to share explicit details about their life, but what if we met in real life? Is that something she would open up with after introducing herself? I don't think so. And you know what my reaction would most likely be? I would walk away politely. Why? Because that's all just too much and way too intense, to start off with someone. Instagram is also a 'Pandora's Box' of sorts, meaning when you sign up and search varying content, you are bound to come across the infinite possibilities that exist, the very same way you do when watching television, browsing the internet or watching a movie. You cannot go around censoring everything and everyone the moment you are sensitive to something or just dislike it. It goes beyond our individual ego, our collective right and gift to be free and express ourselves artistically (in a healthy manner of course). Let's all grow a bit more collectively and celebrate our differences and common grounds alike!

Written Originally September 5, 2019

Submitting to Galleries vs. Self-Representation

Painting Finished... Now, What ?!
Being a painter, you most likely have the desire to show off your work for someone to see. Where does one begin in the process of showcasing your art and what are the benefits and setbacks you may face?

The Way of Tradition
The most common form of artistic representation is through a gallery. The basic set up is that you display your catalog of paintings and invite guests to view, discuss and potentially purchase your masterpieces. There are two ways of going about exhibiting in an art gallery. Firstly, there is the submission procedure in which an artist contacts a local gallery’s curator. This individual runs the gallery operations and coordinates the art direction of the show. Most of the time they are also funding the entire enterprise, so it is important to understand that they run all the shots as they are providing you with their private space and the necessary platform to exhibit. Certain curators depending on their perception of art will be very selective. Your art most likely will need to fit a certain vision or criteria in which they subjectively decide. That, is the basic trade off. If the curator provides the gallery, the artist must adapt and meet a technical standard in order to display. A fee may be involved as well.

Breaking Away from Tradition through Innovation
What if I don’t agree or wish to adapt to the standards of a curator when it comes to my art work? You, then have the option of becoming the curator! Yes, that’s right. No one can stop you from organizing and putting together your very own gallery on your terms. Personally, that’s way more rewarding and beneficial than to premiere under someone else’s name, or to have to share the spot light (unless that’s your thing). Understand however, that you will have to work a lot harder and have a new found level of patience to truly execute this from beginning to end. You cannot half-ass an art gallery. I speak from experience. It can and will ruin your reputation if it’s lame. In order to avoid that, I always suggest humbling yourself first. Be open to information, new knowledge but also be weary of too many opinions and “advice” from others. You will encounter naysayers who will question your ability of tackling on an art gallery. It’s just current human nature that subconsciously one is intimidated by the reminder that you are making moves and they are not. Once you overcome that, you will need a space with an owner that will allow you to run the gallery the way you need it to be run. In other words, rent a space that is strictly that - an open space! Most owners aren’t concerned with the type of event you host, so long as you don’t damage property and the space is cleared by a certain hour. Though costlier than submitting to an art gallery, it not only buys you the creative freedom to bypass a curator’s mold, it allows you to make your money back plus a profit if you tailor your show properly.

Do What's Best for You
Either way you choose to represent yourself is entirely up to you, obviously. Both ways have its benefits and drawbacks, so in the end much like art, the matter is subjective. It all depends on how you wish to work as an artist and perceive your career model. Regardless of anything, I would say the key to success is to be consistent and keep active. You’re sure to fail if you don’t try at all. You’re sure to sleep well at night at least knowing you gave it your all.

Written Originally July 21, 2017

Why Inspiration is Vital

 
What Makes an Artist Tick?
One of the questions I often ponder when thinking to myself, is what precisely fuels an artist to paint their next masterpiece? Some thoughts come to mind - the artist is simply eager to see its completion or maybe a profit is sought to be made. Then I think to myself that it has to be something deeper. A more underlying element. When it comes down to the core of what drives an artist, I find it to be inspiration.

What is inspiration, exactly?
The word "inspiration" when broken down means "inspired" for "creation". In other words, before you do any activity at all, including painting, you have to be excited or stimulated at some level. This rings true for everything, but especially in art. Inspiration, the type we commonly imagine as that magical vision or moment that drives us to paint that next fantastic piece, is inspiration of a high degree. I find it absolutely vital when it comes to staying fresh and enthusiastic about your works. There's a world of difference in viewing a painting that was quickly put together with little thought compared to a stunning vision that was captured on canvas for countless hours.

Being Practical with Your Inspiration
How does anyone stay inspired though, especially in this day and age? I like to think I'm level headed and practical most of the time, so I understand how taking this in can sound nauseating when all you hear is, "stay inspired" or "be positive"constantly. A lot easier said than done at times, I surely admit. I personally do not go around spreading rainbows and sunshine while I gleefully walk with a fake smile on my face, pretending everything's alright. I'm human and we all being human, have emotions that just come and go. So, my best advice is to see inspiration as a state of mind. Just remembering that, is enough to help in big ways you may not see at first. Remembering that feeling inspired is a state of mind is important because it allows you to be in the present moment and to be authentic to yourself. Have no expectations and don't go forcefully searching for inspiration like a detective either. Accept what you're feeling but don't own those feelings as who you are. In time, in your own way, you will be open to inspiration and it will find you.

There's No Right or Wrong
If you are ready to open up and feel what you really want to feel, some great ways of getting inspired are by visiting museums, attending an art class, taking a walk among nature, joining an art club or online group, visiting a gallery or just kick back and watch some Bob Ross! I promise you this - when inspired, you will create some of your greatest works to date!


Written Originally July 21, 2017