Matt LeBlanc Artist

Is it better to strive for success as a self-representing artist or try to get your feet wet in the gallery world?

That is such a common question these days among artists. I truly believe that most artists will come to a cross road where they will have to decide on which route to take as it’s extremely hard to be successful in both worlds.

About six years ago, before starting my art career, I made sure to research the art market and ask myself that very same hard question. It was very apparent to me back then that the self-representing route was my true calling. After selling over 2,500 works worldwide and amassing a fan base of more then 25,000 fans in less than 6 years, I can definitely say that it was the best decision of my life. The past six years weren’t easy but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

I’m often asked why my work is not in galleries. For me it was really about being able to do my own things. I have nothing against galleries. I’m just a true entrepreneur at heart. I want to create my own strategies and my own marketing campaigns. I want to create my own destiny. I like to be my own boss.

I get almost daily emails from other artists asking for tips and strategies on how to be a successful self-representing artist. Before I get into a list of my top strategies to achieve success, you have to really ask yourself if your personality is right. Be really honest with yourself. Could you walk in a room full of business people and start at least four conversations? Can you sell yourself in 3-4 sentences by saying more then “I’m just an artist”? To be a self-representing artist, you have to be a rocking entrepreneur.

In order to succeed, you have to sacrifice who you are today for who you want to become tomorrow.

This sounds so easy but it’s not. It’s like loosing weight. You have to sacrifice who you are today (your eating habits & exercise) for what you want to become tomorrow (the best shape of your life). Same thing applies in business. Are you willing to make huge sacrifices so you can be successful? Most artists will say yes but don’t really truly mean it. SACRIFICE is the key word. You have to want it really bad not just kind of bad.

Over the years, I made huge sacrifices. I had two jobs for five years putting in 70-80 hours a week. I needed to bring my business to a point where I could leave my day job and have no financial stress. That was a big sacrifice but I made it. I’m not saying that everyone should do this way but it was surely the right way for me.

Be an entrepreneur at all cost

In order to be successful, as a self-representing artist, you need to spend as much time “on the business” as you do at creating. This might be hard for a lot of artists but that’s what will make you successful. You can have the best art in the world but if you don’t have a strategy to sell it, then it will remain in your basement. Again, you need to have the entrepreneur attitude. If you don’t, you have to seriously think about getting an art agent or focus at getting into galleries that will sell for you. I’m constantly thinking about where I can take my business and how will I get there.

Be creative outside the canvas

If you want to focus on only one thing, this is probably it. As artists, we are all creative. However, artists that can be creative outside their canvas will have the most success. What I mean by that is stop trying to do like the others and start thinking about how you can do it better. What creative things can you do to get notice and get people to start recognizing you?

I’ve built my career on thinking outside the canvas. A good example is my show FUSION. Instead of having your typical wine & cheese art showing three years ago, I’ve created an evening of art & entertainment that is now becoming one of the most popular show of my region. The show sells out consistently at 500 tickets and is a great example that we can achieve the impossible as artists.

Think strategically

Stop focusing on the now and focus on the future. We get so consumed in our daily lives that we forget the future. We work on today without thinking about tomorrow. The problem is when tomorrow comes and there’s no work, that’s when you start panicking. I make sure to schedule at least an hour per week to plan my next month and my upcoming year. Always work towards your goal and how to achieve them. Positive reinforcement on your goals will get you there. It sounds silly but visualize yourself where you want to be and you will eventually get there. It’s that simple.

Diversify your efforts

One of my key strategies over the years was to make sure to build multiple revenue streams. If one fails, I have many others to fall on to get me revenue. I see too many artists just focusing on one stream. I also see too many artists that are all over the place. Make sure you test a revenue stream and that it’s working for you before committing to it for the long term. Start with your website and build other streams.

Remember to give back

There’s nothing better in life to have the ability to give back to your community. Helping others is such a great feeling. I always believed that was given a talent and I would be naïve to think that it was only for me. I constantly use my talent to help others. I estimate that I’ve raised well over $75,000 to various charities over the years. I’ve also recently created my own foundation called Mado’s Gift in the memory of my sister. This is the best thing I’ve probably done in my career. I get to teach art to kids and we raise a lot of money for sick kids. They brought me so much love and joy and I hope to grow this charity more then I was able to grow my business. My sister would be proud.

Guest artist/author Matt LeBlanc  has used the techniques and skills he honed over 10 years in advertising agencies to become one of the most well-known, successful, and appreciated artists in Atlantic Canada in just six years.

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Thank you to my good friend, Matt for another killer post! It has been an honor watching Matt’s successes. I value Matt not only as a colleague, but as a good friend! This man is an inspiration to us all. ~Lori

Originally published on http://finearttips.com

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Did you know the Chinese concept of yin-yang can be used to improve composition in art and design?

Our goal as artists is to lead the viewer’s eye into and around the painting while keeping interest in the focal point.  Using the design aspects of yin-yang can help.

Natural dualities such as male and female, light and dark, high and low, hot and cold, water and fire, and so on, are thought of as physical manifestations of the yin-yang concept.

Wikipedia explains: Yin and yang are actually complementary, not opposing, forces, interacting to form a whole greater than either separate part; in effect, a dynamic system. Everything has both yin and yang aspects, (for instance shadow cannot exist without light).

Composition is the selective arrangement of elements in a painting.

When designing a new composition, I like to use the concept of yin-yang in art much like using feng shui design in a living room.  Yin yang theory forms the foundation of feng shui.  

For instance: The placement of the sofa, chairs, table and art on the walls create the composition of the room.  You decide your room’s focal point, where your guests sit, and so on. Hopefully, with good placement the room feels positive energy, or chi.

The same can be done when composing a painting. 

Most artists make preparatory sketches using pencil or charcoal to record the light and dark (yin-yang) masses and positive and negative (yin-yang) shapes until a pleasing and well balanced composition is chosen.  These opposites attract in art.

So most of us have been using  yin-yang and didn’t even know it!

In Chinese yin-yang philosophy, the visual path is the energy of chi in the painting.  These opposing forces govern the balance and movement of the composition.  These forces are down/up, left/right, small/large, and back/front.  In designing a painting, these forces can be used to move the eye through the painting.   A strong composition always has movement or rhythm or else it has no chi or energy.  This rhythm can vary greatly from painting to painting.

“On Edge – Magpie” is an example of how I used a simple design that is dynamic and energetic (yang).  The pose of the bird and the repeating black and white paterns gives energy to this painiting.  The bird is perched and ready for action and looks as though is about to fly out of the painting.  The unification of pattern and rhythm within the painting creates an energetic composition.

On Edge ©LoriMcNee

Try some of these compositional yin-yang  concepts and feng shui your next painting.

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Originally published on http://finearttips.com

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Did you know there is a close relationship between the housing market and art sales?  It might seem obvious, but many artists seem to overlook this fact: artists need new homes to be built and existing homes to be sold so there will be blank ‘walls’ on the market to hang art!

For nearly 30 years I have lived in a resort community where I have witnessed the synergy between the housing market and art sales. But, none as dramatic as the years when the real-estate market fell hard from 2007 to 2009, with the crash of the art market following close behind.

Since then I have watched local and national art galleries struggle or even close their doors, and prominent artists toil. Nevertheless, artists are resilient. Just as the awe inspiring cathedrals of Europe rose from the ashes of despair, entrepreneurial artists have taken charge of their own art careers!

These successful artists have learned how to use social media as a free marketing tool. They understand how to balance self promotion while maintaining a healthy relationship with their art galleries. As art business entrepreneurs, they have generated multiple streams of income through many avenues.

There is some good news to report! The housing market is making a modest recovery that is worth noting. Residential real-estate prices rose in the year ending in February 2013 by the most since May 2006, and according to Bloomberg.com, retail sales may also keep getting help from the housing market.

Forbes.com says the improvement we’ve seen recently results from a simple phenomenon: construction of new fewer housing units has been less than the growth of demand. According to the National Association of Home builders, the housing market has held steady and improved. Economists say there are three contributing factors. Demand, low mortgage rates, and affordable house prices.

For artists who are interested in keeping their finger on the pulse, here is the list of Today’s Hottest Housing Markets by 247wallst.com to consider for your business plans.

Today’s Hottest Housing Markets (read more about it at 24/7 Wall St)

10. Denver, Colorado.

This February, more than 5,000 homes sold — an increase of 27% from the same month last year.

9. Detroit, Michigan.

As of the first quarter of 2013, the average home value in the Detroit area was just $84,700, by far the lowest of all the large metro areas in the country measured by Zillow.

8. Los Angeles, California.

The unemployment rate in the Los Angeles metropolitan area was 10.3%, a significant improvement from the 11.6% rate a year ago.

7. Riverside, California.

The Riverside metropolitan area is recovering from the housing bubble burst. Home values are expected to jump 17.2% in the coming year, more than any other large city in the United States.

6. San Diego, California.

San Diego home values have rebounded, increasing 17.1% from the first quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of 2013. This included a 5.5% increase in the past quarter alone.

5. Sacramento, California.

Between the first quarter of 2013 and the same quarter in 2014, Sacramento home values are expected to rise an additional 15.6%, more than any of the other largest 30 housing markets except for Riverside.

4. San Francisco, California.

San Francisco’s home values rose by 21% last year, with 6.4% growth between the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. This was among the largest quarterly increases of all large metro areas in the country.

3. San Jose, California.

Construction jobs in the San Jose area grew by 12.3% from February 2012 to February 2013, likely a positive sign for the local housing market.

2. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Las Vegas’s housing market has made a rapid comeback, with home values rising more than 7% in the most recent quarter alone. While values are on the rise again, it may take some time for the area to return to prerecession levels.

1. Phoenix, Arizona.

No other metropolitan area’s housing market has grown faster than Phoenix, where home values rose 24% over the past year. The growth is expected to continue as well.

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I hope you enjoyed this post. You can visit my art website,  LoriMcNee.com, and let’s meet on Facebook  Fine Art Tips Facebook Fan Page, on Twitter, Google Plus and on Pinterest and Instagram. Please be sure to check out my fine art prints and notecards on Fine Art America. ~Lori

(You might enjoy this insightful read, The State Of The Art Market by my good friend, Lori Woodward Simons).

Originally published on http://finearttips.com

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A picture may be worth a thousand words, but many artists would rather have a root canal than have to come up with 300 words to describe their own art!

Yet in these days of online art marketing, that is exactly what many artists must do.

If you sell your art or craft in any kind of online venue, the written description can be just as important as the visuals. Thorough descriptions are necessary in order to tell potential buyers more about the piece, to “sell” its features and virtues, and they are also helpful for search engine optimization.

If you studied art or art history, you may have learned the formalist approach of describing the visual elements—the form, composition, medium, techniques, and subject matter. And that’s always a good start.

But what many of us are called upon to do in the Internet age is to describe our own art with more of a marketing approach. Instead of thinking of the piece as the artist sees it, we have to think of it from the point of view of the potential buyer. We have to describe not only its features, but also its benefits—without sounding like a used car salesman!

Here are some writing tips:

• Describe your work as if you were talking to someone who could not see the picture, as if the only experience they will ever have of it is what your words can tell them about it.
• Describe the mood or feeling of the piece as well as the visual characteristics. What ambiance does it evoke, what essence, what spirit, what undertones? If you have trouble with this, you might want to ask friends to rattle off some descriptive adjectives about the feeling of your work.
• Mention the colors, but also use words that describe the colors and their effect, words like luminous, dusky, radiant, glassy, or diffused.
• Try to put yourself in the mind of the buyer. They are not looking for an ocean painting with a lot of blue. They are looking for a striking piece of art for the foyer that will greet visitors with a warm blast of dazzling sunlight and evoke dreamy memories of the intoxicating salt air and the shimmering cobalt sea. How can you make them FEEL your artwork with words?
• Think about action words. Art is not passive. What can the piece DO? Will it inspire and motivate? Charm and delight? Soothe and nurture? What will the buyer DO with it? Will they cherish it? Luxuriate in it? Will it create an atmosphere, or make a statement? You don’t want to go overboard with this of course, but you ARE selling an experience, so do try to imagine what that experience might be for someone.

This language of description is completely subjective, of course, and any artwork can mean many different things to different people. But with some effort, some imagination, some practice, and maybe a little help from your friends, you can give your potential buyers a more lively and interesting description of your art.

Guest artist/author: Ellen Beeler is the author of The Language of Description: An Etsy Seller’s Word Reference Guide, an e-book that provides word lists for help in writing clear and compelling product descriptions for Etsy shops and other online sellers.

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You might also like to read, “How to Write a Bio that Gets Read”.

PS. It would be great to meet you on Twitter, and on Google Plus, Pinterest, and join in the fun at Fine Art Tips Facebook Fan Page! Please checkout my art too LoriMcNee.com, or find me on Instagram lorimcneeartist. ~Lori

Originally published on http://finearttips.com

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Odds are that there is an art museum relatively close to wherever you may choose to travel.

While an official statistic is nearly impossible to calculate, there are literally thousands upon thousands of art museums across the globe. Some, like the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris as well as New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, are incredibly well known by people around the world. Others are not quite “household names” but are still home to amazing collections of art that are worth seeing in person.

Great hotels and great art seemingly go hand and hand, which is wonderful news for art lovers who travel extensively. From stunning architecture and interior design to artwork that is nearly equivalent to that found in museums like those mentioned above, it is possible to have a truly artistic experience during your stay at any of the following establishments.

 Image credit: David Stanley

Gramercy Park Hotel | New York City, NY
A luxury hotel located in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, the Gramercy Park Hotel is known for its artwork as well as its elegant accommodations. The hotel’s collected works are remarkable thanks to pieces by celebrated artists including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst and Julian Schnabel, and it is considered to be especially impressive for a hotel art collection. Originally built in 1929 and 1930, the Gramercy Park Hotel was renovated in the early 2000s with assistance from Schnabel, who designed the interiors and selected many fixtures and furniture.

Image Source: Wikipedia creative commons

The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore |Marina Centre, Singapore
The award-winning five-star Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore is a deluxe hotel located in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant cities. Visitors are welcomed to the hotel by Frank Stella’s stunning three-ton sculpture, “Cornucopia.” Not only are the modern yet luxurious room and suite furnishings coupled with modern art, but also, guests can also enjoy a self-guided iPod tour of the hotel’s truly captivating 4,200-piece contemporary art collection.

Hotel Baur au Lac | Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich’s upscale Hotel Baur au Lac, which is located in its own park, features spectacular scenic views of the Swiss Alps and Lake Zurich. Guests can be truly immersed in art when their stay coincides with the Baur au Lac’s semi-annual Art in the Park. This popular outdoor sculpture exhibition routinely features the work of well-known artists such as Joan Miro, Louise Nevelson, Sol Lewitt, Robert Indiana and many others.

Image credit: slinguh

The James | New York City, NY
Appropriately located in New York’s SoHo district, which is known for the arts and creativity, The James New York is truly committed to art. Every guest room and common area of this art lover’s paradise includes carefully selected work from both local and international artists. Additionally, The James features a curated art collection known as the “Corridor Arts Program,” built specifically for the hotel by artist Matthew Jensen. All local artists whose work is displayed have active studios in New York City.

W South Beach | Miami Beach, FL
Miami may not instantly come to mind when thinking of impressive art galleries, but the idyllic W South Beach allows visitors to immerse themselves in artwork as well as the beach and club scene thanks to the museum-grade artwork on its trendy walls. Guests are greeted by the large painting by artist Jean-Michel Basquiat that hangs in the lobby, and the W showcases the work of top modern artists like Andy Warhol and Francis Bacon. The pieces come from W co-owner Aby Rosen’s personal art collection.

The Merrion | Dublin, Ireland
The award-winning Merrion Hotel in Dublin, Ireland offers some of the most prestigious accommodations in the country. A row of townhouses transformed into a five-star hotel, The Merrion is well-stocked with works by some of Ireland’s best artists. Its collection, which is considered one of the best in the country, includes art from Nathaniel Hone, Paul Henry, Mainie Jellet and Daniel Maclise. Tours led by a guide from the National Gallery are held regularly.

Image credit: infomatique

The Cosmopolitan | Las Vegas, NV
Surprisingly, there is more to Sin City than gambling and showgirls, which is quite evident when staying at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. This modern, bright hotel displays murals and artwork throughout its rooms and grounds, yet its artist-in-residence program and partnership with New York City’s non-profit Art Production Fund are even more impressive. Cosmopolitan guests can even purchase art as souvenirs. Converted cigarette vending machines, which have been renamed Art-o-mats, dispense small yet affordable pieces of art.

As you can see, it is completely possible to immerse yourself in art in places other than museums and galleries. The next time you are vacationing or traveling for business, stay at one of these or the many other hotels for art lovers. Even a simple walk through the lobby or down a hotel corridor means so much more when the experience is an aesthetic one.

Guest Author: Paul Moore works in the hotel industry with Hyatt House in Minot, ND. His Google Plus profile is not very artistic, but stop by and say hello anyhow.

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Do you have any hotel suggestions for art lovers? Please share your ideas in the comments below.

You can visit my art at LoriMcNee.com, and let’s meet on Facebook  Fine Art Tips Facebook Fan Page, on Twitter, Google Plus and on Pinterest. Be sure and check out and my fine art prints and notecards on Fine Art America.! ~Lori 

Originally published on http://finearttips.com

Plein air painting intrigues and intimidates the heck out of me.  I thoroughly enjoy the time out in nature painting en plein air, but I end up moaning with frustration as to painting what is in front of me.

When it comes to painting outside I get so overloaded with “information” that I just freeze up and have no idea how to proceed.  But I’ve never been one to quit easily, so I’m inching my way into plein air painting very, very gently.  I hope that others who likewise struggle may find this beginner’s approach an encouragement.

I got the notion one afternoon this past week, to try “plein air” close to home.  We’re talking VERY close to home, just a few paces out my front door.  I chose a little succulent plant off my wrought iron plant-stand, placed it on the sidewalk and plopped myself down on the ground next to it.

With my pochade box in my lap, I proceeded to paint this simple composition.  By choosing just the plant, I could control how much/or little information I was dealing with.  Here are the illustrated and annotated baby-steps I took:

1. As you can see, my little succulent plant was dramatically backlit by the sun.  If I’d known better I would have waited later in the day to paint, as the sun was sizzling hot and bright.  I realized that these are the types of things plein air painters learn by experience. 
2. Here’s my pochade box with my two colors of paint, a warm and cool yellow, red and blue.  And white of course, since I paint with gouache. That’s a sealed and primed piece of cardboard with texture that you see taped to my pochade box.

3. Next I toned my board with red-orange which really worked out well for this piece.  Gouache dries so so quickly that I was able to paint over it immediately.

4. Below you can see how far I progressed with my painting out-of-doors, not bad, about 90% completed.  I had to get out of the heat at this point as I was practically blinded by the scalding sun, so the rest of the painting was finished up inside at my art desk.  But I did it!  Some may consider this a still life, but for this painter, it was my entrée into the world of plein air. And I can’t wait to try more.  Just one little baby-step at a time. : )

And here’s my finished piece below – “Succulent Sunbath” - just a wee bit more paint and some strokes of my customary india ink.

Artist/Guest Author: Joanie Springer, a late-blooming artist, loves to paint with opaque watercolor / gouache as if it were oil paint, and archivally prepped cardboard is one of her favorite supports.  See more of her art, art tips, and FREE art tutorial at her website: www.ARTfortheSOULofit.com.

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Thank you Joanie for sharing another great guest post. I hope you all enjoyed Joanie’s beginning approach to plein air painting!

You can see more art on my website,  LoriMcNee.com, and let’s meet on Facebook  Fine Art Tips Facebook Fan Page, on Twitter, Google Plus and on Pinterest. Be sure and check out and my fine art prints and notecards on Fine Art America.! ~Lori

Originally published on http://finearttips.com

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Recently I have learned that I don’t have to be perfect, however it is important for me to always do my best, but no more and no less.

The inspiring book, “The Four Agreements” reiterated this fact to me. The book explains that doing our best frees us from the self-limiting beliefs that rob us of our joy and personal freedom.

But, your best will never be the same from one moment to the next. Sometimes your best will be high quality, and other times it will not be as good. Your daily moods and activities will change your best from day to day.

Oftentimes conscientious people try too hard to do more than their best. Many artists fall into this trap, and I have been guilty of this myself.

Not only do we work hard, striving to improve our craft, but we also have to manage our businesses, pay the bills and support our families. Sometimes we think that doing more than our best will get us to our goals more quickly. But, this just isn’t true.

When we overdo, we exhaust our bodies and go against ourselves. In this state of mind we actually take longer to accomplish our goals and our work will suffer. Then we subject ourselves to self-judgment, frustration, and regrets.

How liberating would it be to end each day knowing that you did your best?

Doing your best isn’t about the reward. It is about the enjoyment in the action. It becomes a ritual. When you slow down and do your best, you will find enjoyment in whatever you are doing.

Well-known artists, Michael Workman and T. Allen Lawson have created the habit of always doing their best. They both create a ritual from the action of organizing their studios, setting up their palettes, preparing the painting supports, designing their compositions, to methodically laying in each brushstroke, these painters do their best.

It is a joy to watch them work. They may not always create a masterpiece, but they are content with doing their best in the moment.

You are not here to sacrifice your happiness. You are here to learn to accept yourself, and to learn from your mistakes without judgment. If you practice doing your best, you will become the master.

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I hope you enjoyed this post. You can see my ‘best’ art at LoriMcNee.com, and let’s meet on Facebook  Fine Art Tips Facebook Fan Page, on Twitter, Google Plus and on Pinterest. Be sure and check out and my fine art prints and notecards on Fine Art America.! ~Lori

Originally published on http://finearttips.com

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In this informative video demonstration, artist Pierre Giroux demonstrates how-to enhance your underpainting by using glazing and cold wax medium techniques.

Glazing and cold wax medium adds texture and visual depth to oil paintings. I have been exploring the use of cold wax medium and love it! I hope you enjoy this video…

If you found this video helpful, you might like some of my own instructional painting videos too.

You can see more art on my website,  LoriMcNee.com, and let’s meet on Facebook  Fine Art Tips Facebook Fan Page, on Twitter, Google Plus and on Pinterest. Be sure and check out and my fine art prints and notecards on Fine Art America.! ~Lori

Originally published on http://finearttips.com

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My home-away-from home is St. Thomas in the beautiful Virgin Islands of the Caribbean.

Each year, my family and I make the two day journey from the snow packed mountains of Idaho down to the turquoise Caribbean waters. I enjoy using this time to relax, unwind, unplug and to hang with my family. This down-time helps me refuel my creative inspiration.

The Caribbean has a complex, rich and varied history that is reflected in its architecture. The local colors are vibrant and reminiscent of the sun and sea.

Colorful buildings of sunset pinks, sea greens, corals, yellows and soft blues are nestled into some of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world.

The Caribbean islands offer  wealth of historical buildings reflecting its rich heritage of Spanish, French, British, Dutch and Creole colonial styles. All buildings have light, open and airy atmospheres with an abundance of tropical plants and flowers to remind you that you are in paradise!

While I’m here, I love plein air painting and photographing the local scenery, along with the colorful shutters, doors and dilapidated rock walls.

Did you know there are some very famous artists who were also inspired and influenced by the Caribbean?

Winslow Homer, John James Audubon and Camille Pissarro are some of the many famous artists to have been inspired by these islands.

Arts and crafts abound in its many forms of affordable jewelry, tapestries, ethnic crafts and music and occasionally fine art.

John James Audubon is known as, the artist of birds. He was born in Les Cayes, Haiti in 1785, but later moved to the United States to avoid conscription in the Napoleonic War. Audubon became famous in the United States for recording many of North Americas species by drawing and painting them. He is most famous for his collected Birds of America, published between 1827 and 1838. Since then Audubon’s has given rise to birding societies throughout the world.

“Snowy Egret” by John James Audubon

Winslow Homer (1836-1920) was a prolific and engaging American watercolorist. Although he loved Maine’s New England coast, he often vacationed in Florida and the Caribbean. Homer’s mastery of watercolors and his unique perspective of the islands produced exquisite paintings of sun-drenched homes, palm-fringed beaches and blossoming flora and fauna. Homer is well known for brilliant depictions of the sea.

detail from “Gulf Strem” by Winslow Homer

Camille Pissarro was a Danish-French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter born on the island of St Thomas (now in the US Virgin Islands, but then in the Danish West Indies). Danish artist Fritz Melbye, then living on St. Thomas, inspired Pissarro to take on painting as a full-time profession. Pissarro is a stylistic forerunner of Impressionism, he is today considered a “father figure not only to the Impressionists” but to all four of the major Post-Impressionists, including Georges Seurat, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.

“Two Women Chatting By The Sea” by Camille Pissarro

Today on St. Thomas, arts and crafts abound in many forms of affordable jewelry, tapestries, ethnic crafts and music and occasionally fine art.

I live in the mountains of Idaho where there is a lack of cultural diversity. Visiting the Caribbean each year is always a wonderful, eye-opening experience.

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You can visit my WordPress art website,  LoriMcNee.com, and let’s meet on Facebook  Fine Art Tips Facebook Fan Page, on Twitter, Google Plus and on Pinterest and Instagram. Be sure and check out and my fine art prints and notecards on Fine Art America. ~Lori

Originally published on http://finearttips.com

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Children create art in a naive and wholesome way.

Instead of being burdened with information on color theory, artistic movements and technique, children draw, paint and color with wild abandon.

Here are some things you can learn from children’s artwork to become a better artists.

Newness – Children are exploring their world and learning about everything in it. Life is fresh and new, and that mentality is reflected in their art. Children see the world with a fresh perspective, and basing your artwork on a child’s perspective can help you also look at the world from a new perspective.

Tip: Go to a new location to sketch, or look at something you’ve seen many times (like a building or favorite object) and draw it or paint it from a new perspective. Sit on the floor or the ground (or walk around on your knees) to see the world from a child’s point of view. If you can, talk to your child (or a child you know) about a certain topic, then create your piece based on their response.

Simplicity – All a child needs is a fresh sheet of paper and a new box of crayons to get inspired and create something wonderful. Simple really is best for kids, who aren’t picky about their medium or the products they use for their art.

Tip: When you’re feeling uninspired, go back to the basics. Grab a box of crayons and a blank sheet of paper and see what you can create. Observe your child drawing and ask to draw with him or her. Even coloring in a coloring book can help you free your mind to think of ideas and inspire your own art.

Working outside the norm – From Sharpie on the wall to sidewalk chalk, kids crate in a variety of media. Kids almost never pass up the chance to create art with something new – in fact, it often inspires them even more than what they are used to using.

Tip: This one is simple; try something new. If you typically work with acrylics, use watercolor pencils, or if you sketch, paint instead. Learn a new trade, like computer design, or find a new subject matter. You probably won’t make a masterpiece on your first try, but you may learn to love it, or at the very least, learn to appreciate your chosen medium.

Have fun – For kids, the process of creating art is almost as much fun as the outcome. Art is about having a great time and expressing themselves – and sometimes, it’s about giving something handmade to mom and dad.

Tip: You became an artist for a reason. To discover the fun of creating artwork, write down a few things that remind you of why you became an artist in the first place. These could be people, places or feelings (like joy or happiness.) Take these and make a fun just-for-you piece and reflects the joy and fun of being an artist. When you’re done, the piece can serve as a reminder to always keep your artwork fun.

Access your imagination – Monster, dragons, princesses and unicorns all find a prime spot in children’s artwork. Kids have an innate ability to see the unseen due to their powerful imaginations.

Tip: Just because you’re a grownup doesn’t mean you don’t’ have a vivid imagination – it might just be repressed from years of growing up! Take inspiration from cartoons and fantasy movies, books or television shows. Read about dragons and princes rescuing princesses, or alien planets and their citizens, and then draw your interpretation of them. This can help you open your imagination and build your creativity.

About the Author: Greg Lewis has been writing freelance stories about artwork and Chicago Children’s Charities for more than a decade. When not working, Greg is either at home with his family or volunteering his time at a local children’s group.

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PS. The children’s illustrations in this post were created by my children when they were little. My oldest son, Bret McNee is now a professional 3D artist!

***Let’s talk about art on Twitter, and on my Fine Art Tips Facebook Fan Page Google Plus, Pinterest! Please checkout my art too LoriMcNee.com, or find me on Instagram lorimcneeartist. Thanks ~Lori

Originally published on http://finearttips.com

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