Comments on: “Painting a Day” Blogs (Round 6), The Daily Painters Guild

By: samuel botchwey

samuel botchwey — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:12:55 +0000

i am samuel art student and i want you to give me some guid lines so that will help me paint well

By: Manuela Valenti

Manuela Valenti — Sun, 20 May 2007 04:02:26 +0000

I think you have touched a key. There are certainly 2 reasons why so many artists have jumped into this painting a day movement, either because they want the challenge and discipline of doing it to become a better artist, which I can see the results now myself, or they want immediate success, in other words “for the money”. Those who are doing it for the first reason will eventually encounter success, those who are doing it for the second reason I’m afraid, will soon fail at it. All serious artists paint everyday, is not a challenge to paint everyday, the challenge is to finish a paint everyday. Many take a few days or months to actually finish a painting, but this discipline pushes us to really sign one painting everyday regardless of its perfection. Is certainly a challenge an a good one for those who have embraced it as it should.

By: Ellen Perantoni

Ellen Perantoni — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:00:13 +0000

I think it’s interesting that the daily painting phenomenon evolved to the point where its groups and directories opened to artists who do not finish a painting a day. Offering a new painting for sale every day is a marketing concept. Painting every day is a life style of dedication and discipline shaping inspiration. I paint daily (paint every day) because I don’t feel fully alive if I don’t. I publish or exhibit each painting when it’s ready. It could take less than a day, or it could take years, for a given painting to reach a point where I feel it’s good enough to show the public. The daily painting phenomenon, in that it encourages hard work and alao stimulates interest in art, is a positive thing, why not?

By: Charley Parker

Charley Parker — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 05:18:09 +0000

I think “jumping on the bandwagon” is great, as long as it’s done with realistic expectations. I’m sure many painters of varying degrees of accomplishment are being successful in reaching buyers through their web sites, and I think this is terrific in a number of ways. I just think that the attitude should be one of developing as a painter first, selling and marketing second.

Thanks, all for your nice comments about the post and about lines and colors.

By: Kelley MacDonald

Kelley MacDonald — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:16:01 +0000

This is such an interesting blog and I’m so happy I just found it! I started my Painting A Day Blog about 6 weeks ago, and I don’t consider myself in the ranks of the Guild, so I’m probably one of those people you talk about ‘jumping on the bandwagon’. For me, it’s not about trying to pass myself off as more accomplished than I am by associating myself with ’successful’ painting-a-day artists on the internet. Years ago, Kevin Machpherson advocated doing 100 small paintings, on a daily basis, to improve your work. After trying this a couple of times and seeing great results, I thought this Painting A Day movement was about the same thing…not marketing, but sharing and getting feedback from other artists and a wider circle of friends who normally would not see this work. Having said that… gee, it’d be great is some people wanted to actually purchase these pieces (who would deny this?). Anyway, you’re right, there’s a wide variety of levels of sophistication on these blogs. And you may be surprised at how some of those you would consider not-so able are selling a LOT. Also if you check the blogs of the Guild, they are pretty much saavy in terms of marketing, and they do not limit themselves to internet sales, but do many other things to promote their art. Also, their styles are very similar, and this also feeds their ’success’ as a blog – people who like one, may just like another. Anyway, they seem like a very likable group and I wish them well, but I hope people take a peek at other painting bloggers as well!

By: ParisBreakfasts

ParisBreakfasts — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:22:25 +0000

I’m glad you wrote about this Charley..
Interesting developements on the painting-a-day trend.

By: Candy Barr

Candy Barr — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 02:39:55 +0000

Charley, your commentary is both positive to read and informative. Kudos to you and your support of the arts.

I do tend to agree with JAK’s remarks above. Marketing with a logo or a white box gallery in an upscale neighborhood…we’re all (artists) just trying to get positive attention with support. Revenue supports our materials and overhead. Then it’s our job to do our best work.

I’m sorry I wasn’t invited into the guild, because there are such fine painters in it. But honestly the DPG was formed the minute there was a cost associated with Daily Painters (a reason to bury their conscious?) As a member of the DailyPainters with my own site: CandyBarrArtist.blogspot.com I hope to attrack an audience is all.

By: Charley Parker

Charley Parker — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 04:31:04 +0000

I like the artists in the guild to differing degrees and in different ways, but I think they are all above the level of the large numbers of newer and less accomplished artists who are jumping on the painting-a-day bandwagon. However I think this kind of loose association is not exclusive, and by looking outside it, you may find a new and under-appreciated talent whose work is not as expensive or hard to grab before it disappears.

This is merely a group of artists gathering together with other artists whose work they respect. How different is it from a gallery in which a single person has selected a group of artists to represent that may be of differing approaches or levels of ability, but work within that gallery’s chosen framework.

I don’t think it implies a “safe investment” label, but then I balk at treating art like an investment commodity. I think you should always buy art that you like, not because you think it will accrue value. Stocks are easier to predict than the reputation and selling price of young artists as they mature. A painting you like can always be a painting you like, regardless of its monetary value.

I appreciate your comments, though and value your input as a purchaser. Thanks, also for the good words about lines and colors.

By: Charley Parker

Charley Parker — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 04:17:44 +0000

Peter,

I agree, it’s not only a great way for artists to show their work, it’s an inexpensive way for collectors to start buying original art at a price below what they could find for the same level of work in a gallery.

Galleries also benefit in the long term if it encourages people to buy original art who might feel a bit intimidated by galleries initially, and can get their feet wet buying small originals directly.

By: Charley Parker

Charley Parker — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 04:12:56 +0000

Jeff,

That sounds like a balanced approach.