I was in Dallas this past weekend to celebrate my nephew's birthday.  We had a little bit of time and my mother and I ran into the Dallas Art Museum before heading off to the party.  There is a special Matisse exhibit at the museum that she had seem previously and she was enthused to see it again...going to the same exhibit with different people will change the experience and deepen your understanding.

On my weekly Artist Success Studio conference call (www.artistsuccessstudio.com) we discussed Matisse because I am spotlighting the birthdays of the masters as they come up on the calendar.  I had information about Matisse that was beyond the one word paragraphs on the wall.  I knew more about the end of his life and career than most want to share because he was so ill.

Upon leaving the museum my mother had me tell everyone we met about the exhibit and the new things she learned about Matisse.  She would have me share my information with everyone who would stand still long enough to listen.  Becoming a successful artist means that we are well versed in art, not just our art.  We have to be able to hold our own or educate those willing to listen.  If all we can do is talk about our pieces and not the lineage of our inspiration, the ideas about realism and abstraction, etc. then we become simply technicians.  Successful artists are engaged in the world of art, not in their own world of art.

Do yourself a favor and go get a biography on an artist.  Go hear a lecture at the art museum on a particular era of art.  Become dynamic with your sense of inquiry and willingness to share.

Dazzle me...
Greg

coaching artists to success