The Painter's Keys Content Archives
Our archive is a rich art resource of creative content and art advice. The archive contains every one of the Robert Genn Twice-Weekly Letters and Clickbacks since the year 2000. Our system is to carefully edit a large daily volume of incoming feedback from the letters--and to reduce it to a terse and economical amount of reading. Duplication only occurs by nuance, veracity is checked, point of view is encouraged, and a balanced, timeless collection is the result. By so doing we have formed a worldwide creative art community--a brotherhood and sisterhood where all flags fly.

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Getting in tune with sincerity requires a daily search of your "passion inventory." You have to clear your way past the clutter, impedimenta and obligations, not to mention your own personal bedevilments. Read On

When I first started painting 50 years ago, there were fewer accomplished artists and less expendable cash to buy art. Today there are far more artists and a peculiar disconnect in the buying of art. Read On

In one of his recent books, the American author, A.J. Jacobs, reported he had successfully outsourced his life. In the name of improving personal efficiency, he left everything odious to an outfit in India... Read On

Internal motivation can be sparked by a few minutes of quiet Zen-like reflection on earlier times and places. Work begins when you answer the question, "What do I want to do today? Read On

Internal motivation can be sparked by a few minutes of quiet Zen-like reflection on earlier times and places. Work begins when you answer the question, "What do I want to do today? Read On

Whenever I offer tips to fellow artists I'm aware that a tip may be valuable to one person and a poison pill to another. Lately, on the speaking circuit, I've been giving a little talk I call, "Two dozen tips for painterly happiness and success." Read On

I discovered "visual innocence" to be a learnable art. One needs to secretly and privately cultivate the self-delusion of surprise and even dismay. Read On

My last letter about getting euphoria from painting raised a few issues. Some folks were positively giddy reporting on the giddy positiveness they got from making art. Read On

Wondering whether there might be an evolutionary base to the kind of high we sometimes get from painting, I consulted six painter friends. Read On

"What to do?" I was asking myself. In my panic I briefly impaled myself on a brush I had forgotten to wash the day before. Read On

More than anything, creative aging means keeping the mind alive to possibilities. In the art business, one never stops learning. Read On

Does tribalism and togetherness improve creative quality? Some people will swear on a stack of "Robert's Rules of Order" that it does. Read On

More than anything, creative aging means keeping the mind alive to possibilities. In the art business, one never stops learning. Read On

We begin to understand the symbiosis between art director and illustrator, just as artists have catered to patrons throughout history. Catering, by expanding demands on an artist, can be key to greater craft and technique. Read On

More and more in later years I've come to realize that shutting up is not only cathartic, it's a positive technique for quality control and improvement. Read On

In what I call FABE (the Female Art Buying Explosion), women have less hesitancy in collecting women artists. This may be partly because female-run and female-owned galleries have risen dramatically. Read On

By encouraging more fluid, cursive and longer flourishes, the professional's prowess is revealed. After that, little dry strokes are not as much fun anymore. Read On

For those who want to inexpensively become a player on the world art stage... I found it to be a no-frills, straight-up demonstration of hands-on information. There's a learning curve, but it's not daunting. Read On

While a lot of great artists don't agree with me, a good shine can be the final touch of quality. An uneven shine interferes with this illusion. Read On

Strategic patience... precludes running off willy-nilly in a knee-jerk reaction--a reaction that often does more harm than good. Read On

A few tips on the value and execution of drawing are accompanied with some examples. Read On

Scapegoating is a natural human tendency. But blaming others for our weaknesses and perceived failure is folly. Read On

Composition is the Achilles' heel of many artists. Here are a few tips for better picture design. Read On

Using The Genn Method, our workshops are events where participants are re-energized and re-armed with techniques and systems that take them to a more professional level. Read On

Paintings that are not quite right or that are wrong to the point of abandonment sometimes deserve a second breath. Read On

The ability to focus is challenged in our society--not just with the nerve-jangled adults, but also with the new batch of kids. Read On

Some dealers can and will sell almost anything to certain customers. This situation puts an unnatural spin on the art market... Read On

Like a good poem, a good abstraction attacks your feelings before your understanding. Read On

Like a scene out of a movie, the crowd now moved toward me, their shoulder-born reggae growing in volume as they approached. Read On

Give yourself permission to fall in love and you'll partake in the miracle. Life may not be fully understood, but art is one way we can try. Read On

A creative thriver needs to be an independent self and a seeker of joy. If joy's not in you, you might need to delude yourself that it is. Read On

Not only nature binds our world, but also those among us who inadvertently or on purpose are able to share their magic. Read On

Neurologists tell us a glance to the left indicates right brain activity. A glance to the right indicates the left brain has kicked in. Read On

Right now I'm thinking those angels in the canopy may be members of the brotherhood and sisterhood that have gone before. Read On

Cruising your eyes over someone else's work in silence and with respect may be the next best thing to struggling on your own. Read On

An art guild has a poorly attended show with few sales and wonders what can be done. Read On

A painting disappears and is found again. It's the story of all our work. Read On

Robert examines the consignment system and notes current changes in the habits of art collectors. Read On

Robert takes a look at the current phenomenon of journaling and the possible daily benefits of short, positive entries. Read On

Robert shows how both love and anger can be utilized for creativity and fulfillment. Read On