I have been trying to get my art to a point where I can do it full time. I've tryed painting pet portraits and putting them in a flyer and placing the flyers in my vets office as well as 200 other vets offices. On responce. I have business cards that I hand out hundreds of them. I do automotive art and place ads on race tracts web site. I have sold a few that way and even was commissioned to do oil paintings of the different class champions that were given to them as part of their award. I do oil paintings of hotrods and have set up at cars shows. Everyone flips over my work but no sales. I have started painting oil paintings of classic cars and hope that maybe I can find a market there but not so far. I have done portraits for my co workers and have sold around 20 or so and have some other co workers saying they will have me do one for them. But as most artists know if everyone that said they will have me paint for them did we would have to paint 24/7. I am closing in on 60 years old and would like to get my career as an artist off the ground before I am in the ground. I almost wish I couldn't paint well. That least then I would know why I can't get it going. But I know that I can paint very good but that seems not to be what it takes to make it. Why is it someone can take worms dip them in paint and let them loss on a canvas and people can't buy enough of those paintings. Or let an Elephant paint with it's trunk and people go crazy over that. I may be wrong but to me thats not art. Maybe people don't see quality and talant and thought and skill and craftmenship as having value anymore. I am starting to belive that maybe there isn't room for real art and people value cheap prints and can't see the value of fine art over and original hand painted oil painting or watercolor. I hope thats not the truth but it sure is looking like that to me. I have a web site with 90 or so pictures of my artwork. Some are from back in the 80s and that go up to some painted this year. Take a look and you tell me. Is my work good or am I wasting my time trying to make it as an artist. I leave it up to you.

Thank you for sharing with us the experience of your alma mater. Your talent as an artist was inborn, but that answers the question of your curiosity, enthusiasm and passion for art. Creativity needs to be nurtured and cultivated. Painting is a process, not a destination, and the more one can absorb, digest and utilize, the more exciting and quixotic the journey. Thanks again. Margo Buccini

I have painted scenes of nature since 1960s. It was of great use to me as a secretary in a large Corporate office in the Seagram Building where I had to have salary check to pay my rent, to hang my paintings in all the offices for the comments about my artwork. When it came time to close the NYC branch, the lawyer who took over our lease bought all my paintings! Wherever I went, offices got more of my paintings on loan. In the 1980s I found a gallery whose owner replaced all the paintings he had with what I brought to him, and they sold well. I know my work was loved. In the last three years, nothing sold--the art market in the US has been in a recession. Whatever I hear a person would love to have in a painting, I paint it, as a gift. If we do not use our talent, we lose it. I thrive on the comments of my work while the recipient loves the painting I have supplied for their home and family's enjoyment for years to come. Universal Love will pay me when I have a need.

I'm not sure if you knew a special and wonderful artist friend of mine of over 25 years who was an instructor at Art Center named Donald "Putt" Putman but it is with heavy heart that I tell you he died on Nov. 23rd this past year. He painted with a group of us every Friday, critiqued our work giving valuable bits of knowledge and was a treasure to the art world. He will be sorely missed.

To Greg Rapier, above: Gee, Greg, if you want people to contact you or look at your art, maybe you should include an EMAIL ADDRESS and a WEBSITE URL in your post! If you are this negligent in your marketing efforts as well, it would be small wonder that you are not very successful, even if you are the most talented artist alive! I notice too, that you are all over the place, both in your Rant above and in the subjects of your art - it is unfocused. And learning to spell correctly would lend you some credence as a professional as well. The long and the short of it is this: If you want to change conditions in your life for the better, YOU have to take responsibility for it, not blame your failures on people's tastes or painting elephants. Keep reading Robert's letters, and read others as well: I've found Alyson Stanfield's Artbizcoach.com newsletter to be particularly useful.

To Greg: I decided to take a look at your web site. I would have to say that, at this point, you are not ready to make it as an artist. You are painting in a realistic style, and yet there is no attention paid to lost and found edges, your knowledge of tonal values is weak, and your approach to your subject matter is ordinary. Not to be unkind, but it is not enough to simply capture a likeness. My advice to you is to take classes or attend workshops with well known artists. Or look at books of paintings by artists you admire and try to figure out why they are successful. We can learn at any age if we are willing to admit that we have a lot to learn.

Greg, I'm on the same side as Lily here. You're paintings are good, but they don't jump off the page. There's something that you're missing. Increasing your knowledge of the craft to give you that extra push you need to get your paintings off the ground. On a closing note, maybe you're doing too much of everything. Focus on what you enjoy doing the most instead of trying to be good at everything. P.S. I enjoyed your automotive paintings.

Greg, I don't know if it's too late for comments. I feel for you and hope that you don't lose heart. You obviously enjoy the art world. If I may critique your work.......I like your portraitry best, of all your topics (I include the cars in this category for purposes of this writing). One thing I observed in all of your work is that there is some lack of depth and intrigue. I wondered why I found that to be so and came to the conclusion that it was 'SHADING'. There are almost no shadows shown anywhere. I think your work would improve dramatically if you played with the light. That's my 2 cents' worth. Keep painting for without it guys like you and me (same age as you) might as well roll over and..... Last point, (nothing to do with your artistic abilities): as pointed out by David Stewart, correct your spelling and writing for, rightly or not, your level of professionalism is judged by these too! Bonne Chance, mon ami.

Thank you all for your comments. They are valued by me and even though it's not plesant to hear it is what I have been looking for.Honesty is some times difficult to find. I work for Gallo winery on the swing shift and because I have to commute over 64 miles one way my job uses up 12 hour everyday. Because I’m so tired and worn out at the end of the day I didn’t take the time to write my post that I should of. In rereading my posting I can see why people would think I was ranting. That wasn’t my goal and I apologies for that. Because of the hours I work I can’t get into any art groups and have never had many friends that know and understand art. I very much appreciate everyone taking the time to check out my work and for the criticism and pointers. I have thick skin and can take it. I have six of Quinten Gregory’s videos and a few books by other artist’s. I feel that the comment about not shading enough is a very good point. I think I need to put more contrast in my work. My desire is to become a better artist and to gain the respect of other artist. I hope this time my writing is a little more structured and is void of rants. The only contact I have with the artist’s world is this web site. I feel that I have made a good move to put myself out there and this has been a positive learning experience. Although it’s has been painful it has been good and I have grown because of it.

To Anne Mcclure: Thank you for the information about Donald "Putt" Putman's passing. It has been many years. He was a generous teacher and fine painter. Us artists have a special bond with each other, don't we!

I'd appreciate a comment from someone concerning something that I must admit shocked me, shocked my "gut". (I thought I was past being shocked in that I type ER reports and everything and am privy to more than most). A "student" of mine came back to class to me and showed me what she worked on. It was a try at a replica of a postcard I had done. I tried hard NOT to groan. Oh, I wanted to pull her outside and have her draw from nature, but alas, it is winter in Michigan and she is just starting, I believe, in art, also at over age 60. So I sucked it in and just re-directed her to coloring a picture I had inked in, with WC pencils, and we conversed pleasantly as we both worked. I think where I may be screwing up is I am showing her "how good I am" so as to command some sort of respect. Anyway, I need to be other directed and show her how good she is. She did do a pastel of another color painting and I told her I really liked her interpretation of it. What is easy for me to forget is all the copying I did as a kid and adolescent before I ever got to plein air. Not all my stuff is plein air. I did bring fake flowers, silk, still lifes, but we didn't get to them. I showed her my mobile WC pencil make-up travel kit and encouraged her to copy that idea. Your comments are appreciated and welcomed.

Val, I wonder if your student is an adult or a child. I believe that artists can teach adult artists, but children require professional teachers who understand the development process and psychology. Otherwise, damage can be done. My 2c.

Yes, Tatjana: Those ladies are all over 55 years old. They really seem to enjoy discussing real estate and grandchildren (and their diagnoses) more than art. I felt rude interrupting them to give them the lesson several times this past Monday. I showed 2 new gals my portfolio (one of them) at end of class and my student I've had 2 times before (3rd time this last time) said "Now we'd like to copy THAT ONE", as she pointed to a watercolor yellow lily. I told her it was watercolor (we're exploring WC pencil) and she said that was alright, they'd do it. Guess I'll make them all Bk and wt light copies to color. Guess I'll bring a still life also.