Robert Genn's Twice Weekly Letter
Insight and inspiration for your artistic career.

Dear Artist,

Recently, Marylin Davies of Terrace, BC, Canada, wrote, "There are many delights for those of us pursuing our art in small towns and remote places. One of our problems is exposure to larger audiences. What are our options in these environments?"

Thanks, Marylin. The last decade has seen changes for artists in remote areas. The Internet has now situated every one of us right downtown in the Global Village. As long as there's Internet access, we can rub shoulders with any SoHo star. Time and again we learn of quality work from out-of-the-way artists who would never be noticed except for the Web.

Private sales are happening on the Internet. It's my observation that confidence is increasing, and more and more collectors are open to acting on virtual images. The Net is already the medium of choice when brick-and-mortar galleries go prospecting. They see the work first and then find out where it's from. Artists owe it to themselves to have even minimal exposure. Self-managed art sites and The Painter's Keys Free and Premium links are examples. It seems that art excitement doesn't have much to do with the slickness of a site. It has more to do with the art. Great art is discovered every day on modest sites. Unknown great artists, like flowers blooming in a desert, wilt and die unnoticed and unappreciated.

The remote life and the community of small towns are coming to be seen as the more desirable--more vital to contemplation, concentration, creative delight and the regenerating touch of Nature. At the same time there may be a lack of stimulation. Staring out into the eternal boonies can eventually stop your clock. Remotely situated artists need to find their own balance between stimulation and contemplation, between concerted, self-motivated effort and the danger of stagnation. It doesn't necessarily require the close proximity of other artists. It's okay to be the only frog in the puddle. Creators, wherever they are, need inner fire.

Keeping track may be part of the countryman's game. I once found an old journal in a deserted Yukon cabin. Pretty well every day Axel Isbister had written something like, "Today I had two eggs, chopped wood, watched my beaver, worked on the roof, had beans." The Axel of today, only slightly speeded up, might add, "Went on the Net, got stimulated, painted three oils, took digitals, put them up."

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "He who lives in solitude may make his own laws." (Publilius Syrus) "An ivory tower is a fine place as long as the door is open." (Darby Bannard) "There is no companion that is as companionable as solitude." (Henry David Thoreau)

Esoterica: A condition of value to remote artists is the "Distant Treasure Syndrome" (DTS). Like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the motivated collector goes through a lot of fright and danger to get to the desired treasure. Off-the-beaten-track artists can develop and build connectivity on this human characteristic. Psychologically speaking, people are more likely to take risks and try to score when they have travelled a long way.

If you would like to read more information related to the above letter please visit the Off the beaten track clickback


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