SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW! | FineArtViews Blog by Canvoo

This post is by guest author, Bobette Bird. This article has been edited and published with the author's permission. You should submit an article and share your views as a guest author by clicking here.

SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW!

You have probably been painting for a long time; focusing on your own work, style, and techniques. You've been learning, changing, growing, and marketing. Renew yourself by giving to others less knowledgeable than you are.

There are vast numbers of "wanna be" artists out there. They've received various levels of exposure to painting instruction or experience in working in more than one medium. However, some don't even have a basic familiarity with art forms, terminology, materials, or techniques.

Many art buyers and collectors fall into the above group but don't have the time, motivation or real desire to do the hard work to become an artist. They do seek guidance in the understanding, evaluation and appreciation of art to become knowledgeable collectors.

THINK ABOUT VOLUNTEERING to share what you know and demonstrate what you do best and love to do: drawing, painting, print making or interpreting art in exhibitions and shows for others; whatever your talent may be. You will profit by the experience in many ways that will more than repay you for the effort and time to prepare and execute the endeavor. Find art groups looking for instructors, artists to give demonstrations, lecturers, or guides for groups who wish to visit museums, galleries or studios. The planning process will cause you to think, maybe even re-evaluate your subject, and organize your ideas and materials for a presentation Out of this exercise you might develop new insights for your own work and even new directions.

Leading and interacting with your audience be they participants in a workshop, listeners, or learning artists, will be a stimulating and instructive experience for you. You will be challenged in ways you haven't even conceived. You will feel rewarded and inspired by the appreciation and admiration expressed for your knowledge and experience. The reward comes with a feeling of fulfillment and accomplishment...and new collectors for your work might follow.

I base this advice on doing demonstrations for "Artists in Action" in an art museum in California. They are held in the large foyer of the museum where there are visitors passing by as well as those who come specifically for the demonstrations. They have become popular events, drawing large audiences, twice a month. The artists enjoy sharing what they know and do. Also, I have helped painting groups organize in a community, found instructors for them, sometimes do a demo myself and have planned exhibitions for the group. It has been a rewarding experience and accolades have followed.

Think about giving to others to renew yourself.

Bobette Bird