Conservative Artists and updates to art blog.

Sharing some updates to my art blog for those interested. I've also included a link to a website devoted too advancing conservative artists. There are quite a few different styles of artists on the website but all are either libertarians or conservatives. They are looking for artists to join, so if you are a conservative artist, you might want to check them out.

Thanks for the links.

Mike, have you read “The $42 Million Stuffed Shark?”

http://www.amazon.com/Million-Stuffed-Shark-Economics-Contemporary/dp/0230620590/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328976347&sr=8-1

Do you have any reading suggestions for an oil painter who is a classical realist getting their art out there to show and sell?

I don't know of any good books specifically related to selling. I have been concentrating on just producing work and refining my style. I just recently switched from acrylics to oils and it was a big struggle, but I'm really liking the oils now.

This past year I have had some sales, which is nice. But nothing huge by any means. Most of my sales came through facebook or through being a part of a local art league. But again, I haven't been concentrating on sales at all, just producing work and updating my site.

The only things i can suggest is to first, get an art blog. My site is just a freebie. You can get a good one at Blogspot. Second, join a local art group and also, very important, join some state wide art groups. Here in PA I am a member of Daily Painters of PA. The cost it minimal and you have to post a few times each month, but it gets you exposure. I was asked to participate in the Gettysburg Arts Festival two years ago due to someone just seeing my work on that website.

Another thing, get a local gallery to support you. I have two locally. Right now, it's tough because of the economy. Art is one of those things people only buy when they have extra income. In my area it's pretty depressed. I've also exchanged emails with artists that actually are making a living at it and this is the advice I was given. What I am telling you is what they have told me. Here are a couple more links for you.

First, if you are a classical artist.. this book will be tremendous for you "The Painter in Oil" by Daniel Burleigh Parkhurst. A tremendous book! He was a student of William Bouguereau. The book covers everything from paints to studios to canvas to techniques. Another site... ArtRenewalCenter You will love this site. Devoted to the renewal of realism. They have a large online museum and an upcoming salon you could enter. Another site...WetCanvas. WetCanvas is a hard site to navigate.. but they have articles and forums on everything. You can find resources there on tips to selling your work and talk to artists who are actually doing it. Oh.. and here is the link to DailyPaintersofPA. This is the statewide group I joined. It will give you an idea of how these sites look and operate. I am sure every state has one similar. I hope this helps.

Wow, thanks for all this great information. I just ordered the Daniel Parkhurst book from Amazon; it was $35 for the 1898 edition and will be a great gift for my artist friend. Bouguereau is her favorite artist.

A couple years ago we went to see one of his paintings, it was mother with child and angels hovering about—don’t know the exact name, but it was huge and located at the main office of Forest Lawn in Los Angeles. Just a small establishment, no one around except one clerk in another room and this giant painting that should be worth way more than a $12 million stuffed shark. Seeing it in person was an experience. No photo of it can give one even an inkling of the skill of the painter. The skin tones! It’s like there’s an internal light underneath the skin of the figures.

Thanks again for all the fantastic info.

If you love William Bouguereau, make sure you explore the Art Renwal Center website. He is their main master artist. Lots of information there on him, in fact, the man who started the website said he stumbled upon one of his paintings and had never heard of him before.. and here he had been a major world artist in the late 1800 early 1900's. The modern artists wiped Bougereau out of the history books. They hated him. I have two art degrees. Never heard of him either until about 5 years ago. If you check any art history books/text books for colleges or schools.. no mention of him. Yet.. he was a major artist known around the world during his time. Here is a direct link to his page at ARC.... Bougereau I am sure you will find the painting you were referring to at ARC. If I can ever help you again, just pm me.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.