Dear Artist,
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.” I start by suggesting that we all need to be our own tipsters and some of my so-called tips may not be for everyone. Nevertheless, I have a copy of my current batch printed out to hand around after the event. We’ve posted this tip-sheet at the bottom of this letter. If you go there, you’re on your own.
The Council of the Royal Academy selecting Pictures for the Exhibition, 1875, 1876
Oil on canvas
145.2 x 220.1 cm
by Charles West Cope, RA (1811 – 1890)
Curiously, when following other tip-givers who also go from club to club, I often find the eager tip-takers have taken down some wonderfully contradictory tips. Typical is “Before starting, draw your composition carefully,” and “Do not draw–go directly to composing with patches of colour and tone.” Such are the hazards of tipstering. That being said, here are three tips you may not have heard before:
1. Rather than go with your first choice in a composition, go with your second choice. Your first is likely to be in your comfort zone, but it is your second choice that will stretch your capabilities and expose new creativity. How to do this? Slowly rotate yourself in a full circle, taking every possibility into consideration. Sort out and at least anticipate the potentials of every angle before you start.
The Thorn, 1866
Oil on canvas
91.5 x 71 cm
by Charles West Cope
2. Pause frequently during the production of your work and reconsider your options. The simple business of strategizing and thinking ahead can save you a lot of downstream angst. If you find yourself too far into your end-game and not in good shape, courageously strike out an over-rendered passage. This audacious act often frees you up for further improvement.
3. Regularly refill your “Patience Bucket.” While fresh, energetic, speedy brushing can be desirable, there is often a time to slow down and let things evolve with a more deliberate, tender and measured stroking. A work-in-progress can be your confederate friend. Let him gently speak to you and don’t be socially embarrassed if you gently answer back. Your half-realized friend secretly wants to help you win big. I should wind this up with one of my all time best tips: “You are your own best tipster.”
The Fable, 1870
Oil on canvas
91.5 x 125.5 cm
by Charles West Cope
Best regards,
Robert
PS: “Beware of geeks bearing formulas.” (Warren Buffett)
Esoterica: In the “Zingers” section on page 947 of my book The Twice-Weekly Letters are two consecutive items. Ralph wrote, “I like it because you don’t give pat little recipes like some other instructors.” Then Phyllis wrote, “I really appreciate all the little tips from time to time.” Then there’s Henry’s contribution on page 943: “Stick to tips, Robert, we are tired of your philosophizing all the time. There is no room for philosophy in this business.” I love it when people give me tips.
Two dozen tips for painterly happiness and success
1. Have your paint squeezed out before your mind is in gear.
2. Accept a lifetime of perpetual studenthood.
3. Learn to love the masters and to know who they truly are but don’t fall in love with the media that presents them.
4. Appreciate the value of silence and private thought. Value work above words.
5. Alternate your work zones with some form of physical activity.
6. Listen to the music that has been within you from your youth.
7. Constantly ask of yourself and your work “what could be?”
8. Strategize your time, your playtime and your worktime.
9. Build a strong ego and sense of entitlement. Know thyself.
10. Learn to work under all conditions and privations.
11. Work from life, from your own reference, and from your imagination.
12. Accept the gift of a life in art and know it is a high and noble calling–both a miracle and a responsibility.
13. Learn to be your own best critic and counsel.
14. Purge your lesser work regularly.
15. Don’t enter too many group shows, contests or competitions.
16. Don’t even think about applying for grants.
17. Do take occasional workshops from competent professionals.
18. Have a lifelong mission to enhance the lives of others.
19. If you decide to be commercial, find effective and motivated dealers and galleries in other cities, give them geographical protection, and replace their stock often. Run the commerce side of your business like a mutual fund and don’t become dependent on one stock. Follow your nose, not your dealer’s. Be prolific. If you want to be an apple vendor you’ve got to have apples in your apple cart.
20. Know that no matter what happens, most of the joy is in the craft.
21. Know that you’re part of a great international brotherhood and sisterhood of artists who are living now and have gone before.
22. Be philosophic about art trends and fashions and the often perceived unfairness of the game. Follow your own nose, it is a good guide for a lot of things in life, and above all know that quality will always be in style.
23. Give generously of yourself, but don’t burn up all your creativity by teaching. There is a time to give and a time to sell. Accept your gift. Neither an ogre nor a patsy be.
24. Go to your room.
This letter was originally published as “Tips for you” on May 1, 2012.
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17 Comments
I recall printing out this list when it first appeared on Painters Keys and I’m glad to see it published again. In my experience over the past 10 years, each of Robert’s tips has indeed contributed to my painterly success and happiness. “Be prolific” and “Go to your room” are among my favorites!
And I was thinking that #12 should read as “the gift of a life in Art is a high and noble calling – both a miracle and a curse. At least some days it feels like that!
Ha ha! Good one, Martin!
“Go to your room” is the best and says it all.
There’s another part to this tip:
“Go to your room. It will tell you everything.”
A quote by Thomas Merton, I believe.
Some days its so hard to keep on tract. Purging work is also a challenge but I’m getting there. I don’t want my children to have to do it. I’m declining group shows. I will be in a show this summer. I’m not gonna worry about content till closer to the time. I’m gonna keep painting till then. Loved Robert’s letter and yours Sara. Have been reading them since they started in 1998 or so.
Some days its so hard to keep on tract. Purging work is also a challenge but I’m getting there. I don’t want my children to have to do it. I’m declining group shows. I will be in my own show this summer. I’m not gonna worry about content till closer to the time. I’m gonna keep painting till then. Loved Robert’s letter and yours Sara. Have been reading them since they started in 1998 or so.
Some days its so hard to keep on tract. Purging work is also a challenge but I’m getting there. I don’t want my children to have to do it. I’m declining group shows. I will be in my own show this summer. I’m not gonna worry about content till closer to the time. I’m gonna keep painting till then. Loved Robert’s letter and yours Sara. Have been reading them since they started in 1998 or so.
This is just lovely. Thank you Sara for reprinting it. Can’t recall if I read it the first time but I loved reading it today.
Rebecca
I love this! Thank you so much for sharing your father’s wisdom and yours. It’s a delight to read.
So appreciate these tips … they apply to artists who don’t ‘paint’ as well.
One of the bestest! I’m pretty sure I copied those down in a notebook somewhere. Need to do that again and hang it next to the first part of “Hokusai Says” across from my workspace. They fit like hand and glove.
Please keep up your brilliant ideas & enthusiam & generosity sharing it all with us (the unknown).
I so would love to join in your workshops. Unfortunately family life is too demanding.
One would think @ the ripe “old age” of 77 I could put my “foot down” & declare my wishes.
Soon, soon, soon!
AAAaaaaaah, love this reminder of tips!! I recall the original post and being at that time, SO wanting to get there to all those places on the list. I recall the fear of stepping away from the pack, the negative reactions accusing me of thinking I was too good for them all. It’s hard to step away and follow your own nose when you have developed artistically within a shared world with others. It took time to understand what “going to my room” really meant. It took time to truly feel the true purpose of painting for my own path, and not for competition against fellow artists. I was looking at my dusty collection of ribbons awarded in shows in the past and wondering what they all mean. I know I am a bit cynical, but most of those ribbons were awarded for very ordinary works, nothing that great, and really don’t feel like a badge of honour whatsoever. I suppose I felt encouraged to keep painting. I think the tips of those few artists who had good tips, like Robert’s, were my best encouragement. I’m going to follow my nose to my room now. THANK YOU!! :)
Wonderful list! I think #18 is my battle charge:
Have a lifelong mission to enhance the lives of others.
For me, the importance of a legacy is of utmost importance. Plus, it helps to bring many of the other tips into play as well.
Thank you!!
Life is art and music, love , pleasure and pain, great tips for living!!!
Always welcome the insights of THE PAINTER’S KEYS! have followed you for some time & these tips are just so special. I work hard painting better than I did yesterday so I am open to quality tips & suggestions. In a world of wham bam, glitz & cheap tricks, quality & truth in painting still stay supreme. Art talks to those who listen.
Thank you for sharing & kind regards