Strange times for an Artist

It has gotten to tough to try and predict what will happen to the art world but with social media there is more censorship than ever. I keep seeing artists I like getting their work shut down on Instagram. Most often it’s for nudity. So much shaming goes on in our country. They are finding out ways of criminalizing nudity in art. If it’s drawn out what harm is it?  I don’t feel cartoons need censorship.
We are still focused and ruled by the sports world and the military. Well, ultimately the team they want you on is USA so mostly just military everything. I am greatful for our military don’t get me wrong. They keep our freedom to draw whatever we want and I know how great this country is.
Making a living at art will only get more challenging. Everyone on the planet can make art and post it on Instagram. I loved Instagram when I first got on there... no ads, no sponsored ads just show your work... and early on all the work was amazing! The trend now is lots and lots of ads and Tons of really awful art. Lots of people just draw characters they know and call it pop culture. It would be nice to see more people make a effort to draw their own characters at least. Don’t draw Star Wars or Disney is what I mean... be your own George Lucas or a Walt. If you see an artist selling work online look into buying real art! So much affordable great art is out there... skip that movie or high ticket arena show save up and buy work for your home! Or check out designer con and get hand made toys, original art or a print maybe? You will never know how good it feels as an artist when you make a sale. When someone buys your work it’s so motivating and inspiring. Most artists suffer from depression. It’s where the emotion in our work comes from. If you see art and it speaks to you the reason is that artist is showing you something and most often they are trying to express love and beauty in this harsh world. Even dark art has much beauty if done right. Jean-Michel Basquiat and Howard Finster make powerful abstract work. So many... the list goes on... I pray galleries will survive as they are the last outlets for culture. The recent Instagram outage was a good sign that the digital world may fall one day. Save your canvas and paint supplies in case we lose power. After all they made some great work during the dark ages. Thanks for reading this if you did. This is just how I feel. Does not mean I am right. Support your favorite artist! They appreciate it more than Gene Simmons... Paul Stanley paints too if you want to give him more dough. Ciao for now!

Modern Art Life early 2019

I just read a great interview on a podcast with Jeff Soto. (You can look Jeff up on Instagram) He made great sense of the current fine art gallery world. Galleries are closing. I had my own personal physical gallery art shop I ran at a craft market here in San Pedro for four years. Things slowed due to people wanting to save money in this uncertain economy. I still sold small things like my tshirts and greeting cards but people were much less likely to buy a painting for $300 or more. Most people would spend no more than $40 on a painting so I had to fill my shop with many small works. After a a very successful three years my last year I was only making enough to pay rent on my space and buy more supplies. I have since move to Etsy online and I am back working in my home studio. Still working in what worked in my physical store and sales remain seasonal. Holidays being when sales happen especially November thru January. The Gallery I showed at (El Cuervo in El Segundo, CA) has closed but from people I met when I showed there I have other shows coming up. It’s important to attend art shows if you want to sell your work in galleries. Make contacts and especially treat your friends and colleagues with love and respect as that is where the majority of your opportunities for other shows happen. Don’t worry about artists that seem out for themselves.... the kind that would step over another artist to be the center of the show. Focus on the ones you can share ideas and techniques with. That’s how you grow as an artist. I have found every time I worried about having sales at one of my shows it would not happen. Sales were always a surprise. You just can’t predict sales. The most important thing is to keep inspired by learning about other artists. Like my gallery owners motto was, “more art, less bullshit”. Keep working and don’t stop. Work like you don’t have enough time left in the day. That’s what gallery shows take. I have many bad paintings I never showed. Work everyday you can. Well... just have fun most important. Paint like you are 10 years old...it keeps your work energized. I love to paint with other artists any chance I get to share the energy connection. That’s why taking classes and school are good. Make mistakes as much as you can... thats how you form your style and find your voice.

I plan to blog more here. I hope you enjoy it. If you do leave a comment on my Instagram page (I am on there as popkustomshoppe). Maybe we will hang on the same walls someday.
Until next time, Happy Trails! -Scott Aicher