Van Gogh's advice

If I were to think of and dwell on disastrous possibilities, I could do nothing. I throw myself headlong into my work, and come up again with my studies; if the storm within gets too loud, i take a glass too much to stun myself
Vincent Van Gogh

More Artist Resources

Quote of the Day- "People that are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents." Andrew Carnegie
Originally pilfered from "The Painter's Key's" - a great web site if you didn't know it.

O.K. - Here's what my travels found today.
First of all, someone from deviant art turned me on to "Raymond Saunders" who is a living artist. African American and originally from the Pittsburgh area (same as me) he does work that to me seem like an updated version of "Basquiat". I'm very excited about looking at more of this artist work. He deals with some of the same issues as Basquiat and many of the paintings have that same Jazz tone to them.

Don't know if this will pan out or not but if you're still looking for web site help - check out,
http://www.beautifulartistwebsites.com - It looks like they might have something going on, haven't checked into their prices yet. It says that they make museum quality sites and at first glance it appears that they do. Very nice.

In conjunction with that site-check out http://www.artmarketingsecrets.com
Read a couple of quick articles and the 2nd one was already worth taking the time to get involved with this site. Such subjects as getting organized as an artist , and are you serious about becoming a professional, and getting galleries to visit your site.

If you're reading this blog, leave me a note once in awhile so i know you've been by.

Collage 2004-Mixed Media 

Artist Statement Help and Coaching

o.k. people! Who needs an artist statement done? Have you been putting it off for months and months dreading the job? Don't understand what to write? When it was time for me to start putting mine togeather i knew i would never get it done unless i had some help.
TA-DA! This woman is amazing! I consider her to be one of the best tools in my toolbox for becoming a professional artist. Today when i went to her site, I found out that she is also doing coaching and I know she would be an awesome coach. I hear so many artist complaining about not knowing how to get their career off the ground. You have to realize that being an artist is also part being a business person. If you can't handle the business details, then just sit those canvas in the corner and wait for some friends to come over and look at them. If you want the world to see them, then you need to get your work out to the market. Still clueless? PLEASE, for your own sake-go check this woman out-she's of the highest caliber of professionalism.
http://www.artist-statement.com - Tell her Margaux sent you

Constructivism

Constructivist art is marked by a commitment to total abstraction and a wholehearted acceptance of modernity. Often very geometric, it is usually experimental, rarely emotional. Objective forms which were thought to have universal meaning were preferred over the subjective or the individual. The art is very reductive as well, paring it down to it's most basic elements.
"Pilfered off the web, but i shut the window before i listed the source here" Sorry to not be able to provide the original source materials. Apologies to Author."

I'm very interested in this at the moment. I think that's what i would say my latest works are leaning to. It's hard to find very good information on this tho. One of the best living artist that i can find would be Paula Harwood, tho she works very heavily in collage. Check her out:
http://www.paularharwood.com

been spending alot of time this morning over at the painters keys. I did some big drawings, outlined a new canvas, and did about 5 smaller drawings that will be watercolors or charcoal pencils.
Gotta get some more listings up on Art-by-us.

Art Coach

O.K. All you artist that say you need help with getting to the top. Jack White is one of the top art coaches in the US and him and his wife, who is also a painter, both know how to make over a million a year. They are both painters. This is the book that really made my art career take off. It sent me off like a rocket.
He does go off on a couple of tangents, but the overall basics of the book are great. Really great nuts-and-bolts for getting serious.
The e-book is 24.50 and was worth every penny to me. It's called "Mystery of Making It"

So, hop on over to http://www.senkarikstuff.com/books.htm

Gotta go list some painting on e-bay and the new on-line gallery i just joined. and eat some ice cream

Quote of the Day

"Go on working, freely and furiously, and you will make progress." Paul Gauguin

New Artist Marketing Tips

Well, tonight while i was working out on the treadmill, I stopped for a break and got lost in Cyber Land. I can't remember how I got so sidetracked but I found two new resources that I like.
One is a new Gallery that seems to have some good artist represented- http://eyeoftheart.com
I think i'll upload some work there and see how it goes during the free 30 day trial. It's 9 something per month after that, which is steeper than any other of the galleries I belong to. If I upload high resolution images, they will handle my print sales for me. canvas and fine art prints.

The 2nd resource looks good but I didn't get to check out very much cause I went right over to Eye of the Art.
It's marketing and coaching advice for artist. It's called "The Art repreneur.com"
Located at http://www.theartrepreneur.com

This whole blogger thing would go alot faster if it would let me cut and paste.

Support your local and not so local living Abstract Artist!!
Now it's 9:42 at night and i haven't finished working out and i'm even missing CSI. Well, they're all kind of the same now days anyway.

A little bit of what i need to tell you

Currently working on 24 x 36 Paintings. Working alot on Color Mixing and learning the combinations by heart. Focusing on Composition and Color. I was blocked for awhile so i started again with the basics. I've been wanting to work on a series for awhile called " What's in a Square?". So you'll be seeing more paintings that feature the square, in different sizes, in sets of three's, and testing the limits of what you can really build with just a square.
The other series i am working on is called "A line is a dot that kept on walking." These will feature my geometrics and working with line in just basic good design. Traditionally, i worked with darker colors, so i'm lightning up the palette so more people can relate to the work. I'm still having a problem working with pastel colors. It's just not me. So many people have asked for those colors.
check out my lastest stuff at:
http://stores.ebay.com/Abstract-Art-by-Margaux-Vaughn
or www.margauxvaughn.com

Welcome

Hello friends and fans,
Apparently starting a blog is one of the newest marketing must-haves so here i go. I suppose i'll use this blog to keep track of my goals and let people know what's going on in the studio and where my heads at with my art, auctions, and selling avenues. Please keep in touch and please make a purchase whenever you can, however small so i can continue to buy canvas and paints, plus a few groceries. Being a full-time artist has been my dream ever since college. I finally have the time and space to make it happen. I have been blessed with a gift and i know that it is my true destiny. I have done so many types of art and am now settling down to painting and will give it my all. Each person who is interested in my work really means alot to me and i welcome any comments you have. Many of you know me from deviant art, e-bay, several on-line galleries, or maybe just have been friends with me for over 20 years. Please keep in touch and stop by the blog once in awhile. It's faster than getting a letter from me.
Margaux