Sir Keir Starmer RSVP?
Starmer: Everyone ‘deserves chance to be touched by art’ | Weekly art practice 64 | The Outsider Artist known as SLART.
NEW HERE? WHAT'S THIS WEEKLY ART PRACTICE ALL ABOUT?
Every Saturday, I share my weekly art practice journey. I'm captivated by the process – not just the finished pieces but everything from influences to materials. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at an artist's world.
[If this masterpiece is too long for email, you can read Cream of the Crop in Substack. Or download the Substack app.]
I don't know if you've heard the saying "The universe will keep teaching you the same lesson until you learn it." Of course, I don't know if this is true, but it feels true in my experience.
has been gently nudging me towards planning, structure, being organised, basically useful things that artists generally hate! I know intellectually that it's true, but my emotions haven't allowed me to embrace this truly. I'm not blaming my emotions, but they are certainly blocking me from embracing structure. This could be a huge blind spot for me, it could be THEEEEEE thing standing between me and becoming a successful artist.Mr L was sent from the universe to remind me…I don't mean in a woo-woo way, I just mean that he came along and reminded me strongly. What really stood out in what he said was, paraphrasing: Why do militaristic institutions, big corporations, and power-hungry zealots manage to succeed, even when their methods are obviously toxic and borderline psychopathic? Wow, is this a question that any artist wants to entertain? We just want to float around and paint, held back by beliefs that money is bad and creating art for commercial gain is bad. Bladdy blah blah.
Is it that the artists who make a good living have peace in their minds about the balancing act of creation and selling? Having a lack of self-criticism? I know it's not always as black and white, as you will get some artists who just want to create commercially, or solely live on creating commissions for people, as Shagun says…
Is my lack of wanting to learn how to paint stopping me from progressing? What is stopping me? People say it takes time, people say that many artists work a day job…they have to, don't you know? I'm not satisfied with settling on what people have done before or the status quo. I need to go beyond this, break down my own barriers and perceptions, the beliefs that stop me.
What would guarantee my success as an artist? What does success look like to me? If I don't know where I'm going, how will I know if I'm there? Could I spend the rest of my life working 2-3 days a week in a job then 2 days a week painting? I don't know, but that feels a lot better than the current 5 days of working, then being too tired with no time left to paint.
Does it have to be so black and white? All or nothing? I need to get all of this out. I'm tired, exhausted, tired of being hopeful that it will happen one day. Even my "I'll give it a year" plan isn't a plan…it's a hope. Memento Vivere is part of that hope, but I must engineer its success, not leave it to chance. What makes a successful art exhibition? It's something I've not even thought about. Have you? Is a lot of it down to it simply being in your awareness and then the art connecting with you?
I stumbled across this post and wanted to share this with you. It's very apt regarding what I've been reflecting on. I spent a lot of my life, my headspace, worrying, firefighting, ticking off errands, basically in a state of anxiety. Now, if you know me, you'll know that things are infinitely better than when I was younger. Anxiety stopped me from working for quite a few years, and social interaction was genuinely painful. But even now, I get such a visceral feeling of being attacked when someone even slightly disagrees with me. So…the quote…
"One would have to sit down in front of a mirror, just once in their life, and try to recognize who is truly looking back at them. And I believe so few do this because what actually stares back is a lost, confused child, wandering aimlessly, driven by countless false lights, ready to sell its own soul for the satisfaction of its lowest urges, ready to cast stones at whoever is offered up as guilty, and worshiping itself in vain self-glorification."
We're all scared children to varying degrees. We're thrust into this world, and our parents/caregivers guide us as best they can. They do their best, to varying degrees, and then we're told to grow up and stand on our own two feet. My own mother did a lot for me, and it took a lot to learn how to look after myself…not blaming her one bit, but it shows how unprepared I was to be out in the world on my own two feet.
If I boil it down, no one is going to create this art career for me, but there is a way that guarantees success (however that is defined). I know, I know, I know that there's a lot of information out there saying there's no path to becoming an artist and it's just a combination of luck, talent and persistence.
Even Google Gemini is indoctrinated with limitations. One of its opening sentences after I asked "Give me specific advice on how to earn £50k per year as an artist, practical tips only, no theories" it said "The ambition to become a full-time professional artist in the UK with a consistent annual income exceeding £50,000 is a significant yet attainable goal." Why is it significant? If I asked for the same but replaced it with GP, what would it say?
"Undertaking locum GP work in England presents another flexible and potentially lucrative option for increasing income." It doesn't say anything about being ambitious, does it?
Back to Shagun…
I've also thought, perhaps I've had the path right in front of me, but I've not been willing to do it. Who can say for certain? There are art-selling courses out there that help artists become self-sufficient commercially. Is it just me? If I just emotionlessly followed the courses, would I succeed? Have you succeeded in this manner?
I’m going off on a tangent again, you can read my rant about breaking down capitalistic barriers in the artwork. (I never use the word capitalistic in real life, I seem to write with bigger words than I speak.)
I’d like to give a shout out
for having a live chat on Substack with this week. Not just for that, but the way she is thriving on this platform, it’s a sight to behold. Also, weirdly, or maybe not so weirdly, she reminds me of a younger, brighter version of my late mother if she weren’t so weighed down by the world.Next up…Please, can you support my bro
by buying his beautiful geometric art for $60 (An absolute steal in my opinion), free US shipping.
I will also recommend
until I am blue in the face, she’s such a nourishing influence on me, and artists in general. I mean, read these uncut gems…How encouraging are those?!!! VERY!
What’s next in my brain?… oh yes, I submitted a piece of my art to
’s 500 challenge with this piece. Thanks, Jerry for supporting emerging artists!
In short, Jerry does an annual post on Instagram where she offers to buy an artwork for $500, but also shares some of the other artists’ works she likes. To me, it seems like the type of open call that’s actually worth submitting to, as it has some tangible value, and not just another online magazine that charges artists $50 to appear in, which gets seen by no one. Jerry cares about artists, so check out her reel here.
Finally, I invited Sir Keir Starmer to Memento Vivere (my ADD brain sent me there) as it turns out, he is the local MP for Camden, where the Crypt Gallery is located. In one of his speeches, he said about his commitment to making arts and culture more accessible to everyone, especially by reforming the education system to ensure every child has the chance to study creative subjects and experience the life-changing power of art.
…And we all need a reminder about the power of art.
That is all for now, take care everyone.
Memento Vivere: Remember to live.
Have a great Saturday.
Best wishes,
SLART.
P.S. One more thing, could you please leave a 4 or 5-star (Hopefully not 1,2 or 3) review on my SLART Google page? I'm looking to enhance my online presence as an artist, and this small, straightforward, and swift action would be immensely beneficial. Cheers!
🙏 Mr L! Ha! Love that you featured Vigor as well in this one....on the road currently, just skimmed through this- will take it all in once I land and settle in. Much love, much appreciated my friend- good movements already in motion....
Walking with you, SLART. I love that you invited Sir Keir! I want him to come, too!