When an artist paints a still life painting, he faces the challenge of "motion", because obviously, in a still life painting, there is no motion. The problem is that if a painting doesn't "move", as in getting the viewer to move his eyes around the painting, then that painting is boring and lacking "life" or interest. Any work of art has to be dynamic and interesting to be a good work of art. So, the challenge is that the still life artist has to learn how to create motion through his composition, content, color, brushstrokes, etc. That takes some practice, but it can be achieved.

The artist also has the problem of creating motion in his art "business". That is, the business of exhibiting, selling and making oneself known in the art world and beyond. I know dozens of artists who create and have extraordinary artwork, but they barely ever exhibit. I know others who exhibit but who don't promote their work on social media or elsewhere. Occasionally, I'll hear of an artist who has sold some work or has gotten a gallery to represent them, but the bottom line is that the majority of artists don't create motion in their business of art. They work in a sort of vaccuum, staying within their small group of artists, wondering how well-known artists do it. 

It's pretty simple but it does take a certain amount of courage to step out and create motion for and with their art.

First and foremost is believing in yourself. Know that there are plenty of people out there, friends included, who are more than happy to tell you that it can't be done, that your art isn't good enough, that the economy isn't right, on and on, ad nauseum. Just skip all that noise and negative energy. Somewhere out there, there are collectors that want the art that you have to offer. But they will never know that you exist until you create some motion.

Second is making yourself known through promotion and marketing. And that can be as easy as printing up a flyer or a postcard. Don't worry about being obnoxious. The people who are not interested in what you do will drop off your mailing lists but the ones who admire your work and who are interested will stick around to get the next "announcement" from you.

I have an enormous solo exhibition coming up in June 2025, titled "Old World, Tin and Metaphor". I'll be featuring almost 100 original still life oil paintings, all created within the last five years. I've been promoting this show since last November 2024. I've sent out postcards to my mailing list every month. I've added the information to my monthly newsletters. I've posted on social media. I've mailed press releases to both print media and local television stations. In other words, I'm creating motion. 

And guess what has happened? I now have people telling me when my opening reception is and that they plan to be there. 

My art colleagues are amazed at what a great marketing guru I am. I'm not. I just believe in myself and my work, I don't listen to the naysayers, and I promote like crazy. It works.