After having been a professional artist relying on selling my work to raise 2 kids and have a place to live and food to eat. I w learned one thing that is always quietly in the back of my mind at all times I create artwork. “Can I sell this?”the answer is always “yes” but to who? Is it a really special thing that a “cult” following would admire? Is it a general idea that will be liked by all? Horses. The idea of safe artwork is hard to do but easy to visualize. We can all imagine the cowboy riding off on the sunset with a beautiful mountain behind him, like an extra special Bob Ross painting. I love Bob Ross btw. The work that sells now is color themed curated and packaged for hanging in your impressive foyer. So that’s all you have to do. Paint safe images with a color scheme to match the hypothetical room. Think back to that Willie Nelson song, mammas don’t let your kids grow up to be cowboys. He says puppy dogs, children, and cool summer nights. Those are safe. When you decide to create a design for a baby vending machine with biomechanics, like my apprentice Ashlee, you may not have as many high end buyers, but there will be a few. Restaurant pics outdoorsy animals playing type stuff is safer. At least as far as sales go. You may fade into the background noise though. You will comfortably ride a wave of kitsch art to peaceful and long existence. Then, you as a young artist have to decide like the god like Achilles. Do I stay here and live a peaceful existence, or do I want to go to fight for glory, knowing it could be your end. It’s a tough decision and noone will judge you for either decision. It’s one you have to make for yourself. Do you paint the sunset with a tree or do you paint a baby vending machine? One may bring you glory and ruin the other may bring you small victories. I suppose the ultimate question is really why do you want to do with your artwork? Are you making a living or are you making a statement. It’s rare to do both, but not impossible. There a lot to overcome. Mostly it’s ourselves and the second guessing ourselves. So make a decision and hope for glory, or a burger. Both are great! I hope you have a great day! And remember “Fortune and Glory”

~Artist, Mike Packer