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Message: <blockquote data-quote="solitaryVSong" data-source="post: 1728143" data-attributes="member: 77930">This reminds me a bit of when I consciously dropped out of the contemporary  art scene about 20 years ago. I had had most of the major galleries in Philadelphia come to my studio. They were interested enough to come look at the work but not so interested as to give me a show, where I had a chance of making some money. I was also very disillusioned with what was being shown at museums and the better known galleries and decided that at that time there just wasn't a place for me in the contemporarly art world.But that seemed preferable to continuing to badger gallery owners to show my work, hang out in an art scene I found boring, etc., etc. As a consequence I made my living doing something else and just returned to art 3-4 years ago.But the reason I mention this is that when I did come back I no longer needed to impress anyone or badger anyone. I'd made enough money working in a non-art field to feel somewhat financially secure. So I was free to do just what I wanted with my art. It's a tremendous feeling. I'm still working so I can't devote the time to it that I'd like but that will probably stop fairly soon. In any case I just wanted to mention it because there's such a feeling of freedom when you don't have to please someone with your art.But I'm older than probably most people here and it's a lof easier for me to paint for pleasure not for income. It's sad to hear Nick that an artist as talented as yourself can't sell many paintings. Not only sad, it's criminal! But I think you're right to stick to your guns and just hope that you start selling.Every artist does it differently and no one way is right for everyone. But I think when someone sees the quality of your work they know you've chosen the right path. Now if that publisher would just publish your book and people would start buying your paintings.As I've mentioned here before one other crime I think is the real bias against  showing 'wildlife art' in art museums. I think part of that probably comes as a reaction against the 'paint every feather' wildlife artists but it just seems so foolish. So much wildlife art is of such high quality and is just as deserving of being seen there as what is currently on exhibit. But it looks like it will take some sort of revolution in taste before that happens. In the meantime i don't envy the honest bird and wildife artists who are trying to make a living. I'm sure it's hard.</blockquote>

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