An artist friend of mine loaned me the book, "How to Become a Famous Artist and still Paint Pictures", by W. Joe Innis, artist and writer. The book was originally printed in 1994, so it is out of date regarding the internet as a viable sales source for artists, but much of his advice still holds true. It's such a funny and well written book, with many good tidbits of information and advice for artists, that it's still a great read. Below are a couple of points that Innis makes about artists, their craft and their patrons:
"A painter's life is populated with ideas, color he has seen, and hope, hope that his next canvas will reflect a small part of how he feels about it all."
" An artist ought to live before he paints and the canvas he produces ought to stand as a testament to what he's seen."
"A good painting will speak to you if you care to listen but don't be embarrassed if the language is intimate: a whispered exchange between the one who paints it and the one who sees it."
