https://linktr.ee/businessof_art
 
TJ’s Links
https://www.cunninghamfineart.com
https://www.instagram.com/tj.cunningham
 
Summary
In this episode, Mark interviews artist TJ Cunningham about his artistic journey. TJ shares how his passion for art began at a young age, with a pivotal moment being the sale of a sculpture at a diner that inspired him to pursue an art career. He discusses his college art studies, challenges faced in the art world, and his decision to leave galleries to build direct relationships with customers. Emphasizing the importance of treating customers like friends, TJ details his daily routine and creative process, highlighting plein air studies, Photoshop use, and the significance of strong design and accurate values in his realistic landscape paintings.
TJ also talks about his mentors, teaching experiences, and the online community he created called The Art Journey. He underscores the value of learning from others, maintaining routines, and balancing family life with painting. Mark and TJ discuss how teaching adds meaning to their work and its financial benefits. They address the importance of connecting with other artists and offer advice to beginners: read business books, develop your craft, and recognize that painting requires hard work and practice. Focus on creating great work, continuously learning, and marketing your art without relying solely on galleries.

Keywords
artist journey, passion for art, selling art, leaving galleries, building customer relationships, daily routine, art process, landscape painting, plein air studies, reference photos, Photoshop, composition, design, values, visual flow, focal point
 
Takeaways
Believe in Yourself: Confidence in your abilities is crucial for success.
Cultivate Customer Relationships: Building strong customer connections is essential for a thriving art business.
Consistency and Dedication: Regularly creating art improves skills and leads to success.
Daily Routine and Task Management: A structured routine helps manage various aspects of an art career.
Independent Selling: Transitioning from galleries to direct sales gives artists more control over their business and customer relationships.
Plein Air Studies: These are valuable for capturing the realism and feel of a landscape.
Photoshop as a Tool: Useful for composing and manipulating reference photos.
Strong Design and Accurate Values: Crucial for successful paintings.
Visual Flow and Focal Points: Important for guiding the viewer's eye through the painting.
Composition Principles: Using rules like the rule of thirds and the golden ratio enhances overall composition.
Learn from Others: Gaining knowledge from other artists and mentors is valuable.
Teaching: Adds meaning and fulfillment to an artist's work and can be financially beneficial.
Balance and Routine: Important for managing family life and painting.
Community Connection: Connect with other artists to combat loneliness.
Business Knowledge: Read business books to understand the business side of art.
Developing Skills: Painting is a skill that can be learned and improved.
Focus on Great Work and Learning: Continuously create and learn.
Selling Art: Focus on selling products, not time, and consider marketing and advertising independently.

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