There have been times during the last several “Covid” months, when I admit I have questioned the relevance of my work.  At a time in which there are so many things to worry about, so many things to do and so many ways to try to help those in need, it almost seems extravagant to focus on art while much of the world is suffering.  But, as I have been reminded  many times before, it is precisely in these times when art is the MOST … Continue Reading

A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.”  Bo Bennett

Our summer juried shows are a mixed blessing for me.  Each year I marvel at the infinite and diverse ways in which artists find to express themselves.  I admire and respect each and every artist for the extraordinary effort they make every day to share their gift. Again, we were happily overwhelmed with a large number of excellent quality entries, and the competition for this show was very stiff.

Most juried shows, … Continue Reading

“Creativity is the residue of time wasted.” Albert Einstein

Originally posted 6 years ago, this article from the ArtAdvice Archives is particularly relevant today in light of the “Shelter at Home” guidelines.  This virus set the PAUSE button on the universe…but, for artists, it has been mostly business as usual.  I have loved watching all of the various ideations that artists have come up with to deal with the stay at home orders.  The only difference is now, through social media, the rest of the … Continue Reading

It’s time to apply to our  Winter Juried Show.  Applications can be made through the CAFE website. https://www.callforentry.org/ CaFÉ is a program of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) a regional nonprofit arts service organization.  Registration for artists is FREE and provides access to hundreds of exhibition and sales opportunities. Deadline for applications is October 10. Here are some tips to remember…good luck!

The level of success an artist achieves when entering juried shows, obviously relates to the … Continue Reading

It’s been well over 4 years since my last post…not sure how many people this will reach. But, the time has come to officially announce my UN-retirement from the art world. This world has served me well and I know that my participation has helped many artists come to a new understanding of their career development. I am so proud of all the work I have done, all the great shows we did at the gallery, and all of my participation in developing the art community in … Continue Reading

It’s time to apply to our  Summer Juried Show.  Applications can be made through the CAFE website. https://www.callforentry.org/ CaFÉ is a program of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) a regional nonprofit arts service organization.  Registration for artists is FREE and provides access to hundreds of exhibition and sales opportunities. Deadline for applications is May 10. Here are some tips to remember…good luck!

“Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

The … Continue Reading

Kandinsky on the Spiritual Element in Art and the Three Responsibilities of Artists
by Maria Popova

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“To harmonize the whole is the task of art.”

“Art is a form of nourishment (of consciousness, the spirit),” 31-year-old Susan Sontag wrote in her diary in 1964. “Art holds out the promise of inner wholeness,” wrote Alain de Botton half a century later in … Continue Reading

In case you are wondering where we have been and what we are doing, here is a brief update.  The last six months have been quite a wild ride.  I am feeling very blessed and ready to tackle the New Year.  However, I must admit, I do enjoy the extra time that not having a full rotating exhibition schedule gives me.  Katy, Cameron and I continue to be busy doing the things that we do best…helping artists get the exposure they want and their work deserves.  We … Continue Reading

“Who in the world am I?  Ahh, that is the great puzzle.” Lewis Carroll

It’s not something you can turn off. It bubbles up when you least expect it. If you would allow it, it would consume every waking minute of every day. You work hard to fit in to the normal world…family obligations, work, the challenges of everyday life. But, admit it, all you can think about is that unfinished painting, sculpture, poem, or whatever, fill in the blank. You know you are different. You may … Continue Reading

Remember that part of the movie when  Tom Hanks was stranded and  Ed Harris put everything Hanks had in his spaceship on the table and ordered his staff to make something that will fix it?  That is such a beautiful metaphor for life.  It seems like since closing the gallery I have had to look at all the pieces I have left on my table and see what I want to make.  I have always loved helping artists, and will continue to advise and consult artists as … Continue Reading

Almost 6 years ago to the day, this article came out in Ventana Magazine describing the reasons why I decided to move Sylvia White Gallery to Ventura.  I feel exactly the same way today. It has been a labor of love and an incredible honor for me.  Ventura is unique in more ways than one. Small town vibe, beach weather, no traffic, reasonable rents, respect for the environment, architectural integrity and authentic living.  But, it is the very special art community … Continue Reading

It’s been 35 years of consulting with artists, 50 articles written and now blogged on ArtAdvice.com, 8 different offices/gallery spaces, hundreds of workshops, thousands of exhibitions and … Continue Reading

For most emerging and mid career artists, the single most important thing you can do for yourself is decide to spend 2-3 hours per week “doing your homework.” My gift to you this holiday season is a fairly extensive list of resources for you to peruse on a monthly basis, searching for viable opportunities. For artists that need to develop a “paper trail” for their resume, there is no better way than entering juried shows and competitions. There are a number of websites that offer exhibition opportunities … Continue Reading

Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is a mystery.  And today?  Today is a gift.  That’s why we call it the present.  ~Babatunde Olatunji

The holidays, which are an unusually a stressful time for most people… are even more so for artists.  Visual artists, who have to cram art making into an already full life, are now faced with the additional burden of dealing with traffic, crowds, guests from out of town and unnatural amounts of spending.  So for all you last minute shoppers, I have compiled a list … Continue Reading

Dear Artists,  I feel like I have just been grounded by my parents…Facebook is not allowing me to have any more “friends” because I have reached the limit of 5000 on my personal page.  If you would like to stay updated on my activities,  please go to my Sylvia White Gallery page and LIKE me.  Maybe we can sneak out of the house and have a cigarette in the … Continue Reading

“Art is not what you see, but, what you make others see,”  Edgar Degas

Most people don’t realize how much courage it takes for an artist to show their work to people. Courage, as defined by Mark Twain, is not the lack of fear, but rather being able to move forward in spite of it. In my previous article, If You Are Addicted, I introduce the notion that there is a difference between making art and making a painting (sculpture, photography, or whatever your medium is). … Continue Reading

Join CaFE today… step by step instructions HERE
If you are one of those artists who has been procrastinating about looking for opportunities to get your career in gear, no more excuses. You need to sign up today for  CaFE, callforentry.org.  It is a website operated by Western States Arts Federation and it is completely FREE for artists to register. You do need to have some basic computer skills before you tackle this, so if you are not there yet, ask any 10 year old to help … Continue Reading

My father was a quiet man.  An early immigrant from Russia, he came here as many Jews did, seeking the freedom and independence that America was known for.  Eventually, he became a successful business person, establishing the first jewelry store in a young, new city called Beverly Hills.  He was loved by all. He was kind and generous and treated important movie stars and store clerks with the same respect…he never discussed his politics. He lived through the extreme consequences that would be felt by … Continue Reading

“Do not let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”
John Wooden

I am faced with a difficult challenge in the coming weeks. Each summer, our gallery hosts a juried show that offers a solo exhibition or group exhibition to selected artists. Most juried shows, are by nature, an eclectic blend of a juror’s vision. By definition, this show is a subjective and singular vision, based on my personal tastes and aesthetic. So little research has been … Continue Reading

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/booming/a-bond-forged-in-crucible-of-the-art-world.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I love being a gallerist.  I love art and I love artists.  I’ve devoted the last 30 years to helping artists develop the skills they need to manage their careers.  Yet, still, after all these years, I just can’t believe some of the things artists do.  If you haven’t already done so,  please take a moment to read one of my archived articles, “5 Surefire Ways to Annoy a Gallery”.  I’ve updated the list here, with a few of the most egregious crimes I’ve experienced lately. … Continue Reading

“Who in the world am I?  Ahh, that is the great puzzle.” Lewis Carroll

It’s not something you can turn off. It bubbles up when you least expect it. If you would allow it, it would consume every waking minute of every day. You work hard to fit in to the normal world…family obligations, work, the challenges of everyday life. But, admit it, all you can think about is that unfinished painting, sculpture, poem, or whatever, fill in the blank. You know you are different. You may … Continue Reading

1. Admit that you are powerless over your ARTmaking, and it is the only thing that makes your life manageable.
   Many artists describe the feelings they get from making art as an almost spiritual or sexual experience, feeling a complete and total sense of happiness and being at one with the world. Much like the feeling an athlete gets from hitting the ball in the sweet spot. But, instead of it being a fleeting moment, it is a lasting sense satisfaction and contentment. It is what keeps them the … Continue Reading

“Creativity is the residue of time wasted.” Albert Einstein

It’s summer, time for relaxing by the pool, laying at the beach, taking a vacation from work, spending time outdoors, with family and friends, reading junky novels and just doing nothing, if you feel like it. The only problem is…if you are an artist, you rarely feel like it. One of the most misunderstood ideas about artists, is the notion that they can work whenever they want to. Catch an hour in the studio after the kids … Continue Reading

“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind. ”  Lionel Hampton

By the time most artists come to see me, they are usually beaten down and depressed by the struggles of the artworld.  They have been abused by their galleries, taken for granted by their collectors, misunderstood by their families and exhausted from juggling real life with creative need. It is so easy to forget how special you are, when there is no one around to remind you, but you. … Continue Reading

A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.”  Bo Bennett

Our summer juried shows are a mixed blessing for me.  Each year I marvel at the infinite and diverse ways in which artists find to express themselves.  I admire and respect each and every artist for the extraordinary effort they make every day to share their gift. Again, we were happily overwhelmed with a large number of excellent quality entries, and the competition for this show was very stiff. The … Continue Reading

Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway . — Eleanor Roosevelt

When you look at a piece of food on your plate and decide not to eat it, do you know why?  You may be able to answer that question by saying you don’t like the taste, or you are not in the mood, but that doesn’t really address the root of the question, “Why?” Can you tell me why you don’t like the taste?  Can you tell me why … Continue Reading

“It won’t always be summer: build barns.” Hesiod 700 B.C.

A lot of people don’t realize that the art world revolves around a seasonal schedule. Galleries begin their season in September, usually after Labor Day, often opening with their strongest artist and continue until about the middle of June. Many galleries use the summer months to mount group shows of gallery artists, or shows that they wouldn’t consider during their “prime season.” Generally, the magazines and gallery guides follow suit by issuing combined July/August issues. For … Continue Reading

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the life in your years.” ~Abraham Lincoln

It’s not something we like to think about, but collectors, as well as artists, need to face the fact that owning art, regardless of whether it is yours, or it is acquired, comes with certain responsibilities.  There are the obvious responsibilities concerning documentation, insurance, protection, care and handling.  There are even laws that … Continue Reading

“A bank is a place that will lend you money only if you can prove that you don’t need it. ” Bob Hope

There has been a lot of talk lately about the economy improving.  I don’t know about you, but not many people I come in contact with have experienced much change. Nonetheless, change is happening, maybe not as fast as everyone would like, but there is hope on the horizon. One … Continue Reading

“Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you are successful.”

If you haven’t taken the time to think about how YOU define success, you are doing your career a disservice.  With all the artists I have talked to over the years, I have found there is a wide spectrum of what an artist wants.  Some artists could care less about ever showing in a museum or gaining any historical significance, they just want … Continue Reading