Tips & How To

01 Oct

Posted at 08:49h in Tips & How To by
16 Likes

(c) Hazel Dooney

(c) Hazel Dooney

Do you worry about your art being stolen?  Some creative types worry about this incessantly.

The progressive, successful ones don’t.

THE OLD WAY OF THINKING: The old way was to fiercely guard your images from any possible unauthorized use, even if it meant not letting many people see them.

I had an older gentleman tell me that he was afraid to put his paintings on the internet, for fear of someone stealing his ideas!

I told him that was the least of his worries; (more…)

01 Oct

Posted at 03:45h in Lectures or Workshops, Tips & How To, Wheres Drew by
16 Likes

Photo by Aaron Bickford

Photo by Aaron Bickford

Join Drew Brophy at the Artist Lecture Series:

10 SUCCESS PRINCIPLES FOR ARTISTS

When: Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 6:00-7:30 pm

Where: San Clemente Center for the Arts 1531 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA

Cost: $10.00

Sign up: Call 949-369-6603 Space is limited–call to reserve a spot (more…)

28 Sep

Posted at 09:52h in Tips & How To by
14 Likes
Drew and Maria in Studio

Drew and Maria in Studio

The following is an excerpt from a chapter in my forthcoming book titled The Brophy Principles – A Brutally Honest Business Guide for Creative Types:

We get crazy proposals almost daily,  from people who want  to use Drew’s art and fame to help sell their products.  And that’s our job – to make things look cool.

I know that many a good deal can be a diamond in the rough, so I make it a point to entertain every idea, even the ones that sound downright stupid.

The problem, however, is that some of these proposals come from people who don’t have capital ($$).  They want to hang out, talk to Drew for hours about their new venture, and pick his brain for ideas.  Then they disappear.  Drew would rather be painting.

BUT – THERE ARE WAYS TO WEED OUT THE SERIOUS FROM THE BULL-HOCKERS.

(more…)

17 Sep

Posted at 08:42h in Tips & How To by
13 Likes


Photo by Aaron Bickford

Photo by Aaron Bickford


It’s common for artists to be asked by various charities and not-for-charities (companies) to “DONATE” artwork or painting services for their cause.

Here are some benefits of giving art to charities:

1.)  You feel good about giving to a charity that you love & you get to help them further the cause

2.)  You may get media coverage (usually not)

3.)  You may gain new art collectors (this rarely happens, but it can)

Don’t do it for the write off – ACCORDING TO THE I.R.S. (more…)

05 Jul

Posted at 15:39h in Tips & How To by
12 Likes

Stupid advice has brought down more artists than you can imagine. It can hinder you from achieving your goals.

"Ruby's Dilemma" painting by Tom Laura - it's Mature!

"Ruby's Dilemma" painting by Tom Laura - it's Mature!

Some “well meaning” people will give advice, not knowing how bad it is.

And others, well, they are bitter and their advice comes from a place of anger.

If you are going to take advice from someone, take it from a person who has already achieved what you are striving for.

Don’t take advice from someone who has failed, because their advice may just get you to where they are: failure.

Here’s a short list of some of the worst advice we’ve received over the years: (more…)

15 Jun

Posted at 07:28h in Tips & How To by
13 Likes

al-mcwhite-painting“Take the first step in faith.  You don’t have to see the whole staircase, you just have to take the first step.”  Dr. Martin Luther King

Many people are unhappily working at jobs because they don’t have faith in their ability to earn a living as a full time artist, or because they just aren’t sure where to start.  Fear stops them from taking the leap to doing what they love.

I say, just get started, take the first step, and the rest will follow.

Most professions have a formula you can follow for success.  You want to be a dentist?  There’s a tried and true formula, just as there is for being an accountant, and a salesperson, and a hairdresser.

Being a professional artist is less defined, because there are many different paths to follow, and very few formulas.   But you can look at what other successful artists are doing, and adopt some of their strategies. (more…)

08 Jun

Posted at 06:30h in Tips & How To by
20 Likes
whaling-wall-94-ride-the-tide-wyland-hall-del-mar-fairgrounds

Whaling Wall #94

“If you have the desire, passion and enthusiasm to do something, nothing in the world will stop you.”  Luke Poyner

Most people give up when things get too hard.  Little do they know, what they want is just around the corner, if only they hang on a little longer.

How hard will you fight for your big ideas?  Does your passion carry you through, or do you give up when the fight gets too tough?

Wyland was passionate about saving whales.  At the age of 22, the Laguna Beach artist was driving down Pacific Coast Highway when his eyes were drawn to a blank wall.  And like a bolt of lightning, he was struck with the vision of (more…)

06 Jun

Posted at 11:57h in Tips & How To by
12 Likes

del-mar-event-with-drew-and-sam-george“80% of Success is Showing Up” Woody Allen

Are you ready to give a talk about your art to a hall filled with 5,000 people, who are there just to hear what you have to say?

Get ready, because it may be in your future.  And getting ready can take time, particularly if you aren’t fond of public speaking. 

Having the ability to give live demonstrations or speeches about your art is an important tool.  Not only are you able to give back to the community, but you also position yourself as an expert in what you do.  And people are more likely to buy art from an expert. (more…)