This post is the second part of our ‘Get Passionate About Art’ series. In the last post we discussed why you need a deep passion for all art when you are looking to become a painter. Without this one essential ingredient, you will be lost.

So in this post we will be looking at a few techniques to increase your interest in art and ignite a burning passion to view and, even more importantly, to create great art.

- Nurture the love of that piece, then that artist, then that genre. Now that you know you like what that one artist does, find out if there are more paintings he or she has done. Find an online gallery and spend some time with those art works. Now your interest is growing. You can also find out who else paints like the artist you like. Expand your interest to that community of artists. All of a sudden, you don’t just like one painting, you like a whole genre of artwork.

- Visit art galleries, just a little bit. With what you know of the art works and artists you like, go to art galleries and see if you can find other art works like the one you like. But keep an open mind and look at least one section of the museum that you would never have gone to before. Deliberately expose yourself to more art with each visit.

- Grab a hold of one new piece you like each time. With each visit to a museum or art show, find one new artwork and new artist that you find interesting and like. Study that artwork and ask yourself questions about why you like it. There are no wrong answers.

- Repeat. By continuing this growth process, before you know it, you will be passionate about lots of kinds of art. Don’t look now, you are an art lover.

The important thing to remember is there is no wrong way to go about starting your journey into a greater appreciation of fine art. Unlike opera or ballet, you don’t have to go sit in a fancy hall at big prices to try to get an appreciation for the finer things in life. By just starting with what you like now, you can branch out step by step and before long you will be a fine art enthusiast, in spite of yourself.

When it comes to being a canvas painter you can have all the technique in the world and it won’t matter a jot if you don’t have one thing: a passion for art. Without that no amount of technique will stop your paintings being dull and lifeless. So in this two parter, I’ll be looking at ways for you to spark your interest in art and its history to bring complete life to your work.

There are some things in life that we know we should appreciate. But maybe we cannot go from the “should” to actually of enjoying such things, even though we know that mature and sophisticated adults enjoy such things. Opera and ballet are similar artistic genres that many of us know we should appreciate. But it is difficult to develop love of such things from a cold start.

A love of fine art can be a wonderful addition to anyone’s life. You don’t have to be an artist yourself to understand and enjoy really great art. The good news is that any of us can grow in our love of good art. And anyone can find a place to start inside themselves that can be nurtured until you find your enjoyment of great art growing and becoming stronger and deeper. Here are some tips to start that journey.

- Start with what you know. Whether you know it or not, there probably is some kind of art you already like. It might be a print you have at home or it might be a piece you saw in a restaurant. It doesn’t have to be a Picasso or a Rembrandt to be good art. Even if it is just a painting of a tranquil lake and looking at it makes you feel peaceful, you have the foundation of a love of fine art.

- Learn just a little history and biography. Now identify that one work of art and see how much you can learn about it. Just find out the artist, the year it was painted and where the tranquil lake is. Maybe you can find an interview with the artist talking about what he liked about the piece you like. A little bit of learning will deepen how much you like that artwork. Your love of art is growing.

I hope that has sparked new passion in you art and that you make sure that next year you’ll be pursuing your interest in art with great vigour. In the second part of this series we’ll be taking a look at some more techniques you can use to reignite your passion for canvas art.

If you ever hope to sell your canvas paintings, you will at some point probably deal with galleries. This can be intimidating for an artist - particularly one not familiar with the world who has not sold a great deal of art before. But there is really no need; gallery owners are always art lovers t heart. They are usually very eager to encourage new artists. They are very much on your side: craving to be part of the next big thing in art. If they think you have potential, they will be right behind you.

If you are a fan of fine art and have a few pieces in your collection then you are probably very familiar with the world of art galleries, but if you have only just expressed an interest in art then the likelihood is that you are only just beginning to learn about them and may or may not have set foot inside one yet. The gallery is indeed a fascinating place within the art world and if you ever pass one then it will be well worth a look. However, before going into one, you should take a little time to find out a bit more.

An art gallery is generally a space that displays art to the public in the hope of selling pieces to the individuals that walk through the door. They are set up to try and make a profit and should not be confused with non-profit organizations and museums. Every individual gallery will feel familiar because the salespeople that work within them do want to entice individuals into the warm and cosy confines of the gallery and then provide them an environment that encourages inspiration and thus sales!

There can be any number of items on sale in a gallery, depending on the size of the gallery and the stock that it holds at any given time. It may be that one gallery only holds work by one or two artists at a time and has them there for a couple of months. It may be another gallery as many pieces and rotates their stock in line with what they think will sell or an exhibit or promotion that they have on shortly or have had on recently. Although the rooms of a museum are also generally known as galleries, this is the major aspect outside of the financial ream in which they differ.

Private galleries and public galleries rarely have a permanent collection because of the nature of the business. Every piece displayed in a gallery is for sale and actively promoted as a result. There may only be one individual working in a gallery, in which case he or she is responsible for everything. The marketing, planning, administration and finance roles are all down to this one individual, but if there is more than one person working there then they will split the duties. There is no curator as such and there would be no volunteers because every individual working there is paid to sell. When you do set foot inside one then you will realise this fact purely and simply because they will be on you to find out what you may like as soon as you walk through the door!

So don’t be worried about stepping into the world of the art gallery. This is where your work will meet it’s audience and where you can get a real sense of how people feel about your work. Your friends and family will always love your work. In a gallery you’ll find out if people are willing to put their money where their mouth is and buy your canvas art.

Many people become canvas artists with the wish to create beautiful works of art that everyone will immediately admire. But there are also many artists who wish to go down a very different road. These artists wish to create works which challenge the viewer, make them think and may even repulse them. There is no doubt that this is just as valid, if not more valid, of a road for artists to take. But you can’t say that it is an easy road. This article is for those who wish to follow the path of making difficult art in the hopes that it will strengthen their resolve.

There are some fine artworks that can be described in no other terms then that they are “difficult”. They may deal with harsh themes of fear, pain, loneliness or themes of violence such as war or suicide. When we encounter these kinds of art works in shows or galleries, it is our natural instinct to avert our eyes or just avoid that part of the show because we know it will upset us.

But we need to know how to look at difficult fine art as much as we can look at art that pleases us. The artistic soul does not confine itself to just themes of happiness and peace. There is something about the artistic temperament that can produce some of the most beautiful art works from the torture in the soul over personal tragedy or social wrongs.

Never has this been more evident than the explosion of art that came out of the great wars of the last century. It seems that after each great conflict, artists came forward with stirring and moving art works that reflect the horror in the human heart and soul that is a result of these terrible events in human history.

Sol this is one good reason to patronize and appreciate what the artist is trying to say to us. By expressing those strong emotions in the form of art, the artist is performing an act of emotional purging personally. But because the place of artist in society is sometimes to bring healing, that catharsis of the soul the artist goes through can perform a similar catharsis for you and I when we are strong enough to expose ourselves to that art work.

It is also important to remember that the artist is not necessarily trying to upset you and not to allow others to interpret the artist for you. Not long ago the photographic artist Robert Mapplethorp created a huge controversy with a show that included some very graphic sexual images. Along with those images were some lovely photographs of flowers, fruit and children. But because the artist has offended the sensibilities of some, many interpreted his other art works, particularly those of the children as obscene.

No matter what road you choose in your artistic career, be sure to follow it with conviction, passion and dedication. In the end, there is no real choice. You can only make the art that your muse inspires you to. To make your art more ‘beautiful’ than you believe it should be or to make it more ‘difficult’ than you feel it to be, will both ultimately lead to failure. Being true to yourself - no matter how ‘difficult’ that may be - is the only true success in the road of the canvas painter.

Being a canvas painter does not cut you off from the rest of the world. There are a number of associations that you may have to be willing to do business with. This post will offer you a guide to what you, as an artist, will need to know about these areas and where you need to find yourself so you can network your way with potential clients.

There are a number of art associations in the United States at the moment. They are located all around the continent, so there is bound be one near you regardless of where you live! It is a good idea for all artist to find out where their nearest associations are just in case they do have to contact them in a hurry, or wish to find out more information. They are a great way for artists to meet dealers who may well be interested in their work and who certainly will be able to offer advice, contacts and encouragement in your career.

Art Dealers Association of Canada - This is a non-profit organization that is accessible to individuals north and south of the border. However, it actively promotes Canadian art above all other forms because it is designed to help advance Canadian artists, dealers and collectors. The Art Dealers Association of Canada also aims to provide a better art education for all of those individuals that choose to become more knowledgeable about it.

Boston Art Dealers Association - Obviously located in Boston, this association was initially set up to help advance the interests of artists within the local area but now actually helps to promote collaboration between local contemporary art galleries and the general public as well. This association was set up in 1989 and welcomes any queries about the local art scene from individuals within and outside of Boston.

Chicago Art Dealers Association - Again, this official body represents the people of Chicago in the art world but in a far more real way than some of the other bodies around. Fine art is the forte of this group and they uphold the highest possible standards. The members are actually elected by their peers and actively work with all aspects of the art world. That is to say that they work with the museums and artists within the city as well as collectors and the community to ensure that the art within the area is of the highest standard and promoted in the correct way.

Houston Art Dealers Association - This particular association was actually founded in the 1970s; 1977 to be precise. Again, the association promotes the highest standards within the community of professional artists, as well as overseeing the gallery exhibitions and museums to ensure that fine art is promoted. It works closely with the general public to make sure that they are aware of local art dealers and will promote those with excellent reputations. It is also a non-profit as a result.

If you are an artist who is hoping to make a living out there in the world, you will have to go out, shake hands, talk and network in order to find the movers and shakers in the artistic community. Don’t be afraid to get involved in your local art scene. Some collectors may seem intimidating at first but this is not the case. Most art collectors and dealers are in this business because they love the art. They are almost always eager to encourage new talent - not least so they can get in on the ground floor!

If you’re looking to become a mover and a shaker as in the art world. You might be wondering why you’d be a canvas artist. This article looks at the main advantages to being a canvas artist.

The popular image of a canvas artist collector of a high powered financial mover and shaker using the art world as just one of many venues through which a fortune can be amassed.  But the majority of art collectors are passionate about the avocation because of other reasons besides the financial side of their “investment” in fine art.

The truth is the art market is extremely volatile and hard to navigate if your only reason for buying great art is to turn it around for a great profit.  So if you are changing from an art lover to becoming a true artist, there are many good reasons to dive head first into the world of canvas art painting that are above and beyond the simple financial transitions that happen in the life of an artist.

A little known fact is that the life of a painter is full of adventure and, for lack of a better word, fun that makes the hobby or pastime art collecting fascinating, challenging and enjoyable.  Some of the reasons creating a work of art on canvas is such an exciting venture include…

- Art itself is exciting.  Great art can sweep you away into the world of the artist’s imagination and touch you in ways no other form of communication can.  You can have an entire adventure standing quietly before a stationary canvas as your soul takes off with the message you are sending through your artwork.

- The art world is exotic and full of eccentric individuals.  Because the art world is full of creative people, you will socialize with colorful and exotic personalities.  Your friends may be great artists, dealers and others who make the art world tick.

- Meeting artists of works you admire is the ultimate “fan” experience.  You will have to learn to “be cool” as great artists and other art world personalities become part of your normal social circle.  Your experience will be more than just getting an autograph as you socialize as an equal with the most creative elements of society.

- Art is a mirror of society.  Artists confront the great issues of our time in their work.  The conversations in late night café’s and bars with artists struggling with great social and philosophical issues will be tremendously stimulating.

- The culture of the art world is full of scandal and intrigue.  The gossip of who is seeing who and how the loves and loyalties of artists, dealers and big collectors affect big art events will be fascinating to observe close up and even become a part of over time.

When you make that transition from amateur to professional artist, your status changes from audience to citizen of this big, artistic community that is so full of life, fun and activity.  You will become caught up in the whirlwind world of exhibits, shows, gallery events, private viewings and out of the way social gatherings where the real thought that makes the art world alive and constantly changing takes place.

These opportunities are unique to the world of the artist and taking up a career as a canvas painter will make your life massively fulfilling and full of excitement. And who could ask for more than that from a career choice?