Hi, I'm new to the site and can't wait to get started.  I have a question for anyone who wants to help artists and their craft.  I live in NJ and I want to start an Artist Community.  I want to have a building built for artists, writers, poets, composers, and students (adults) that need a place to go for quiet, privacy, and personal space.  These would be personal studios with private entrances, you could come and go as you please. Not for living in.

My question to all of you is, what's the most you would you be willing to pay a month if you decided to lease a studio for this purpose. This is how it would work

6 mo. leases, SOLO SHOW FOR TWO WEEKS IN GALLERY FOR NO EXTRA CHARGE,  Up to 2 tenants (so the rent can be split between you) NO EXTRA CHARGE FOR A SECOND TENANT.

Let me know at support4artists@aol.com  Thanks for your help everyone, and for keeping the Arts Alive!

The S.J.Evans Collection www.sjevans.com

Just to let folks know that there will be more things in my store and portfolio soon, I am waiting on my digital camera to come thru for me. I need better photos than what I am currently using.

I also have some of my pieces in a shop here in Asheville, Spirit Sanctuary, as well. The Universe is coming together for me!! Yeah!

To me art, color if you will, I adore playing with color, the color I put on the canvas is  often the laughter and joy that are not in my life sometimes, I am putting it in thru the color.  Sounds rather morose I know.

Hello all, this is my first posting. Wow May 1st already!

I am painting like mad these days, it seems often that it is my refuge from the storm, particularly these days when everywhere I turn news seems to be dire. War, recesion, depression, etc.

For me often art is inspired from deep emotion or I am trying to provoke thought in others- I want people to wake up and think for themselves.

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" anonymous.     I saw this quote and have been so inspired I am doing just what I love- which is writing and painting-and how is it working? Well so far I am not homeless or starving but it is definitely tight. I'll keep you posted, I have heard of the starving artist but would rather not sell paintings after I am dead.

The inspiration for my work comes from people like Jerry Falwell and Fred Phelps who are creators of a hate cult, a group of victims who have an cabaletta of hate for the gay community and not a bit shy in expressing it publicly. Being addicted to hate, Fred Phelps tried to setup a monument dedicated to the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard but was denied by the governmental authorities in Casper Wyoming.

The Neo-Nazis and the religious of this country should get along very well together, because they are of the same mind. For most people, making art is an emotional experience and I am no exception. I must have an emotional attachment to my subject mater to create successful and satisfactory result. 

I will my voice to help bring about changes that will ensure the gay community will have those freedoms that are fundamental to all Americans, which includes marriage whether the Christian evangelist like it or not. Marriage is NOT a religious term; rather marriage is a governmental term that provides status - a license! The Christian evangelist agenda is destroying this nation, it is worse than terrorism. Unless you wish to be completely dominated by religion, we need to separate the church from the state. 

How do famous artists become famous?  Is it money? Is it who you know?  Is it the environment? - the town you live in? or just the right place at the right time?

 There have been some artists that I don't particularly think should have become well-known since I didn't appreciate their work.  Or... if you do one or two masterpieces - everthing else done by them is acceptable?

I think, down deep, we all want to be famous and know that we left a mark on our world.  The older I get, the more important it is for me to feel that I have made my mark.  My biggest passion in life has been creativity.  I have created almost every aspect in the form of art that I can, and I still feel that I am not there where I want to be.  I am bothered that I have not become well-known (in the art world) and frustrated that the pieces I do, do not seem perfect enough.  Much of the time I am not satisfied and yet I am hungry to create more.  I dream about it at night.  I see beautiful paintings in my sleep - if I could only get to the canvas before I forget...

 So, am I the only artist out there that has this un-ending passion that cannot be satisfied?

 I would like to be in more shows, but live a day away from New York.  My art would probably never be appreciated in my area (Michigan). People here like to see nice nature paintings...animals...flowers.  Workshops from well-known artists don't seem to make it for me, either.  I don't want to develop their style.  I want my own.

 Any suggestions for a struggling, passionate Artist?

it's about.....

art

art ,a refresmnet of my soul

art ,a beam of light when sun rises

 art, a stare of spirit

art, a feeling of happiness caused by unknown reasons

art, a time of creation

art, a mood for live and die

art, a poem of life

art, a frightened of absolute

art, a freedom in thoughts

art, a space of undefined

art, a conflict between reality and artist's worlds

art, a form of resistence

art, a sense of being

art, a begining without an ending   

art, a continously progress

art, a blinded walking through our dreams

art, an armonical state of mind

art, a certain eliberating from "outside"

art, an express of strong personality

art, a  way of giving birth to ideas

art, a mission of umanity

art, a deliberated act

art, a shape of fullfilness and also of nothingness 

art, a castle of imagination

art, a supreme role

art, a shadow of wishes

art, a confident friend

art, a art of everything