Useful Link - Art of Steven Givler

It was hard to believe, when I received this link from a family friend, that this is a self-taught artist. But Steven Givler, who began painting when his wife secretly packed some paints and paper in his bags as he was being deployed to the Persian Gulf, taught himself very well. Be sure to click on his California Central Coast link. You can see his work here.

Abstract In Greens and Blues - SOLD

Click Image to Enlarge.
Size: 36" x 36" x 1.5"


I just finished this painting moments ago. It's still wet! Handling these larger, heavier canvases when they are still wet is challenging. Each time I reposition them as I am working or move them from my small studio office to somewhere that enables me to stand back far enough to see what they actually look like, which is important to knowing what more the painting needs, I get paint on my walls, furniture, self (which leads to more paint on other, unnoticed places) and clothes, not covered by my apron. I really need to come up with a solution or start working much smaller.

Please scroll down to the previous post (#27) to read about and see paintings of a
successful Outsider (Art Brut) artist. If you are an untrained artist, it will encourage you.

Useful links: Matt Sesow, Sussessful Untrained Artist

I was thinking today about how possible it really is for an untrained artist to become recognized and accepted by galleries. Researching on the internet, I came across artist Matt Sesow who did just that. He has been shown in galleries, been featured in numerous magazines and paints and sells prolifically. I just wrote to him to ask how he managed all that. If he responds, I will share what he says. In the interim, I do know this much: In 1995 Sesow sold 14 paintings in one afternoon on the streets of Georgetown (It would be interesting to know how he decided to price them and what size they were); the first time paintings by Sesow had ever even been seen in public. He also signed a five year contract to be represented exclusively by an art agent who bought some of his paintings that day. He has been painting full-time since 2000, and represents his own work now. His work is very raw and direct. What do you think of his work? Click Matt Sesow and take a look.

If you are an aspiring and untrained artist, I hope it encourages you as much as it did me.