Since I posted on the daily #painting project of Julian #Merrow-Smith (a former #Banbury School of Art student) I’ve done a little more research regarding the Painting-a-Day phenomenon. I discovered a distinctly new and different Internet #art trend, which began a few years ago. It unites an artist’s practice of daily work (nothing new in and of itself) with the combined technologies of online auctions and blogging. If done consistently and successfully it allows artists a steady stream of income by generating an ongoing body of small works.
Duane Keiser is acknowledged as being the pioneer of the painting-a-day trend (his work is featured above), the discipline of producing one new painting every day. Whilst it is a trend that has been embraced by dozens of artists worldwide, very few of these artists produce a new painting every single day. Some work weekly or even monthly but, disciplined regularity is clearly the goal and essence of this practice. Typically small in format - 6"x 8" or less, these paintings are offered for sale online at the artist's website or through eBay, often for starting prices of just £25. This lively niche of the arts world allows artists to experiment, develop, and just have fun outside the confines of large-format works. The collecting public is also recognising that these often stunning little masterpieces are a tremendous way to build their art collection.
As the trend has developed artist co-operatives, societies and groups have launched painting a day web sites where their collective daily efforts are featured and offered for sale. Galleries are also experimenting with the process encouraging their represented artists to contribute small pieces of work that allow to maintain the profile of both the gallery and the artists’ and offer the collecting public the opportunity to purchase a piece of work at an affordable price.
It is a concept that can be applied to #drawing, #graphic design, #photography and #crafts. So why not start today!
