Artists Who Dare to Step Outside the Box

Bren Sibilsky working on Aphrodite.

They are often visionaries, they follow the beat of their own drums, they refuse to accept NO for an answer, and they persist when others give up.

By Renée Phillips

This article is an excerpt from an upcoming article that will appear in the June 2009 issue of Art Calendar Magazine www.artcalendar.com.

Are you sick and tired of working hard as an artist and still feeling invisible? Are all of your exhibitions predictable? Do you play it safe, follow protocol, and then wonder why you haven't garnered the attention you deserve? Do you secretly fantasize about stepping out of your comfort zone, perhaps even doing something a bit outrageous and controversial?

As an artist career consultant for more than 28 years, I have heard many artists lament about success being a matter of luck, being in the right place at the right time or having the right person "discover" you. It may often appear this way, but in my experience, luck is the result of knowing what you want and actively pursuing your dreams with determination and self assurance. Like the Roman philosopher Seneca said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

It also means having the boldness and conviction to turn left when everyone else is going right, which is synonymous with the artist's inimitable persona. Nineteenth century German writer John Wolfgang von Goethe might have been speaking to the creative spirit when he said, "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too . Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

Stepping outside the proverbial box can be liberating, adventurous, and even catapult you to fame and fortune. For example, in the 80's before he became famous a New York artist sent his slides to a curator at the Whitney Museum after packing them inside a sandwich. This tasty idea caught the curator's interest because his clever submission stood out from the piles of very ordinary slide packages.

The media loves artists who take risks, like Keith Haring, in the 80's, who created his own brand of graffiti in the subways and on the NYC streets. Making headlines are the Guerilla Girls' and their aggressive battles against discrimination in the art world. Photographer Spencer Tunick, who after five arrests, a long legal battle, and tons of press, finally got the right to photograph a mass of nude bodies evoking a hilly landscape on a New York City street. Some artists may even harbor some envy towards Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Andres Serrano for their guts and glory, thinking why should they covet the spotlight?

Current conditions require brave actions for change, so step outside the box, color outside the lines, and join the growing number of pioneering creative spirits.

Forge your own path and leave a trail.
You don't need to do something obscene or illegal to be creative, clever and innovative. Sometimes you just need to follow Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail," like John A. Hiigli, a NYC artist, educator and inventor (www.johnahiigli.com).

John A. Hiigli, Cuboctahedron, Rhombic Dodecahedron, Octahedron II, Tetrahedron, Octahedron, from the Tetranet Series, top view, transparent oil on canvas, 56” x 64”.

About his art Hiigli states, "I turned with inevitable necessity. to mathematics and art, and to the gossamer layering of transparent sheets of color, seeking to shatter the opaque picture plane and break through to the other side, to a suggestion at least of what infinity in glorious color feels like."

Hiigli is also one of the pioneers in education. In 1971 he and his wife founded the French-American preschool Le Jardin a l'Ouest and the Jardin Galerie (www.jardingalerie.org) in 2000 on the principle "Art is important in child development, communication and education." The vision for Jardin Galerie stems from the belief, "Every child is like a seed and has potential to flourish and bloom if their abilities are given a garden in which to grow."

Hiigli proclaims, "We recognize the fundamental role of Art in a child's curriculum and are dedicated to serve children from various backgrounds and cultures."

Four times a year Hiigli holds exhibitions in the virtual gallery and in physical gallery on Manhattan's Upper Westside. These shows feature children from local schools and arts organizations with input from children all over the world working on the same theme.

Never accept "no" for a final answer.
Boldness comes from having the confidence and certainty to take chances even when others disagree or disapprove. In fact, “No, you can’t” may be the most powerful motivation to prove “Yes, I can!”

Nancy Reyner www.nancyreyner.com is an artist from New Mexico with a career spanning more than 30 years and she exhibits, lectures and teaches internationally. She is also the author of the best selling book “Acrylic Revolution.”

Energy Field & Water, acrylic on canvas, 40" x 53"

Reyner loved teaching art while living in Phoenix, and had built up quite a following of students. When she moved to Santa Fe she was excited to start teaching again. Immediately she was told by two well known local teachers it was impossible to get enough students as there were too many teachers and no one wanted to pay for classes.

Reyner recalls, “After a brief disappointment, I asked myself if I would take a class from those teachers. The answer was NO. So, I continued with my plan and attracted a ton of students.

In another instance Reyner was encouraged by Barbara Golden (owner of Golden Artist Colors) to join their team of artist teachers. When Reyner called the program director, Patti Brady, to apply she was told they were only interested (at that time) in training those artists who lived in big cities. After half an hour of enthusiastic discussion Reyner convinced her to consider Santa Fe as a major artist hub, and she agreed to bring her into the program.

Dare to try something new.

Bren Sibilsky working on Aphrodite.

Bren Sibilsky, (www.brensculpture.com) a sculptor from Wisconsin, watched as the painters at Linden Gallery were doing all the portrait demos and she wanted to join in on the action. So, she started doing quick sculpting portrait demonstrations that lasted from 80 minutes to 2 hours.

Sibilsky says, “I wanted to create interest in sculpture.” Others thought it would be impossible to do quick demonstrations in this medium but that didn’t stop her. "People loved it! Many had never seen a sculptor at work and they were surprised at the speed and likeness. I have done this five times and sold three of the portraits to the model or their family members.”

Allow necessity to be the mother of invention.
While many artists pursue the laborious task of applying for grants to fund their projects Angela Manno (www.angelamanno.com) often takes a more proactive path such as successfully procuring funding by going directly to major corporations and individual donors.

She created her own "Community Supported Art Program" in which she offers her avid collectors the opportunity to purchase a painting in advance of her painting travels around the world. This idea gets her buyers excited with anticipation about what she will produce and from their pre-painting purchases she funds her artful travels to Greece, France, Italy and other locales.

Angela believes the success behind this program is, "A reflection of our need for community, especially in these times of economic uncertainty. People are drawn to each other for support, comfort and joy."

Take charge, and be persistent.
Amy Marx (www.amymarx.com), a painter from Maryland, has literally taken hold of the steering wheel to achieve success. Several years ago, she decided to rent a truck, load it up with her paintings, and travel hundreds of miles in search of gallery representation. In one trip, she procured two galleries immediately. And, after much perseverance and years of courting the prestigious O.K. Harris Gallery in New York City, she finally landed an exhibition there in 2008. The gallery’s reason for exhibiting her work was that Marx chose an unlikely and even frightening subject to paint — storms and tornadoes — which also led to interviews on the weather channel and national TV news. Most recently, her work was featured in The Artist’s Magazine.

Speak up.
Liz Hager (www.lizhager.com) is an artist from San Francisco, California, who left corporate America in 2005 to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a full-time artist. Last summer, an independent curator she knew told her that an artist had dropped out of the show the curator was organizing. The show was going to feature many well-known artists, and Hager recognized the opportunity. She says, "The theme was meaty, and I knew it would inspire a great piece and potentially introduce my work to a wider audience. So I asked her if I could step in. She was happy to oblige, although I'm not sure she expected much. This challenged me to produce a piece very different from my usual work, and one that was rigorous and up to the standards of the other artists. The show got a fair amount of press, and my piece was featured in at least one article. I was lucky to know the curator, lucky that someone dropped out, lucky that she said 'yes.' But this is just a reminder to take the initiative and ask, because otherwise the answer is always 'no.'"

Do something unpredictable.
Exhibiting your art is an opportunity to be as innovative as the art itself so make it memorable. In cold and dreary December, 2008 Manhattan Arts International organized an Art and Healing event (www.manhattanarts.com/Gallery/Healing2008/index.htm) in the studio of NYC artist Nadiya Jinnah, (www.njinnah.com). The artist totally transformed her studio into a garden oasis by installing natural grass carpet on the floor for her guests to sit and relax in front of her art. We invited several healing practitioners to offer guests free massages and other healing treatments as they were rejuvenated by Nadiya's beautiful paintings and healing music.

Be an incurable optimist.
Joanne Turney (www.manhattanarts.com/Gallery/JoanneTurney.htm) refuses to follow popular opinion. This 80 year "young" artist who lives in Washington, DC and NYC was determined to create a book titled "The Art of Joyful Aging." She asked dozens of people to provide positive quotes about aging to accompany each of her paintings in the book. Many people flatly refused and exclaimed, "How could aging be joyful!?" But she followed her own vision and the book with her art and many positive quotes (including one from yours truly) will be published this year.

Begin by creating great art. Then consider promoting it in an innovative manner, photograph it and post it on YouTube. You may possibly end up on the evening's news.

And, if your new path conjures any fears or trepidations take comfort in the inspiring words of Helen Keller who said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable."

You may also want to read Renée's article "Artists Who Inspire."

Renée Phillips is the Director of Manhattan Arts International at www.ManhattanArts.com. Known as "The Artrepreneur Coach", she counsels artists worldwide. She is the author of Presentation Power Tools For Fine Artists, and Success Now! For Artists: A Motivational Guide For The Artrepreneur.

Read more articles by Renée Phillips on this website.

Visit her other website at www.renee-phillips.com

Visit her blog at http://reneephillips.blogspot.com

Learn about her career consultation service.