Self Portrait - L.S Lowry 1938

L.S Lowry
1938

Having seen the self portrait of Laurence Stephen Lowry at the national portrait gallery this year, it got me thinking about my own annual self portraits and my artwork as a whole

2013 saw me pretty much give up painting, mostly because it physically hurts to paint but also I struggle to sell the paintings, mostly they are given to friends or charity.
I know this is a plague for most artist but it is also demoralizing for them too, with my confidence at an all time low, I suffered an artistic block.

As in every tale of woe, There are two sides to the coin, I have fellow artist & collectors who rave about my art.
with quotes like..
Your one the best Naïve painters around, your use of colour & light is enchanting, keep going you will be discovered.
Winning all those awards will count for something one day..

Yet I struggle to find galleries to sell my work, One gallery said, perhaps if you used a real name, galleries would take you seriously! why does my name effect the quality of my artwork? One thing for certain is I have been known by my name for over 20 years, I am not changing it.
Finding buyers to part with their cash is also hard work, I have tried using networking sites like Twitter and facebook and although I have met some beautiful people, it has not advanced my artistic career

Lowry also struggled, being a shy man he was ridiculed as Sunday painter,  I was reading an article that he had given his milkman sketches as tips, who merely threw them away!

Saying...
He knew Lowry was an artist, but "nobody thought he was anything special"
and
I'm sure other people at that time would have thrown them away. I just thought my children could paint better than him.

These could be worth Millions today, according to some art experts.

So to all my collectors and supporter, those that I have given paintings to or gained via a charity auction. Remember that it only takes a little chance of fate and your paintings could be worth a small fortune!

Super Cosmic
2013

Some Lowry Quotes:

"You don't need brains to be a painter, just feelings."
"I am not an artist. I am a man who paints."
"This art is a terrible business."

See:
http://www.npg.org.uk/take-another-look/laurence-stephen-lowry.php

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/7403936/Milkman-who-threw-out-sketches-by-artist-JS-Lowry-poured-away-1m.html

My artwork for sale via the art gallery..http://www.artgallery.co.uk/artist/super_cosmic