To Niche or Not to Niche?

[@francesnorton65]

Every word you say is pure gold! I've loved birds since age 5 and that's all I've ever really wanted to paint. I feel very fortunate that I found my niche so young. You could almost say the niche found me before I found it! 😁😁😁

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thanks for watching Frances. Lots of artists disagree with this idea, but it’s the best way to get a foot-hold in the art business. I’m happy you found your niche young too, what a blessing.

[@shanniemedrano6344]

Havent even finished watching the video. LMAO "Yeah, and you probably suck, at all of em." You constantly speak your blunt, honest truths, David, and you deliver them in such a refreshing way. I couldnt agree more. I found more success in finding my style when I reigned myself in and focused on a few key elements to my work. Very helpful. When my own sons are attempting to pitch to me why they should be allowed to quit at something, I reply with, "You're telling me you want to quit because youre no good at it. If you think you suck at it, you probably do. The only way to get better is to practice." Same thing with art. Thank you for sharing your insights with us. It's so appreciated.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

shannie medrano thanks for the comment. I’m happy to hear you’ve succeeded in focusing your work - focusing is the fastest and easiest way to be successful, regardless of your business.

[@annielittlewolf2017]

Again, David, you give such great advice! I tried doing abstracts in acrylics, which turned out horrid (and got quickly gessoed over), and so I thought it wasn’t for me. Remembering art school from nearly 40 years ago, I tried some botanical watercolors and they worked well - but my heart wasn’t in them. Then I saw your paintings and knew immediately THATwas what I was trying to do, but had never been taught. I am so grateful for your teaching and am learning so much! Thank you!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thanks for watching To Niche or Not to Niche? Please leave a comment and share with your friends!

[@reemalhindi3948]

Your paintings are my favorite.. soon i'm gonna join one of your online course 😍🎈 Thank you so much for you amazing videos

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Reem Alhindi you're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@michaelwoodmanart]

Very good advice.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thanks Michael.

[@jessemilano9739]

Great Stuff, and for life also not just paintings

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Jesse Milano, you’re right -thanks for the reminder!

[@riteasrain]

I didn't know "niche" was a verb :D I sort of agree with you re focus, but it is fun experimenting with different media.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

riteasrain, I have fun doing just one thing.

[@redgeraniums57]

I totally agree!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Carolyn Yankowski, thanks for watching!

[@yasminart40]

Exactly the video I was looking for. I decided to focus on graphite portraits ,I want to master this subject matter and this medium. But I love so much the other stuff so I thought to leave a small amount of time for experiment on other thing, not for mastering ,just for fun . 80/20. What do you think?

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Yasmin, that sounds like a good plan. Remember, you don’t need my, or anyone else’s approval to move forward with what you think is right for you. Thanks for watching.

[@roslynburgess-clay1419]

You made me LOL...!!!

[@kimsfusionart]

Focus, focus, focus, yep i like tto experiment but thats just part of the fun side, when it comes to finished works , well thats all about the focus lol , i've spent years experimenting now I focus on the one thing.

[@magdapiechocka2696]

U read my mind. It’s exactly what I always say ;-)

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Magda Piechocka, great, thanks for the comment!

[@barrybark3995]

do you subscribe to the theory that going to art classes will mess up / hinder your own style?

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Barry, no - classes and workshops can be very helpful. It’s probably the best way to learn the fundamentals. You shouldn’t try to copy the instructors paintings. Style is also something that shouldn’t be thought about. You get into trouble if you trying to create a “style” for your work.

[@barrybark3995]

@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 thanks very much for your advice,iv hung back from tuition as im a bit colour blind and altho i can paint and folk like my work i had to quit painting at high school due to me getting confused with watercolours

[@deedoyle397]

David, Enjoyed your "Niche" video, but am feeling a bit ambivalent about your message. I am a "professional," in the sense of the word that I sell and I teach. I teach at senior centers to a population that paints for "self development" and as "hobbyists." Therefore I paint in several mediums as my "job." If I were wealthy and could afford not to teach, I might not, or teach only what I want to teach, not a chinese menu of applications. So all that said, if I were wealthy enough to just paint, and had a clientele that want only the work I enjoyed painting, I would accept your premise of niche painting. In my own time, I am painting way more abstract work [for several years now], and would like so much to take your full-on workshops and the workshops of other abstract painters, but I am reliant on my senior population coming to classes and infusing a small income into my own social security! I will continue to learn and watch your videos, and hopefully, develop enough good work that I can sell more, and focus on what I like to paint.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Dee Doyle thanks for the comment.

[@dianelodico2166]

Interesting use of the word "niche." Some artists create for the enjoyment of doing so, not as a business. I have sold some of my art, but that is not my focus. I don't do art to support my family as many artists do. There is a difference there. Striving to be better than anyone else is also not my focus, and please do not tell that to children. It's not a competition for everyone, and there will always be someone who is better at what we do most of the time. It can be a controversial subject for some. There are different viewpoints and references to many things. Creating art is no exception.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Diane LoDico thanks for your viewpoint. This is geared more for those who are not hobbyists.

[@youmarc11]

Trouble is commissions coming from all angles.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Marc, I assume you mean there could be commissions with all kinds of requests for different “styles”, etc. once you get known for doing a certain thing, you don’t have to worry about that anymore.

[@youmarc11]

@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 Yes I get commissions for boats, pets, seascapes, portraits etc.. All kinds of stuff. It's not like I'm going to turn a commission down regardless of what it is.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Marc Tonzillo if it isn’t what I do, which is abstract painting, then I don’t do it, period. People rarely ask me for anything outside of my typical painting style. So I don’t have to turn down many. It’s great to have your own niche, then you don’t have to worry about it.

[@youmarc11]

@@davidm.kesslerfineart1717 Understood. Personally I like the challenge of painting different subject matter. I get kind of board painting the same subject over and over. But yes if you stick to one subject matter you will master it more. For example. I'm pretty good, but not great at portraits. If I only painted portraits I would be much better at them. And probably get more commissions.