- •
Say "Now", Not No
I want to share something exciting that happened simply from me saying the word yes.
I was approached to paint for an environmental cause, our waterways here in Wanaka New Zealand. New Zealand prides itself on pristine natural beauty. But how pristine is it really?
A local environmental charitable organisation, Wai Wanaka, approached me to paint a piece to support their cause of keeping our waterways clean, and so I said yes! In doing so, we sold my Rob Roy Glacier painting, ‘The Source’, for $50,000 and was able to donate $25,000 to their really awesome cause.
This felt like such an easy win-win situation for both parties. As it just so happens I paint landscapes, I love water, I use the resources, and I believe in a clean environment too.
I had two weeks to paint what would usually take me three months, but I said yes, went for it, and the result has been so satisfying, opening more doors to paint and sell for good causes, with some pretty big buyers. This wasn’t just a decision made from goodwill, it made perfect business sense to partner up with a cause that would push my work out into the public eye, and an organisation that has some great philanthropists on its board, who happen to like good artwork. This was a relationship built around mutual wins for each other.
When approached with this opportunity, I thought there was something quite big here that I could clearly work with, that has a clear benefit and common link to my work. I paint landscapes in some of the best and cleanest parts of the world. I paint near mountains, glaciers, and water; these are the very things we want to protect and conserve. We have a mutual interest.
I started to think about who supports this cause. Now, of course, you have the families, the moms and dads, the everyday punters, you know, I consider myself one of those. They’d be like, yeah, you know what? I think you’re doing some good work. I’ll flip you a few bucks. But what you have is also a select portion of the population. I’m talking about philanthropists here who have the money for my art, and the appreciation for it too.
You know, there’s something about a particular group of people that when they get behind a cause, the impact is huge. They wanted to raise money for their cause by auctioning one of my paintings. And so, my painting was purchased for $50,000,.
So what I say to you is say “now”, not “no”.
It means having the confidence and the courage to really back yourself, to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. To stare fear down and do something uncommon. To step up, to go beyond where you are currently to what you could be. Now, rather than just being a bunch of words and hyperbole, I want to actually see if I can create something here that’s tangible for you. Something you can get your teeth into.
By the way, I finished that painting within that two-week period. I had time for drying, for varnishing, and for framing. I wasn’t painting until the last minute with a wet painting, saying to people on the auction night, “oh, don’t touch, don’t touch, still wet.” I had some people run their hands over the painting. I encouraged them to do so; I wanted them to feel the texture.
If you have enjoyed this post, and really want to start saying “Now”, not no. You will love Tisch Academy. We have a full course on Art Business!
Not only that, in Tisch Academy you’ll be guided step-by-step through the entire oil painting process with feature-length painting demonstrations on topics such as landscape, seascape, plein air, and still life demonstrations.
We even go LIVE from the studio every week for Academy VIPs – these sessions are jam-packed, informative and fun!
Enjoy!
Tisch
Never Miss a Post!
Keep up to date with videos, livestreams, blog posts, print drops and much more!
