The Painter's Keys: A Seminar with Robert Genn

by Robert Genn

The Painter's Keys is not an instruction manual on how to paint - you already know how to do that. This is a book which lets you take control and run yourself and the business side of your profession. Artist Robert Genn guides you with the methodology of living contemporary artists who make thirty and fifty thousand dollars a month - and more. This is a transcript of a seminar which literally takes you out of a lay-by and onto the main highway of the arts.

These are simple systems of distribution, attainable attitudes, new motivation, dealer attraction and management, distribution, timing, publication, reproduction; in short, all the nuts and bolts you need to put your work in the hands of the collecting public.

The 160 page volume contains every word of one of Robert Genn's brilliant seminars. In this seminar professional and semi-professional artists interact with one another. It draws on the wisdom of the great and the highly successful.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study with a mentor, to learn the secrets of the professionals, to have someone answer all the questions that were never tackled in art school?

The ten transcribed hours of The Painters Keys lay out, topic by topic, the essentials to making it, to tapping into your powers of creativity and finding the keys to thriving as a prospering artist. An index leads you to areas of your particular interest. Keywords allow you to take your own personal direction. Artists and art students have said that reading The Painter's Keys has been invaluable to their future as professionals. It will surprise you - and it's so simple. You already know a lot of what's contained in the book - now the professional information and attitude is confirmed. If you are already doing well - you will now begin to do better still.

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1997

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just re-read this after many years. It is a great conversation about important topics every artist ponders: professionalism, creativity, motivation, marketing, acceptance, value, and fear, just to name a very few that are discussed. I found great value in his inclusion of the questions and comments of his workshop participants, as I had many of the same ones in my own mind as the conversations progressed.

Highly recommended.

[Apryl Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great to read with one hand, pen and journal in the other. It's an on-going conversation with other artists in their various stages of growth and wisdom.

Robert Genn continues to offer what he knows to those of us who would journey with him. What's that saying, "don't lead, I may not follow..." He's obviously not bothered a bit by that. Differences of opinion enrich the experience, as these transcripts of his workshop indicate. Genn's generosity of spirit is contagious, and I'm so encouraged by his sharing.

[Jana Bouc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book; totally inspiring for any artist.

[Gina Lento · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how he wrote the book, making you feel like you were part of his workshop. I got a lot of good tips out of it. Love his bi- weekly newletters too.