Beach Scene (Acrylic on Canvas Board)

The problem with Art since the advent of Social Media is that so much of it has become insanely "I-Focused." I don't know that I can explain myself properly, and of course there will be a degree of generalization if I do (also, there's the very real possibility that I'm completely Full Of Shit.) But...okay, it's like this: once upon a time artists, either "just for fun"  amateur artists or "in training" / "aspiring-to-be-real-artists" artists would paint a Still Life, or a legit Landscape, or a Self-Portrait, or whatever. Those days are practically gone. Because as self-focused as most people are, no one wants to paint a potentially unflattering painting of themself. And Still Lifes have disappeared because almost nothing of any import, Millenial-wise, is "still" anymore. And real Landscape paintings have disappeared because no one goes out into nature. Or if they do, they are taking selfies with it behind them, making videos and reels and posting them to (you guessed it) Social Media. Art, real Art, is disappearing in the same way that film photography, pay phones and the Sears Catalog have. It, painting-type Art, is 90% redundant in 2025. To even view most new Art, you have to do so on a screen. Digitally, not Analog...ally. Kinda like you're doing right now, n'est-ce-pas?

But I digress. The painting shown above is another example of made-up, "This Is What I I I I I Like" jive: here's a beach chair, here's a palm tree, here's a starfish. Honest to Gosh, I'm surprised there's not an Umbrella Drink and a pair of flip flops off to the side. OR that it's not a POV with toenails-painted feet sticking out at the bottom and the brim of a floppy hat brim drooping over along the top. 

Anyway. Does this look like a beach? Pfft I guess so. Does it matter, at all? Nope.

To the artist: my ongoing advice is for everyone (that'd be YOU in this case) to paint something real. In the world. Preferably while it is right there in front of you. Paint something organic. Nothing Sub/Pop/Counter Culture related, no cocktail glasses, no sunglasses, no high-heeled shoes, no purses, nothing related to Breakfast At Tiffany's, nothing involving "Live Laugh Love" faux profundity, and preferably nothing digital. If you must take a picture to use as a reference while painting: never post that photo online, and delete that photo when you complete your painting.

If you do your next painting as I have suggested to you, even if it is one percent as good as the very best painting in our gallery, it will still be better than your Beach Scene shown above. Trust Me.

You can do it. I have faith in you.