©Jim McLean, 2013

MONET-MONET-izing izing MediocriMediocrityty—By Jim McLean

©Jim McLean, 2013

The Impressionists Were Visual Rebels.

Introduction

“I would like to paint the way a bird sings.” —Claude Monet

I’m a rebel, too. I rebel against the confusion of your perceptions with everyone else’s.

I rebel against that because I believe it mis-defines you.

©Jim McLean, 2013

What Was Impressionism About?

Monet

“I would advise young artists to paint as they can without being afraid of painting badly .” —Claude Monet

“Impressionists” depicted subjective impressions. As a result, art critics of the day viewed “Impressionist” art as mediocre. The term was first coined by the critic, Louis Leroy, to deride Monet's work, “Impression, Sunrise.” Monet’s cohorts, however, liked the name and glommed-onto it.

©Jim McLean, 2013

What Did Monet Do?Ultimately, Monet dethroned the standards of the day's art gatekeepers, prevailing despite constant self-doubt by embodying his realizations in his whole life and work. The use of the word “mediocrity” in the title here is to point out the terrifying challenge that you, too, as a creator, must face and overcome, just as Monet did.

Monet

“My life has been nothing but a failure.” —Claude Monet

©Jim McLean, 2013

In the end, Monet achieved his mystical goal to “paint the way a bird sings.” His “song” resonates not only via the aesthetic he created but also through the monetary value his work commands. Most important, Monet opened the door for you and me to view reality as we see fit, instead of how critics dictate we see it.

The Monet Effect.Monet

“I despise the opinion of the press and the so-called critics.” —Claude Monet

©Jim McLean, 2013

By virtue of your unique value as a human being, your “genius” has just as much value as Monet’s.

The problem is, as a child, our self-image gets significantly shaped before we’ve had any chance to contribute to it.

Your Authenticity Is An Absolute “Good.”

“Never, even as a child, would I bend to a rule.” —Claude Monet

Why I Wrote This Book

©Jim McLean, 2013

It Starts The Day We’re Born.

Taking on the opinions of parents and teachers is a perfectly natural and understandable thing to do, for children.

But carrying those views into adult life without sorting out which are yours and which aren’t only creates more work for you later.

Why I Wrote This Book

©Jim McLean, 2013

Don’t Mistake Yourself For A Knockoff.

You can become more than who you are now. You can also convey more of that authentic “you” to the world. But to do so, you cannot exclude the most important set of standards available to you: Your own.

You must develop those, and find the courage to apply them.

“My work is always better when I am alone and follow my own impressions.” —Claude Monet

Why I Wrote This Book

©Jim McLean, 2013

Dig.

In Monet’s words, the key is to, “dig and delve unceasingly.”

“So we must dig and delve unceasingly.” —Claude Monet

Step 1:

©Jim McLean, 2013

• 1. “Dig.”• 2. “Delve.”• 3. “See.”• 4. “Understand.” • 5. “Do.”• 6. “Be.”• 7. “Convey.”

“It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.” —Claude Monet “One can do something if

one can see and understand it.” —Claude Monet

“The painter…simply seeks to be himself and no one else.”—Claude Monet

“I want to convey that which is alive between me and the subject.” —Claude Monet

©Jim McLean, 2013

“MONETizing YOU.” Read the rest of my seven-step process based on Monet’s simple wisdom. The eBook includes:

• Worksheets• Examples• Inspirational affirmations• Tips for selling on Etsy • Instructional video• And more

Step 1:

Read MONETizing YOU: http://www.MONETizingYOU.com