About Barney Davey

Welcome.

If you know me from Art Marketing News or Older Artists, you’ve already met parts of me. This is where they come together.

This newsletter is simply a place to surprise myself, think out loud, share what life has been teaching me, and enjoy the conversation.

Over the years, I’ve been a soldier, firefighter, entrepreneur, salesman, writer, publisher, consultant, fine woodworker, and lifelong learner. Every chapter taught me something different, but the lessons that stayed with me had less to do with careers than with people, creativity, curiosity, and finding meaning in unexpected places.

For more than four decades, I’ve written about the art business, marketing, creativity, and the changing world around us. Along the way, I discovered that the subjects I enjoy writing about most aren’t really business topics at all.

They’re life topics.

I am an artist. Words are my medium. Substack is how I share them. Besides this personal blog, I write Older Artists, where I explore creativity, aging, and making the best use of the time we’ve got. I liked Substack so much that I moved Art Marketing News here, too. I’ve published it every week since 2005 to help artists build sustainable careers and connect with collectors.

I don’t write because I’ve figured life out. I write because paying attention has taught me that the ordinary moments often have the most to say.

I love a good cup of joe, a good dog, a good laugh, anything that tastes like mint, and my wife Mary—not necessarily in that order.

I’m glad you’re here.

— Barney Davey

P.S. I’ve been a lot of places and met a lot of people. If our paths have crossed somewhere along the way, I’d love to hear from you.

Subscribe, and I’ll send you my monthly letter. It’s always free, and I hope it leaves you smiling—or at least going, “Hmm...”