I too applaud you, Mike, for bringing up this subject. I am not by far a nationally known artist (sometimes hardly known within the family) but I work really hard at what I do and particularly at marketing as I haven't an agent. I see exactly what you are talking about and do not claim to know too much about all of it but I certainly can relate to your delimma regardless of how small.
I also have trouble within some areas (geographic) in convincing others of the difference in what I do and explaining why I do not complete an oil within the half hour "just like Bob Ross".
Please, I am not bad mouthing Ross at all, but that is not what I am about. I have been told I am wasting my time even trying to convince others at times, but part of who I am and what I do is attemping to educate to the best of my ability. I choose to live in a small rural community and realize that some things never change. Please out there give me some quick advice or comment, something I can come back with to at least touch on what we do.
Sometimes discouraged,
Patt