When I heard this expression recently, I immediately thought of the 10cc band. Singing it in my head, I couldn't quite recall the lyrics, so I asked Mr Google and found they were very appropriate as to what I had in mind for this next article.

I have always believed that art should be just that. Let's not stand in front of a black canvas with the occasional red dot or a square with a circle inside and study in great depth the `meaning` behind it all. Let’s stand in front and say, ‘Do I like it?’

I do understand some masterpieces have the right to be discussed. Discussed for their credits and artist's skills, consider how the artist approached his/her subject, the emotion behind the work and how it's conveyed to the onlooker, etc. Yet I just don't understand how we come across many contemporary artworks that are very personal to the artist themselves. I may be old school, but I want to stand in awe and indulge in the sheer beauty and skill of a piece of art. I don’t care if it’s by a well-known artist, has been reviewed by critics or is priced at thousands of pounds.

I have always had the problem of pricing my own work.

If I have enjoyed the painting or collage process and someone also expresses their approval, that is enough for me. However, I'm not naïve. I know I have to make some sort of living from my art. I also know how I get a buzz when someone purchases a piece, or I see the red 'sold' dot mark in an exhibition.

Everywhere we look the world is focused on financial gain. Adverts, quizzes and TV gameshows all offering instant wealth. I wouldn't say no to a couple of thousand appearing in my bank account, but it's not the be-all and end-all of what I want art to be about.

If I sell a painting, some people react straight away with 'How much for?' I really want them to say, `That's great, well done,` or some other positive reaction.

When my painting made it to the Royal Academy a few years ago, it was on a wall with other similarly themed artworks. It was an honour for me to see it in such a prestigious gallery, and to sell it was amazing. I got the usual `how much` questions, and yes, it was considered cheap at a few hundred when it was displayed next to a piece priced well into the thousands. I've forever been told I don't charge enough, but do I care?

So, when I plan to enter a child's painting into an exhibition, I encourage them not to dwell on the monetary value. I don't want them to become what I call conveyor belt artists, i.e., turning out anything just to try to make some money. I teach them to value their art and, more importantly, themselves.

Two of my students have been exhibiting from the age of 10 years, and at first the thrill of having their work in a gallery on the wall in an exhibition next to adults and professional artists was enough; therefore, they were marked NFS. Then I gradually introduced them to pricing and was delighted how they had taken my principles on board. It resulted in one of their paintings being sold, which sort of proved my point. As they get older, they can decide for themselves how they want to approach the competitive world of art, but for now I think they are in a perfect place.

Children and young people need to have their work valued but not always by how much it is financially worth. Praise and encouragement are important at any age. I know that feeling.

Please keep submitting children`s and young people`s artwork to me via Curatorspace or my email purplegrandma48@gmail.com