The obvious delight of "doing it yourself!"

With my art career I concentrate on my client’s commissions and my personal art, but I do offer the occasional workshop and lesson series!

The benefits from learning to draw and create are eloquently expressed in this student’s expression! In this day and age of art economy and budgeting in the public schools, why would anyone deny a child these benefits?Why would anyone think that art was unnecessary?

Think how far a child can go when they have the power to create and be creative!

• Setting up a data base, and training someone to help me keep up with it.

• Printing some thank you cards to start sending out to all pet portrait clients.

• Getting back on track with sending out e-mail newsletters starting this month.

• Work harder to follow up with leads and dropped ball potential clients that for whatever reason fail to follow through with placing their portrait commissions.

• Remind myself every step of the way that having a marketing plan is not just about making more money or more sales, it is also about taking care of my clients after their portrait commission. I like my clients so much, and with the amount of repeat business I am fortunate to have I really need to take much better care of them after I deliver their artwork.

They started early in the morning, long before most of the tourists were up and about. From the balcony of my sixth floor room I saw the sellers park in the distant empty lot by the ocean and trudge through the sand with their goods. A few had  umbrellas. They needed the umbrellas on this beautiful but hot sandy strip of shoreline where the  Sea of Cortez mingled with the distant Pacific Ocean.
Cabo San Lucas resorts in Mexico are justly proud of their pristine beaches and go to unusual means to keep them beautiful, clean and safe for the huge tourist industry. There was a low rope stretched across the entire length of the beachfront property with guards posted at either end to keep the sellers from harassing the tourists. But of course if the tourists stepped over the ropes and went to the sellers, well, what could one do?
Virtually anything they thought that tourists would want from Mexico was being offered for sale. Wood carvings, scarves, woven textiles, straw hats, jewelry…some was souvenir junk.  But some of the sellers were the artists  and they had some beautiful silver jewelry and painted carvings. They would sit patiently all day behind the rope barrier and wait for curious tourists to come to them. Some would walk the beach holding up their goods and waving them to catch the attention of diners on the terraces.
When I stepped over the ropes, I was in their territory and they all saw, with certainty that I was indeed a buyer.  Their initial prices were high but they had learned that what was “too much” for one buyer, was nothing to another. They had nothing to lose so why not start high? Everything was negotiable. What I found myself admiring was not so much what they were selling, it was the persistence and perseverance that I admired.  I knew that this scene was being played out virtually everywhere, someplace, in the world. People and artists who needed the money and would tackle the public every day in the hopes of bringing in a steady income.  No embarrassment, no excuses. They all gathered around me because it was just possible that after I bought from one, I would buy from another. They did not sit quietly hoping to be noticed. They made sure that I knew they were there! The transactions were energizing, flat out fun and an inspiration to reticent artists everywhere.
There is a direct correlation between need and motivation. None of these artists had motivational issues.   Excuses did not enter into this picture. They had families to feed,  bills to pay and they were delighted to have buyers.  None of them pondered the academic world of artist angst. None of them wondered if they were “one with their art.” Or if they were feeding their souls or growing in their art.  They created their art, they sold their art, the sales paid their bills…..and for them, that meant life was good.
So why do we, as “educated” or trained artists, make the whole process so introspective and complicated?

• Show your work. If you are shy in front of the camera, you can create a slide show of sorts that shows your art, your studio, work in progress, photos, etc.

• Show yourself working. People are often interested to see “an artist at work” – can you set up a camera and draw, paint or sculpt while the film is rolling? You could speed up the video to make it look like you are working top speed and add audio or music to go along with it.

• Promote events. Are you a gallery artist looking to do more shows? Have someone take some video of you at an opening, talking with others, showing your art on the wall. Use that to promote yourself for future events. Do the same for craft fairs, commission work, public speaking, etc. Show you and your work in action to help others visualize you in action for them.

• Have some fun! Have you ever noticed that the videos people share the most are videos that make you laugh? Or videos that catch your attention by comparing unusual things? What can you do to make a viral video (meaning people keep passing it on!) related to your art? Spoof a famous commercial or skit? Stand on your head while painting? Have fun but make sure your fun is true to you, your art and your brand.

Once you have some videos, where will you put them? The first step to cash in on all this YouTube searching is to upload them to YouTube. But also consider creating a YouTube Channel – where you control the look and feel and can organize your videos as you see fit. That way people can follow you and know when you post new content. It’s a great way to build a following of people who enjoy video content.
To learn more about how to create your own channel, go to http://www.youtube.com/advertise
Pay attention to the description and keywords you use when you put your video on YouTube as well. According to YouTube, 24 hours of video are uploaded every minute so you need to make sure the right people know about your video or your efforts will be for naught. Treat your videos as you would treat your SEO for your website.
Videos can capture attention and add interest to your blog and website as well. You can link your videos to Facebook. Video is a more personal way for people to get to know, like and trust you and that is who people like to do business with.
Newer computers have video and microphone capabilities. Most digital cameras and some phones can take video as well. So don’t believe you have to have a production company create your video or huge budgets to get it done, just believe that it can help you promote your work and commit to give it a shot.
Here’s to adding video to the mix of your creative success!
Direct Link: http://artlicensingblog.com/2010/06/29/why-you-should-consider-adding-video-to-your-marketing-mix/
– Tara Reed

So why the fuss?  Let’s examine the world of art grants a little less passionately and you may find that reducing or even ending art grants could, in the long run benefit more artists than grants!

How many artists do you know who have benefited from an art grant?

How many artist’s do you know whose careers were launched with an art grant?

How happy is the public with the art that is awarded most of the grants?

How happy are you, as an artist, with the art that seems to universally get the art grants?

How politically entwined are the monies for the art grants?

Do you know an artist who makes a living from an art grant?

I ask these questions from the knowledge and life of an artist whose living comes from the sales of her artwork. It has not been easy. But nothing worth doing comes easy and therein lies the lure of the grant-easy money. In reality most grants are almost akin to winning the lottery. Many apply, only one wins. But most lottery players do not make winning the lottery their life work-they still continue to work, raise families and produce in their jobs. How many artists could be so much further along in their careers if they took the bull by the horn and did not spend their life searching for art grants?

Before NC  instigated the Lottery, the people I talked to from states where the Lottery was established always prefaced goals with “when I win the lottery”. I remember thinking that everything they wanted to do seemed to be on hold until they won the lottery…but what if they never did?

Waiting for help? Look what has happened to the southern coastal states right now, in the throes of the BP oil gusher, facing the biggest disaster those states have ever faced? Where is the help? The government money? The “helping hand?” Small towns all along the Gulf coast have done what Americans have always done before free promises of free money……. getting the job done themselves! It has been all over the news and I could cheer for their efforts.  Actions do indeed speak louder than words!   You get things done by rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. Solve the problem yourself or with a dedicated group behind you.

And for me, that is the answer to many of the problems in the arts…instead of  waiting for free money, make it happen.

What would happen if a core group in each state decided to “take matters into their own hands” and create an art community free of the federal and state restrictions that come with all grant monies? What if public art opportunities were judged by the public instead of a state or federally funded jury looking for political correctness? What if artists learned how to present themselves and their art to corporations, companies, towns and businesses looking for art. What if artists individually took matters into their own hands?

Why not see the reduction or ending of grant money as an opportunity rather than a disaster.  OK, so there is less of what was there before. Everyone is tightening the belt-at home, at work, at play…. is that so bad? With some positive re-thinking of the art grant situation, more doors could open up to more artists. More diverse Opportunities could be available to far more artists who have chosen art as their field of interest if the dream of free money is not there. We all know someone wins the lottery and we all know some artist gets an available grant..but what of the many, many who tried but did not?

Sometimes life becomes less complicated when you decide that your success will come when you begin to work at it…maybe there is something to that saying “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” after all!

To NOT test a theory is to blindly accept another person’s decision concerning YOUR life!

One such theory is art shows and competitions. Many artists are paralyzed by the thought and pressure of “needing”  to compete to advance their art careers. We meet and talk with them every day. Artists with not one but two art degrees who have never “done a thing” with their art and feel they are running out of time. Artists who have won awards at shows yet their careers as artists are dead in the water. Artists who are afraid their art is not good enough. Artists living on a shoestring who do not have the money to pay the jury fees to enter a lot of shows….our list goes on and on. We hear their fears in our workshops, at art and craft shows, on our forums.

They are our ACE members who feel that they MUST enter art shows…… because
that is what they are “supposed to do.” Well,  folks, take heart, because guess what? You do not have to be an award winning artist to have a career!

In all the years that Steve and I, on our own and together have created our art for a living we have  NEVER had a client ask us what awards we have won.

We are not alone. Those ACE members who also derive either all or part of their income
from their art can also answer the same way. We’re not talking about
art shows where you are a vendor and are juried in to participate -We are talking about the shows where you pay a fee to be judged to win something such as a ribbon, an award, a trip, etc.

What does that mean to you as an artist? It means relax! Concentrate on
areas that will offer the greatest return for your efforts. Are we
saying don’t enter shows? Of course not-I just entered one and placed
first in the professional division…and won a $200.00 prize (of course I’m happy!)
When I first started “my serious art career”, I entered many shows, following that same vague advice of “needing to” that all artists fall victim to- not thinking for ourselves and being too unsure to branch out.   And it turned out to be an interesting test when I did  toss the idea.

Frankly, how many awards an artist has accumulated only matters to other artists!

Did I enter this particular art show to win an award? No I entered because I would be promoting my painting workshops in the area. It was entirely a marketing move for promotion, not for an award. Because I know in the real world of the marketing artist, that to our clients, awards mean nothing. They purchase from you because they like WHAT YOU DO!.

Just as in life, everything in moderation in your art career will get the greatest results!  But nothing will work if you don’t try. So before you dismiss the idea of awards meaning less than you were lead to believe,  open your mind and test it!   Don’t take our word for it. But don’t randomly take the word of the art community either.

We have discovered that our methods and track record for promoting and success and living the artist’s life are far better than the records of  artists who have followed the traditional route!

Enter a show if you like, but don’t do it just because you feel that  you should!   Test it. Make your own discoveries but don’t be paralyzed into inaction!

Until later!  Theresa and Steve

We are constantly advising artists that if they are  displaying work at an Art Gallery (or frankly ANYWHERE) there are THREE rules to observe:
1. Work with locations that are a comfortable day’s drive or less from you.
2. Visit the Gallery before you send anything
3.  Do an online search to see if there are any negative problems with the Gallery

The following blog has an interesting twist on an all too familiar story:

http://joannemattera.blogspot.com/2010/05/marketing-mondays-when-bad-things.html

I volunteered to be there from 3-7. I’ll be doing live sketches and will charge $20.00 a quick sketch-all proceeds going to their fundraiser…not Haiti this time-it’s being pro-active and being prepared for the  oil spill that will in time hit the NC beaches! If we are fortunate and it misses this state-it will be for those states who need the help.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ats/1757051181.html

I have noticed that many art organizations post their upcoming shows on Craigslist. Usually they’ll be under “artists” and/or  “art and crafts”. So I added to the posts with an encouragement to PARTICIPATE in a few of these shows. See the ad below:

New to art shows? Don’t know what to expect?
For those artists seeking new places and areas OFFline to sell their art, there have been several art and craft shows listed in on Craigslist that you should take the initiative to research further and participate in to gain the experience and skills necessary to learn to sell your art!
The one listed in Granville County is FREE and held under a large picnic type pavilion so no tent it needed. Hillsborough is close by as is Fuquay, Holly Springs, etc. The point is to BE THERE! The one guarantee is that nothing will happen if you don’t try!

You gain experience through practice and repetition. Learn and start to master what it takes to represent  your art and  yourself. Any of these small shows are excellent ways to experience and learn the techniques necessary

Judging from the artist art for sale on Craigslist many of you have some  engaging art products you have created yourself.  Even if you participated and sold nothing (it happens) what have you got to lose? You gain priceless information and experience on what to do better next time You’ll remember to bring the  cooler, sunscreen or bags or the best way to reply to that common question….the point is to TRY.
Need selling information or help? Pop over to http://www.artcareerexperts.com and join our online forums. Read the free articles and see what you need to do for shows.
So grab a friend, inspire each other and enter these local shows!

One of our recent newsletters was part 1 of participating at an art/craft show. Sure there’s a lot to learn and a lot to remember but don’t let any artist advise you against a particular show! Your experience may be different OR your art product may be the hot item at the show. Juried art shows do not mean “better sales.” We have had vast experience with both! WE have done great at both and we have done poorly at both. There are no guarantees!

SO. Check your area for the small shows. Look on Craigslist or check out your local Chamber. We have some online magazines for shows on our links.  We would love to hear your experiences and what you learned, accomplished or would do better next time!