It has been a while since I've posted. Not much is happening in the art world for me. I clicked on the "next blog" link at the top of my page and found an artist's work that I really like. All I remeber is her name is Catherine someone. I thought I saved the link to her site and thought I joined her discussion group, now I cannot find her blog. Oh poop!!

Rain Drop Photos

Such a simple thing--photos of rain drops, but how lovely.

Found Artist Portfolio

Maybe I should not admit this. I thought I dreamed it, but I didn't. It is real. Four months after writing the post about looking for my lost 3'x3.5' artist portfolio, I found it in the front closet. Guess I don't hang up my coat enough. I was tidying the dining room and wanted to hang up my winter coats. I opened the closet door and found the portfolio. I didn't pull it out. I was tidying during a commercial and wanted to get back to the TV quickly.

Taking a break at work, I remembered the what I thought I had dreamed. It wasn't a dream. At last, the lost portfolio has been found. Yeah!

It's been a while...

It's been a while since I posted here. There were three art shows I tried to get into this year and didn't make it. That's a creativity killer. I've been enjoying showing my work to myself by hanging it in the living room. I love my work whether or not I make it into shows or am selling anything. It is frustrating to not make it into shows, but more so to not be selling anything. Why create if nothing is going out the door and all I've made leans on the floor against the wall forgotten by me and unseen by others.

All is not sadness: This morning as I drove to work, I was caught in a down pour of rain. Instead of turning on my windshield wipers I watched the rain bead and squiggle toward the top of the windshield. I grabbed the little point and shoot camera in my purse and photographed my windshield up close.

At work, I reviewed the pictures and was very pleased by what I found there. Even if I'm not selling I'm quite thrilled to still be creating even if it only is in pictures. Please share your struggles with creativity. Thank you.

How to Make a Living as an Artist by Chris Bidlack, Bidlack Creative Group, for Ann Arbor Women Artists in Ann Arbor Michigan

How to make an impression as an artist from Chris Bldlack, Head Honcho, Bidlack Creative Group

Chris shared information  about how to make a living as an artist. He said his talk assumes we make great “art”.

• His first recommendation was for us to “show off” and write our own positioning statement. Positioning statement should answer these questions: who? (who are you?) what? (what do you do?) for whom? (who is your target audience?) what’s needed? (what void are you filling?) Differentiation  (what’s different about your work?)
• Have a business card and use both sides; make it interesting.
• About being an artist, 1) Be proud – being creative is important. Know that many people that don’t have creative skills envy those people that do have those skills. Not everyone can do what you do. 2) Own a category; specialize in something. Get really good at something, and let them know you specialize.  3) Brand. You are a brand. Design yourself a brand symbol. 4) Charge a lot of money! (This one got a nice chuckle) Value what you do, or no one else will.
• Learn to use social media such as Facebook,Twitter, etc. They’re here to stay, and a huge number of people subscribe to those tools. Constant Contact is a good social media tool for newsletters.
• Write a Blog; WordPress.org is good
• Consider making a u-tube video, if you’re good at that kind of thing. He said to use the “candy bar description” of telling the viewer what’s under the wrapper.
• For more information, see:  http://www.bidlack.com/

Artist Trading Cards

This is the Compartmentalized Lemon artist trading card I created March 10, 2012. I used a hand scanner to copy the card. It seems a bit more elongated than the original, but it is close.

Call for Michigan Artists

http://www.semarts.info/

This is the link for the call for artists in southeastern Michigan for 2012. Please repost this blog and share with others on facebook and twitter. I'm still trying to get 50 blog followers by the end of March. Help!! Thank you for reading.

Artist Portfolio

I'm getting desperate. For the past several weeks I cannot find my artist portfolio--the original one. Ann Arbor Book and Art Supplies went out of business yesterday. About two weeks ago I went to the store and picked up a bunch of art supplies including a new, larger portfolio because I haven't been able to find mine and because I needed a bigger one in which to store 26"x30" oil pastels that I don't want to frame and put on the wall right now. The larger portfolio was $19 dollars--a very good investment.

I've searched all my usual hiding places for the portfolio. I've checked behind things, in closed guest bedrooms and such, but still have not located that portfolio...there were several paintings I wanted to enter into Red, but since I could not find the portfolio, they were not entered. So much for living alone in a huge old house.

How in the world could my artist portfolio be missing this long??? Uh!!

American Red Cross Red Show in Jackson Michigan

This evening after work I visited the American Red Cross Red Show in Jackson. I've been in the Red Shows for the past three years, but I'd never been. I was impressed. There were quite a few artists work. I don't recall seeing any sculptures. The prices ranged from $50 to $10,000. All of the works priced under $100 sold. Some of the ones prices under $200 sold. None of the works over $200 sold. I priced the one piece I submitted an 11"x14" oil pastel on board titled "A/P" at $50. Mine sold. I was thrilled to see that.

Call for Artists Link to Share

http://www.artshow.com/juriedshows/

This is the "Calling Artists" link I found through a Google search. There are so many different venues listed for artists to present their work. Over the years, I've limited myself to shows in Jackson Michigan and the Ann Arbor Women Artists. I didn't know there were so many places to show work. These are juried shows so make sure you follow the directions exactly on the type of work and sizes. Spread the word by reposting a link to this blog. Thank you