Answering the Call of Nature - Part 2 - Marketing Tips

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

In British Columbia, Visual Artists are very lucky.  We have a very enterprising lady, Eve Lees publishing "The Artist's Journal".  Eve is a former newspaper editor who saw a need in 1997 to put together a journal of Art Calls and Events happening in BC.  I have asked Eve to be my guest today on my blog to talk about the The Artist's Journal as it is a very valuable resource for visual artists.

I have benefited in so many ways through the Artist Journal.  I had the opportunity to be Artist in Residence at Mount Revelstoke National Park (read about that here), I plan my outdoor markets schedule in a cohesive manner because I know about the events early in the year and I even knew about the 23 day Artist in Residency on the boat from Vancouver to Shanghai in time to enter.  (No, I didn't enter, I decided that was a bit too long for me to be on a boat but I knew about it in time to enter, did you?)

QUIET MAJESTY - off to the Guide Outfitters Ass. of BC  anniversary convention in Victoria as a result of reading about the call in the Artist Journal.

Here is what Eve has to say about The Artist Journal:

"Hundreds of arts organizations regularly submit their events to publish in The Artist’s Journal. As an individual artist (and not a “member of the media”) you may never know of many of these calls. But more important, they are Calls you won’t have to search for yourself – it’s all here for you in one publication, allowing you to spend more time creating your art.

You’ll get all of B.C.’s Calls For Entry in one publication – at a much lower cost than joining each individual Arts Council to see their Calls in their members-only newsletters – including all the Calls that won’t apply to you (Arts Councils are an umbrella group for all art genres, not just painting/drawing artists). There are over 95 Arts Councils in B.C., so at approximately $40 a year for a membership, multiplied by 95 . . . well, you do the math. 

A one year subscription of this quarterly publication (four issues yearly) is $16 for one year or $28 for two years. It is available only by e-mail. Between each issue, subscribers are e-mailed the Calls For Entry that arrived too late to make the publication deadline."

I really like this added feature of the emailed Calls for Entry that arrive too late for publication.  I have often taken advantage of them. See here for More information on "The Artist Journal"

Just a little disclaimer here: This is not meant in any way as an advertisement for Eve's Journal, there is no kickback for me but I do feel it is a valuable resource to put in your kit-bag and worth investigating. If you know of other valuable resources for Artist Calls let me know and I will certainly pass them along.  Awesome art is setting in studios because artists just "can't know about everything".  

My picture "Sunshine and Sunflowers" is coming along well but not complete.  As you probably guessed those pesky yellows are giving me a run for my money.  It will be up and ready for next week!!

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Have a great artful day, Wendy

Are you Ready for Chinese New Year?

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

No, it is not today,

but Thursday, February 19.

However, it is time to get ready!

Custom dictates several steps:

1. Clean Your House - sweep away the bad luck

2. Decorate with red, a symbol of good luck

3.  Complement your decorations with bowls of food, flowers and other treats.  Symbols of rebirth and new growth.

4. Appease the Kitchen God - offer him a sacrifice of fruit, candy, water or other food.
This is all to be done 7 days before the new year so it is definitely time to get ready!! 

 The Year of the Wood Sheep, will soon be here!!

Quiet Majesty - 12 x 16 - Graphite

Quiet Majesty is a Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, part of a herd transplanted to the Spencer Bridge, British Columbia, area many years ago.  He is my contribution to the Chinese New Year.

Quiet Majesty gave me an opportunity to work on different ways of presenting a portrait. I wanted to really give a sense of his strong and majestic look but of course they are really a grazing animal so they are not threatening to humans. So he couldn't really look fierce like a lion. I really needed to play around a bit. 

The Full View shows the animal and projects a regal nature but seems to give him a sense of smallness. 

Moving in does help but I felt there was too much space around him. 

A tighter crop but still felt weak.

My choice was to move in tight and fill the space but off center to give a strong majestic appearance. I really felt that he commanded you to look at him.  But at the same time the almost symmetrical front facing view reinforces the contrast of his commanding look to his very quiet almost meek behavior.  He really is a quiet but majestic animal. 

Special Note: 

The Feb 22 Marketing Workshop has 1 Spot but there will be a second one Sunday, March 8 10-3pm. with Spots Available.  See Workshop/Private Classes for registration and more info.

Points to Ponder: During February I will be adding weekly Marketing Tips to my Points to Ponder Marketing Skills Page.  This week's topic " As an Artist You are a Celebrity!!"

Contact me to purchase any of my Work.  collectors enjoy a 10% discount on all original work. 

What happens when you are flushed with Success?!!

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

You do the research

Make a plan

Set to work

and 

Voila  - It Worked!!

On the Ridge - 2 x 3.5 inches - Graphite

My adventure with miniatures made with graphite have really given me lots of new ideas.  Up until now my miniature work has been based in ink and watercolour using special brushes and fine tip pens to develop my image.  I love to draw but I didn't feel I could draw a miniature because my tools seemed too large!!

But after my first drawing, "On the Watch" (see last post) turned out so well I just had to try more.  So many "what if's" popped into my head!

What if . . . the picture was smaller

. . .the whole body was drawn

. . .more of the environment was there

. . the format changed

So flushed with success, "On the Ridge"  was created!!

Lots is happening: 

I have taken on the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge with a fellow blogger, Sea Dean.  She has set up a great site for artists to post their pictures and anyone can vote on their favourites.  We are already at Day 22, where did the time go!!   I have put a page on my blog for all my challenge pictures, you will see it on my header.

Also, Artists, my all day Marketing Workshop is set for Sunday, February 22, 2015, 10-3pm.  Build your Marketing Skills to become an Independent Artist on your terms.  See  Marketing Page for more  Information &  Registration. Only 2 spots left. 

Don't live in the Fraser Valley?  I am available for presentations to your art group or come and stay, I have a special workshop Bed and Breakfast rate.  Just email for info. 

And you thought January was a slow month!??  Have a good day. 

Contact Wendy to purchase any of my Work.  Collectors enjoy a 10% discount on all original work.

Does Size Affect the Message?

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

Does Large mean Great?

. . . Small mean Secondary?

Is Appreciation affected by Size?

Miniature Art is something I really enjoy.  It is intimate  . . Draws you in . . .Invites close inspection. 

But does it celebrate "Greatness"?  Convey the Message??

For me it does, I am drawn to little things, what about you?

On the Watch - 1.75 x 4 inches. - $95

My drawing On the Watch of the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep had 2 goals: project the quiet majesty of the this male sheep as he stands watch;  And do this with one of my tiniest drawing ever!!

I was very lucky to get my shots of this bighorn sheep.  We were heading back to the coast in September after camping at Adams Lake.  As we came down throught the mountains at Spencer's Bridge we saw a small herd of the bighorn sheep near the road.  This herd was a group of transplanted Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep.   A real find for me!!

Lots is happening: 

I have taken on the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge with a fellow blogger, Sea Dean.  She has set up a great site for artists to post their pictures and anyone can vote on their favourites.   I am a little behind, starting on Day 8 but getting into the swing.   You have 3 votes for each day's paintings so click over and start voting.  I have also put a page on my blog for the challenge pictures, you will see it on my header.

Also, Artists, my all day Marketing Workshop is set for Sunday, February 22, 2015, 10-3pm.  Build your Marketing Skills to become an Independent Artist on your terms.  See my Marketing Page for more Marketing information and Workshop Registration. Only 3 spots left. 

Don't live in the Fraser Valley?  I am available for presentations to your art group or come and stay, I have a special workshop Bed and Breakfast rate.  Just give me a call. 

And you thought January was a slow month!??  Have a good day. 

Contact Wendy to purchase any of my Work.  Collectors enjoy a 10% discount on all original work.