FABULOUSLY AWESOME NEWS!! - YWCA Women of Distinction Awards - Painting & Drawing Tips

Have you ever wondered how a jury show happens?  A Plein Air Festival? A Community Gallery? Even the monthly functions of an Art Group?

All these things happen because of Volunteers. . .

Yep!  That's me, I am a Finalist for the Women of Distinction Award

I know because I am one of them.  I must admit for me it is a way of life.  My mom and dad always jumped in and helped no matter what organization they were with.  I find getting involved means I meet lots of interesting people, make some really great friends and have way more fun.  

As a kid I was always busy with one group or another. My dad ran the Sunday School at the air base we lived at in Nova Scotia. Over 600 kids.  My mom was a teacher and my brother, sister and myself were the gofers: collecting, carrying, running about, helping to keep it all running smoothly each week.  

As I got older I coached, I ran committees, I organized, cooked for cub camps, ran booths at fun fairs, took teams to out of town tournaments, even did group camps for 40 girls, 8-12.  (Very lucky with the weather on those trips.)  

So what has this got to do with my Fabulously Awesome News you ask. . . .

I am a Finalist for the 2020 YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Arts, Design & Culture!!

Some of my Support Team - It is great to have them at my back.  

It is so exciting to be recognized by this group.  The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards honours individuals and organizations whose outstanding activities and achievements contribute to the well-being and future of our community.  

What are some of the things that I have been doing for the last 12 years that brought me to this point. Really things that I always do - when I join something I get involved. But volunteering is only part of it.  Each of the women Finalist have also started new initiatives.   

One of my big projects is working with emerging artists to teach them how to promote themselves and engage with the community.  This has been ongoing for 11 years - speaking at conferences, writing articles, giving talks to art groups, running workshops and one-on-one mentoring.  

It is so energizing to work with a group on Marketing Skills for a whole day!

The other big project, also ongoing, is The 3 Day Plein Air Festival at Kilby Historical Site.  This premier event is running into its 6 year and I have been involved with since the beginning.  It has grown to be one of Kilby's flagship events.  

Everyone wanted to paint the flowers - Join us August 14-16 at Kilby Historical Site  

I have other smaller projects: working with talented young artists, mentoring emerging artists, promoting the Arts in Surrey, executive for an Art Group, Director for an Art Groups, working on Steering committees. . .  

I am thrilled to be up for this award but I must admit.  Just being a Finalist is awesome.  Fabulously Awesome.  

There is something you can do . . .

There is one award that is a People's Choice Award.  It is the Connecting the Community Award.  It's purpose is to create awareness for the YWCA Community Programs.  This award is by people's choice.  So follow the link and vote for me and my choice "Reducing Child Poverty".  Vote as many times as you like, results tallied for the Awards Dinner May 11, 2020.  Thanks for your support. 

JOIN ME at THE BIG SHOW!!!!

March 6-8, 2020 - The West Fine Arts Show
In support of Langley School District Youth Homelessness Initiatives
Friday March 6, 7-9pm              Saturday March 7, 11-7pm              Sunday, March 8, 11-5pm

 Peter Ewart Middle School, 7755 202A St, Langley BC. 

 Yes, I have teamed up with this great show event: 22 Professional Artists, Awesome Art, a show you shouldn't miss.  Looking forward to seeing you there. 

Art by Wendy Studio/Gallery is always Open

Looking to move your Drawing Skills to the Next Level?

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Drawing/Painting lessons in graphite, ink, watercolour, watercolour pencils or coloured pencils Or any combination of these.
Flexible Schedule, at my Studio/Gallery, N. Surrey. 

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Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy

   

Preparing to Present or 8 Steps to Success- Art & Marketing Tips

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

I know this article isn't for you! - You are an artist, not a presenter. 

You work hard on your art, you are no expert, And maybe you didn't go to Art School. 

But the day will come when someone will say to you

"Wow! That is really neat what you are doing, how did you do it?"

Teaching can sneak up on you like that or can be a direction you want to go. Either way preparation beforehand can make it or break it.

Wendy - Demo - Using Technology to Present Your Art Work

There are huge payoffs for you if you do head down that road. 

-    You meet lots of new and interesting people, both artists and art lovers

-    You learn so much, teaching someone else to do something is a great way to really learn it yourself

-    Your confidence in your work will grow and will be reflected in your work

-    Your network will grow

-    You will have another income stream from your art

But Success means Preparation.

Here are my 8 Steps to Success:

1.     Brainstorm - When I have a topic I begin making notes of things I want to say.  No order, just thoughts.  Writers call it a free flow of ideas.  I jot things down wherever I am.  3 am in the morning is often an "Aha Moment".  I keep paper and pencil by the bed so I can jot a thought and go back to sleep.  (Sometimes those scribbles are hard to read as I never turn the light on. But even a word or two will bring the idea back and I can flesh it out from there.) Think about not only the points you want to cover but activities for your group to do to practise it.  A sit and listen talk will not teach as much as an interactive one. 

My brainstorm notes are in many forms - Demo Preparation for 'Using Technology to Present Your Art'

2. Organize and Prioritize - After a day or two I will sit down with my scribbles and pick the ones I like and begin to put things  in an order.  If you are demoing a particular technique, that will be your focus.  Often I am presenting Business and Marketing skills which are broad topics.  Keeping things simple and not overwhelming is a harder task. For my Technology Presentation I decided to organize technology around the 3 main tasks of Marketing Your Art: Publicity, Networking and Point of Sale. Once I had a structure things really fell into place.

3. Prepare An Outline - Seems like the same as organizing but it is different.  You will not be able to read off your paper. You need to face your group and talk.  A quick peek at your notes is all you get.  There isn't time to read a paragraph, only a few words.  Impossible you might think but remember, you are talking about what you know, not some foreign topic that you just spent a few days researching.  (Those horrible school presentation memories will try and beat you down.  Let them go, this is your topic, something you know and do all the time with your art. A few words will remind you what you want to say).
 If there is a particular quote, reference or note I want to make, I will read it out if I have to.  But it will be short and then I am back to 'speaking live'.

Hands on Activities are Important - This is from my demo "Working with Multiple Reference Photos" 

4. Organize Your Materials - Once your outline is ready, getting materials together is easier.  You know where you are going. I first sit with my paper and visualize my presentation:  from set up to take down.  This really helps in figuring out what you need. Beware: the tendency here is to panic and bring too much.  Relax, it happens to everyone. The fear of not having enough, that 'dead space' is with every presenter. Pack what you need, bring an extra activity/note to keep you comfortable and confident.  

5. Practice - I mean really practice. Go into a room, take your notes and talk out loud.  Say what you plan on saying.  Hearing your voice gives a better feeling for how you will be 'thinking on your feet' when you presenting.  Just reading over you notes and 'thinking through your presentation' is not the same. Jot a note, an example or point you feel you will need as a reminder on  your outline. (I often use different colour pens so I am alerted to that extra point)

6. Packing - Take some time here.  As you are packing you are again visualizing the presentation and activities and it is an opportunity to add things you had forgotten.  Keep it manageable.  Try and condense it to one or two trips from the car,  that you can manage alone.  Who knows where the parking will be or how much help you will have.  I find there is lots of help to pack up but no one is there when I arrive. 

For a 3 hour demo, one load should do it. My favourite item: my dolly

7.  A Press Kit - Easy to forget.  Your focus is on making a good Presentation but this is also a networking/marketing activity.  Have a press kit ready:  a bio/statement page, information on your next events, sign up sheet for your newsletter, and business cards or flyers for each person. 

Sample Press Kit and Work Samples - yes have prices on everything. 

8. Samples of Your Work - You are an artist, that's why you are there. Your workshop participants want to see 'what you do'.  Take one or two originals, if possible and some cards,  prints or a book showing some of your other work. That 'dead space' you were worried about can be filled talking about your work and where you are going.

9. Relax and enjoy yourself - Take deep breaths, don't rush. You know your stuff, you do it all the time. 

Special Note: There is only 1 spots left in my all day Marketing Workshops running this month. Sunday, Feb 21 - FULL, Sunday, Feb. 28 - 1 Spots left.  This workshop is only offered in February each year.  More information

 If you can't make the workshop there are other alternatives, I offer 1-to-1 Marketing Sessions focusing on topics of your choice and I am also happy to present to Art Groups on particular topics related to Marketing Your Art.

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Have a great artful day, Wendy

Selling Art With No Fear

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

Low Tide - 7.5 x 10 - Watercolour, matted $230

Seems like a strange topic for Artists but a very real feeling for many artists!  It is the nature of the beast.  Visual Artists like to work hours on end in their studios creating their masterpieces; pouring their heart and soul into every piece. Then suddenly they are out there!!  To sell, artists need to move out of their lovely quiet studios into the busy world of Marketing.  For many this is very difficult; an artists must sell not only their artwork but themselves as well.  A hard role to play when your heart and soul is sitting there for all to judge!

On Tuesday, Sept 17,  I will be making this presentation to an art group.  With some discussions, games and role playing activities, we will all be building skills to market ourselves and our work with confidence.   I am looking forward to working with this group as I know we will  have some fun and I will learn some new things too!!