……….. ArtBizCoach.com

I’m just now getting around to writing this but I have been thinking about it some since this came out of Alyson Stanfield’s ArtBizCoach.com newsletter on Dec. 17th.

Of course, rarely will a person (even with good intentions and lots of organization) do ALL of this but it’s a good start. Sometimes we think we fall down on our goals and haven’t accomplished enough.We tend to have high expectations for ourselves. We can, also, be our own worst critics. BUT, now and then, maybe we should stop and pat ourselves on the back for what we did accomplish. What better time than the end of a year?

Here is an inventory of questions to prompt your memory. (FROM ALYSON’s newsletter)

1. How did you promote your art?I did send out a lot of inquiries about new gallery representation. I sent several press releases to my hometown paper (Longview News Journal )….BUT, it seems they no longer print press releases from artists unless they have a solo show within driving distance of Longview. I know it isn’t my writing skills since they used to put them in verbatim. I’m a stickler for following the protocol they set up in the past. My friend and AZ gallery owner, Gwen Pentecost, sent out my show invitations to a lot of these galleries as well. It really paid off for me with a new gallery in Seattle seeing my work.

2. What did you do to enhance your online presence?I updated my website but kept it very simple and without too many changes to confuse regular visitors. I started making blog entries. I know…I’m not too consistent there, but I didn’t start it to market my work…I did it for myself. I just don’t have anything I want to write about every day or no time to do it.

3. What technological skills did you learn or improve? I can’t think of any particular ones…I just keep learning by bits and pieces.

4. How many people did you add to your mailing list?
I did go in and make a mailing list just for galleries I would like to see my work over and over through inviations or news items. I added and took people off or updated addresses. I don’t have that many since I never felt I needed too many since I don’t do festivals, etc.

5. Who were the top ten cool or influential people you met? I finally met Gwen Pentecost, my AZ gallery owner in person. SHE IS COOL, for sure, plus a great business person and artist. I didn’t meet the Seattle Gallery owner, Barbara Mack Keith, in person, but I have no doubt that she is one COOL lady as well. And she keeps in contact regularly “by snail mail and hand written notes, too”. I met Elin Pendleton, a great CA artist I knew through Paint-l yahoo groups in Chicago this year. There were so many cool new people there at the Chicago show….like, Richard Schmid, David Becker, good gosh…I forgot all of the names now but all the Hilligoss Galleries folks are really great people.

6. Did you create a new business card, portfolio, or other marketing piece?I had a new card created last year and continue to make up new portfolios as the need arises for every particular presentation.

7. What medium or skill did you attempt or master?Oh wow…………I started working with encaustic wax. I completed a whole small format series.I love it but still keep painting with acrylic on canvas mostly.

8. What did you try that was completely new? See above.

9. What did you try that was uncomfortable, but helped you grow?I had to get up in front of a museum audience and talk about NAWA, and then my own work in particular. In a weak moment, I even told the museum director I might work with her for a small workshop in the future. Let me tell you this does make me feel uncomfortable. But it’s kinda like getting your daily exercise, makes you feel good when it’s over.

10. What new art events, galleries, and museums did you visit?I regularly visit galleries and museums in Dallas at the art walks. I visited the Chicago Art Institute for the first time. For two years I had been working with my local art museum and the National Association of Women Artists for a show here in Longview. It was a great success I think. I went to Chicago for the big invitational show for Women Artists of the West at Hilligoss Galleries. I, also, joined the Modern Museum in Ft. Worth.

11. What resources did you discover?I did extensive research about encaustic wax painting. The RFPaints forum is a fantastic site to learn about the technical issues. From that site you learn about even more places to extend your knowledge of this enticing medium. The International Encaustic Artists are another great group I became a member of recently.

12. How did you improve your studio habits?HUH!!!! (stammer, stammer) Let’s don’t go there, please. This needs to be #1 for 2008 since without it, the rest are nothing.

13. What books did you read to help your career?I’ve read so many in the past that my mind is overflowing. BUT, I’m always on the look out for more information that flows in through the internet or other artists (This is for marketing, etc.) I really enjoyed the Art of Encaustic Painting by Joanne Mattera. I’m still absorbing info from that one and look forward to the new one she is working on. Nita Leland’s New Creative Artist is another one I’m particularly fond of (my work on the cover) and so much information that Nita has assimilated for everyone here. I’m looking forward to her next book on COLOR.

14. What seminars/workshops/lectures did you attend?I go to Mississippi Art Colony retreats twice a year unless I’m on a long trip. It is always an inspirational trip for me……….meeting up with all the artists I know there and meeting the new visiting artist each time.I especially have to thank my colony friend, Christy Liffmann, for introducing me to encaustic this year at her studio in Baton Rouge. And to Karen Jacobs for making me more aware of this medium way back when.

15. What organizations were you involved with?Longview Museum of Fine Arts, National Association of Women Artists, Women Artists of the West, Mississippi Art Colony, International Encaustic Artists.

16. What grants/honors/awards did you receive?The Women Artists of the West invited me to show with them and 9 other outside artists at their annual show in Chicago.

17. What articles were written about your work?Many advertisements and articles were included in National magazines about the WAOW show. An AZ magazine also had an article from an interview with me for my August solo show at the Joyous Lake Gallery.

18. What submissions did you make?I made inquiries and submissions to at least 10 galleries this year.

19. Where did you save a wad of money?Let’s don’t go there, please….but I’m not in the red at least.

20. What was the single best thing that happened to your art career in 2007?FOUR NEW GALLERIES and an almost empty paintings storage closet…………boy do I have my work cut out for me in 2008. AND my long time gallery, Brunner Gallery, Covington and Baton Rouge, LA, and I are going to set up a show in early 2009.. I’m also fortunate to have a new Dallas, TX gallery, Artizen Fine Arts. 2007 has indeed been a good year for my painting career.

More later for 2008 expectations and/or goals.

Happy New Year, everyone!

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