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]]>Should I ignore the date on my calendar, or try to write something profoundly moving?
Usually I ignore the date in my emails and on my blog, which seems more appropriate for my audience. This year I had an idea to use this space to focus on one of my top values and priorities: community.
Community is a value I absorbed from my mother and is something we cherished following September 11, 2001.
The Strength of Artists as a Community
I am inspired by a quote from Christy MacLear, Executive Director of The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. In a 2012 article in The New York Times, MacLear said of Rauschenberg:
Bob wasn’t all that interested in just his own voice. He was a big believer in the overall strength of artists as a community.
Artists as a community. Strong.
It’s not often that I miss my college days, but I am nostalgic about the daily routine of stimulating lectures, discussing art, making art, and sharing struggles with my fellow students. We benefited from community.
Since 2002 I have tried to get as close as I can to this environment in my online classes, my blog posts, live events and, especially, my membership programs as community is one of my top values.
My Definition of Community
To me, community is a place where people are supportive of one another. They might share a geographical location or a common interest, but these alone don’t result in community.
Members of a community share a concern about something that is bigger than themselves – something that contributes to a better quality of life for other community members. They are willing to help one another achieve that goal.
An artists’ community centers on the cause of art and nurtures its transformational qualities in its members.
Deep Thought Thursday
What does an artists’ community mean to you?
What does “strength of” artists as a community mean? What can be accomplished by acknowledging artists in numbers?
Does it or should it have anything to do with politics?
How does an artists’ community relate to neighboring communities of non-artists? How should it?
What role does the Internet – or can the Internet – play regarding community?
Join our community of artists who are building their businesses with the support of one another.
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There is so much wisdom here that I’ve decided to share them in their raw form. Enough time has passed since I first heard these words that I hope I am honoring Doug’s intent.
What The Artist Said
It’s difficult to wear the title artist. I prefer the title builder.
I seek to build community and friendships. This is the spirit of what the artist’s life is about.
When you have 150 artists going to the studio every day, stuff is going to happen.
The kiln is a social magnet.
When Takashi Nakazato was asked why he works every day, he responded: “I haven’t made the thing I want to see.”Artists are always traveling in their minds, even when they just stay in the studio doing “nothing.”
Life doesn’t happen. You have to engage.
[similar to above] When you put people together in a room, things just happen.
It’s important to talk to children. The goal is to bond over a studio visit and learn civic respect for each other.
Things have come my way when I was ready to receive.
How does where you live inform your art?
Does any of this ring true for you? Is there something here that you’d like to hear more about?
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]]>I hope these three stories inspire you.
1. Holly Wilson
Holly Wilson, a member of the Art Biz Incubator, was nervous and shaking as she presented an audacious product idea at my Art Biz Makeover event last fall. After receiving lots of laughter and positive feedback, Holly immediately put her plan into action. The concept is in response to the sexism she has faced from gallerists.
The result of Holly’s action was a successful Kickstarter campaign, which got picked up by Slate, for a miniature sculpture to remind women they own their power. She’s just about ready to deliver the goods to her funders.
I admire Holly for living her truth, even when others might see it as uncomfortable, anti-feminist, or controversial.
2. Helen Davey
Helen Davey, a musician and also a member of the Art Biz Incubator, started her 52 Sound Paintings last November to celebrate her 52 years on Earth.
Every (every!) week, Helen creates a musical composition in response to a piece of visual art. Here’s her week 11 composition inspired by Maggie Ruley‘s The Fish Whisperer 1 and 2.
I admire the way that Helen has honored the promise she made to the visual artists and her list. It was a big commitment!
She is now halfway through the year and hasn’t missed a beat (no pun intended). She has learned to blog faithfully and is building her audience.
Helen has also built a keen network of artists she didn’t necessarily have a prior relationship with. She’s promoting their work at the same time she shares her sound paintings with the world.
3. Brad Reyes
Brad Reyes spent several months in Detroit working on the set design for Batman vs. Superman, but he didn’t let that keep him from making his own art.
Check out his makeshift studio in his hotel room. (He also has a more permanent version in L.A.)
I admire Brad for making art wherever he lands.
Do you think your story might inspire other artists? Please share it in a comment.
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I encourage you to stop and think about what it means to be part of a worldwide community of artists.
Really. Stop now. Think about it.
Even if the proclamation of National Arts & Humanities Month (October) is for the U.S., we know that national boundaries are fuzzier because of the Internet. We feel a kinship with artists around the globe.I ask you to spend time this month on these two actions: collaborating and advocating.
Since this is the Art Biz Blog, let’s look at how this applies to your marketing.
Collaborate
Trade postal support with another artist.
Contact someone whose work you admire and organize a 2-person exhibit or collaborate on a single project.
Advocate
I doubt that asking people to celebrate National Arts & Humanities Month will change their behavior much. You can, however, change your behavior.
I give you 4 easy and meaningful ways to do this in this week’s Art Marketing Action Newsletter.
Are you collaborating and advocating?
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Since picking up your book and creating my own art marketing cluster”
- I’ve become more organized.
- I have regular studio hours.
- I created marketing materials.
- I started a blog.
- I got serious about updating my website.
- I’ve gotten out and talked to people about my work.
- I’ve led workshops.
- I’ve purchased software to track my work.
- I’ve created goals for the next 10 years.
- I’ve gotten a consignment gig with a nearby gallery.
- I’ve had studio visits.
- I’ve made connections with other artists.
- I was offered a chance to have an artist’s talk and I’ve accepted and feel confident.
- I’ve become more hopeful that I can reach my salary goal in 2 years.
She ends: “And that’s just year one!”
Cathy, I love that you didn’t just read the book, but that you took action. My new membership program launching in 2011 is going to be for people like you who are committed to taking action. Stay tuned.
Do you have a success story similar to Cathy’s? I’d love to hear how my book helped you. Just leave a comment below.
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]]>But we all have competition.
We know that if someone is looking for art and they don’t buy your work, they’re going to buy it from another artist. If someone doesn’t commission you, they’re going to commission another artist. If someone doesn’t enroll in your art classes, they’re going to enroll in another artist’s. If someone doesn’t read your art blog, their probably reading another artist’s blog.
Don’t think of competition as a bad thing. Instead, consider it a challenge.
Competition can get you up in the morning and motivated. Competition can drive you to do better work and become more focused on your career and where you want it to go.
[ Competition can also make you sick to your stomach or stop you cold in your tracks. If you’re not motivated by competition, you should find a way to listen to and to trust your inner voice. ]
And remember: Just because you see someone as your competition, doesn’t mean that they view you in the same way. Their actions can motivate you without them even knowing it.
Your competition is probably someone who:
- Works in similar media, genre, sizes, and/or subject matter
- Has comparable pricing
- Has a similar education
- Is at an equivalent stage in his or her career
- Exhibits in similar venues (with a similar audience looking on)
- Offers classes or workshops along the same lines of those you offer
Who is your competition? Are you keeping an eye on them? Or do you prefer to ignore them and trust yourself?
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]]>About two months ago I went to Bigoudi Salon (Woodland Hills, California) where a wonderful woman named Natsu cut my hair. During the haircut our conversation turned to art and along the way I mentioned that I had a solo show opening on March 5.
She gave me a great cut. I paid. I left.
Last week, exactly a week before the opening, I received in the mail a little red envelope addressed by hand with a return address that said, simply, “Bigoudi – Natsu.” Enclosed was a folded card with a Japanese design and the word “Love” in white letters in the middle of tiny red rectangle on front. Inside was a handwritten note telling me that she had looked at my website, liked my work, and “wouldn’t it be great to have cool hair for the opening?”
Tucked inside the card were two $10 Bigoudi Bucks – a significant discount. (Frankly, the handwritten note without the gift was enough to persuade me to call.) I immediately made an appointment!
While Natsu was cutting my hair again I thanked her for the card and gift and asked how she remembered my opening. She said that although the salon has a computer database system for client records, she always makes notes about her clients on 3×5” cards that she stores in a little box at her station. The cards are organized by client name. She reviews them regularly and writes the personal notes for special occasions.
Although Bigoudi, a world-wide company, uses branded cards for general announcements to their clients, Natsu makes a special point to use non-branded cards for sending handwritten notes and gifts for a client’s special event.
Natsu’s act exemplified many of the lessons Alyson teaches–especially in the Cultivate Collectors class.
Lesson: Listening to others is far more important than telling others about myself. Because Natsu listened she was able to send a thoughtful message and gift that was perfectly timed and meaningful to the events in my life.
My Plan: I will listen and write down what is important in others lives. In a database, and in a simple card file to make recording and reviewing those notes simple, convenient and easy.
Lesson: Handwritten notes are more personal and feel genuine, authentic and from the heart.
My Plan: Always have on hand a few dozen folded cards with images of my paintings on the cover. I will use those cards to send handwritten “thank you” notes, and notes acknowledging special events in the lives of collectors and key prospects and supporters.
Lesson: Gifts that are meaningful the recipient do not have to be elaborate or fancy.
My Plan: I like the idea of sending gifts to key people, primarily collectors on special occasions. I think a discount certificate/card, perhaps 10% off of the next purchase, is good. Maybe the promise of a free hand drawn sketch with the next purchase would work.
I would love to hear your suggestions.
Michael Lynn Adams is a California artists whose works celebrate the beauty in everyday life. His first solo exhibit opens Friday at M Gallery in Sarasota, Florida.
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]]>She and the gallery produced a lovely, small catalog, which chronicles Jan’s recent journey to Turkey for the 800th anniversary of the birth of the Sufi mystic, Rumi.
The catalog is available for sale through the gallery (about $7.80US), but Jan did something brilliant. She is offering it as a free download (PDF) on her Web site.
I suggested she have her webmaster put it in the menu column so that it appears on every page on the site. When you click on it, you’re taken to a page that describes the contents and gives you a link for downloading it. Check it out for yourself.
Jan could have gone one step further and put a mailing list sign-up form on that download page. Might as well ask while you’re giving away something free! But she is mostly interested in sharing this new work.
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]]>I’m always delighted to see the rare art feature on the Nightly News, so thank you for featuring the waterfalls tonight. But . . . I’m very disappointed that the artist wasn’t credited with the work. The least you could have done was mention his name: Olafur Eliasson. Artists are unsung heroes in our culture–helping us look at everyday things (like the Brooklyn Bridge) in different ways. I wish you would have given him credit.
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Rebecca Crowell shared with me the story of Jim Mott, who was featured this morning on the Today Show. Jim travels the country trading his paintings for food and a warm place to stay. He just happened to stay with Rebecca on one of his trips, which is where the Today Show caught up with him.
Since September, Jim has been to 29 states and traveled about 1,000 miles a week without a cell phone, Blackberry, or computer. He confesses that he doesn’t care much for traveling, but he struck out because he felt art was too disconnected from everyday life.
I’m always looking for stories of how artists promote and share their work in creative ways. (Feel free to leave yours below.)
Watch the Jim Mott segment.
Image (c) Jim Mott, Otter Cliffs.
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