Like all artists we have our creative moods, and we create when the mood strikes us. The pencil is truely amazing because of multiple reasons.
1. The pencil is always ready - there is no prep time. 2. The pencil is portable so you can create anywhere. 3. The pencil is ready for a creative streak - either for a few minutes or a few hours. 4. The pencil is incredibly malable! With a few simple strokes, layers or effects, the color pencil can take the properties of pastel, watercolor, ink, or acrylic. 5. The pencil can be so vibrant! The subtle layers, the depth, and the richness truely makes the color have a pulse!
Do you have any art advice?
Art is 90% Business and 10% Talent and 100% Determination
As an artist you can’t be “the mingling mumbler dressed in black” that is perhaps how most perceive artists. If you sell art, you sell not only your talent – you also sell your story, your personality, your ideas, your perception and your credibility.
1. Speak Up & Act Professional
Seriously - eliminate the filler words of “like, um, you know”, fad lingo and trash talk. Trash talk NEVER SELLS – it is insulting to the consumers and their families. Consumers will pass their money to someone who is not insulting, criticizing, abusive, or demeaning.To make money you need to speak and act appropriately. It takes money to change your image, but it costs no money to change your behavior or to clean up your language.
2. You are not just selling your art.
You are convincing others of your talent, skill, knowledge of your subject and your idea.Remember: once art is sold, the consumer may or may not remember you, but they will remember how you convey your art because it is hanging in their home / office.
3. Observe / Appreciate Everyone.
Talk to people, be polite no matter what, gain credibility within moments of introduction by having a good intro, and just learn the fine art of good conversation.
4. Keep a Journal
Write down your observations and keep track of sales, learning experiences, and interesting people – because your journal can be a great record of ideas, places, notes and thumbnail sketches. It will also help you if you have artistic block or have a forgetful moment (like I have often!).
5. Appreciate Every Day
A day of no sales, a day with bad weather, a day when people are just not interested, a day of CCOTCK (Close Encounters of the Child Kind), a day when you learn about others (my favorite days), and the days when everything is simply great!
6. Truly LOVE what you do
People will hear it in your voice, can see it in your eyes, and others will observe it in your actions.
Do you believe in artist myths?
1. "Starving Artist" Myth - Obviously not, I am a pear shaped woman (bless my genetic lottery) and I have never denyed myself artistic opportunities, artistic defeat, and banish artistic stereotypes. I believe that all of us have a purpose, weather it be artistic or not, your path will be filled with pitfalls, steep inclines, potholes, paved with gold and filled with amazing scenery. Just enjoy the ride of life!
2. Artists are eccentric / crazy myth - Creative people usually are more inclines to act, speak, behave, think, and create more spontaniously than most I discovered,, it is when you have so much control over your internal processes and so filled with stress that your creativity dries up and imagination becomes foolish. I discovered that most artists are inclined to 'play' more, with food, with paint, with ideas, with concepts and with people. When was the last time you played? Daydreamed? Do you have fun everyday? (try it soon!)
3. You just can 'become' an artist myth - Yes you can! It is exactally that simple. It is not a matter of being aware of who you are but the singular matter of doing it because art makes you happy.
Do you know any famous artists? / Are you famous? Nope, on both. I am familiar with numerous artists who happen to be very well known, and myself, I just like to paint / draw and how people percieve this I will let people decide that for themselves.
Where do you have your artwork printed at? Bailey's Publishing in Jacksonville for high resolution / bulk printing orders, ( I scan / layout / send / and pick up myself) and Post Net in Orange Park for small sized / small order requests. Both are excellent and have fantastic staff who I love to use.
Art is 90% Business and 10% Talent and 100% Determination
As an artist you can’t be “the mingling mumbler dressed in black” that is perhaps how most perceive artists. If you sell art, you sell not only your talent – you also sell your story, your personality, your ideas, your perception and your credibility.
1. Speak Up & Act Professional
Seriously - eliminate the filler words of “like, um, you know”, fad lingo and trash talk. Trash talk NEVER SELLS – it is insulting to the consumers and their families. Consumers will pass their money to someone who is not insulting, criticizing, abusive, or demeaning.To make money you need to speak and act appropriately. It takes money to change your image, but it costs no money to change your behavior or to clean up your language.
2. You are not just selling your art.
You are convincing others of your talent, skill, knowledge of your subject and your idea.Remember: once art is sold, the consumer may or may not remember you, but they will remember how you convey your art because it is hanging in their home / office.
3. Observe / Appreciate Everyone.
Talk to people, be polite no matter what, gain credibility within moments of introduction by having a good intro, and just learn the fine art of good conversation.
4. Keep a Journal
Write down your observations and keep track of sales, learning experiences, and interesting people – because your journal can be a great record of ideas, places, notes and thumbnail sketches. It will also help you if you have artistic block or have a forgetful moment (like I have often!).
5. Appreciate Every Day
A day of no sales, a day with bad weather, a day when people are just not interested, a day of CCOTCK (Close Encounters of the Child Kind), a day when you learn about others (my favorite days), and the days when everything is simply great!
6. Truly LOVE what you do
People will hear it in your voice, can see it in your eyes, and others will observe it in your actions.