2012-01-23T10:40:33-05:00 lifetype-1.2.10_r6971 http://www.magpiedreamsart.com/blog/rss.php?blogId=8371&profile=atom Copyright (c) tag:blogs.artspan.com,2012-01-23:31352 2012-01-23T10:40:33-05:00

Another year of rain, heat, poor vegetarian food choices, and traffic looms ahead of us, friends.  It is nearing the start of ART FAIR SEASON!  I can't help but smile.   So ...

Art Fair Info Another year of rain, heat, poor vegetarian food choices, and traffic looms ahead of us, friends.  It is nearing the start of ART FAIR SEASON!  I can't help but smile.   So much of doing an art fair is headache,  heartache, and pain, yet many of us who do them truly enjoy them.  There's something so immensly satisfying in connecting with an audience grateful and ravenous for the visual stimulation your work provides.  For me it's just as great when I can inspire and advise a young grade school artist as when I can sell a large framed work.  I love exchanging cat stories with fellow feline fanciers and it's amazing to touch a teenager's emotions and to actually have them be brave enough to tell you.   First fair up for me is SPRING INTO ART in Napannee, IN.  Check them out on facebook and then stop by.  I'll be introducing my new affordable lines of works designed to be displayed individually or in collections.  They're small, interchangeable, and offer very affordable decor options for kids' rooms.  Collect a Kitty and Pick a Puppy are just two of the collections I'll have.  I'll be loading images here soon.  See you soon in 2012! tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-11-28:29551 2011-11-28T15:05:06-05:00

I couldn't believe it when my iMac would not turn on.  She was dead, and all my most important business documents, including images of sold pieces, were trapped on her.  It was not a ...

General Art Fair Info I couldn't believe it when my iMac would not turn on.  She was dead, and all my most important business documents, including images of sold pieces, were trapped on her.  It was not a good day.   My new Mac is on the way.  It's a MacBook Pro, and I hope it will serve me well both in the studio and on location.  I'll be able to accurately control inventory at fairs and email receipts to patrons.  I can't wait to try her out!  But her first taks is to help me apply for the first art fair of the year for Magpie Dreams:  Napannee Library's Spring Into Art! tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-10-26:27071 2011-10-26T15:55:24-04:00

I was always bored with Social Studies in elementary school; the only part of the map units I enjoyed was actually creating a map, getting to come up with the legend and the landmarks, choosing ...

General I was always bored with Social Studies in elementary school; the only part of the map units I enjoyed was actually creating a map, getting to come up with the legend and the landmarks, choosing the colors.  I'm not that great at giving directions even to my own  home.  I don't remember street names or cities. But navigation is important and if we don't follow directions or use a map, we get lost.  Sometimes this can be a fun diversion, but more often than not it's a source of aggravation, a loss of time we could be spending profitably, and sometimes even dangerous.  This applies not only to our physical travels, but also to our intellectual and creative travels. I often enjoy finding my own way, but with the economy threatening the livelihoods of my family, my friends, and myself, I find myself looking for as many maps as I can reference.  I am also more than happy to share my travel experiences with anyone who asks, for why be selfish when everyone's just trying to make it through their own travels?  Relying on one another's varied experiences is one of the enjoyalbe parts of life. In many ways, an artist's work is like a map of their life.  I will continue to share mine and hope that it helps viewers on their travels as much as other artists' works aid me in mine. tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-10-11:25991 2011-10-11T15:25:34-04:00

Change is inevitable, but it can be daunting, terrifying, upstetting, and painful.  I belong to an artists' cooperative called Heartland Artists in a small rural community.  It's rough ...

General Change is inevitable, but it can be daunting, terrifying, upstetting, and painful.  I belong to an artists' cooperative called Heartland Artists in a small rural community.  It's rough going in the best of times, but the economy has hit small not-for-profits like ours hard and dramatic changes loom in the near future.  Is this bad?  Maybe, but it's not to be avoided.  The trick is turning it to your advantage.   Change can be scary, but it can also be very energizing.  It can be an opportunity to redo, to fix, to alter, to adjust.  To reacclimate.  Maybe to evolve.   Times of change are times of dreams and goals and aspirations, and planning how best to achieve them.  Heartland may appear to be in a tricky situation, but with a common cause and positive polarization, we artists involved in the organization can use this opportunity to take Heartland to new levels.  The best part is, it means we can do the same for ourselves through our efforts for Heartland.   I'm considering many changes in my art career, thanks to my sister and a good friend.  We're making plans and laying foundations, and I'll keep you appraised of things as dreams become reality and change becomes the next big step.  And while you're waiting, come by and check out a small town artists' coop called Heartland Artists:   www.heartlandartgallery.com   Look up similar organizations in your neck of the woods, and support your local arts programs.  Without constant support from the community, change can't come and when there is no change, there's nothing. tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-09-06:23551 2011-09-06T12:12:49-04:00

I've been selling work for over ten years now.  I started trying to become what I perceived to be a "proper" illustrator.  I assembled a portfolio and mailed out copy after copy with ...

Ethics in Art I've been selling work for over ten years now.  I started trying to become what I perceived to be a "proper" illustrator.  I assembled a portfolio and mailed out copy after copy with resume, tear sheet, award sheet, and leave behind (what has now become my business card handed out at fairs.)  I received rejection after rejection, and the expense and lack of return slowly drove me away from pursuing my dreams of being published.   I finally gathered up the nerve to try the art fair angle.  My work is very ecclectic and "niche market," and I was shy of the response.  I dove in headfirst, not knowing even a bit about the fairs I enterred, the patrons who frequented them, or presentation, pricing, or even transporting my work.  I've learned so much, and am still learning, of course, but over the years one thing has become a pattern:  my sister (business manager) and I track each fair's patrons for what it is they like in my booth.  Cats?  Unicorns?  Environmental work?  Certain colors?  Anything with faeries?  Inevitably, wanting to make sales and connect with these people, I try to garnish my booth with want I think the patrons want.   Sometimes it feels a bit like pimping out my art.  "Hey, kid, you like kitties?  Take a look at this giclee..."   Certainly, now when I consider a subject i'm specifically painting to fill out my booth, I think about "saleability."  Is this an image that will sell?  Will enough people be drawn to this piece to make it worth my painting it?  How many possible interpretations can be seen in this work?  The more interpretations, the greater the number of people who will like it.  It can become quite mercenary, really.  I'm working on piece based on the Swan Princess and as I'm composing the image, I'm thinking "people may see this as an angel.  That's good marketability."   I don't know that it's necessarily a bad thing.  If I don't sell my work, I can't justify buying more supplies, spending more time creating. And for every piece I create that is made intentionally for "the sale,", I create at least two which truly mean something to me, and it's 10 times more rewarding when it's one of these personally vested pieces which sells.  Less frequent, more precious.  It's the payoff and it's definitely worth it. tag:blogs.artspan.com,2011-08-29:22991 2011-08-29T14:23:54-04:00

I am not a natural "people person."  I am shy and awkward in social situations, and I tend to avoid them like (insert your favorite cliche here.)  Still, I love art fair season.  ...

General I am not a natural "people person."  I am shy and awkward in social situations, and I tend to avoid them like (insert your favorite cliche here.)  Still, I love art fair season.  Contradiction, you say?  Well, maybe, but art fairs supply that sorely needed validation that galleries are unable to supply- the sense that your work is connecting with Everyman, not only fellow artists and the art scene.   It is, ironically, the social environment of the art fairs that I enjoy.  Maybe it's because I otherwise starve myself of the stuff, but regardless of the success or fail at a particular fair, I always come away smiling because I met so many interesting, intelligent, and amazing people .  We may talk about art, animals, lifestyles, (heaven forbid) religion, or even the trivial fashion or weather; it doesn't matter, I'm fascinated by the patrons of art fairs.   Maybe it helps that my work is so specific.  I don't get half the traffic that many of my neighboring booths get, but I'm not disappointed by the intrepid individuals who do brave my eclectic mix of subject matter and my sister's and my fasion choices.  I have met the most unique, beautiful people...  brave people, wise people, mystic or deeply religious, serious or downright silly...  It's an inspiring thing.   I'm not a good correspondent and I'm the farthest thing from being a good businessman, I may never contact you, but I do appreciate all who come into my booth and share their stories, sometimes their take on one of my works, sometimes their personal opinions or trials. It is very gratifying to know my work is appreciated, whether it sells or not.  I am one of the types of artists who will make work whether it sells or not because I make it to share a story, a part of me, with others.  I always look forward to the sharing, and more, the recipricol sharing in turn from the Everyman patrons of art fairs.