On the easel.

This in process pastel is the current one on my easel. It's also a great illustration of the last blog entry, "the angle makes the proportion." Notice how her left arm is folded... in order to show the weight of that shoulder, I must accurately show the angle those edges create. (This might not make sense to some folks... verbal VS visual explanations. But, I have to try.)

Now some other areas are rather unresolved, like the hands, right shoulder and breast area... but that is what "in process" means!

The angle makes the proportion.

When it comes to figure study, "The angle makes the proportion." This is something Dean Butckovitz has said many times and it is totally true. (He's a former art professor of mine who is super talented with figure study!) Human anatomy is tough. When I'm painting from a photo, not real life, and it's a body floating in water, it is even more difficult. But I love the body and I love water and accept this ongoing challenge as part of my process!

Much of my painting is from photos, although I do work from life-in the form of live models and 'plein air' water in landscape. The real life experiences help and so does a mirror in my studio. However, the best advice I've ever had about figure study is "The angle makes the proportion." Think about it next time you observe a still body.

Look below at the right edge of this model's face and the shadow of her 'ear'... the angle of both that ear and edge of her face makes the proportion needed to show her looking off to her left. IF I had slightly tilted either, it would be less accurate.


If you are an artist, carefully study the angles in your human forms... and your figure study will improve. Of course, a great exercise for this is to do quick studies of live models. This will help you to 'capture' that particular pose.

If you check out my August 27, 2009 post, you can see my first attempt at this model by the pool... and how off my angles were!

Utilize what you already have.

Since 1993, I've lived on my own & always had a studio in one room in whatever house I happened to be inhabiting. Sometimes it was tiny & sometimes bigger, but I've always had space to make my art.

Above is a detail photo of my current studio... my favorite antique dentist cabinet, some of my oil brushes, part of my pottery collection as well as the newly painted gray walls. In all the years I've had studios, I have never painted the walls until now. I always dreamed of a fabulous studio with north light windows looking out into nature... but the reality was usually old paint & other cruddy details. My current studio is no exception. Because of some ongoing water damage issues & knowing that eventually this part of our house must be torn down, I have just lived with my crappy looking studio, with the bad walls and floor.

BUT, this post is about utilizing what you already have & I have a great studio space with three windows and higher ceilings than the rest of the house. I have lots of wonderful art supplies & resources, some cool pieces of furniture and am self employed which means I also have time! Why settle for an ugly studio? (Imagine it's impact on my art making...)

When I was a resident at Vermont Studio Center (I have been there twice), I was amazed at how simple yet functional their individual artist's studios were. They built walls where needed & used white paint over and over again to create a fresh space and no one worries that an edge isn't cut perfectly or that the wall has ghost paint drips. The point was easy and efficient renewal of the studio spaces each time a new artist came in.

I bring this up because seeing what they do with their studios reminds me that my own studio could be so much more. SO, for the investment of a couple of gallons of paint, some cheap fabric remnants & a few days, I have a studio that I genuinely enjoy being in. (And, no it's not done... still needs a short wall built, floor painted and some touch up painting, but it's tons better & it was an affordable change using what I already had!)

Especially in this economy, it's easy to get down thinking about what you would like to have. I want to encourage you to look at what you already have and how could you minimally improve it for your own joy? Have some fun and let go of that perfectionist... save that for your art making! (And, if you already have a beautiful space, could you rearrange your furniture, easels, etc. to make it a better space?)

Pastels by color and value

Although I have seen many professional pastelists order their pastels by color and value, I haven't done this to all of mine in a long time... until recently. Partly because I teach and do plein air with my pastels (and use different color palettes depending on what I'm painting) and also because of the number of boxes I have, it seemed to be a hassle to order ALL of my soft pastels by their color and value.

But, I realized it was hurting my work. It was difficult to "see" the colors and values of yellow, say, when some were together and some were mixed with other colors! So, now that I have done this, it's been great for my current paintings AND I realized I had some duplicate colors that went into my teaching or plein air box.

It also made for some cool photos! If you compare these pics to my October 13 post photo, you can see what I meant about colors being mixed up.



[At the top is a photo of some of my Unison Soft Pastels. Directly above is my box of Richeson Soft Pastels. Both are hand-made. Unison are best quality and my all time favorite pastel... ever! The Richeson are good because they are big and bright & affordable... but I can't layer as much as with the Unison.]

Almost done.

"Below", pastel on board, is my most recent pastel painting. It's shown here above almost completed. The texture is rougher than many of mine usually are. I used a tinted Colourfix primer that I painted on top of a GatorFoam board. Therefore I got a more random texture from the brush application. (A number of pastelists paint their own textured surfaces, including Susan Ogilvie.) I especially like the way the color drags across the texture on the surface of the pool... really mimics the light moving across wall & floor.

This is the second painting in which I've used lots of bold red. Since I have been painting this series of women in pools for so long, I do get bored from time to time and have to shake it up, so to speak.

I also approached this a little differently after watching a Susan Ogilvie presentation earlier this month. She has a very methodical, strong approach to her pastel painting. She uses bold marks with subtle color variations to add interest. I don't think anyone would think of her work when looking at this painting, but her influence is there nonetheless. (It is a great idea to see other artists work... can really be inspiring... not to copy them, but to learn from their approach!)

The evolution of a pastel painting.

This is what I have been up to... in between sharing my marketing & strategic planning ideas with other artists and getting inspired seeing Susan Ogilvie start a pastel yesterday [www.susanogilvie.com]. I was volunteering during her workshop hosted by Piedmont Pastel Society [www.piedmontpastelsociety.org]... of which I'm a member.

So, anyway... here is the evolution of my latest pastel painting... not quite done yet. (The color is a little off because these are "in process studio shots" under different lighting.)
















Stay tuned for the final image... as well as more in process studio shots of other work.

(PS... I just delivered two new paintings, including "Yin" below, to RedSky Gallery [www.redskygallery.com]:-)

Why Unison Pastels?

This 8x10" pastel I just completed is called "Yin". IF you follow my work, you know I love to paint with soft pastels... but I am in LOVE with Unison Pastels, which are distributed in USA by Jack Richeson & Co. Here's a link to see more... www.richesonart.com. (IF you are in the Charlotte area, Cheap Joe's Art Stuff's Charlotte store has a great selection of Unison individual pastels!)

Here is why I love these pastels... they are wider in the middle than the ends and they do NOT crumble (and not even the beautiful Sennelier hand made pastels consistently pass these tests)... and most importantly, they are soft and creamy... unlike any other pastel I've ever tried.

This is how good Unison pastels are... below is "Yin" in a later stage... you're seeing lots of layers of pastel on Colourfix paper (which doesn't hold as much pastel on the surface as the Richeson Pastel Surfaces). There is NO paper visible anymore.

Now, look at the completed painting with the red... the red color was a Unison Pastel that easily glided over the thick pastel surface. ANY pastel, other than Unison, would not have left a mark like this without a LOT of pressure which would have changed the painting. If you are a pastelist, you know that once there is a lot of pastel on the surface, usually you have to press down hard in order to get a color or mark to show. But, NOT with Unison Pastels.

Even if you can't afford Unison, if you love pastels, I'd recommend buying a couple of dark and light colors to see for yourself. This way at the end of your painting when you're laying in the darkest darks and lightest lights, your soft pastel will easily glide across the surface and you will be pleased. (Any artist knows that the quality of supplies will improve your work. It is the same with pastels!)

NOTE: You must carefully remove the paper label to use your individual pastel stick on the side as well as end (this gives you a variety of marks you can make with one stick).

YouTube Introduction to Soft Pastels

Here's the YouTube link to my introduction to soft pastels... (It's from my Instructional DVD, "Painting Water with Pastels".)

www.youtube.com

IF you like what you see, my DVD is available through Cheap Joe's Art Stuff for $24.99. Here's the link for that as well...

www.cheapjoes.com

What pastel supplies do I use?

What supplies do I use? I have been pastel painting for over a decade and have tried many products. Like everything, quality does matter. As an artist, we should use the best quality products we can afford. You can see some of my own pastels to the left.

For me, the best out there is Unison Soft Pastels (www.unisoncolour.co.uk/). They are hand made in England, distributed in the US by Jack Richeson & Co (www.richesonart.com)... and can be purchased at various art supply companies. But I prefer to buy from my favorite local (North Carolina) business, Cheap Joe's Art Stuff (www.cheapjoes.com).

Because the pastels are hand rolled, they are wider in the middle and thinner at ends. Extruded pastels, like Rembrandt, are all the same width and also have a coating on surface that should be rubbed off before using. Even if you cannot afford to move to Unison Pastels, consider buying a couple of darks and lights in this brand to supplement your extruded pastels. Your paintings will be better.

As far as surfaces I work on, I use professional pastel products that have a toothy surface. They hold the pastel and I don't need fix in the end. My two favorite products are Jack Richeson & Co. Premium Pastel surfaces and Colourfix Pastel boards (www.artspectrum.com). The JR&C boards have a LOT of tooth and can take lots of pastels... and their gator foam boards can be washed off if you have a dud painting. The Colourfix boards are great for plein air and have more colors to choose from.

For more on all of this, use the links, or better yet... get my DVD, "Painting Water with Pastels" (www.cheapjoes.com).

Get this book!

Wow... it's already October 9 and my 'painting sabbatical' is officially over! I am continuing to put my art at the top of my 'to-do' list, but there are so many things to keep up with.

(Everyone faces the challenge of juggling their passion, career, family, etc., etc... But, when we're self employed it can be more difficult... the sands of time move quickly when I'm looking at ALL the things I could or should be doing;-0)

I do love the business end of art as well as my studio practice. If you've followed my work, you know I'm involved with the Arts & Science Council's 'Artist as an Entrepreneur' Institute as well as being a huge fan of Creative Capital out of NY.

I am highly recommending a brand new book to any visual artist who is not totally happy with their art career... The Artist's Guide, How to Make a Living Doing What You Love by Jackie Battenfield. She's a talented artist who HAS supported herself/family with her art and she's an excellent teacher of the business end of art. She's a regular member of the Creative Capital Professional Development team and her book is excellent! (Remember I've attended a half dozen of these workshops and I am still getting inspired by her new book... AND I can read it at my own pace!)

Here's a link to get more info and order your own copy... www.artistcareerguide.com

A peek in my studio...

I have just delivered nine new pastel paintings-including the three paintings you see just started with original photos to the left-to Red Sky Gallery in Charlotte, NC. (www.redskygallery.com)




To left is one of these 7x5" gems, And around again, finished. See my website, www.carmellajarvi.com, for more info about this work and Red Sky Gallery reception.





Here's a photo of my new pastel studio space... I still have another smaller painting, etc. studio, but here, I can leave my pastel work & supplies out. You can see several paintings in process on the easel... as well as my soft pastels set up. One of my favorite things about Vermont Studio Center (where I was a painting resident in 2006 & 2008) is having lots of different artwork going on at the same time! (www.vermontstudiocenter.org)

Learning new stuff is fun!

Feeling rather like a technological idiot today! I've had my own website, www.carmellajarvi.com, for maybe a year and a half. It has come a long way, but since I've been learning on my own and didn't grow up with computers, some stuff is taking me awhile to grasp!

For example... I recently started this blog & figured out I could make a URL link a 'hot link'. I was painting in the studio today and my mind wandered to business... and I thought, 'Hey, I bet I can do that with my website pages too.' DUH!!

Better to learn these things later than never! I will apply this experience to the future and actually play around with all the settings in my 'writing boxes' on both website and this blog! (The best part of all this is that it's much easier for you to click on a hot link than go to another location.)

On another note... I finished a painting earlier today (got too hot & muggy after awhile so here I am in the air conditioned office:-)... and I started a series of three small 5x7" pastels.

I am good about documenting my work, but now I'm taking a lot of step by step photos for this blog... and my future writings on painting water with pastels. I'll start posting them soon. Hope your work is going well too.

"Artist as an Entrepreneur" Institute

Are you looking to make more money with your art? Would you like to move closer to your goals or the next level, professionally?

If yes, consider attending the "Artist as an Entrepreneur" Institute this fall (Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5) . The Arts & Science Council (in Charlotte, NC) is sponsoring this excellent, multi faceted business of art program once again.

I will be leading one of the sessions and was fortunate to attend the first time they offered it. I know it is GREAT information that helps you to create a viable art business... not to mention meeting other like minded artists and all the networking opportunities! See this link for more details and to register.

(www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=177625)

Two new paintings

These are two recent pastel paintings that I am so happy with. (You can see this new work starting October 9, at Red Sky Gallery, Charlotte, NC... their East Boulevard location... www.redskygallery.com)

Many things have converged this summer for my new body of 'figures in water'. First, a new permanent pastel studio space in addition to my existing studio means I can always have my pastel paintings going... and I have! I enjoy painting with oil, but pastels are my passion... my expressive medium!

This summer, I bought an underwater digital camera which really opened up the images I could capture in water... because I can SEE what I just shot! (This also helped to show the model what I like and am looking for.) Thankfully, I had access to a couple of different pools and models, including one place where I could do live figure study of the model next to or inside the pool! (Painting real water and real person helps me when I go back to the studio and work from photos.)

I'm varying my sizes, working with different color palettes and painting almost every day. This last part is tough because of all the other things I juggle. Anyone self employed knows it IS more difficult to get to work when you're working from home... many, many distractions. BUT, moving my permanent pastel studio space to another building has been great because I am leaving the house!

Do what you want with all this... I just wanted to share my thoughts on this cool body of work being the convergence of many things. (See more on www.carmellajarvi.com.)

I love the business of art!

What a great week... In my pastel studio the first part and this past Thursday, I was in Penland for a Creative Capital Professional Development workshop. (It was a refresher course for me and a chance to see the presenters.)

Even though I teach marketing and strategic planning to others, I still need professional development and inspiration from time to time. There are some things I'm doing well or have improved... but then I have my weak areas too! (And, I like to be around artists that are positive and excited about possibilities!)

You may not love the business end of art, but you should spend some of your time/energy learning about it. A business will improve with intention. (This is the idea behind writing goals and steps to achieve those goals. When you focus on something specific, you see things differently... look at opportunities in a new way.)

Another great aspect of my Penland trip was staying at the Celo Inn (www.celoinn.com/rates.html). It's about 30 minutes from Penland and is very affordable with a tasty breakfast and it's a beautiful Inn & location!! (Of course there are many cool places to stay & things to see in the Mountains!)

Sharing a new article about me...

OK... I'm procrastinating a little... (I do love painting, but have to keep walking away when I am putting the last details on a piece... So, as to not overwork it!)

Thought I'd post the link to this Art Issue where I'm listed as one of the artists shaping our community! It's a good article and you can read about other talented artists too.

(I really like to have a something tangible in my hand when reading, but it's cool to click on a link and get it as well! Thank you University City Magazine.)

www.universitycitymagazine.com/

First stage of a pastel painting

This is the beginning of one of my newest pastel paintings. Tonight I almost finished it (so it looks more colorful, detailed and smooth... will post pics as soon as I share new work with Red Sky Gallery).

One day, I'll do a series of these really rough, sketchy impressions of a moment in water. There is something lovely and raw about the marks capturing that suspended moment of light & movement... body & water. But, finishing a painting and pushing color into color... thick and rich is cool too.

Being dedicated to my own art is why I quit my full time teaching job three years ago. I think this is the first fall I was totally absent of that 'back to school' feeling... finally deprogrammed from 13 years of teaching and how many years was I a student before that?? This fall is about painting in my new pastel studio space and enjoying September... with it's crisp nights.....

I'm taking a painting sabbatical.

I'm taking a "Painting Sabbatical" this month. Still doing a few necessary things (business & personal), but for the most part making art is my goal. There are several important aspects of my painting process... first, I love business so much-it's really my default setting-I must guard my time when painting is priority... hence my scheduled painting sabbatical! (I also recently put my pastel painting studio space in a building away from the house which has no WiFi;-0)

Next, I need inspiration in the form of working from life, having different photo shoots with models for great resource material and seeing other artist's work. Here's one of my all time favorite painters... Lynn Boggess. Check out this link... www.lynnboggess.com/ (His work is even more incredible in person, but can be appreciated in digital form. Also check out the video footage.)

Another thing about me is I must have some interaction regarding my work. I enjoy spending time with other artists, but I'm most grateful to have an artist husband. Although being married to another artist has it's drawbacks, we spend a lot of time together and he has been so helpful with my work! Recently, we were dissecting why one of my new paintings was so hot and the one on the easel was not. As tough as it is to admit faults, I feel so much better when I let go of a painting that is not working... whether priming over it or rinsing off the pastel.

Even though the painting on the easel was almost done and I'd been working on it for over a week, it was not working. No matter how much more I did, it would never be a winner. So, now it's gone and I am happy and excited about the new one I just started and the four behind it. I know what I enjoy, why do I get off track? Perhaps distracted by lovely bodies in water...

Why practice? (Part 2)

Here's an illustration of why it's good for artists to practice as well as work from life. I have been painting figures in water for many years... working from photos in my studio. However, I also sketch live models and actual water to really understand what I 'see' in my photos.

I often practice with the same image before I start the 'final' painting, whether working from life or a picture. I may even paint the same photo over again to truly capture what I think it should feel like.

These sketches are from a live figure study session this past weekend. The first sketch is my second attempt at this pose. See my first attempt below... it's more labored. I was trying to get the proportions right as well as the light. In the later one, my marks are more confident and spontaneous.


One of my favorite teachers, Rita Shumaker, would say 'The body has memory'. I'll add practicing is not a waste of time, but makes one's work better! Forget the idea of 'wasting' supplies... you're honing your craft.

Are you ready?

How prepared are you? IF someone gets in touch wanting to include you in an upcoming article or needing a brief bio and image to go with a class write up or upcoming show... do you have these things?

Of course we all want opportunities to share our work and what we do, but making sure you're ready when 'opportunity knocks' is something else. In every marketing and strategic planning workshop I've attended, this point has been stressed over and over. Although it is not my favorite thing to download digital images and rewrite my bio, I make sure to regularly work on these things so I am prepared when asked. (And, once you start marketing your work, you most likely will be asked!)

This image is a pastel painting from my Instructional DVD, Painting Water with Pastels. You can see me starting this painting on the YouTube link... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEWIkFHwPhI&feature=channel.

And, this is the painting I sent when recently asked for an image to include with a write up for a marketing workshop I'm teaching October 17 at the Fort Mill Art Guild. (Here's the workshop link... http://www.fortmillartguild.com/classes/jarvi.htm.) Waterworks Visual Arts Center also requested a couple of images to include with their upcoming publicity (I have a solo show there next summer)... and, since I was prepared, I could say yes.

So even though summer is my busy season, I stopped what I was doing for both of these... (and for an upcoming University City Magazine article I was included in too)... I stopped to take advantage of these opportunities to market my work and further get the word out about "Carmella Jarvi".

Are you ready? And, if not, what small steps could you take to get prepared? Good luck. I look forward to seeing your work soon!

Professional development is important!

Call it Continuing Ed or Professional Development, it's important to improve one's self in all businesses and the arts are no exception. Actually, it could be argued that we need that kind of training even more in the arts.

College preparation is changing, but I know many folks with art degrees and little business training to help them market and plan strategically for success. With that said, artists can be some of the best business people because of their creative problem solving skills and their passion and connection with the 'product' (their art).

Even though I really enjoy the business end of art, I still need reminders as well as learning new skills in this area. I am grateful for organizations like North Carolina Arts Council, Arts and Science Council and Creative Capital for understanding and doing something about the lack of business training in the arts fields. (See www.carmellajarvi.com LINKS page for more info.)

I am very excited to be attending the one day Creative Capital workshop at Penland on September 10. One cannot beat the $40 fee for a day's instruction with this group!! Additionally, I love to share marketing and strategic planning with other artists and this fall is no exception.

I will be teaching a marketing mini-workshop at the Fort Mill Art Guild on October 17. Here's the link... http://www.fortmillartguild.com/classes/jarvi.htm. (And, if you're just getting started with the business of art, I'd highly recommend an Art Calendar subscription. It's a business magazine for artists and an excellent investment!)

A business opportunity

(Photo by Gowri Savoor of me at Vermont Studio Center last summer. I was there on a NC Arts Council Residency Grant... Jeff Pettus, of the NCAC, encouraged us to apply at a Creative Capital workshop.)

Two things... first, thank you to all the great models I have to work with and to the many folks who share their swimming pools with me! I feel very fortunate to have these summer opportunities!

And, FYI... The Creative Capital Professional Development Program (PDP) is presenting two workshops with the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, NC: a one-day workshop on Thursday, September 10, 2009 and a weekend intensive Friday, September 11-Sunday September 13, 2009. SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE for both workshops, EXCEPT MECKLENBURG CO. ARTISTS CAN ONLY APPLY TO ONE DAY WORKSHOP (see link for details).

I have attended several of Creative Capital's weekend workshops and they are excellent... lots of information, but worth it!! (Actually, their program gave me the fundamentals to quit my full time job three years ago!)

To apply or if you have questions about these events, please consult the Penland website or contact Penland Program Assistant, Leah Buchanan at leahbuchanan@penland.org. Please See: http://www.penland.org/programs/special_programs.html

Why practice?

Practice, practice, practice... how many times have I heard it and still, I have this epiphany sometimes! I know my work is better when I practice... both as a group of paintings and on an individual level.

When I paint often... paint regularly, I increase my success rate... more paintings "work". When I practice a pose or view before beginning the final, I increase my chances of the final painting working well. One of my favorite teachers, Rita Shumaker, used to say "The body has memory." It's so true... in the same way an athlete warms up before and actually practices the marathon... not just going out and running cold!

One of my favorite things about practicing is my paintings are getting looser, more spontaneous... a look that really excites me. (Here's the image that inspired this entry... I still find it amazing that some of my best sketches are on crappy newsprint! I think it's because there's no internal stress over using 'good' materials.)

My Review of Olympus Stylus 1050 SW Digital Camera, 10.1 Megapixel, 3x Optical, 5x Digital Zoom, 2.7" LCD Screen, Blue

Adorama

Olympus Stylus 1050 SW Digital Camera, 10.1 Megapixel, 3x Optical, 5x Digital Zoom, 2.7" LCD Screen, Blue

Olympus Stylus 1050 SW Digital Camera, 10.1 Megapixel, 3x Optical, 5x Digital Zoom, 2.7" LCD Screen, Blue

I LOVE my new camera!

Carmella Jarvi www.carmellajarvi.com 8/9/2009

 

4 5

Pros: Bright LCD, Love immediacy of digita, Easy To Use, Comfortable Controls, Easy Setup, Great Picture Quality

Cons: Can only shoot so long, Clean after each pool use

Best Uses: Art is my primary reason, Family Photos, Art, Fun

Describe Yourself: Photo Enthusiast

I am an artist who paints from photos of people in water... mostly swimming pools. Been shooting with two 35mm Nikons for years... but LOVE the immediacy of digital! It also makes great prints!

Self portrait of artist

: Made with Product

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New self portrait & old passions

This is my most recent painting, a 12x16" pastel self portrait. I shot the photo I painted from with my new digital underwater camera. You're looking at my face underwater and the surface of the underside of the pool water, reflecting me. I have only shot my pool imagery with 35mm. How amazing to see what I was shooting right after!

I have always loved the water... and painting. I have been an artist and a teacher all my life. (My earliest memories involve drawing and being bossy!)

Life can be bittersweet... no matter how good some parts are, there's often some challenge. But I am grateful to God for all of it... the great stuff and the lessons I keep repeating (hopefully to eventually learn). I appreciate the many, many people God has surrounded me with and the amazing gifts I've been given... and forgiveness.

I am passionate and I enjoy sharing things that have been shared with me. In this blog I'll continue to write/post/ponder assorted topics from art to business to philosophy (occasionally... I do have a BA in Philosophy as well as my undergraduate art degree;-0). I hope you share your thoughts occasionally too.

Marketing strategies

There are many tips & strategies for improving one's business. Especially in this economy, cross marketing is one of the best. Lots of businesses are doing it... products being advertised on TV shows is one of many examples. An artist selling art materials they already use is another. Think about what makes you different... or what is another angle on your art?

For me, my work is about water, swimmers... a great fit for summer. But, I also love the business of art (sometimes as much as making the paintings themselves;-0)... so this is another area I can market my art.

This picture is a cover of The Mecklenburg Times, (a Charlotte, NC business paper) May 19, 2009 issue. It's a photo of me by Jim McGuire for an article Austin Light wrote on the business of art. It was exposure for me as an artist... but the topic was first business, then art. (Read the article on this link www.dolanmedia.com/view.cfm?recID=487518.)

One last example of excellent cross marketing is Marc Gustafson's Gallery Pantone 278 in Charlotte, NC. I had a June 2009 Solo show at this non traditional gallery. The openings are held at a local Trolley Museum and the owner does most of his marketing through Facebook and his gallery Blog. He is having lots of folks attending his openings AND selling art! (See more on gallerypantone278.blogspot.com/)

Think about who likes your work and why? What about your art may be different and how could you use that difference to market what you do? And, last thought... try to focus on the positive. (I'm not good with this all the time... but it always helps!)

Welcome to my blog.

Welcome to my new blog. This will be an interesting adventure. I do love to share with others... it will be great practice for me to write brief segments about painting, my art, as well as marketing and strategic planning tips.

If you have comments or questions for me, please post them. I look forward to also hearing from you.

(Painting by the artist, "Emerging", pastel on board, 16x20".)