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!)