Rockville Central Blog Radio Interview

I was just invited to be a guest on Rockville Central ’s blog radio program this Friday, May 16, At 12 noon to talk about participating in the VisArts Fine Art Festival.  It will then be available to listen to at your convenience throughout the following week.  This is my first radio interview and I’m excited and a little nervous.  This is all thanks to my blog.  I’d like to thank Alyson Stanfield for encouragement through her book and website, all the bogging artists out there for inspiring me, my readers, and of course Cindy Cotte Griffiths of Rockville Central for inviting me to be on her show!

Make sure and tune in and tell me what you think.  Thanks!

Crazy May

This month it seems like I have so much going on.  I’ve been getting ready for VisArts, trying to prepare for the PSG All Members’ Show, and trying to overhaul my marketing plan.  Add to that guild meetings, Mother’s Day, parties, and receptions that I’ve been invited to and it turns into a scheduling decathlon.  Why didn’t some of this happen in February or March? (OK, I know the weather is a factor too)  I’m down to less than two weeks before the craft show and I’ve been teetering between “OK, I’m right on schedule” and “oh crap, I need more time!”  But this is actually a good thing.  It means that I’m busy doing my life’s work rather than my “pay the bills” work.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m still doing that too.

As far as some of the exhibitions I’ve been working on in conjunction with getting ready for the upcoming craft show, check out my new events page.  That will keep you up-to-date with all of my professional comings and goings and it gets updated faster than the events page on my website.  Now I need to get back to work!

My New and Improved Artist Statement

As promised in my last post, today I have my new artist statement.  Please leave comments on how you like it.  You can see my old artist statement on my webpage.

Why do I make my art?

I have been given this need to create and I want my wearers to experience the strength it takes to be an individual, to take control of their own destiny.  In ancient and tribal cultures, talismans were created and worn to bring certain attributes to the wearer.  Even in today’s modern world people still wear jewelry to show how rich, influential, or fashionable they are.

I take sheet metal and wire and by folding, hammering, weaving, and joining the pieces I create my own talismans.  Silver, copper, brass, nickel, and gemstones are the materials that I combine to create each work.  The tools and techniques haven’t changed much since mankind began working metal, and neiter has humanity’s need for adornment.

My pieces are created for warriors, leaders, and priestesses.  Create your own path, forge your own future, bring ceremony into your daily life.  This is why I make art.  All it needs is for to find your power and strength to bring the magic out.

Please let me know what you think.  Thanks!

I’d Rather Be in the Studio Book Review

I admit that I actually finished reading this book last week, but I’ve been working feverishly toward my upcoming show.  I’ve found I’d Rather Be in the Studio by Alyson B. Stanfield really motivational.  Most of the information isn’t new, I’ve come across it on the many business and marketing websites for artists as well as in the marketing workshop that I took through one of my guilds.  But she takes away the work of having to search it all out for yourself.  It’s also written in a fun format using standard excuses that artists use for not marketing themselves instead of regular chapters.

One of the other things that I like is that she gives you permission in the beginning of the book to destroy it.  She tells you to break the spine, turn the corners down, highlight and underline passages you find helpful and not to read it in strict order either.  I didn’t break the spine, but there are corners down and bookmarks all over the place.  When you purchase the book she even has extras like a motivational poster and files with all of the forms she mentions in the book as free downloads.  It’s got examples of other artists’ newsletters and artist statements for you to look at also.  She’s even doing a blog tour along with a traditional book tour in support of this book.  You can find it at ArtBizBlog.com.

As I’ve mentioned a couple of times already, 2008 is the year I break out, and this is the book to get me out there.  I’ve been working on my mailing list and I’m sending postcards to the relevant people for each of my shows.  I’ve also been working on redoing my artist statement, when it’s done I’ll post it so everyone can give me feedback (constructive please).  This is particularly important because we are required to post our statement at the VisArts Fest.  I’m thinking about some of the other ways of marketing, but right now I actually need to be in the studio getting ready for the show.  But I’ll have some new things in the works beginning in June.

What are some interesting and/or profitable ways that you’ve marketed yourself?

 

Living the American Dream

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about individuality in America.  Most of the Europeans who chose to come here initially came because they were different than their neighbors and wanted a place where they could be themselves.  Others came here for the opportunities that this land offered, where there was more space and less competition than in the “Old World.”  Americans tend to think of themselves as individuals who can make their own opportunities.  Our movies, novels, and TV shows abound with stories of the little guy who made it through perseverance and usually at least a little luck.

This all sounds great, but is it the truth?  How many times have people who chose to be different get laughed at, or worse, get harassed physically or verbally?  How many people felt pressured to be like everyone else?  As an artist I find it particularly difficult as that isn’t seen in this country as a viable vocation.  Art is seen as frivolous or unnecessary.  Maybe it’s all the puritans who moved here still influencing the thoughts of modern day Americans.  It’s very difficult to find support outside of the art community when you are starting out.  Maybe people are just jealous because they decide to stay stuck in a job they despise and resent that you are trying to make a living on your own terms.

This doesn’t even just apply to artists.  Any one who decides to go into business for themselves has a hard time.  It’s twice as much work (sometimes 10x as much!) as working for someone else.  You are your own marketing, research and development, production, and retail departments.  If our nation was supposedly founded on these ideals, if there really is such a thing as the American Dream, shouldn’t we all be supporting the decisions of these modern day pioneers?  Not just in the abstract, such as reading the biography of someone who has made it despite trials and tribulations, but by supporting those in our own community while they are still on their way up.

I’m not trying to be downer here.  I do have people who support me, but there are also people who don’t think that I can make it.  Sometimes they are the same people.  We all need to support one another’s quest to fufill their dreams.  It’s never too late to pursue your own, so don’t knock someone else down just because you gave up.  Just something to think about.

Cool Hammer Trick video

I’m not that into video clips, but this one is pretty cool.  Since my blog is titled Hammermarks this fits right in.  I found it through StumbleUpon.  Here’s their link to it.  Let me know if it doesn’t work anymore.  Don’t worry that it’s in German, you get the idea by watching it.

Count Down to VisArts Fine Arts Festival

I finished the tops of my display tables and boy do they look sharp!  I don’t have a picture yet so you’ll just have to come visit me at the VisArts Fine Art Festival in Rockville, MD May 24th & 25th to see them up close.  How’s that for self-promotion?  I’m almost done with my new lower end line of shield pendants and I’m in the middle of some new cuffs and *gasp* brooches.

I just got back from Staples with new stuff for my show and finally the goods to start my portable gallery/ brag book.  I’ve been meaning to do this since the Crafts Report had an article about using one for promotional purposes and just to keep track of your publicity and announcements.  This was published two years ago people.  I’m finally doing everything that has been following me from quarter to quarter and year to year in my business plan.  I told you that I was serious about 2008 being the year I kicked it up a notch.

Last Monday I received my copy of I’d Rather Be in the Studio by Alyson B. Stanfield and I’ve been reading it ever since.  I plan on reviewing it on Hammermarks when I finish it.  Here’s a link to her blog: Art Biz Blog.  It’s been really helpful so far, even if it’s just been a kick in the butt to start doing things I already knew I should be doing.  She has some great advice and resources so check her out.

The Font of Inspiration

A lot of people ask artists where their inspiration comes from.  Many times this is a hard question to answer.  It’s hard to explain how the creative process works.  That’s why you hear the same things over and over like “I draw my inspiration from nature,” “Picasso is a heavy influence on my abstract style,” “The devil made me do it.”  The truth is that it’s hard to define where ones creativity springs from.  So many times it really just comes to you how something should be done.  This could be after a lot of research or just as you’re walking down the street.  And sometimes it really does come from a specific experience.

With my piece Bubbles, my dad and stepmom asked me where I got the idea.  I told them the truth-I was cooking spaghetti and was watching the water bubble.  The surface looked so soft and inviting, but of course it would scald me if I touched it.  I realized that I wanted to make a piece using this motif.  It worked perfectly because at the time I was looking for an idea for a soap dish exhibition (I got into the exhibition by the way).  They seemed to think that this was a little weird.  But that’s exactly how it happened.  Another piece I did was inspired by the way the sweet gum balls had dropped on our deck in the snow.  And that inspired a series of pieces that looked like constellations.

Other times I have to seek out inspiration.  I look at the Hubble site or google images.  Other times I get inspired while looking at art made from different media.  Sometimes a phrase or a song will start the creative juices flowing.  Most of the time it’s really hard work to come up with the right design.  It’s hard to make it look easy.  But you can go on thinking that it’s magic.

Marketing Myself

2008 is the year that changes everything.  This is the year that I create a cohesive jewelry line that offers a variety of price points.  I will find more galleries to carry my work.  I will exhibit at craft shows appropriate to my work.  I will begin marketing with a vengeance.  I will have pieces in more exhibitions.  In short, 2008 is the year I become a working artist.

I’ve had time to think about the business side of my art more this past week since I twinged my back.  I’ve found quite a few sources of marketing advice (look to my new link catagories to find some of them).  This year I have everything in place to become serious in my pursuit of being a self-supporting artist and I plan on doing just that.  I still find myself putting off sending submissions to galleries afraid of rejection, but I also know that I need to push past this if I want to sell my work.  What’s the worst that could happen?  They’ll say no.  I’ve heard that word before.  But I’ll never hear a yes if I don’t send my work out there.

I’ve made my mind up that I need to just jump in and do this.  This is what I want to do and no one else can do it for me.  I have people who support me and help me out, but only I can make myself successful.  I can start right now…

Are you looking for beautiful one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry or know someone else who is?  Then come and buy my work at the VisArts Fine Arts Festival in Rockville, MD May 24 & 25!

The Beauty of Lethargy

Tuesday I discovered that I just didn’t want to do anything.  I actually felt like I should be doing something, but I couldn’t decide what to do, so I chose nothing.  I was feeling kind of off, though I didn’t actually feel sick.  I don’t really have an excuse for this behavior, but it felt right at the time.  I was going to post about it then, but that would’ve been doing something.  The next day I did feel a little guilty.  After all, I’m supposed to be getting ready for a show.  So I packed a bunch of stuff in for yesterday and today.   Guess what I did yesterday…  I twinged my back and I haven’t been doing anything since then.  I have gotten a lot of reading done though.

Sometimes you just have to listen to your body.  It will tell you when you’re doing too much, maybe even when you’re thinking about doing too much.  Now I feel like I need to be doing other things, but my body has told me firmly “change of plans!”  I just have to figure out which things I can get done now and then do the rest once my back is better.  I must embrace my lethargy!  Nothing is the new something!  I could use this time to sketch new ideas, to plan out my strategy for the upcoming show.  I can do stuff, just nothing physical.  Hopefully though, I’ll be better by Sunday so I can get everything done!