Art Biz Blog

Deep Thought Thursday: Controlling how your art is viewed

My experiences with art, one of which I mentioned in Tuesday's post, have led me to believe more and more that our appreciation of art relies in part on the context in which we experience it.

How much do environmental factors (people talking, music, distractions, solemn spaces, etc.) play in the appreciation of your art?

Or, how much do environmental factors play in your appreciation of someone else's art?

Podcast: Get More People to Sign Up for Your Mailing List

Having a hard time building your mailing list? Maybe it's all in your approach.

Listen to this week's podcast for tips to get more people on your list.

[5 min. 18 sec.]

Subscribe to the Art Marketing Action podcast at iTunes.

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This podcast is an audio version of the Art Marketing Action newsletter.

In Lake Forest and Chicago

I returned a day early from Chicago. Too much on my plate to stay and play. But I had a wonderful time there. Here are the highlights.

I’d Rather Be in the Studio workshop on Saturday in Lake Forest, IL with 67 artists from all over the Chicagoland area and even into Indiana and Wisconsin. Wonderful group. I sold 50 more books! At this rate, my goal of reprinting by July 1 will be a reality. Mike Brown did a fantastic job of organizing the event for the Deer Path Art League and had the support of Karen and Donna. A first: There was a post-workshop reception at the Deer Path Art League Gallery, which was such a bonus. I got to sign books, answer more questions, and get to know some people.

Chicago artist Anne Leuck Feldhaus (shown with me at left) helped me immensely by manning my workshop table (she says I need two people with my new book and the crowd we had!). Then I got to visit Anne’s impressive studio/gallery on Sunday and take her to dinner at Green Zebra. This is a vegetarian restaurant that has been on my radar screen for 3+ years. I highly recommend it.

I also visited the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art on Sunday. It had been years since I’ve been there. It was such a treat after speaking all day Saturday just to soak in the art--until two guards started sassing each other loudly so that everyone nearby could hear their entire useless conversation. It proved even more strongly for me just how much our perception and appreciation of art is influenced by environmental factors.

And some tidbits: If you’re ever in Deerfield, IL and need a manicure, call and ask for an appointment with Elena at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa.
(I rarely--like every 10 years--get a manicure, but this was by far the best I’ve ever had.)

Need a place to stay? Check out the über-hip Ray’s Bucktown Bed & Breakfast. No schmalzy Victorian stuff. Lots of mid-Century design and pottery, a steam room, and a sauna!

Offering something of value that encourages mailing list sign-ups

If you wonder how you can get more people to sign up for your mailing list, read today's Art Marketing Action newsletter, where I give you three guidelines to boost your list.

The third item in my list of guidelines is to give people something they want. That's usually why you sign up for a list, right? Because the person has something you want to receive--something of value to you. Something like art marketing action tips.

What can you give them that they would want? Some ideas . . .

• A small, image of your work that they can download, print, and put on a bulletin board or in a small frame. You pick the image and tell them why it's significant. Entice them into wanting it for their own.
• An e-card they can send to people for a holiday or birthday. Or make it more unique than that. How about an e-card that wishes them a good night's sleep or a good hair day?
• A newsletter that is entertaining--not filled with fluff that's only about you. (More about newsletters in I'd Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion.)
• An invitation to a subscribers-only preview party at your next exhibit.

I hope you'll leave your own ideas and experiences in the comments.

Quoted in Jacksonville Business Journal

Dave Strupp (Jacksonville Business Journal) called last week to interview me about a new business of art series being offered at the Cultural Center of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He just found me by searching online and I was delighted to talk with him. He gave me some good quotes, which I'm thrilled about. You may have heard this stuff from me before, but you might still be interested in the article--especially if you're near the CCPVB. . . .

Beach cultural center teaches the business of art

Web site design is copyrighted, too

This week I found out that the entire Web site design of one of my subscribers had been copied by another artist. Not just the look and feel, but the code! It looked identical except for the art. Apparently, the artist was innocent and it was her lazy designer's fault. But this is bad mojo. You don't copy someone else's Web site design! It's copyrighted just like your art is.

Lessons to be learned:

--The offending site was discovered because the artist whose site was copied was paying attention to his stats and noticed something fishy that took him to that site.

--Stay on top of your designers. Where are their ideas coming from? And are they charging you for stealing someone else's ideas?!

--React with class. I heard about this only second-hand, but from what I understand, both the artist who was ripped off and the artist who unknowingly ripped him off responded professionally. The offending site was taken down immediately.

Generate buzz about your art at your peril

Just this week I spoke at the smARTist Telesummit about generating buzz on a shoestring budget. This story kind of belongs in that category. It also shows that you have to be prepared for whatever might come your way.

This New York Times article tells the story of photographer Ramak Fazel, who planned to visit the 50 U.S. capitol buildings, photograph at and around them, and send a postcard to the next capital city on his itinerary. His idea was prompted by a collection of stamps he had since he was a child, which were just taking up space in his mother's home. His trip was further an exploration of his identity as an American (he's lived in Italy since 1994).

It's fascinating to read about the suspicions he caused and the interrogations he endured--perhaps because of his Iranian roots.

Be sure to watch the video he produced.

Surely there's a book in the future. I'm dying to see the postcards. See 49 State Capitols: NY exhibit at the Storefront for Art and Architecture. Read the Times article to find out why there are 49 instead of 50 state capitols in his project.

She's starting her own Artist Breakthrough Program

From Jennifer D. Anderson:

I wanted to let you know that your last newsletter and the idea of the Artist Breakthrough Program has been on my mind since reading it. The idea of a sort of bootcamp or dedicated incubator period just seemed to resonate with me very strongly.

So tonight I have decided to use the month of February (its a great month and my birthday is at the end so its equally inspiring ) to jump in and get out and about in the LA art world. In the next few days I will finalize my plans and research to have everything in place to complete my list of 28 things to do in the 28 days of February:

1. Go to 28 galleries
2. Comment on 28 blogs
3. Email 28 LA artists
4. Make a total of 28 blog posts (on my own blog) or posts of my art or a link to my website on art related sites
5. Send out 28 packets to galleries/alternative spaces, etc.
6. And lastly - keep a daily journal to write 28 positive things about me and my art/art practice as well as a brief daily entry about my goals.

Realistically I know I am expecting a lot from myself, but I am feeling such a great surge of confidence from the thought of using this month to focus on me and my goals. Its such a great idea - and I just wanted to share since I am "borrowing" it from you and your coach! If the "class" generates this much energy for other people then I know it will be a great success.

Jennifer, this is great! I'm so happy you're inspired--I can feel your enthusiasm in your words. However, I'm afraid I have to burst your bubble. This February is a Leap Year. Are you up for 29 days?

Does anyone else want to match Jennifer's goals?

Image (c) Jennifer D. Anderson, Obscure Annex

Deep Thought Thursday: Do all artists want to be famous?

Have you ever met an artist who didn’t want to be famous? Artists are the greatest delayed-gratification people in the world.

—Mary Beth Edelson in The Artist's Mentor: Inspiration from the World's Most Creative Minds (Ian Jackman, ed.)

Podcast: Decide what you want from an exhibition

Listen in on this week's podcast—an audio version of the Art Marketing Action newsletter.

Deciding what you want from an exhibition can help you plan the contents, the promotions, and all of your moves.

[4 min. 17 sec.]

Subscribe to the Art Marketing Action podcast at iTunes.

NEW! Instructions for subscribing to this podcast.