Guest Blogger: Paula Lewis

Except for the few artists who have reached the level of success that enables requires help from assistants to keep up with the demand for their work, we artists are a lonely bunch.

Solitude is good for creativity, but only up to a point.  Community, education, critique, support, and inspiration are good for our work and our psyches.

Join an artist organization and you’ll see what’s in it for you. Here are a few of the reasons I cherish membership in the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.

1. Market Influence

A guild or organization can work to build the overall market for fine art and fine craft.  The momentum of the group will benefit everyone.

Paula Lewis, April's Promise. Vitreous enamel on copper, 11 x 15 inches (including frame).

2. Business Advice

Record-keeping, setting prices, dealing with galleries, and liability insurance are examples of the kinds of issues that can be addressed by guild members that come from a variety of backgrounds and levels of experience.

3. Fresh Perspective

Viewpoints from artists working in multiple media help identify with whom your work resonates and why. Knowing more accurately what your most likely client looks like helps you effectively allocate scarce resources (time and money.)

4. Confidence Building

Many of us are visual, not verbal, so being asked to speak or write about our work can be a special challenge.  Practice with your fellow artist-members enables you to speak more easily with non-artist potential clients.

5. Revitalized Muse

If you are “stuck,” you are not making art, which means you are not going to have any art to sell. Shared creative energy is a priceless benefit of joining a guild.

Join an organization that is media-diverse, multi-generational, and embraces a broad spectrum of styles. You will find your creativity constantly jostled, your contact (client) list expanding, and your ability to speak comfortably and cogently about your own work significantly improved.

Oh, you will also make fabulous new friends and feel more strongly connected to your community – good deal!

Guest blogger Paula Lewis, Scorched Eyebrow Studio, hand-fires and composes copper and vitreous enamel collages. She lives in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, near her childhood home and her mother, with her husband, Ken and her beautiful autistic daughter, Jessica.

Jen Barbati was recently thrown a curve ball from one of her buyers, which left her speechless.

Here’s what we know

Two years ago, this buyer purchased a giclée of one of Jen’s paintings. It just so happened that Jen had a postcard made up with the same image. She happily gave the buyer a stack of the postcards to hand out to her friends.

Fast forward to late last year. Jen again runs into this person, who proudly proclaims that she had liked the image so much that she started framing the postcards to auction off in fundraisers for her nonprofit organization. (Re-read that sentence. She’s been auctioning off framed images of Jen’s postcards without Jen’s knowledge or consent.)

Jen is so shocked that she can’t say anything. If she had only been asked, she gladly would have donated. Jen is a wildlife artist and this is an organization she strongly supports!

The woman is a pillar of the community. And, again, Jen supports the cause. It fits nicely with her niche market and she wants and needs to stay on good terms. Still, Jen wants to make sure that this woman knows that it was pretty uncool to do this without the artists’ knowledge.

Jen Barbati, Jaguar. Oil, 16.5 x 13 inches. ©The Artist

Here’s what we don’t know

We don’t know whether Jen’s name (which was printed prominently outside of the image) was cropped during the framing.

Likewise, we don’t know whether Jen was given credit in any form.

Here’s what we can deduce

We’re pretty sure that this woman intended no malice. She just wasn’t thinking about Jen–only herself and the organization.

We also know

We know that anyone can pick up a postcard and frame it and we’d have little control over it.

We also know that it would have been best to address this with the buyer/purloiner when Jen first learned of it (late October).

Here’s what Jen’s going to do

Jen said she is going to contact the woman and ask for a meeting. When I asked her if she was comfortable with that she said “Yes! I do much better in person than on the phone or in writing.” Great! Jen knows her strengths.

Jen is going to open her conversation with this woman by telling her 1) that she’s thrilled she likes her giclée so much and 2) that she was very happy to hear that her postcards were helping to raise money for such a valuable organization. This is important. Jen isn’t going to lead an attack. She is genuinely happy about these things and she wants to make sure this is conveyed from the start.

Then she’s going to say something like: “I’m curious. Can you tell me how the postcards were framed?” And “How do your auctions work? Was my name printed anywhere? Was it on the back of the framed image?” She’s not going to assume anything. She needs answers before she can proceed.

Armed with these answers, Jen will be able to know which direction she needs to take the conversation. She wants to let this woman know that she would like to support the organization however she can–as long as she’s given proper credit.

While I’m not an attorney (Let’s be clear on that!), I did advise Jen to use the term “copyrighted image” in a non-threatening way. This person didn’t make the copies of the image, so an attorney would have to address if any laws were broken. But she needs to know that the artist owns the rights to the image.

Sure, Jen could let it go–be happy about helping to contribute to this organization. But folks, if we don’t educate others about how art and artists work, nobody will. It’s part of your job (yes, job) to educate people. Jen is doing all artists a favor by talking to this one person instead of staying silent.

Any more advice for Jen?

Artist Geri Dunn was stunned when someone purchased a gift certificate of hers at a silent auction and then wanted to either 1) redeem it for cash or 2) commission an original drawing for the amount on the certificate ($150). People really do ask/demand the darndest things!

Let’s look at the situation and start with the gift certificate itself, pictured here.

The small lettering on the bottom row consists of these three components.

1. The artist’s contact information–phone and email.
2. The certificate number, expiration date (12/31/2010), and the words “Not redeemable for cash.” Having an expiration date is important! And the “not redeemable” phrase proved key when the recipient tried to cash it in. Geri was able to point to this language and quickly put an end to that discussion. The words “No Cash Value” could also be used or added.
3. A place for the authorized signature (presumably the artist’s or the organization that auctioned it off).

Without knowing the context of how this was promoted in the sale (Was there any text that went along with it or in a catalog?), I see one crucial piece of information missing on the gift certificate–>What can it be used for?

A simple phrase like “To be used toward the purchase of original art or prints by Geri Dunn” might have covered it.*

You could also add the phrase “Non-Transferable” if you want to ensure that only the purchaser is able to use the certificate.

Go over details with the organizers

It’s difficult to have control over your donations if you aren’t involved with the organization or in attendance, but there are some things you can do to have a smoother experience.

Whenever you donate a gift certificate, talk details with the organization. The nonprofits I’ve been involved with have had forms for donors to fill out. Write out the specific terms of your donation on the form and make sure you sign it somewhere. If the organization you’re supporting doesn’t have a form, make up an official letter of your own. Address your donation letter to the organization and include it when you deliver the gift certificate.

If you really want to go all out, see that anything in print (a catalog, brochure, or label) is more specific than “Gift Certificate.” Perhaps “Gift certificate toward the purchase of art by Geri Dunn” would be sufficient. I know this might sound like going overboard, but I’m amazed at how few people read the details of an offer. The more bases you cover, the fewer headaches you’ll have in the long run.

If necessary, provide a separate “Terms of Use” document to go along with the certificate or, better yet, print the terms on the reverse of the certificate itself.

You can also use and adapt many of the above tips for certificates that are purchased from you and given as gifts.

*Disclaimer: I’m not an attorney. I’m sure that state laws differ on such matters, so please do some research before you create your gift certificates.

October 25 has been declared International Artist Day by a group of artists who thought wisely that artists needed their own special day. Not coincidentally, it’s also Picasso’s birthday. Is it on your calendar? How will you celebrate? Here are some suggestions they give you on their Web site.

1. Have the Mayor of your city proclaim this day, October 25th, as International Artist Day every year. While it may be too late for this year, you can get it in the works for 2010.

2. For a visual exposure have your local media film an interview and do an article about the Artist(s) in your area.

3. Have businesses sponsor an Artist by purchasing a painting for their lobby, or hosting a show.

4. Treat your favorite Artist to lunch or dinner.

5. With so much up and coming new talent out there, why not help sponsor an emerging artist, through a weekend workshop or fundraiser?

6. Advertise International Artist Day by downloading our logo and using it to print posters or invitations for events.

7. As a gallery owner, host an Open House with as many of your represented Artists in attendance.

8. As an individual art lover, throw a house party featuring your Artist friend(s) and their artwork, of course!

9. Host an “Art Auction” in a restaurant with a guest speaker to talk about art appreciation, art history (briefly) and the importance art plays in our society. Charge per plate. This money can be used to help sponsor new talent in the schools.

10. Send International Artist Day greeting/post cards to all your supporters to show your appreciation and thank them for honoring Artists and supporting the arts. (I love this one! See making your collectors feel special.)

11. If you have any type of website, add the International Artist Day link and feature a different artist of the month, every month with a short biography.

12. Most of us drive so why not have some magnetic decals or bumper stickers made to promote International Artist Day to display on your vehicle. This would help the awareness to develop. Please visit the gift store.

In response to my post about how to respond to people who ask you for your art for free, Alicia Leeke was reminded of a newsletter I wrote about soliciting donations. After reading that article, Alicia listed the charities she supports and posted it to her website. Great idea! If people don’t see it first, she has a resource she can direct them to.

Alicia Leeke, Exotic Palm. ©The Artist

Alicia also created a standard letter to respond to requests for donation. She has given me permission to share it here. (I have added the phrase “to address my concerns” to the final sentence.)

Alicia writes:

I got this idea from your newsletter and it worked surprisingly to my advantage in selling one of my prints at a price that was fair to the market and to me and not devalue the work. The finished piece was a framed print of a palm that was 24 x 24 [pictured here], double matted and framed with glass, so they got a very large quality piece they might not have otherwise gotten had it been a straight donation.

I’m continuing my advice for artist salons, which I started in Monday’s Art Marketing Action newsletter and podcast. The first three elements for thriving groups are here. Today, I’ll look at three final things to consider for your artist salon.

Miami art-marketing salon organizer Debra Cortese talks at an exhibit opening of member art. Photo by Rosie Brown.

4. Location

Dedicate a place for your salon meetings. The best locations are your home, studio, or gallery (after hours). Public places aren’t conducive to open conversation and hanging out as long as you’d like. Some salons might last late into the night and you don’t want to feel pressured to cut short an energetic session.

You won’t regret setting a single location. Having to decide on a meeting location each time would take up a lot of energy and wear you (the organizer) out. You need to save your energy for more important stuff like your art and your career.

5. Regularity

A salon should meet with frequency and consistency. I prefer more frequent contact than monthly sessions, but most people can’t commit to anything more often than once a month. Stick with a day (say, the second Tuesday) so that you aren’t constantly asking members to pull out their calendars to agree on a date. You, as organizer, should set the day before asking others to join.

6. Conversation

Ah, yes, what will you talk about? If you are running an Art Biz Connection marketing salon, you have your agenda planned out for you. Otherwise . . .

Be loose with any guidelines. In the suggested Vision under #2, note that I wrote “stimulating conversations about art and life.” That’s because life informs your art. Let your discussion wander and trust that salon members will always bring it back to art.

To kick off an evening’s exchange, you might select a topic or delegate this task to a different salon member each time. Alternatively, it could be the responsibility of each member to bring a conversation-starter on a slip of paper. Those could be drawn from a bowl or rewritten on a white board to be returned to when it’s time to move the session along. Without some sort of structure, a salon could decay into just another social event.

Organize an art marketing salon

6 elements for a thriving artist salon, part 1

Art Biz Connection free art-marketing plans

Twitter book club for artists: We’re reading a biography of Gertrude Stein–leader of the famous early 20th-century artist salon in Paris. It’s free!

In yesterday’s Art Marketing Action newsletter and podcast, I encouraged you to start an art-marketing salon. Over the next two days, I’m going to share six elements that are necessary for a salon to thrive.

1. The organizer

This is you. Notice in the inset in yellow text that the most famous creative salons in history had an organizer. Of note: All were organized by women. (Consider it a challenge, guys!) Meetings were usually held at that person’s home and included meals and sometimes cocktails. By the way, I recommend coffee and tea instead of alcohol. A sober mind is much more conducive to coherent discussions.

As the organizer, you’re responsible for setting the salon dates and times, coordinating any menu items, and getting the word out. You also need to make sure the guests are comfortable and any guidelines are adhered to.

It doesn’t work for multiple people to be in charge. The buck has to stop somewhere and people have to know where to turn for answers.

For a closer look at the historical salons mentioned in the inset, see the book Strange Bedfellows: The First American Avant-Garde by Steven Watson.

2. Vision

Your salon needs a purpose. The vision you have will dictate the members you invite and the conversations you have. Here’s a suggestion for a vision to get you started.

The vision for my salon is to nurture friendships, provide a safe place that encourages stimulating conversation about art and life, and to elevate the status of all creative individuals in the community.

If your salon is more business focused, you might want to check out ArtBizConnection.com. On that site, I give away free marketing plans and guidelines for artists who want to support one another in their marketing goals. It’s a structure for nine sessions that include setting agendas and goals, writing the marketing plan, and supporting one another. These art-marketing meetings are far more structured than those that promote free-flowing ideas.

Members of the Miami Art Marketing Salon pose for a group photo at their exhibit opening Windisch-Hunt Fine Arts. Photo by Rosie Brown. L to R: AnnaMaria Windiscnh-Hunt, Deborah Weed, Lynda Wellens , Rosie Brown, Monique Lassooij, Lynda LaRocca, Trina Collins, Jerry Wade, and Valentina Ramos.

Regardless of your vision, everyone invited will need to know what is expected of them. You might set up general rules such as No Personal Attacks on Anyone (in or outside of the room); Members Must Respect Diverse Opinions; and No Yelling, Throwing, or Kicking (c’mon, you have to have a sense of humor!).

3. Members and guests

Your group should be large enough to include diverse points-of-view, but small enough that everyone’s voice can be heard. I would think a salon of six to twelve people is a good size.

There should be a core group (three to five people) dedicated to meeting with one another on a regular basis. Aside from the core, you might think of a new person to invite each time to shake things up. Consider inviting people who aren’t necessarily visual artists. Find an architect, a poet, a dancer, a musician, a philanthropist, a writer, or a creative problem-solver. The more diverse your group, the better! Art has never been created in a vacuum and is always enriched when it incubates in a varied environment.

[The above information does not apply to those who are working on marketing plans using the tools at Art Biz Connection. If you are doing this, you should have the same group of people throughout.]

You can find members within an organization you already belong to or an exhibition you’re part of. You can also ask for recommendations from those you trust or even post a flyer if you’re open to experimenting.

I’ll give you the final three elements for a thriving salon in tomorrow’s post.

Feeling a little lonely in your studio?
Discouraged by lack of support from “close” friends and loved ones?
Need a dose of motivation or the challenge of fresh ideas?

Organize an artist salon!

A salon is a social gathering of artists and intellectuals hosted at regular intervals by a patron in his or her home. Such convivial settings for the art of conversation emerged in Paris at the beginning of the seventeenth century.—Robert Atkins in ArtSpoke

Members of the Miami, FL ArtBizConnection.com marketing salon meet for the first time.

No word other than “salon” better describes these meetings of highly creative people brimming with ideas. My study of art history led me to learn about the numerous communities that have nurtured artists and expanded what art can be. Some were more formal communities, while others were informal salons.

The salons I’m talking about are not virtual. They don’t rely on Internet discussion groups or telephone bridge lines. Instead, I encourage real-life, face-to-face talking with others. Get out of the studio, get away from the computer, and get inspired. No amount of online networking can replace this human interaction that involves all the senses.

Why organize a salon?

Connections are critical for everyone’s art career. Being around other artists can build your confidence, support you emotionally, and challenge you to do better work. Large membership groups serve their purpose, but they might not be as good at cultivating intimate friendships. The trust that evolves with close friendships will lead to opportunities you never knew existed, and projects you never before contemplated. As our communication choices grow, we seem to be overwhelmed by technology and neglecting the personal touch that brought about our interest in art in the first place. That’s why I emphasize in-person gatherings.

FINAL WORD: Take the initiative. Starting a salon will make you an instant leader in your art community by contributing to the intellectual dialogue and advancement of other artists. If you’d like for your salon to focus on marketing ideas, use the free tools I’ve developed for artist salons at Art Biz Connection.

Get out of the studio and gain inspiration

PODCAST

The podcast is an audio version of this content.

There comes a time when your passion for a cause is so deep that you would regret not using your talents to help out. Listen to the podcast to get ideas on how to contribute your talents to raise money for the cause closest to your heart.

Note: More details became available about the exhibit mentioned in the podcast after this was recorded. Click on STAGES below for an update.

Art Marketing Action newsletter (a written version of this podcast)

I’d Rather Be in the Studio! (my book, pages 219-222)

Donate Your Art Prudently

STAGES (Exhibit mentioned in podcast)

Set boundaries on your donations (blog: Leeds, UK)

Art has found its way into the Tour de France. Depending on your definition of art, it may have always been there (Fans’ costumes! Crop sculptures! Handmade signs and banners!). But now Lance Armstrong, in his first Tour in four years, has teamed up with Nike to enlist the talents of 30 of the world’s foremost contemporary artists for an exhibit entitled STAGES, which opened in Paris last week. As far as I can tell, the exhibit consists of a few Trek bikes that were decorated by the artists. (Yes, this recalls visions of Cow Parade and its infinite clones–artists working with the surface of an existing form.) Other works were created specifically for the show.

Margaret Wright, Pink Tulips #2. Manipulated photograph. ©The Artist

After its Paris debut, STAGES travels to New York, Los Angeles, and Portland. The artists’ works will be sold with proceeds benefiting Armstrong’s foundation to fight cancer. You can’t argue that the artists are making a contribution.

I’ve written a lot previously about donating art to charity events–cautioning you against donating too much or feeling obligated. But there comes a time when your passion for a cause is so deep that you would regret not using your talents to help out. Rather than wait for the requests to come to you, organize your own charity event by teaming up with a nonprofit organization and at least one celebrity. Lance Armstrong might be out of reach, but there are probably celebrities in your town that would be willing to lend their name to a good cause.

You could donate work that you already have available, but you’ll get more publicity if it’s work created around a theme. I hate to say that because I’m not crazy about themed art, but I know what gets picked up in the mainstream media. If publicity is a goal (and it should be if you’re trying to raise money!), a theme might be the way to go.

Let’s look at some of the local celebrities and nonprofit organizations you could team up with.

Celebrity Chefs + Food Bank + Artists
Purchase plain aprons for artists to decorate and then sell or auction the aprons at an event that features the chefs’ creations while raising funds for the local food bank.

Newscasters + Literacy Program + Artists
Ask artists to create artists’ books. Exhibit the books at local libraries and galleries before holding a sale and having a party at a bookstore with proceeds going toward a literacy program. Bringing in the bookstore (a retail space with its own following) is a bonus to the partnership.

Sports Stars + Inner-City Sports for Kids + Artists
Ask artists, or pair up artists and sports stars into teams, to decorate baseball caps, footballs, jerseys, or anything else associated with your celebrity’s sport. Ask a sportscaster to be the MC at the party and sale. You’re likely to get TV coverage on the sportscaster’s station.

One final note of interest: Lance Armstrong is said to be riding a few of the artist-decorated bikes in the Tour de France, including the bike by Damien Hirst to the finish line in Paris.

KNOW THIS———-~> Making a contribution to a cause that’s important to you is extremely gratifying.

THINK ABOUT THIS—~> The more people you include in your event, the more publicity you will receive and the more money you will raise for a worthy cause.

DO THIS————~> Contribute your talents to a good cause. Bring in a local celebrity (or celebrities) to help attract attention. Be diligent in your research to ensure your nonprofit is in good standing and well thought of in the community. There are many charity watchdog organizations out there. Try http://charitynavigator.org as a starting point.

Also, understand that–at least for now–when you donate your art, you (the artist) are able to deduct only the cost of your materials for U.S. tax purposes. See more about working with a nonprofit and donating art in my book, I’d Rather Be in the Studio!, pages 219-222.

Read everything, listen to the podcast, and share your thoughts at Art Biz Blog.