Before you do anything else, read this post from Nathan Hangen on the Copyblogger blog: The Art of Shameless Self-Promotion.

Now, let’s talk about why I sent you there.

I used to teach an online class called Shameless Self-Promotion (the closest thing I have to it now is Cultivate Collectors). I also used to have a workshop with the same title. As it turns out, it’s a good title–so good that the folks organizing my upcoming workshop in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware have chosen to call their workshop Shameless Self-Promotion.

Nathan Hangen speaks for himself in his blog post, so allow me to give you my side.

The word “shameless” doesn’t mean shameful. It means lack of shame. Shameless Self-Promotion, therefore, implies pride–pride in your work, your art, your ideas, and your accomplishments. You don’t lie, you don’t embellish. Instead, you tell the truth with “lack of shame.” You don’t apologize for your good ideas. You hold your head high while you give an enthusiastic plug for what gets you excited about them.

There’s an entire chapter in my book called “Share, Don’t Sell.” This is how I want you to think. Don’t look for the latest sales speak or closing techniques. Instead of worrying about selling, get excited about sharing your art.

Anthony Frudakis, Andromeda. Bronze. ©The Artist

Until you are excited about sharing your art, how can you expect us to be overly eager about looking at it or buying it? Our level of fired-up-ness will never exceed your own. There is a direct correlation between your energy surrounding your art and our response to it.

There’s something else to think about that relates to your personal well-being.

You’ll have a hard time promoting your art until you are uber excited about it. You’ll whine, you’ll complain, and you’ll make excuses. Just don’t let me be within earshot of any of these time-wasting activities. They are unproductive and will suck the life out of you, your art, and everyone around you.

I will tell you the same thing I say in my book, in my classes, and in my workshops.

You should be so excited about sharing your art with the world that you can’t wait to get out of bed!

Are you there yet?

Not sure how to label your CD for an exhibit submission?
Call the organizer or gallery and ask.

Unclear about the instructions for a grant proposal?
Call the organization and ask.

Wondering how to best promote a speaker or workshop presenter?
Call the speaker and ask!

Years ago I visited the offices of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C. to talk with them about the grant proposals we were submitting on behalf of the art museum. One piece of advice has always stuck with me. The gentleman said something to this effect:

“We are here to answer questions. Use us! Seek our advice as you are writing your proposal—not at the very end with the deadline in sight.”

Karen Martin, On the Cusp of Old Age (Self Portrait). Oil, 30 x 40 inches. ©The Artist

Too often we flounder because we’re afraid of asking for clarification. We’re afraid of the answer, so we’d rather guess. Or we’re lazy. Picking up the phone and dialing a number these days requires so much effort.

Asking doesn’t make you look unknowledgeable or stupid. On the contrary! Asking makes you look smart. Here are four benefits of asking for clarification.

1. It puts your name in front of the person on the other end. “Hi, this is . . . and I’d like some clarification about . . . “ Putting your name in front of people is always good business.

2. It shows people that you want to honor their guidelines and preferences.

3. It proves to the other person that you are a professional—especially if you make your call in advance and don’t wait until the day before a deadline. You got past any fear or laziness and picked up the phone.

4. It gives you peace of mind because you know you did it right.

FINAL WORD: If you’re confused or unsure about guidelines or requirements, ask for clarification. In all of the examples above, I encouraged you to pick up the phone and dial a number rather than send an email. I stress this because it’s easy to be further confused by email. A live conversation will be much more fruitful and will often be faster than exchanging email messages.

The podcast is an audio version of this content.

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?

Back in December, I ran a Deep Thought Thursday about how to satisfy an unreasonable client who has hired you for a commissioned piece of art. I presented a particular situation (which you need to read about to understand this post) and many alert readers helped an artist address this problem.

Later, I received this email from the artist with the unreasonable (?) client. She wrote.

I just wanted to update you and everyone that offered ideas and support with my 2-year-old commission. I met with [the client] several days ago and he asked me how I liked the finished piece. I told him it was perfect and that there was nothing more I could do with it. He said “ok” and thanked me. And that was it.

I think reading some of the comments really helped give me the confidence I needed to talk with him.

Melanie Millar, Line of Beauty No. 9. Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches. ©The Artist

The Lessons?

1. Worrying about something too much or for too long tends to make it a bigger problem than it is. Attack it head on!

2. There’s a lot of powerful energy in a group–even a bunch of artists that you run into on a blog. When you encounter a bump in the road, hearing about others’ experiences makes you feel connected and not quite so alone. You know that you’re not the only one who has ever been in this situation.

If you need some group dynamics in a more structured format, think about joining my Cultivate Collectors for Your Art class. We’ll be focusing on starting and expanding mailing lists while paying close attention to the special people who purchase the most from you. It all starts tomorrow (February 3)!

Are you hiding your accomplishments? If I visit your website or blog, would I know that your work was on the cover of a magazine, featured in an article, or that you received an award?

I’m not talking about a list on a résumé. I’m talking about graphics and photos. As a visual person, you can surely relate to the power of an image. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? If it is, you’d better have (or get) some pictures up on your sites.

Before I go any further, let me be perfectly clear that any images on your site should NOT compete with your artwork. You should show off your art above all else. It should be front and center. Photographs and graphic elements are always subservient to the art.

Okay, now we can get on with things.

What do you show off?

I spilled the beans a bit in that opening paragraph, but let’s go back over it for clarification.

Jane Wilcoxson, Marlina. Acrylic. ©The Artist

If your art is on the cover of a magazine or pictured in a newspaper, tell us about it! Scratch that. Don’t tell us, show us! Scan it or take a photo of it and share. Just remember that you are dealing with copyrighted material and be sure to get permission where necessary and to give proper credit before you share it.

If you received a grant or an award, let us know! If you accept the honor in person, get a photo. If there is no physical trophy or if the “trophy” requires reading glasses to see, just get a photograph with the presenters—perhaps in front of a sign with the event title.

If your award won’t be presented in person, snag a JPEG or image from the presenter’s site (if it’s a good one and with permission) to use for your own.

Don’t forget installation shots of your exhibits or displays. Solo exhibitions yield nice photos, especially when they’re captured by a pro. I have a client whose work was in a juried exhibit and was THE feature work. It was on the wall underneath the title of the exhibit. Photo op!

Where do you show off your accomplishments?

If you have a website, you can spotlight your feats on your About, News, or Media Room pages. On a blog, you can do the same if you have Pages capabilities. You might also add one or two images to your sidebar. Of course, this is after you have written a post with all of the details. The sidebar image can then link to the post for more information.

Don’t forget to add these pictures to your fan page on Facebook!

FINAL WORD: Don’t wait for someone else to show off your achievements. We might eventually uncover the juicy stuff in your résumé, but don’t make us work that hard. Show us with an image.

The podcast is an audio version of this post.

Is it just me or does this bi-Tweekly have more juice in it than usual? I may be on a roll! If you weren’t watching your Twitter screen 24/7 over the last two weeks–and let’s face it, why would you be???–you may have missed some of these goodies. enjoy!

My May 14-15 Rehoboth Beach, DE workshop is now online. Think about coming to the beach!

The toll of the earthquake on Haitian art and artists. LA Times

She put on her necklace that says “Fearless” and took a nap.

4 artists already registered for May workshop in Lancaster, PA. I sense a sell-out!

JUST found out about this inventory/contact management system for artists. Anyone using http://vam-p.net/ ??

Artists: Have you written anything about how you title your art? Would love to see it!

RT @kitchen_knife: @abstanfield After a hard creative freeze, I DID 15 minutes & not only made something new, but found a new direction!

A new site for @margauxlange Interesting you used “Profile” instead of “About” in your menu. Social media influence?

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.-Eleanor Roosevelt via @jendanderson

Having a hard time keeping track of receipts for tax season? Check out Neat Receipts. NYT

VERY Cool site with Pantone/CMYK/HEX# colors

3 Facebook settings every user should check now! NYT

Stop worrying about stuff you can’t control. Great post from @inspiredjen http://bit.ly/8yokkc

Need to meet someone for coffee? This site tells you what’s near the half-way pt between you http://meetways.com

Near Wisconsin? March 9-10 workshop with yours truly in Racine. Early reg ends 2/12. Would love to meet you!

Don’t miss a word! Follow me on Twitter.

Guest Blogger: Leonard Olson

I recently discovered something interesting about Google and using social media.

First, a little background.

I am the village kaleidoscope maker in a small town of roughly 700 people in NW Iowa. Living in a sparsely populated area, I rely on tourism and the Internet to market my kaleidoscopes out of my studio/gallery.

Kaleidoscopes usually have “objects” (beads, etc.) which you view through a tube of mirrors. A teleidoscope is a type of kaleidoscope that has mirrors and a clear marble, which you use to look at the world around you.

A teleidoscope makes it easy to turn your rose garden into a kaleidoscope image.

Many kaleidoscope artists have used dichroic glass as some or all of their objects in a traditional kaleidoscope, but I added a twist. On Thursday January 14, 2010, I made a simple innovation and placed a piece of dichroic glass between the clear marble and the mirror tube in one of my teleidoscopes. It was amazing!

Thinking there were probably lots of other kaleidoscope artists out there doing the same thing, I did a Google search for “dichroic teleidoscopes.” No results.

So on Sunday, January 17, I put a Web page up with the words “dichroic teleidoscope” and “dichroic teleidoscopes” all over the place hoping to get listed soon on Google as not only the top choice, but the only choice. I checked every day, but nothing for four days.

On Thursday, January 21, I made a reference to dichroic teleidoscopes on Twitter and the next morning Google already showed a result!

I don’t know what will become of these efforts, but I am pleased that my Twitter posting was indexed by Google. I imagine that continuing to mention and link to my Web page on Twitter—without overdoing it and annoying my followers—will help my long-term goals. I’ve found Twitter to be a much quicker way to get noticed for a new idea.

Go to Twitter right now and type in “dichroic teleidoscope.” My tweet is in the top 5 results!

Leonard Olson is a maker of kaleidoscopes, teleidoscopes, and dichroic teleidoscopes. He’s a firm believer in the power of Twitter! You can follow him on Twitter and see fabulous photos from his creations and become a fan of his on Facebook.

Do art images online look bad with an older date beside them?

Is there a perception–by you? by others?–that only new stuff should be online?

If so, does this keep you from dating your work that’s online?

This falls under the subheading “And now for something completely new.” Last week I received this distressing message.

I have had a strong and active career and now up against the greatest challenge of my artistic life:  divorce.

This has caused and is causing multiple career changes and life losses on multiple fronts. Many changes are taking place that are out of my control. As an artist and primary care giver/daddy-mom, I am in shock, pain and force to face many changes that will shift my whole art career that I have built from scratch the last twenty years. This means the loss of my beautiful studio, putting my studio and art life into storage, and to completely rethink and reframe my life as and artist/father. This also means less time for art, due to having to co-parent and juggle more, as well as loss of my home, and 50% time with children. The stress, anxiety and depression are extremely difficult. I’m trying to remain composed and positive.

I need tools and resources for survival. What do you suggest? What are tools and resources for artists going thru divorce? What do other artists do in this situation? What are practical financial, emotional, physical, mental, artistic, and career coping mechanisms? I would appreciate any advice you can offer.

I sent out an S.O.S. on Twitter. A couple of wise people took me up on my plea to help this gentleman.

S.L. Donaldson Wrote In With This Advice

Whatever you do, DON’T let it stop you from creating art. Divorce can completely cripple your creativity, because whether you are the one initiating the divorce, the one being divorced, or even if it’s mutual, divorce is draining in so many ways. It doesn’t matter if it’s amicable or the next World War. It is often tough to find the time, money, or strength. You may have all kinds of feelings welling up inside such as anger and resentment, heck, maybe even joy . Well, it may sound like a no-brainer, but just be sure to channel all that emotion in a productive way. If you are not able to do so out of personal motivation, then make sure to have emotionally and artistically supportive people around you. And I’m not talking about the kind of ’support’ that implies spending (read “wasting”) time verbally bashing the ex, but rather helps you direct that energy at canvas, paper, or clay.

Betty Ann McKinney sent these 5 Tips for Artists Going Down a Hard Road

Artist can be emotionally sensitive people. When life turns rough they tend to panic and worry about how to handle the stress of the events. Here are a few tips from an artist who has been though divorce and is now a full time caregiver. She also feels that now is the best time of her life, even with the hardships she has lived in.

1. Take care of yourself! You cannot care for your children or parents if you are not caring for yourself first. Healthy diet, regular exercise and a strong support group are needed. Join a singles group at a Church or community center. Twitter with other artist and follow artist you admire on face book or their blog.

2. Use any free services available–like libraries. Your local library can order any books they don’t have on their shelves through interlibrary loan. Check out books on finance management, coping with the loss of a spouse, and at least one book that will make you laugh. Humor and being around other interesting people help fight the demons of depression.

3. Your art is your best asset in trying times. If you do not have a fancy studio, do not give up. Join 85% of the artists in the U.S. who do not have a studio and work where you can. Find a spot to create, maybe a garage, basement, attic, or–like me–a corner in the hallway. But do not stop making art. The act of creating shakes off the pain in your heart. I once made a divorce collage! Use this time to grow personally and creatively.

4. Sign up for a course in any art you have always wanted to learn more about. If you can afford it, take private lessons from an artist you admire–even if it’s only for an hour or two a week. Sadly, one day your parents will be gone and your children will have lives of their own. When this happens, you will look back on these days and be glad you used them wisely.

5. You cannot control the bad things that happen to you. But you can control how you react to them. Do not waste your time wallowing in anger, self-pity, or depression. Fight that battle every day until you win. Your career and your future depends on your victory. The harder you fight, the happier you will be. If you invoke the patience to work through this part of your journey, you will come out on the winning side. Nothing can take away your love for creating, so give it time and your art will be a major contribution to your healing.

Thanks, Stephanie and Betty!

Does anyone else have any resources they can share? Anyone heard of an “Artists dealing with divorce” virtual group?

Here’s another look at what you can do in just 15 minutes a day.

Like you, I know that Facebook, LinkedIn, blogging, and Twitter can be time suckers. This is where my recent experiment comes in.

I’ve been trying to prove that you can take care of social media tasks in just 15 minutes a day. Scoff at me all you like, but you gotta give me points for determination.

Elizabeth Bryan, Santa Monica Portal. Mixed media, 96 x 60 x 2 inches. ©The Artist

Here’s how it’s going. (Keep in mind that social media is a big big part of my online presence. It is probably not of equal weight for you.)

I’ve been setting my alarm and trying to get through Facebook chores in 15 minutes a day. These means updating my status, responding to comments on my wall, checking my FB inbox, sending birthday greetings, and tending to my fan page as well. Some days it works, but on other days my 15 minutes are more like an NFL quarter: sidetracked by injuries, flags, and timeouts. The 15 minutes morphs into 30 and then 45 minutes and then . . .

This extra time spent on Facebook doesn’t help me prove my thesis, but I stick to tasks that must be done. And I know I’m doing them as quickly as possible without getting caught up in games, applications, and quizzes. (This latter part is key. I have a strict policy against participating in any of these time-sucking activities. I have other ways of having fun, which usually involve the real world outside of Facebook.)

The timer is key! I love racing against the clock for stuff like this. My husband and I sometimes do the same thing when we go to the supermarket and don’t feel like being at the supermarket. It’s kind of fun to see how fast you can get through the crowded aisles without hurting yourself, knocking over displays, or mowing down unsuspecting shoppers.

You can do this, too.

Set your alarm and take care of your social media tasks in 15 minutes a day. If you need more, as I do on some days, that’s fine, too.

Or perhaps you prefer 30 minutes two or three times a week. That’s great!

Make sure that you are spending quality time online and not allowing it to become a time-waster.*

How do you monitor your social media time?

*Sometimes you need to waste time. You’re fried and you want to do brainless stuff. As long as this doesn’t happen every day, embrace the moment. Go on Facebook and take all the quizzes you like. Just don’t get upset if someone (me!) blocks your application or doesn’t respond.