Painting larger is a great way to expand your painting skills and put a little more change in your pocket. I think we can all assume that larger paintings usually demand a higher price tag and that most buyers are looking for larger art.
So why not give it a try? There are things you need to consider when painting larger. Make sure your composition is well suited for a larger size and that you have the right canvas to paint on. There are a lot of “cheap” canvases out there and I caution you to be sure and spend the time to find one that is worthy of the time you will spend to paint on it. Don’t buy the back-stapled canvases. You want one that is reinforced and well made! Allow more time to finish a larger painting. And don’t forget you will need more paint. If you are a pre-paint mixer like me then you will need to mix a lot more paint than normal. And if you are interested in abstracts, pull out a larger canvas and enjoy painting large. I think you will like it!
0 Comments
I love discovering new apps for my iphone. And every once in a while I think they are good enough to share with all of you!
The first one isn't really an app, it's just a basic tip for you iphone. (I don’t have an android or Samsung phone so I can’t promise that they work on all phones. But if you don’t have an iphone it’s worth a try.) If you have a document (in word or a pdf, for example) that you want to be able to access frequently on your phone, did you know you can save it to notes or even Kindle? That way with one click you have access to the readable document. I use this all of the time when I am traveling and I have an itinerary that I will need to refer to all of the time. Over is an app that allows you to add words and phrases to any of your photos. Infographics are a great way to make your photos standout on social media, especially on Facebook or Instagram. Try using Over and you will see how easy it is. Finally, Ripl is an even better way to create interest on your facebook photos or videos. Create eye-catching animated posts and stand out on social media. That’s the Ripl effect. Ripl adds text that can swipe in or move within your post. It’s a cool way to really create interest in your post. Use it and your post will be noticed by more readers than ever! I hope you will check out these really great tools for your iPhone. I love them! I struggle internally with a battle every day. It's about painting traditional oils vs. abstracts. Should I focus more on one vs. the other? Should I continue to do both? Perhaps I should just paint one?
I get opinions and input every day on this subject. Which is not necessarily a good thing. Because most people feel very strongly about one or the other. In other words, they like one and DON'T LIKE the other. Currently the input runs about 40% in favor of abstracts and 55% in favor of oils and less than 5% who like both. Ok. I haven't really been keeping track. This is just purely an estimate. Or a guestimate. Or a make-it-up-estimate. But it feels pretty exact. So I will go with it. I have been trying to paint both. But it is really hard. The approach to painting abstracts vs. traditional oils is very different. It takes a completely different mindset and often I feel "rusty" if I have been focusing on one more than the other. I also worry that it is confusing to my clients as the two are so different. So I am thinking about moving more in one direction than the other. The problem is that I just can't figure out which direction. Geez. Maybe I should just shut up and keep doing both. Do you struggle with anything like this? Perhaps which medium to paint? Or size? Any thoughts you would like to share? "Pure Joy" 36" x 48" abstract on canvas Click here to purchase Does your social media need a boost?
Do you want to add something to your online marketing? On today's Artists Helping Artists Show we are going to share "Twenty Essential Ingredients to Improve Your Social Media Plan". Trying new things can be fun and refreshing, for both you and your audience. Today we have put together a recipe of ways to improve your social media marketing. You don't have to do all twenty, I promise. Even a few will boost your social media interaction. Some of the ideas we are going to suggest are things like adding audio, encouraging customer feedback, encouraging conversations and generating buzz with infographics. Infographics are those photos with words that you see on Pinterest all of the time. They are the ones that catch every readers attention. You should join us for the show at 9:00 am PST or catch it anytime thereafter as all shows are recorded and archived. Listen here! Today really is going to be an awesome today. It's Pure Joy! Because my summer intern starts today!
I am sure you are wondering how I found an intern. Her name is Elizabeth and she is a college architecture student who reached out to me last year. She is probably way overqualified for the job but I am so excited. I am one happy girl! Getting help with your art business is really important. And if you are smart about it, you don't have to let your own productivity suffer. I have a computer set up in my studio so Elizabeth can work and I can paint (and also work with her at the same time). I call this multi-tasking at it's best. I calculated that if I can finish a painting while she is working then my cost of paying an intern is more than covered! It's a win-win-win situation. So what kind of things do I hope Elizabeth will do in my art business this summer? I would like her to manage my email marketing campaign. I still have thousands of emails to send out and I need a better system to manage all of the follow up. I just don't have the time to learn all of the tools that are available with the new gmail, hubspot and yesware apps. I am sure she can figure it out. I also hope we can completely re-organize my studio. I also need help organizing all of the materials for my Art Marketing Boot Camps and help updating my mailing list. The list goes on and on and on. The bad news? She is only here for the summer. If you are interested hiring an intern for your art business you might want to listen to an archived podcast from the Artists Helping Artists Radio show. It's titled "Is it Time to Get Some Help with Your Art Business?" and can be found here. Enjoy! Today is Unsubscribe Me day. It's kind of like spring cleaning but it happens in my email box.
Anytime I find myself deleting emails like a mad woman is a sign that it is time to take action. And yes, a few of you have done that with my blog. But since you already unsubscribed, you probably aren't reading this. Whew. This morning I deleted the first 21 emails in my inbox. And I hadn't read a single one. So I proceeded to unsubscribe from many of the emails in my active INBOX that really weren't relevant to me anymore. (The truth is I didn't go through my entire inbox since there are over 5,000. That project is for another day.) Then I went to my TRASH folder end unsubscribed from another 30+ emails that I had been deleting on a daily basis. My net result? Tomorrow morning there should be 50+ less emails to delete. Hopefully. If you are suffering from email inbox overload then you probably need an Unsubscribe Me day. Hopefully you won't unsubscribe here. But if you do, I promise not to take it personally. Haha. Me and my dear friend, Debra Huse I had planned to write a blog post last night after I got home from the Balboa Art Walk. But I actually passed out on the couch (really, I did) and it just didn't happen.
Better late than never. I woke up this morning feeling thankful for a lot of things. First, a special thanks to everyone that helped me at the Balboa Artwalk yesterday. Marsha, Michael and Haley were awesome with set up and tear down. Somehow I managed to mess up my lower back so I couldn't have survived the day without them! And I wanted to thank all of the people who came by yesterday ... so many fellow artists, students, friends and clients. It was an absolutely glorious day! (Not to mention the weather ... you can see in the photo how gorgeous it was.) I also want to thank the fabulous artists who joined me in my workshop in Ventura last week. We had such a great time and the paintings were simply amazing. Finally, I want to thank all of the wonderful artists that signed up for my Art Marketing Boot Camp. The spots at the Magnolia House sold out in three minutes. I never expected that! I think there is one or two spots open without accommodations. Please note, even if you can't sleep at the Magnolia House you will be there from before breakfast until bedtime! Every day. So you won't miss a thing, I promise! nodp The Art Marketing Boot Camp Website is AvailableAll of the information about my Marketing Boot Camp can be found on my website here. Please go to this website at 9:00am PST on Friday, May 20, 2016 to register for either one of the two day camps. Since space is limited, be sure and register early!
Marketing Boot Camp Dates: Tuesday, October 25 - Friday, October 28, 2016 Tuesday, November 8 - Friday, November 11, 2016* Accommodations at the Magnolia House are available for five artists (plus me). An additional three spots (without accommodations) are available. (There are plenty of places to stay nearby.) Each Marketing Boot Camp session is three nights and four days. Check in is at 3:00 pm on Tuesday and check out is at 11:00 am on Friday. * Don't forget to vote absentee ballot if you are a US resident! Marketing Boot Camp Costs: Full Stay - $1259.00 The Full Stay includes three nights accommodations at the Magnolia House, three breakfasts and three lunches. Plus twenty-three hours of Marketing Boot Camp and Fireside Chats. Also included is the online webinARTs class ($299 value). Dinners are scheduled with the group but will be at your own expense. Dietary limitations will be accommodated. (If a couple wants to book this with a shared bed/room, please inquire about a saving on the costs.) Day Stay - $859.00 The Day Stay includes no accommodations, three breakfasts and three lunches. Plus twenty-three hours of Marketing Boot Camp and Fireside Chats. Also included is the online webinARTs class ($299 value). Dinners are scheduled with the group but will be at your own expense. Dietary limitations will be accommodated. Registration opens at 9:00 am PST today! Announcing the Dates for the 2016 Art Marketing Boot CampsDates:
Tuesday, October 25 - Friday, October 28, 2016 Tuesday, November 8 - Friday, November 11, 2016 Accommodations at the Magnolia House are available for five artists (plus me). An additional three spots (without accommodations) are available. (There are plenty of places to stay nearby.) Each Marketing Boot Camp session is three nights and four days. Check in is at 3:00 pm on Tuesday and check out is at 11:00 am on Friday. Check out my blog out every day this week for more information about my Marketing Boot Camp. I will be sharing everything that will be taught at the Boot Camp, the agenda, dates, costs and lots more! Registration opens on Friday! It opens at 9:00 am PST. Space is very limited! I have put together a wonderful agenda for the Art Marketing Boot Camp. We have lots of time for marketing but also fun time to visit the Silos, Magnolia Market and many of the antique stores near Waco. Agenda:
Tuesday 12:00 n - Optional meet up in Waco for antique shopping 3:00 pm - Meet at the Magnolia House Check-in and getting settled. 4:00 pm - Opening Marketing Session 6:00 pm - Dinner (we will head out and dine in town) 8:30 pm - Late night Fireside Chats Wednesday 8:00 am - Breakfast at the Magnolia House 9:00 am - Marketing Boot Camp 12:00 n - Lunch at the Magnolia House 12:30 pm - Marketing Boot Camp 3:00 pm - Visit to the Silos, Magnolia Market, Bakery and Garden Shop (includes shopping and dinner) 5:00 pm - Dinner at the Food Trucks at the Silos 8:00 pm - Late night Fireside Chats Thursday 8:00 am - Breakfast at the Magnolia House 9:00 am - Marketing Boot Camp 12:00 n - Lunch at the Magnolia House 12:30 pm - Marketing Boot Camp 6:00 pm - Dinner 8:30 pm - Late night Fireside Chats Friday 8:00 am - Breakfast at the Magnolia House 8:30 am - Marketing Boot Camp, goal setting 11:00 am - Check out of Magnolia House 11:30 pm - Optional field trip to Waco with lunch and shopping Check out my blog out every day this week for more information about my Marketing Boot Camp. I will be sharing everything that will be taught at the Boot Camp, the agenda, dates, costs and lots more! Registration is on Friday! |
Leslie
Mom. Wife. Artist. Marketer. Teacher. Radio Show Host. Archives
July 2017
Categories
All
My Favorite ThingsSome of my posts contain affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for full disclosure.
|