Western North Carolina Woman May 2009 Issue

Western North Carolina Woman May 2009 Vol. 8 No. 5

What a nice suprise to find out an article I wrote got into the "Business of Art" May Issue
of WNC Woman Magazine.
How about that?
Also, had a wonderful mention on page 29.....(but who's counting ;-)

Click on the link to find out how the studio was born.
MAY you have a Happy Creative month!

Artists Inspired! Alan McCarter Two-Day Workshop was a Great Success!

WOW! That's what we ALL said after this wonderful two-FULL day workshop at The Conn-Artist Studios with Master Painter, Alan McCarter!
Here is a link to flickr photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/constancev/sets/72157612983418820/

CUTE IS BACK!

"CUTE IS BACK!" ...I told my husband with a flip of my hair and a snap of my finger---after he commented how "great" I looked as we stepped out to dinner last week.
Well, why not?
Since $500 is the new $300--- we may as well be as CUTE as we can be waiting out this recession!
One great way I "go for cute" is to SHOP at MONA!
For an artist-- it is a fantastic-ly easy way to dress and Look like a darn artist without even trying!


photo credit MONA! and Paul Clark of Asheville Citizen Times
Our MONA! doesn't just go for cute--- she goes for FABULOUS

and has a legion of fans all over the country.
Her on-line store IS fabulous-- please go there and tell her The Conn-Artist sent you!

BTW- I own at least SIX pairs of MONA! shoes and they are the MOST COMFORTABLE and fun of any I have worn. And being "over 40" - hahaha-- I HAVE to wear "good" shoes like

Clarks or Merrell's etc...

she also has wonderful hoody sweaters--

all kinds of stuff like cool arty clothes, purses, jewelry, mostly hand made!

"Go For Cute" can't we? Well MONA! would say-- Go For Fabulous Honey-- when you look Fabulous, nobody notices your wrinkles!"Please COMMENT BACK and tell us what you are doing to stay UP, HAPPY, INSPIRED, CREATIVE or even CUTE!
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours!

Go and make your life a masterpiece- A Work of Art- START TODAY!

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Create Inspiration for others--by Creating Interest in what other artists need...

What Do Artists Need Muse Wise?

I really want to know since it surely seems that our Market (at The Conn-Artist Studios and Art Gallery) IS THE ARTISTS!

Although WINNING this contest is only open to an artist who can travel to WNC to take advantage of a Free Open Studio Day--- anyone can enter if they agree to the rules as listed. The most creative one will win.

Have fun!

OK--- NOW WHAT? Regrouping and Rethinking Business Plans for The Studio/Gallery

Above is a view of The Conn-Artist Studios & Art Gallery and two paintings in my 1960's Icon Series. Hopefully you recognise Marilyn on the right. To the left of that is a 36x36 inch oil on board of James Bond author, Ian Fleming, "For Your Eyes Only."

Always vying for the Silver Lining-- here we go....

With the election over and the (stock) markets still reacting to the new national choices- it is clear we may have to do things differently to survive.

Luckily-- this morning, this can be pondered from a calm perspective since we drove to the beach last night. This was the view to which we woke ;-) Ahhhhhhhhh-- feels easier to breathe!

Have to admit that these past few weeks have been stressful re- guarding our art business. Although, as a parent- it is more stressful to see our kids (& their businesses) suffer-- but we'll save that for another post.

What to do to plan for 2009?

What are you doing if you are a business owner?

What are other galleries doing?

We have seen at least 3 close up shop in the past several months. As we drove to the beach we heard on the radio about the myriad of businesses closing. Literally hundreds of stores from long time chains like-- Bombay, Wilson Leather, and a bunch of Talbots (now THAT hurts). A sobering list so long I can't remember. Gallery owners in our area are planning a meeting of the Gallery Guild. Will let you know about what we come up with.
How can a business that has been around for 50, 75, and in some cases 100 years - close? Some got too big-- like Starbucks. They are still open of course-- although many of the stores they just opened will be shuttered. Folks have zipped up their wallets plain and simple. So where does ART fit in? Must be way down the list. Don't like it but I understand.

Re-tooling has been something the car companies have done every year about this time to ready for new models. Even that isn't enough for our beloved Detroit where we lived for nearly thirty years. Determined to stay afloat-- makes sense to build upon what has worked this year--- our numeral uno is OPEN STUDIO.

What else? Art Instruction. We have two new teachers and have several waiting in the wings.

Still..... a huge desire is to sell the art we create that is so close to our souls.

Now, how does a gallery sell art in a recession?

My good friend and fellow Gallery Guild Founding Member, MONA!- used it to her advantage by acknowledging the event. She offered a special show some months ago and titled it, "What To Wear To A Recession."

It worked and Mona's sales of hand painted shoes and her other arty clothes were good.

Closer to this point in time, in yesterday's Wall Street Journal an article noted an Edgar Degas sculpture estimated worth at 4-6 million dollars sold for a paltry $3.7 million. Ha! So that's it--- just lower prices? Not so fast arty goddess!

We are already offering 25% off all paintings in the gallery. Now what?

Back to the drawing board (puns ALWAYS intended ;-).

Good friend and fellow artist gave me some advice as to how to get through the winters (and this was before the meltdowns). Wendy Whitson advised me to work on my body of art and paint paint paint.

So for now-- keep the sales going, paint paint paint, and keep offering Art Instruction. OK, got it. We also - in order to avoid burn-out, are open a few less days. "Winter Hours" around here for galleries are common.

I can almost hear someone reading this and asking, "Why don't you go on Ebay (or whatever)."

Another artist friend is doing just that and having some success with ATC's.

Peggy Tayor, an accomplished landscape Plein Air painter and Instructor creates 2.5 x 3.5 inch original paintings and offers them on line. Bidding starts at just under ten dollars.

Prices have to be small as far as I can tell.

All and all- we have much to be thankful for. Our rent is very reasonable. We are easy to get to and with no steps or parking problems...

Bottom Line- We want to keep our studio open.

Area artists are thrilled they have a place to paint or just to gather.

We may create more studio space within the gallery space.

When folks wander in.... they most always marvel at our selection and quality.

We have the goods.

We have the passion.

Until we are Almost Famous-- (realizing that it often takes a "name" to be able to "sell").... we welcome your ideas, (art orders ;-), and prayers!

Baby's First Book

Your know the one-
That pretty blue or pink Baby Book you received at your First Baby Shower.
Even though the book is all organized for you-- (all you have to do
is to fill in the darn lines)-- to describe all of baby's FIRST accomplishments-
it proved to be difficult to complete before "the baby" graduated from collage didn't it?

Perhaps you may have made the same promise to yourself:
IF I really Loved My Baby I will finish this Baby Book!

Number One Son's Book is sort-of done and oddly enough in
the dark amber wood Hope Chest my grandmother gave to me circa-1970.
I always thought I could have "done better" but after looking through it-- it is just fine. Not exciting like scrappers today can make something-- but it got the job done in the mid '70's and his first sits, stands, words are recorded forever in a "non"-acid free binder--

My true guilt lies with Number Two Son.

I don't even have to comment further do I?
I see that guilty look on our face too-

Well, it is with these same guilty thoughts I begin to BLOG.
Will I keep it up?
Will it do my art business any good?
Will it take too much time away from home, the studio, the husband?

Won't know 'less I give it a go.
Much like starting a painting-- it is a leap of faith isn't it?

But with artfulness spilling into most everyone's life we do have more tools to be creative.
We artists paint, journal, & flickr our way through each day it seems (...then try to fit in some "work" to pay for our passions).

So I PROMISE myself to blog--
We'll see how that works out won't we?

Oh what the heck- Let's Roll!