Featured Artist: Sue Smith's Fabulous Blog

"A Business Plan for the Mature Artist" by Artist Sue Favinger Smith
...just posted here on lulu.com is a gift indeed!
More of Sue's work is available here: http://suesmithfineart.com/
I wish she lived near us! So much talent!

And Sue-- Thank you for all the hard work on your blog.
I paint with a tribe of "50- somethings"

Please keep up the inspiration!
Constance Vlahoulis

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!

Powered by ScribeFire.

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!

One of the First Internet Arty Websites - 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!

Who Are You?

Better to concentrate on fall's majesty...

however, lately been so worried/tired/sick over the upcoming national elections. Sound familiar?
Oh, did I mention also feeling--FRUSTRATED?
I fired off a Letter to the Editor of both of our newspapers after getting annoying emails and feeling the brunt of some family discontent over my beliefs- along with their in-ability to allow me to express myself.

Then I thought WHY?
Why am I spending my precious time on this and allowing myself these fearful emotions? I was frustrated at not being able to articulate my feelings during debates. Like you perhaps, I would think of all the great things to say afterward. More frustration.

Then I got to thinking about labels.

Not the jelly jar kind-- rather the labels we give ourselves and others. And in this case, the political label or letter we assign to ourselves.
Are our labels us?

Like me, so many other bloggers have considered getting into the (election) fray and not sticking to the intention of their blogs.
The arty blogs I like are those that completely steer away from political issues.
Who needs more OPINION for goodness sake...
there must be millions of blogs out there and between them and the media (oh, did I mention I mourn the death of journalism?)....
I do follow a few political blogs who stick to the facts-- to stay current...
however, I've had just about enough of other's opinions for now thank you.

So now back to our subject-- WHO ARE YOU?
I could start with who am I-- and will offer a description at the end of this post as I would like this to be about YOU.

Let's try to do this in a way that Dr. Wayne Dyer may appreciate.
When a student, he was asked that question by a professor in a class a few decades ago.
The task was to write a page to describe WHO ARE YOU.
Wayne thought, oh this will be easy!
The trouble began when the professor then listed all the LABELS that were off limits... as I recall; sex of the writer, religion, being a mom, dad, sister/brother, political affiliations, where one lived, went to school, did for a job, career aspirations, and now you get the idea.
Not an easy task, especially for a nineteen or twenty year old.
AND you may get the idea of how limiting labels are.
...and in this case perhaps having bumper stickers that
end up dividing us rather than to be a positive force.


"Once you label me, you negate me..." said Soren Kierkegaard, who was the inspiration for the professor who asked the question; "Who are you?"

Last night I was at a wedding reception and the father of the bride -- right after saying "hello" mind you---asked who I was voting for! (He did have a few glasses of wine at this point so I forgive him...)
I hesitated to answer and he implored me to tell him.
So I did and he was disappointed in my answer... but said he loved me anyway which seemed a step in the right direction given the reason for the celebration.

So, do labels really matter?

I didn't think so as we heard the funny and tear jerking toasts to the bride and groom from their loving friends.
I didn't think so as we watched the beautiful, wonderful, successful 20 & 30-somethings dance the night away in joy for the newly married couple.
I don't think so today, as I view the spectacular colors of fall out my window and count my blessings in the midst of these hard times many of us find ourselves in.

What matters are things like what a wonderful Priest told me several years ago when I started to complain about a perceived injustice I felt at the time.
Father Anthony took me by the shoulders, looked me in the eye and said,
"Connie, when you speak to people-- be it so that you leave them feeling refreshed by the experience of being with you."

Leave them wanting more-- and REFRESHED?
Wow, what a concept!
I want to try and live like that everyday-- and also lead by example instead of trying to get someone to think as I think.
Not easy, but a good goal don't you think?
So in that spirit I will end with what I hope is, Who Am I.

I am a smiling muse, a creator, an encourager, a lover of life and people.

And so it goes... till next time.
Please do let yourself know --Who You Are.


In the evening of our lives, we shall be judged on love.
-- St. John of the Cross