Art Print Issues

Change Your Life Links for Visual Artists #1

2008-11-10T17:53:59-07:00

Success in art marketing requires being informed. Not just about the art business and how to sell art. It requires general business knowledge and personal insight. You'll find some help on all those fronts in this post. My Google Reader has more than 1000 blog posts begging to be read.

Of course, who has the time to read them all? Not me. But I do have the time to scan the headlines for irresistible topics, (This points out the importance of writing blog titles that arrest attention.) Admittedly, the title of this piece was written to illustrate the point. I've set aside some of the more interesting and helpful topics to put into this post for yo.

I scan those articles because I have an insatiable curiosity that compels me to learn about new things. As my reader, you gain the benefit of my inquisitiveness. You will find below an eclectic collection of posts gleaned from my Google reader with subject matter, (Titles notwithstanding), sure to garner your interest and help you in your life and business. Enjoy!

Lifehacker - Getting Things Done with Google NotebookThis blog is a continuing cool compendium of the best ways to manage your life better, especially, but not exclusively, online.

Pick the Brain - Ten Ways to Instantly Build Self-Confidence Pick the Brain is a site with a wonderful collection of articles and help on motivation, productivity, self-improvement and much more.

Health Care Fine Art - Interview with Diane Spellman If you have not yet considered how health care and art intersect and what that could mean to you as visual artist, this article is must reading.

Fine Art Views - Generating Creative Business Ideas It's really good to see Clint Watson back at full strength blogging. The addition of regular contributing writers as with Lori Woodward Simons, who penned this insightful piece. By the way, Clint had a succint poignant comment on the previous post about the death of Blog Rush.

Ancient Artist: Developing an art career after 50 - The Value in Mini Marketing Sue Smith has emerged as a terrific artist and savvy marketer. I'm north of her in age and as such greatly respect her chutzpah, wisdom and all she brings to the art marketing conversation.

In a brazen bit of bragging digression, I recently completed an arduous three-week training program with a high tech marketing firm here in Arizona. (Had to get an RJ (Real Job) to bring my health care costs under control.) Despite having nearly 20 years on all but one of my 14 classmates, I was the sales leader at the end of the training which in the last week was nearly all sales calls. I smoked 'em all by an embarrassing amount.

I'd mention the name of this company, but then I'd have to put in all kinds of disclaimers which I'm not inclined to do. Suffice it to say it felt mighty good to put all the young hot shots in my rear view. You just can't replace life experience in many situations. It's been fun to be part of a dynamic fast growing company that is recognized as one of the best places to work in Arizona. Enjoying success straightaway makes it all the more fun

Copy Blogger - Free Link Bait Report Brian Clark's blog is one of the most popular marketing blogs on the Internet. If you are blogging, you should be thinking about how to incorporate Link Baiting as part of your efforts and his free report will help you understand how to do that. If you don't know what link baiting is, you really need to read his report.

Art Licensing Info - Directory of Illustration - Advertising Opportunity Tara Reed generously provides insights into art licensing from the artist's perspective. Her link to this directory could be invaluable to many readers of her blog and this one.

Mashable - Reasons to Start CoworkingThis blog is an ambitious collection of all that's new on the Web. It updates multiple times each day, so it's really difficult to keep current with all it offers. The life, career and work of a visual artist can be a solitary and lonely way to make a living. Coworking offers a unique way to break out of that mode for artists and others who work solo. It is described as a global movement of localized mobile/remote worker communities coming together to share their otherwise independent work experiences.

The Death of Blog Rush - Is It the Tip of the Iceberg? Why It Matters

2008-11-02T12:56:16-07:00

The blog syndication network known as Blog Rush abruptly shut down a couple of days ago. There were as many as 50 readers who signed on to use them after reading about it here, or seeing the widget for it in the sidebar of this blog. If you are a Blog Rush publisher, you are advised to remove it as it is no longer serving the widget.

I liked the idea of Blog Rush because it was novel and appeared to be something that would be beneficial. Also, I liked it because it was the brain child of John Reese. who is a pretty savvy Internet marketer. He has made a fortune for himself and others, including enough to invest $400k of his own money in Blog Rush.

What has happened to Blog Rush, despite being a unique approach personally backed by a successful and experienced Internet marketer, is indicative of what can happen with nearly any Web 2.0 venture. Seeing Blog Rush collapse is a foretelling sign for some other Web 2.0 darlings. To wit, Rafe Needleman, editor of the Webware: Cool Web Apps for Everyone column for CNET News, ran a piece on October 10 titled, 11 troubled Web companies: The next Kozmos? Here is part of it:

"We are going to lose some good companies." That's the warning cry from investors in tech these days.

Some we won't miss, of course: the lame, me-too, or single-featured "products" masquerading as businesses. But be prepared. Some Web 2.0 start-ups that are well-loved by many are in serious danger of falling off the cliff.

The problem is that being loved is no guarantee for success. Even being used isn't enough. Remember Kozmo, the munchie messenger service from the last bubble? Not a person who used it didn't love it. In the interest of building a user base, the company was OK with losing money on every transaction in its early days. But when the time came for it to become a real business, it was too late. It couldn't transition to a viable company, and it folded. It was a tragedy.

Needleman's list includes companies that will be shocking to some, especially devoted users. It includes: Twitter, Skype, Pandora, Meebo, TripIt, Second Life, Zillow, Ask, Daily Motion, MySpace and NetVibes.Wow! Several of those are companies whose services I really like. I can't imagine losing MySpace, Zillow, Pandora or Skype. I'm sure many regular users of other names on the list will be just as chagrined and disbelieving as I am about my faves on it.

Why does this matter and how does it affect visual artists?

I often cover items of interest regarding Internet marketing here for a reason. I've repeatedly stated in this economic climate and with distribution methods continuing to evolve, it is imperative for visual artists to take control of their own distribution as much as possible. While I'm not advocating revolting from the gallery or publisher systems, I am saying success for visual artists today requires they take more responsibility for getting their work to market than any previous time. Not that it is hasn't always been crucial, just more so now.

Get the real moral of this story here

Obviously, the Internet and other technological advances are the main causes of disruption in changing and altering distribution channels. At the same time, these same forces also offer artists more choices and opportunities to be in charge of building their reputation and making direct sales. It is important to have an awareness that some services or companies you might use and take for granted or not as rock solid as you might think. As such, I will continue to report on progress surrounding Internet marketing and Web 2.0 and apropos Web 3.0 developments.

The real lesson is your business model has to be predicated upon being profitable. If you are sheepish about your pricing and not taking a fair markup on your work, it will come back to haunt you. Better to lose sales than to give it away. The well worn adage, "You can't lose money on every sale and make it up on volume", is as true for artists as it is for Blog Rush, MySpace orTwitter.

How to Sell Art Prints - a reader question answered

2008-10-30T20:38:50-07:00

Occasionally, I get questions from readers that are good sources for blog posts. That is, they are general enough in context to help most who read this blog regularly. If you have specific questions, I also offer consulting in the form of hour sessions by phone or via email.

In either of these consulting cases, I urge you to first read my book because it may have the exact answer you need, or it will avoid you spending time in consulting on what you could have easily and more afford ably learned by reading it first. And, should we proceed from that point, you'll be better informed to ask better questions and get more from the experience.

I do have a day job and find it stimulating

Because I also work an 8-5 gig in the marketing department of a high tech firm to help with benefits and retirement income, (and because I like the diversity and the fun of working with a talented group of creative individuals.), I have limited availability for consulting, especially phone sessions. Accordingly, I don't actively market my consulting services. But, if it is important to you, I will find time for you.

Here is a great question posed to me via email:

My name is Kasie Sallee and I'm a young artist and mother. In the past year I've been focusing very seriously on my art with the hopes of building a career. I recently bought and read your book "How to Profit from the Art Print Market" and I truly want to thank you for writing it. The book is a treasure trove of information that I will be referring to over and over again.

In the past year I've begun a series of work, promoted my art through a blog, and very recently have set up a website. I have a question about the best path forward and was wondering if you had some advice.

My ultimate goal for the future is to license my work or to work with a publisher. My question is:

If this is my ultimate intention, will selling prints on my own, say through a site like Etsy, cause publishing companies to not want my work? I guess what I'm trying to say is will publishing companies want to work with images that I have already printed and sold?

Thank you so much for your time. I'm a long-time reader of your blog and I sincerely respect your advice.

Here is my reply

Dear Kasie:

Thanks for your kind words and question. You are on the right path in setting up a Web site and accompanying blog. They are both integral components of a solid marketing plan for an emerging artist. Both are works in progress and investments in your future. That is, neither are likely to immediately begin to return a substantial income right away. However, if both are properly maintained they will be invaluable components of your marketing efforts for years to come.

Your goal of licensing with a publisher is a good one. If you are thinking posters or open edition prints, you have to realize the income from such a situation is likely going to be minimal, especially at first. If you are thinking about giclees, your income could be more substantial as price points are far greater.

As a way to broaden their lines, many poster publishers are now also offering POD print-on-demand reproductions. These are usually open edition and lower priced than limited edition publishers. Overall, it is a most challenging time for poster publishers with no real relief in sight. I think it will take more than time to revive the market.

Many poster publishers are also active in the third party licensing arena as represented by such tradeshows as Surtex and The Licensing Show. Surtex is where one would primarily find find companies seeking images for stationery, wallpaper, linens and so on. The Licensing Show tends to run to the animated and action figure images and less to fine art, but both can be important as sources of tertiary passive income for artists. The royalties are small and it can take a few years to make it worthwhile, but for artists with the right look, it can turn lucrative over time.

To be successful in getting a contract from publishers, you need to determine where your prints fit into the market, then determine which publishers are the best fit and most likely candidates for you to contact. It takes researching time, but it is just part of what you need to do to pursue appropriate publishing opportunities. Regardless of the outcome, the education will serve you well throughout your career. I think it was Yogi Berra who said, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." This is true of all of us. You have to make an informed conscious decision about what you want from your career and use it as a North Star to guide your underlying decisions.

To answer your questions about being on Etsy, or other online sites that can sell your work, I will say no, in general, it does not affect your ability to land a publishing deal. If anything, if you have some demonstrable success with online art sales, you will give most publishers more confidence they can move your images to their customers. That said, publishers are not going to accept you competing directly with them for the same images, if at all.

There are some high-end publishers you would expcect to look down their noses at artists doing business on Etsy, but if your research is effective, you would have ruled them out as unlikely candidates to approach anyway.

Some publishers will want an exclusive on the images they want to run. Others may want more exclusivity. You have to be aware of the quid pro quo to make a good deal for yourself. This means making negotiations with publishers. I recommend you read at least one book on negotiating, such as Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. A little studying now will help you to make better deals for yourself in every aspect of and all throughout your career.

A couple of caveats here. If you paint slowly, it could be a problem for you if you have to create a new line for a publisher who in most cases will expect to be fed a steady stream of images. The other is if in your researching, you find the publishers most desirable to you frown upon seeing your work online, you may need to reassess your online strategies and marketing efforts.

The best situation for artists working with publishers would be the publishers immediately finding a bevy of repeat buyers for your line. The more likely scenario is you have to grow into your role with a publisher learning along the way what its needs are and what its buyers needs are. Conversely, a good publisher will seek to understand how to best work with you.

I would hope you get a publisher that will allow you to publish your own work. In some cases, artists use a Nom de Brusse (alias) to avoid having a conflict with their publisher. There is no hard fast rule regarding any of these situations. You must keep in mind you need to do what is best for you. You have to know whatever you are going to invest your time, talent and energy into that you stand a decent chance of getting a reasonable return for your investment.

With that in mind, do what you can to further your career, to sell more work regardless of the source. In the end, it's up to you to make it work. Having a great publisher to help you get started is wonderful advantage and great learning experience. As with many, if not most, things in life it is not where you start, it is where you end up. That is, did you fulfill your dreams and talent potential? Making the right choices for yourself is a key to your future success and your own self-satsifaction.

You see examples of this all the time. The music industry is easier to relate with this concept because much of what happens is on a national or international scale. Think about song choices and how that affects an artist. No matter how talented, ultimate success requires making good choices for content, style and ability. It's the same with visual artists even if it is harder to judge how things are going for visual artists. They don't have the equivalent of Billboard Top 100 list to let us know who is moving up the charts and who is just treading water. Nevertheless, if you consistently find some artists tapping the zeitgeist and getting great results with a steady stream of print sales over the years, you can be certain they have not only an eye for art, but an instinct for what their buyers will want to own and display in their homes and businesses.

I hope these thoughts help others as well as you Kasie! All the best to you,

Cheers,

Barney

ArtExpo - Decor Expo New York 2009 Together Again - Is It Enough?

2008-10-21T00:12:10-07:00

The return of the Decor Expo show to run concurrent with ArtExpo New York show in 2009 is good news. It never made sense for the shows to be split. For nearly 30 years, various iterations of Decor Expo, e.g., Galeria and Frame-o-rama, ran concurrent with ArtExpo.

For most of that history, the Decor sponsored shows were in competition with ArtExpo as it was not until this decade that both came under the same ownership. There were some years when the animosity and tension between the competing shows grew to the point of great contention. Nevertheless, the two shows together created a greater domestic and international urgency to attend than either could ever muster alone, even in the good old days.

Splitting ArtExpo and Decor Expo New York Created Lost Opportunity and Synergy

Sure, show organizers had their reasons for making the change to shut down the Decor Expo New York show, which mostly were wholesale defections by major exhibitors in the show, but whatever caused the decision, it turned out to be a disastrous mistake. Letting things get to the point of exhibitor revolt put a hurt on both shows at the very time the industry could least afford to have either be dinged by such decisions.

In hindsight, one has to ask what adjustments and alternatives could have been made to the New York shows, particularly Decor Expo, that might have headed off the slew of long time important exhibitors deciding to sit out New York. Sending the Decor Expo show packing to a second tier city such as Baltimore further exacerbated the situation. I posted a prediction six months prior to the first Baltimore show that it would be a bust. Unfortunately, I was right.

A Voice in the Wilderness

After the Spring 2008 ArtExpo show, I published a blog post titled, ArtExpo New York, The Show Must Go On. That is because I firmly believe that despite missteps in how the shows have been managed, there is no viable alternative to ArtExpo New York. Let it crash and burn and you have an already ailing industry with a huge gaping marketing hole that would wreak untold havoc on artists, publishers, galleries and all other allied interests to the market.

Now with the once preeminent Decor Expo Atlanta show badly faltering in this precipitous economic climate and amidst a whirlwind of major changes affecting the industry, a successful show in New York -- one that can sustain itself long enough to hold its dates during this most trying of times for businesses of all sorts -- is imperative and crucial to the financial well being of the industry.

The New York Shows Are Not a Mortal Lock, They Could Collapse

Could the New York and Atlanta expos crumble and go away? Yes, without question. They are already vulnerable to that happening. The sad history of tradeshows in the art and picture framing business over the past decade has shown a decline in fortunes for them. We are now at the point where no show is sacred and anything can happen. This is not an industry phenomenon, it is endemic throughout businesses of all stripes, just look at the financial or automotive sectors, for example.

The nature of distribution of the products on display at these shows is radically changing and as a result causing all exhibitors to question how much they are willing to invest in these expensive traditional marketing behemoths. With the hassle and cost of travel and the increase in the costs of shipping, the shows are more heavily scrutinized for potential ROI (Return on Investment) than during any previous time.

We can take a step back and ponder what the industry would be like without Artexpo New York and it doesn't conjure a pretty image. But, it ought to be something on the table for a couple of reasons. One, it is a possibility. And two, should it come about, those who would be most negatively affected should have an alternative plan ready to go, or at least contemplated and well thought through what to do.

I'll add a third point. If anyone reading this is distraught over the potential loss of the New York venues to the industry, then he or she should be doing whatever is possible to avert such a dire situation. That means exhibiting if at all possible, and actively helping to the market the show. It means buyers, dealers and galleries need to come and support the show by being active buyers when they arrive. It means management ought to be looking at the long range when it comes to making decisions. Short term decisions in difficult times nearly always have less than desirable outcomes on the fortunes of the entities managed in such a way.

Decor Expo Back in New York Is a Welcome Relief

Show management is gingerly bringing back Decor Expo for a scaled back two-day trade only event. I give them credit for putting the shows back together as they should be. It is too bad such a move wasn't forcefully contemplated or acted upon to avoid the Baltimore fiasco. Obviously, I have been gone from active participation in the shows and magazines for some time, but I can say that when the first attempts to put ArtExpo and Decor Expo together in the Javits Center was discussed, it was determined by checking records that the Decor Expo show brought in more room nights than ArtExpo. This was at a time when the shows were separately owned

Room nights are the coin of the realm when it comes to getting favorable dates and venues. So, allowing the shows to be split weakened both shows along with taking some of show management's bargaining clout away in the process. In retrospect, it is very hard to understand how this could have happened. What were they thinking?

We Can't Just Root for a Rally, We Need to Participate to Help Ensure One

Time and opportunity were lost in that decision to split the shows. In the intervening years, the global economy has slipped into a recession, if not on the brink of depression and that makes making up lost ground a nearly insurmountable task. Still, for the sake of the industry, we must all pull together to make the best of what is available to us.

Let's hope 2009 brings a respite from the decline of the exhibitor base to ArtExpo and a healthy turnout from the Decor Expo pool. That could set the stage for better things to come in the second decade of this quickly aging new 21st Century. Without vigorous participation in the shows over the next couple of years, it might be the answer to the question posed in the title above was no. I don't want to see that happen and bet you don't either. This is a time to rally and do what you can.

Poverty 2008 - Blog Action Day - One Person Can Make a Difference

2008-10-15T06:12:22-07:00

The timing for this annual event is either the best or worst of times depending on your perspective. I think it comes at the best of times to remind those of us who have the means and time to read blogs how fortunate we are. Many, in not all of us, are rightfully concerned about the financial gyrations val rocking the globe with ghastly news and predictions a meltdown not seen in the lives of any of us under the age of 80 or so.

Perhaps not such good timing to ask people to dig into their dwindling assets and help others, I realize this and that is why I chose to republish the list below. One Person Can Make a Difference.

"There is no limit on the amount of good one turned on person can do." - Stepen Covey

Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day. Our aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion.

One Issue, Thousands of Voices

Global issues like poverty are extremely complex. There is no simple, clear answer. By asking thousands of different people to give their viewpoints and opinions, Blog Action Day creates an extraordinary lens through which to view these issues. Each blogger brings their own perspective and ideas. Each blogger posts relating to their own blog topic. And each blogger engages their audience differently

And use it. It’s called Blog ACTION Day for a reason.

Thank you to all who contributed ideas.

Thank you to our huge list of over 80 supporting organisations (here, here and here).

May Blog Action Day 2008 be absolutely unforgettable.

Got poverty relief idea to add to this list? Know how we could improve and/or spread this list? Leave your ideas in a comment below or email us at central@blogactionday.org.

88 Ways to Take Action Against Poverty Right Now

Eat meatless meals 2x a week. Donate that grocery money to a local food bank. - TarotByArwen
Be homeless for a day/night. - Lex
Stop putting off adopting a child through an organization like Compassion International (or adopt another one). - Lex
Make a loan on Kiva, or buy a couple gift certificates and give them away to friends. - Lex
Get a group together to go door-to-door collecting canned foods for your local soup kitchen/shelter. - Lex
Take a homeless person to dinner and actually sit/talk with him. - Lex
Stop being lazy. Find a way to do your job better so that you can save an hour a day, or be that much more productive. - Alex Shalman
Stop buying junk to make yourself look pretty and donate it to homeless people and hungry people. - Craigsnede
Make flyers to stick in the local library. - Craigsnede
If you have a musical instrument you no longer use, donate to the still-struggling musicians and students in New Orleans, who are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. A few great organizations that will accepts musical instruments are Tipitina’s Foundation (www.tipitinasfoundation.org) and The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund (www.nomrf.org/donations.html).
I’m interviewing a Capuchin monk vowed to Poverty about his work with Detroit’s poor for my blog, and I’m trying to arrange a fund raiser with my author and PIVTR radio station friends.
Find a gripping picture or video having to do with poverty and publish it on the Web.
Stop drinking Coke and bottled water for a day and save on plastic. Will save a lot of plastic if each of us does it for only one day.
Share your skill or knowledge, so they can improve their knowledge to increase their life/prosperity.
Visit an orphanage.
Stop being lazy.
Give comfort to the poor.
Donate.
Check your closet and make sure that anything you have not used last winter is taken to a charitable organization. Ask your friends and neighbors and volunteer to pick up the clothes, launder them and deliver them to those organizations. They will do no good in your closet and a world of good to someone in need.
On one day only eat food that you have asked someone for directly or for the money you need to buy it. Pay attention to the feelings.
Have a “sponsor me” day. Donate money to a poverty relief cause for everyone who leaves a comment on your blog that day.
Designers for Blog Action Day group on Flickr. Submit your designs: http://www.flickr.com/groups/bad2008design/
Organize a Hunger 101 Program for a local youth group. Our Girl Scout community learned about what they could do to help the working poor in our community. http://spedr.com/da5f This inspired them to organize several Take Action events: http://spedr.com/krfw
Add the “Women Rock” badge to your website or Facebook page.
if any of us knew or aware about any organisation which can help educate them, like, skills centre, entrepeneurship centre..u know, stuffs they do to help these pople actually do something to improve their life, we might try to collect name carsd from these organisations (NGOs or ministries), and walk around and passed these cards to them, with of couse, maybe some donations of any supplies.
Skip a weekly trip to the grocery store and donate the money saved to a food bank. I do this once a year for my family of 5. For that week we only eat what is left in the pantry or fridge. By the end of the week, pickings are slim and we get a sense of what it feels like to not have the luxury of tasty, well balanced meals every night.
Make a personal fundraising page in 5 minutes on Firstgiving.com. Raise money securely online for any US-based nonprofit committed to ending poverty in the US or around the world. Here’s an example page: http://www.firstgiving.com/bapbwm.
Have dinner on the floor and make it a very small meal (like chicken broth, watered down milk, and maybe a small piece of bread?) Talk about the blessings you have and that the meal represents those who don’t get to eat “big” on a daily basis.
Volunteer at a soup kitchen!
Play freerice.com!
If you have take out coffee, skip it for an entire week, donate the savings!
Give 5 bucks to a homeless person who looks hungry!
Talk with your children about poverty and who it affects.
Save your old stuff and sold it for charity
Support charity organization in your country. Reducing poverty may start in your nearest region.
Do something to touch 3 people or to reach out to 3 people and get them to pay it forward.
Give a gallon of water to each of 3 people who need it?
Give a $10 gift certificate to each of 3 homeless, single mothers so that she and her children can have one hot meal at a fast food restaurant?
Ask 3 entrepreneurs to each make a donation to 3 people or causes?
Holding perhaps daily or weekly community classes for imparting knowledge from our side and educating the local masses is something we all can do by coming together at grass root level.
Avoiding overconsumption.
Contributing to relief funds which can assist this cause.
Host a 1 day famine and collect donations. With the donations, pass it to a Welfare/Poverty Organisation.
Plan a pot luck/BBQ or a get together inviting close friends and neighbours, to bring awareness and also to raise funds for a shelter home. Funds can be used to purchase the necessary groceries for the home.
Pray for the comfort and safety of the world’s poor. Pray for the strength, wisdom and courage to help each of them find prosperity.
Combat corruption!
Don’t just talk to your kids about poverty - get them involved by having them go through their toys and clothes to find concrete things to pass along. The next time they want you to buy something for them - talk about what that money could buy for someone who had no food… then follow through and donate the money you didn’t spend.
Donate your time and expertise to teach a class to those trying to find a new way to earn a living.
To add to the previous suggestions, rather than just donate money to homeless people, why not use the money you would use on yourself for a coffee to buy one for someone else. If you get coupons for free beverages or meals, keep them with you and give them to someone in need.
As you find organizations to which you like to donate food, clothing, etc., spend some time volunteering for that organization. Contribute to the organizations you are already supporting in other ways.
Educate others. If you are a teacher, talk to your students about poverty. Get their opinions. Inspire them. If you work in other areas, strike up a conversation with your colleagues in the lunchroom or lounge. Get educated so you can answer questions and provide information that might spur others into action.
Visit The Hunger Site every day and click the link to feed the hungry. It’s fast and it’s free and there’s absolutely NO excuse not to do it every day you’re online!
Be compassionate.
Invite friends to watch documentaries how poverty destroyed ones life,family and their future.
Do not waste water on that day.
Express your love and compassion for one street child by having an enrollment conversation with her.
Ask your child to share her food with the child of your maid on that day.
Make a list of five items you haven’t used for long and have no plans to use them in future either. And distribute them among local poors with all humility.
Compose a poem on the theme ‘Making Poverty A History’ and get it published in a local magazine or paper. Also, ask your baby to recite the poem in her school.
Talk to your five relatives about the poverty issue and invite them to come up with their suggestions to eradicate poverty.
Organize a drawing competition for kids on the poverty theme and exhibit their works in a local school or community centre.
Do not overeat on that day.
Save electricity on that day and contribute the equivalent savings to a local charity.
Contribute your one day salary to a child rehabilitation centre.
Get a few friends, gather all your unused items, sell it and buy something a meal for the poor in your neighborhood.
Si tan solo los gobiernos hicieran mucho mas por este flagelo, la pobreza se reduciría en un 70% por no decir 100%. Observo como a algunos gobiernos que han prometido en sus campañas electorales que acabarían con este mal, luego de llegar al poder y por motivo del oro negro les entran grandes cantidades de dinero, ¿y que es lo que han hecho con el, en vez de ayudar al pais? Financiar con ese dinero (que se supone es del pueblo), proyectos políticos solo para sus intereses personales… da tanta tristeza ver cuanta gente tirada por la calle, sin tener que comer, o donde dormir, mientras estos señores se gastan el dinero de tantos ciudadanos, comprando poder para satisfacer su ego.
Travel to a poor country or area. Look for ways to make a difference on the ground there.
On your next off day from work, go to a homeless shealter and help serve food to those who are there, talk with them, listen to their stories, you will find that they were at one time, alot like yourself.
Let’s learn to love and respect one another, and to give to those who have less.
Pictures. It’s one thing to say that the milk my son spilled at lunch this afternoon was more than some kids get. But some people don’t see how real that is unless they’re looking at a picture.So, I’m looking for them.
Talk about poverty.
To most Americans, it’s not real unless we see it. I’m going to be revamping my blog so that poverty is prominent, and I’m talking about it more often.
Don’t stop at the generalities. War, famine, corruption, etc. all happen, and should be resisted. However, let’s dig deeper and go into the specifics. Not just talking about thousands of people dying of thirst … let’s talk about a real person.
Pull out the hearts of the readers, and make them confront what they know is right and wrong.
Instead of video games and other toys, give your neighbors and friends gift certificates for classical music lessons. For every $1 spent on music education, by my calculations, you get a $4.57 return on your investment from age 4-22 and that investment can never be taken away from you. Throughout one’s lifetime it pays much, much more. Take the money you save and give it in music lessons to the next person.
Go to your school board meetings and demand better music education. The arts are part of the core curriculum of “No Child Left Behind” and as I’ve been telling people for a few months now, the less we have to pay for health care and crime, the more we have to spend on food and shelter and doing good for our neighbors.
The more intelligent we are and the more productive we are, the more fruitfully we can spend our time, and the more we can produce to give away.
The reason why poverty still exist in Indonesia is because people is giving cash money to the poor at the streets and those money usually being used for things that usually destructive/not good (buying drugs, etc.) In order to stop poverty, the government already got their program to fight it but it didn’t go successfully for people still think that they are better off at the streets and there’s this what-so-called ‘mafia’ that organize these poor people at the streets.
In order to fight this, the people started to give food/meal/clothes to the poor instead of cash money so it would stop the process.
I think in order to stop poverty is to give what the people really need, not just giving it away for the sake of ‘being kind’
Fund educational programs for women.
Ensure that women have legal protections.
Educate people about the plight of women around the world.
Educate yourself on one aspect of poverty that affects women, whether it’s educating yourself on what’s going on with rape or abortion legislation in your own local area, or finding out what you can do to help women in other countries attain the basic human rights they deserve, by doing research on organisations that help women and contributing to those organisations in some way.
Do a campaign of creative advertisements for public awareness and a call to action. Do a poster, do an ambient campaign, write a radio or TV spot.
Breadline Africa is launching a Blogger Bake Off to help raise awareness and funds. If you want to do something on Blog Action Day, you should turn your talking (which is very worthwhile) into action: donate to a charity. Organisations that use funds directly in poor communities will be using your money where it can do the most good: at the grass roots level.
Educate yourself.
Prepare a space in your home for the poor to stay as needed.

Well, what are you waiting for? Pick something from this list. Go NOW. Do it.

Do it.

And the world will be richer in mind and body.

photos by uncultured, babasteve, Aaron Dieppa

Overload - What Digital Art Tells Us About the Future

2008-10-11T23:39:59-07:00

It's been noted artists being aware, sensitive and demonstrative often have a way of portending the future through their work. I agree with this idea and have written about it here in posts such as, "Is the Next Big Thing About To Happen?" and Convergent Media - Stretching the Imagination.

If ever there were a piece of contemporary art that accurately describes the current human condition, it would be Rick Simpson's magnificent piece titled Overload and seen here.

The image is the perfect metaphor for the piling on of the global financial market gyrations on top of those of us interconnected through digital communications. As if we didn't already struggle with an overwhelming amount of useful, trivial and useless data being streamed through constantly improving gadgets.

Simpson's piece took home a well-deserved First Prize in the 8th Annual Donnie (Digital Art Contest) Awards presented by MOCA, the Museum of Computer Art. I think the judges were equally in tune with Simpson's view in foretelling our near future.

Digital art, in my humble opinion, is still in its nascent state. While there is an impressive body of important current work, I believe the best is yet to come. It might just be with equipment not yet invented, or brought to market.

It could be that futurist Watts Wacker's Next Big Thing theory as outlined in the above post may well come from the ranks of digital artists. Given we are nearly through the first decade of a new millennium, it would be a natural evolution.

Art is about expression, which is why it is an excellent harbinger of things to come. Artists seeking to express themselves will use whatever means available to forcefully and eloquently bring forth their vision. I'd say Rick Simpson's work shown here punctuates the notion.

Orphan Works Act of 2008 Update

2008-10-08T09:17:12-07:00

My fellow guest blogger on the Absolute Arts Web site, Walter King, was one of the first to sound the clarion call against the Orphan Works Act of 2008. His most recent post on Absolute Arts provides an update and plea for action. The post, "Google pays Library of Congress $3 MILLION for Orphan Works Legislation" by Walter King, provides information on the status of the bill, insights from Walter, and some useful links. It also provides this information about joining his mailing list:

If you received our mail as a forwarded message, and wish to be added to our mailing list, email us at: illustratorspartnership@cnymail.com Place "Add Name" in the subject line, and provide your name and the email address you want used in the message area.

While you there, you can read my latest post, "The Dichotomy of Rare and Plentiful" by Barney Davey

Reality Check: StumbleUpon Doesn't Work - Website Magazine

2008-10-05T12:57:11-07:00

There is an ongoing thread on the Wet Canvas Internet Strategies discussion board titled, Anyone Using Stumbleupon. Begun more than a year ago, it has recently come back to being active with new comments. The range of experience is interesting to note as it has its supporters and naysayers. I have to say the studious infomation on the link below from Website Magazine would cool my ardor, assuming I had any to begin with, towards spending time to generate traffic from Stumbleupon.

Reality Check: StumbleUpon Doesn't Work - Website Magazine - Website Magazine

Posted using ShareThis

Right in-sync PC World magazine publishes this article Hands-On with the Worthless New StumbleUpon Design

There is no question that certain social media platforms can be helpful. I've suggested here before Facebook is a leading candidate. Right now, there are too many companies looking for a share of your interest and traffic. Until that gets settled, it will remain difficult to determine where to spend your limited time and energy on such projects.

As an interesting aside, I used the "Share This" feature at the end of the article on Website Magazine to make the blog post here about Stumbleupon. All I had to do was enter my username and password and the software did the rest. I'm editing it by adding additional thougthts, but really like the idea that I can conveniently repost valuable information with just a few keystrokes. That's a neat Web 2.0 development I can brag about.

Creating Collectible Value in Open Editions

2008-10-01T00:29:36-07:00

Regular readers know I am a frequent guest blogger Absolute Arts, one of the most heavily trafficked fine art sites on the Internet. My current post there is titled, "The Dichotomy of Rare and Plentiful." The essay discusses the seeming dichotomy of things that are simultaneously plentiful and still some in the abundance of varied items turn out to have great collectible value. If it can happen with books and license plates, why not open edition, sequentially numbered art?

Can such occurrences be manufactured by clever art marketing techniques? Or, do they just have to happen naturally as the outcome of publishing art that is popular? I have a framed vintage print of Maxfield Parrish's "Daybreak." The image continues to sell well on Art.com and elsewhere for about $75.00 framed. My copy, is older, probably a bit faded and is worth anywhere from $400 - $750. It is the exact same image, something that has been reproduced thousands of time, and still in its abundance, the older vintage pieces are worth 5-10 times more.

My point is if you are using limited editions as a selling technique for a medium such as giclee that you can endlessly reproduce in any size or substrate, you may be leaving yourself and your heirs at a huge loss for the potential with no guarantee of a possible greater price point and cash flow. Imagine what a loss it would be if giants like Parrish or Ansel Adams had chosen to only sell their images in relatively small editions. Conversely, what would it look like if they had sequentially numbered their open editons? Let me know what you think.

Art Is What You Make It

2008-09-28T23:41:47-07:00

There is no argument we are cursed to live in interesting times. Events of the past few weeks have made things too interesting by far for most of us. Let's hope the last minute maneuvering to save the US economy works. Too bad most of us are clueless as to how this happened.

On a wing and a prayer our economy flies now

We all understand home prices jumped to unheard heights when the interest rate was dropped down to record lows and stayed there for the longest time. In a nutshell, supposedly smart people who should have cared and known better turned out to be average people with above average greed.

Homeowners were sucked in along the way as many succumbed to the Pied Piper's tune telling them prices would not go down and they could use the equity in their home like a free ATM machine. It was a glorious party, but now the hangover and reality have set in with a monstrous financial headache. It's not that simple, but the essence is there and applies to the highest gilt-edged boardrooms as well as modest two bedroom bungalows.

Can these really be the best of times?

Now, if you are not so depressed about the undoing of our national financial underpinnings, you might be wondering how you can sell some art. I have been saying in workshops, consulting sessions and private conversations for some time that these interesting times are arguably the best of times for visual artists. How so you say? Simply, there are more ways to create your art and more ways to get your art to market than any previous time.

You are not relegated to choosing between oil and acrylics and paper or canvas. You might be start your creative process with the Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camerafor digital photography to capture an image and manipulate it in Photoshop. Or to perhaps learn exciting techniques for making digital imagery in Painter. If you choose the latter, you'd be wise to partake of the tremendous knowledge from Masters such as Marilyn Sholin. You might be digitally painting on the fabulous Wacom Cintiq 21UX 21.3" Tablet with Interactive Pen.

Are you working in convergence media?

If you are doing these things, I think you are creating something I call convergence media. Like mixed media, the term it borrows the name from, it requires pulling together in unique fashion an artistic vision using a variety of techniques, tools and products to create the final image. Then again, you may be putting paint on canvas as always and just using technology to do image capture to print giclees. And, there is certainly nothing wrong with that.

Just a few short years ago, you would have been doing none of this. Nor would you have a blog, or an online presence with your own Website, not mention the many worthy sites that will help you market your work. In short, right now, you have more opportunity to control how your art is made and more unique ways to find collectors than before.

These are the best of times to release all your creativity

If you have a spirit of adventure and a streak of creativity, you ought to be thinking of how you can use this new technology to create new ways to make and display your art. Why do vehicle graphics have to always be a movable billboard. Why can't they also be a piece of movable art? Do you have the resources, vision and chutzpah to graphic wrap something larger than a Hertz bus? Challenge yourself to go beyond your traditional thinking. How can you use your creativity to create something unique memorable and fantastic? If you rise to the challenge and answer that question and succeed with your vision, you are certain to have your ticket punched for the fast lane to awareness for yourself and your art.

Maybe your vision, budget or stomach for adventure is more mundane. Why not think about using wood, mylar, plastic or other substrates to create art. Here's an idea; you could work with a custom furniture maker to create art that is part of the furniture! The only limit is your imagination being throttled by yourself.

Below is an example of how Dutch photographer Suseela Gorter is using technology to create new ways to have her work displayed and appreciated.

Blooming Window Art - Flat Flowers Stickers (GALLERY)

(TREND HUNTER) These Flat Flowers stickers are the work of Dutch photographer Suseela Gorter. Flat flowers are photographs of flowers in a vase printed on a clear and static material. You simply stick the Flat Flowers… [More]

Start your own creative wheel turning. Let your mind wander. Daydreaming is essential to creative thinking. Write things down as you think of them. Use The Brain to capture and connect your thoughts. You have the capacity to do something unique. If you challenge yourself and respond, good things are bound to ensue.