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Thursday, September 16, 2021
Kenneth,
Following the premiere on CNN of a new documentary about gun violence in America, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy and experts from the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence will host a one-hour panel discussion and Q&A on Wednesday Sept. 22 at 7pm ET focused on evidence-based policies that reduce gun violence.
Register for the discussion and Q&A here.
“The Price of Freedom” explores the gun debate in America and exposes the political and cultural influence of the National Rifle Association. The film will first air on CNN Sunday, September 19 at 9PM ET. Viewers can also access the film on demand starting Monday, September 20 until Wednesday, September 22.
Wednesday’s panel discussion will be moderated by J. Brian Charles, a reporter for The Trace. Panelists include:
- Daniel Webster, ScD, MPH, Director of the Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy
- Cassandra Crifasi, PhD, MPH, Deputy Director of the Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy
- Janel Cubbage, LCPC, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Equity for the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence
- Josh Horwitz, JD, Executive Director of the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence
Panelists will discuss various gun violence prevention policies and issues including handgun purchaser licensing, Extreme Risk Protection Order laws, insurrection, and industry regulations -- all through the dual lenses of public health and equity.
We hope you can join us for an important conversation about ways that we can and will reduce gun violence in America.
We hope to see you there!
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Grants for Artists +
Photographers
DEADLINE THIS WEEK – THURS, SEPT 16
Submit your work by 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time
Dear Artists,
The deadline for Innovate Grant's Summer Cycle is this Thursday Sept 16, 2021, have you applied yet? Now is the perfect time to share your work, so why wait?
Innovate Grant supports artists and photographers from around the world through quarterly $550.00 grants. We've simplified the grant process, so that artists and photographers can focus on making their innovative work. The work should speak for itself and our application reflects that.
How to Apply:
All media and genres are accepted. All applicants (visual artists and photographers) 18+ years and older, from all around the world, are eligible to apply. All applicants retain the right to the work they submit. Apply today at https://innovateartistgrants.
Explore the work of Past Innovate Grant recipients and Read their Interviews at https://innovateartistgrants.
Category: Multiple disciplines and genres accepted
Deadline: Deadline: Sept 16, 2021
Region: US & International
Awards: $550.00 USD Grants
Apply Online Today
https://innovateartistgrants.
Monday, September 13, 2021
Friday, September 10, 2021
Artists: how do you judge the success of a show?
This was a question that was posed by one of my Facebook friends. He is a successful retired professor and curator who regularly writes and curates shows.
I found this idea so provocative because I actually stopped exhibiting in galleries in 2016 right after I retired from teaching and had my last exhibit at a community art center where I exhibited a graphic novel and the original art I made for it. The art center paid all my expenses and I made several thousand dollars off of the sales of the graphic novel and some of the art in the show. Literally hundreds of people attended the show and it got written about in the papers. It was a success by most peoples' standards, yet, I feel like I've actually never had a show do more than really break even in terms of profit and the cost of putting the show together.
I have had shows, in commercial galleries, museums, and art centers, that looked like "successes" in the facts that I got great reviews, hundreds of people came to see it both at the reception and the time it was up and I've sold half or more the works but the cost financially and emotionally always felt like a balance or zero sum gain. Interestingly enough, both emotionally and financially I am incredibly happy selling my work directly to collectors both online and in person.
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Mr. Turner
Taking the day off yesterday, I watched a film called "Mr. Turner" from 2014. It was a beautifully filmed and interesting character study although I suspect it is probably inaccurate. I both hated it and loved it at the same time, but I'm glad I took the time to watch it and it has made me think.
I watch and read a lot of films and books about artist and their lives and I am struck as to how films portray artists as either eccentric or just crazy. Often the shared traits of these artists are that they are selfish, self directed, emotional, suffering, and don't really spend very much time working and painting in the studio.
It's odd to me, because when I have studied and thought about the artists I think are successful, Max Ginsburg, Benjamine Lester, Brenden Sanborn, Irwin Greenberg, Malcom Liepke, and some really famous ones like Thomas Hart Benton, John Singer Sargent, and others, I know that they are/were pretty emotionally consistent and in long term relationships. I also know that most of these artists put in an eight to ten hour work day as much as humanly possible in the studio. Just some thoughts I'm having about what it means to be an artist, what life is about, and what success is.
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Strategies for becoming a successful full time artist (without working with galleries.)
I wanted to share my strategies for how I've been making a living as a full time artist. I do have a completely free course that I offer on line through Udemy. At no point will I ask you for money or anything else. Basically it's a course I designed as my business plan when I was a tenured professor at Ohlone College in Fremont.
Here's a slightly modified overview of my business plan that I present in the course. Here's the link to the free course.
https://www.udemy.com/course/business-for-fine-artists-how-to-market-sell-and-ship/
You must have 20 or more really good pieces of art and they should be consistent and aimed towards an imaginary collector who you share the same interests with.
If you do not have a body of work that is pretty much oriented towards a central theme and is not of a consistently high quality, stop trying to sell until you have one. I found that the video that helped me learn how to do this is available here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WA0KecvP-g&t=155s
I don't work with galleries I work directly with collectors by selling through Etsy.com, my websites, and mainly through direct email, and social media (Facebook, this blog and Instagram.)
Learn and be active on social media and follow these rules first.
Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram are the main ones I use.
Be overly generous and kind with your comments and shares. 9 out of 10 of your posts need to be reposts and shout outs about other artists, art organizations, and positive things literally puppies, kittens, beautiful landscapes, inspirational sayings and memes, sincerely positive stuff.
Avoid posting and sharing negativity, complaints, and political posts regardless of how strongly you feel.
Never argue with people regardless of how strongly you disagree with their point of view. You will not change their minds and it may lead to them feeling and sharing negative stuff about you.
1 out of every 10 posts can be a work of yours or a work in progress.
Join social groups (especially on Facebook that support your interests but aren't necessarily art related.)
For example, if you're a landscape painter, join groups about the environment, gardening, horticulture, and share and comment a lot in the group but don't post your work unless you have commented and shared at least 10 posts by other groups members. If you are painting pictures about children, join parenting tips and educational groups about young people.
Learn how to use each platform completely for a month or two before you start actively marketing on them. (YouTube videos are an excellent resource.)
Learn how to use your cell phone and your computer. Become tech and software savvy.
I learned the basics of Photoshop, how to photograph my work using my cell phone, and I became tech savvy in terms of using my website, scheduling on social media and using sales interfaces such as PayPal. (YouTube videos are an excellent resource.)
Pricing Artwork
When you are starting out, especially if you can afford to, take the absolute lowest price you feel comfortable with but include the price of shipping in the cost. (Offer free shipping by adding $30 on to the price of the painting.)
Develop your prices by going on Etsy and see what other people are charging for the same size and subject then try to get your prices below theirs. Check out my shop, I think you'll be surprised at how low my prices are even though I'm doing this full time and actually living off what I make.
Learn how to box and ship your art.
It's a drag to go to UPS and or the Post office. Mailboxes Etc. charges way too much for packaging so make sure you figure this out before you start selling. (Send your family some free artwork as a rehearsal.)
I buy my shipping supplies to match the size of the panels I paint on. (I'm using Uline right now but I think I need to switch because of political stuff about the founders.)
For example, Uline has foam rubber sheets that are 12x12 inches, boxes that are 11x16 and 12x16 inches and I buy canvas panels from Dickblick and other suppliers that are 11x16 and 12x16 to match. Since these sizes are standard, it also makes it easier for my clients to frame works.
Get a mailing scale and sign up for a shipping program that has software that allows you to weigh, print, and label your boxes. (I'm using Stamps.com but I've been told that the $18 a month and service fees are high but I'm too lazy to switch so maybe you can look into another service.)
Buy your art supplies on line and be willing to comparison shop for the lowest prices.
I sometimes have as many as six browser windows open, I compare used art supplies on Etsy, Ebay, Amazon, and Dickblick and sometime buy from several different vendors.
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Friday, August 27, 2021
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