Do This!
A weekly motivational newsletter focusing on action steps for visual artists.

What's Going On: Announcements /Classes
>>>Do This:  Be The Artist
Tip / Find of the Week:  Dynamic Sales
Recommended by Others: Coaching
Artists Respond: What They're Saying

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WHAT'S GOING ON

: : CLASS: SETTING UP YOUR ART BUSINESS : :
begins September 20
Get it right from the beginning. Learn everything from maintaining focus to organizing your office space to keeping accurate records. Most of all, commit to setting goals and a plan of action. Topics touch on taxes, merchant accounts, insurance, and intellectual property. E-mail discussion group with other participants included. $65. http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/settingup.shtml

: : SPECIAL: 3 CDs : :
I have a limited number of "Self-Promotion Essentials for Artists" left over from recent workshops. I don't usually sell these five business tools in one package from the Web site, but I don't want them hanging around here. Until they're gone, you can purchase all three of my e-books PLUS the two audio CDs for just $65. That a 20% savings. Read about the titles to help you with your marketing efforts: http://www.artbizcoach.com/books

If you are interested in ordering these three CDs, just click on Order in the left column and select "Books & CDs." It's the last item (#11) on the list.

: : CLASS: SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION : :
begins September 27
You can't afford to slack off. If you don't tell people about you and your work, who will? Even if you have gallery representation or other avenues, you have to keep you name front and center. E-mail discussion group with other participants included. $50. http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/selfpromo.shtml

: : THANK YOU : :
A huge "thank you" to everyone who responded to my request for creative self-promotion ideas for artists. So far, I've received 60 responses! It's great to hear what each of you is doing to promote yourself--especially from those of you I haven't heard from before. This article I'm writing could be a book in itself, but stay tuned. I promise to share the best ideas with you in the future.

Lauren Perkins, Long-haired Lady with Flower 2. Acrylic, gouache, and coffee on canvas. ©The Artist

But the reader was somewhat on target when she finished her letter this way (or something to this effect): "In my opinion," she wrote, "people don't buy art, they buy the artist." I agree for the most part, but would rephrase it as such: "People buy the artist just as much as they buy the art itself." If we're right, you need to BE the artist people are buying.

Yes, we live in an age in which the cult of personality far outweighs talent. In my workshops, I have a list of sixteen traits an artist should have in order to be successful. Guess what's missing? Right! Talent is nowhere on that list. There are simply far too many talented artists these days for talent to be a major factor in your success.

I'm not saying to neglect talent. On the contrary. You should nurture it and improve it constantly. It doesn't hurt to have talent. It only hurts to rely on talent alone. Here's my list of adjectives that describes a successful artist.

In order for you to be the artist people want to buy, you need to possess each of these qualities. I can't imagine getting by without a single one of them, although I know some of them can be faked (with genuine sincerity) or learned.

People like to buy art from artists who are going places. They like to know the artist, talk to the artist, and trust the artist. If the artist is less than enthusiastic, articulate or confident about his or her own work, why should someone else care enough to purchase it?

Look at the list above and memorize it. I've made it a lot easier for you by providing this printout that you can post anywhere to remind you what you need to work on. You can download a copy here: http://www.artbizcoach.com/resources/successingredients.shtml

If you need to work on better articulating yourself and your art, look into The Artist Statement & Beyond: http://www.artbizcoach.com/classes/statement.shtml

If you use Internet Explorer, you can forward this page to a friend by going up to your menu and, under "File," select "Send" then "Page by E-mail." Or just copy and paste the URL into a message: http://www.artbizcoach.com/dothis

TIP / FIND OF THE WEEK: Dynamic Sales  

This is a terrific CD. Bruce Baker has been helping artists with their businesses for decades. The CD, entitled "Dynamic Sales & Customer Service Techniques" was primarily made for artists who sell directly to customers in their own galleries or at arts festivals and is geared toward fine craftspeople. However, I found much of the advice applicable to anyone who tries to sell anything--even me!

http://www.bbakerinc.com

It's only $15.95 and I promise you'll want to listen to it over and over again.

RECOMMENDED BY OTHERS:  Coaching 

Lauren Perkins a coaching client in Newborough, Victoria, Australia, wrote about a recent accomplishment which she credits as a result of our coaching partnership:

"Alyson, thought I would let you know that I got an invite to 'Different Voices,' an invitation-only local exhibition!... This was also one of my goals for next year... so I'm pretty excited to be invited as the artists are a bit more established than me, so it is a huge compliment. Just wanted to share, as you are very much responsible for this little success!!"

Lauren's work is featured above and can also be seen at http://www.laurenperkins.com.au

Need a coach to help build your art business? Read more about my coaching and consulting at http://www.artbizcoach.com/consulting.shtml

ARTISTS RESPOND: What They're Saying 

Kelly Borsheim, Together and Alone. Bronze with black marble base.  ©The Artist

Sculptor Kelly Borsheim (Cedar Creek, TX) responded to recent columns about getting a crew and a pacer to help you along the way:

"One of the harder lessons I have had to learn is that asking for help is not a weakness. There is no possible or enjoyable way to build one's career (in any field really) without many different kinds of assistance from others. A definition of a friend is not only someone who will do anything for you, but who will ALLOW you to do something for him once in a while too. It is a two-way street and makes life much more worth living."

See Kelly's work at http://www.borsheimarts.com

Copyright © 2004 Alyson B. Stanfield, Stanfield Art Associates. All rights reserved. 

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The Do This! newsletter is sent only to subscribers. You can subscribe using the instructions in the column at left. Instructions for unsubscribing and changing your email address are at the bottom of each issue delivered to your inbox.