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

What's Going On: Announcements /Classes
>>>Do This:  Donate Your Work?
Tip / Find of the Week:  Art on Film
Artists Respond: What They're Saying

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WHAT'S GOING ON

: : CLASS: SETTING UP YOUR ART BUSINESS : :
begins next Monday, September 20
Christina McDonald of Charlotte, NC, gave this class a hearty endorsement: "I really want to tell you how much I have learned from and enjoyed this [class]. I will be continuing to work on the assignments until I am done and I have printed the materials and put them into their own 3-ring binder for further reference. I just wanted to say thank your for your resourcefulness and for the inspiration you have given me over the past two years or so. I have been visiting your website for at least that long. Someday I hope to be added as a jewel in your crown of success stories." 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. 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 go to "Order" from any page and *click on "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

Bobbie Shatsoff, Desert on Fire. Pastel 13 x 18" ©The Artist.  http://www.bobbieshatsoff.com

Artists are bombarded with requests for donations to worthy organizations. Before you agree to give your work outright, you must be aware that in the U.S. you are only allowed to deduct the cost of your materials on your federal tax return. This law has been in effect since 1969, when the previous allowable deduction was repealed.

Amazingly, if someone else owned your work and donated it to a charity, they could deduct the entire fair-market value. You can't. If you think this is unfair, you're not alone. Museums would love to see the return of this deduction, as it would encourage more donations directly from artists. Other art organizations and Congresspeople have been trying to create a more favorable giving environment for years to no avail.

Thankfully, many art and artist organizations that request donations are now making sure artists are first being paid before the work is auctioned off (or raffled, or whatever). Artists then have the choice to donate the entire proceeds or be paid a reasonable amount, after which the organization keeps all the profits.

In addition to this is the overriding question as to how much of a benefit you will garner from donating your work. I'll tackle that in next week's newsletter, so stay tuned. In the meantime, read these excellent guidelines for donating artwork from the Society of North American Goldsmiths: http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/documents/Fundraising_Auctions.pdf

Even some CPAs are confused by this law. I sat in a presentation on taxes for artists given two CPAs who incorrectly answered the question of whether or not an artist could deduct the fair-market value of their work. And those of us "in the know" corrected them, although I'm not sure they believed us at the time. Below are some credible resources addressing the topic and Congressional attempts to change the law:

http://www.artsusa.org/issues/advocacy/advocacy_article.asp?id=1377
http://www.manhattanarts.com/pages/banas.html
http://www.law.harvard.edu/faculty/martin/art_law/denial_of_fmv.htm
http://www.acfnewsource.org/art/artists_gift.html

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TIP / FIND OF THE WEEK: Art On Film  

Former coaching client Mark Jones wrote with this offer for Do This! subscribers:

"Since, I know how hard it is to capture the beauty of some artwork on traditional slides, and its nearly impossible to get a real feel for the artist through the artist's statement - I have a new idea for artists called ART ON FILM.

I am offering artists of all shapes and sizes the opportunity to create their own 15 minute promotional documentary. This would be the same "Hollywood" style documentary we do for other people, including a personal interview with the artist, their collectors, curators, etc., and professionally filmed video of their artwork. They can use this in all the different marketing avenues you teach about, as well as, a looping video presentation that they could play in their booths at festivals or galleries.

Since, I have used video to sell my own artwork (it works well for my big pieces) I know this is a great way to communicate an artist's work. I am charging up to $3750 for 15 min productions. But because this is a new type of production, I have two special deals: For anyone on your list that wants to do this I will give them a ArtBizCoach 30% discount. And the first one to commission me for a ART ON FILM video will get a 15 min production for only $1199 in exchange for letting me use it as part of my demo reel. Of course, for those on a very tight marketing budget I can produce shorter productions."

Mark Jones
Divine Spark Films, LLC
720-981-0932 or  720-641-2762 (cell)

Web: http://www.divinesparkfilms.com    E-mail: mailto:mjones@divinesparkfilms.com

ARTISTS RESPOND: What They Have To Say

In response to last week's list of what it takes to be a successful artist:

Pam Caidin (Golden, CO) wrote in to add this quote from Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933, U.S. President 1923-29): "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common that unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
. . . . . . . .

"Thanks for the list and the insight about talent. I've noticed the same thing. I agree with you that artists should know (something) about art history. 

Joanne Burney, Aspen and Sky. Pastel, 19 x 21.5". ©The Artist

I minored in it in college, at one time considering it for my major, and I am very glad I did. I continue to study art history as part of my job, and it has served me well, especially in my teaching. It allows me to teach students in such a broad way that they don't have to paint like me. I encourage and support each student's uniqueness and validate it by speaking to it in art historical terms, and, sometimes, context. I can refer students to periods or artists I think they can relate to, and also address aesthetic concepts about which they are unaware. They really appreciate it. 

Recently, I was struggling with a sense of (not) belonging in my local art market because mine does not reflect the popular style of the area in which I currently live. I was not trained here, and so have different aesthetic roots. Analyzing all of this helped me to come to terms with it. It also helps me to seek out and find the market where my style is more welcome and where I get more sales and recognition through awards." See Joanne's work at http://jburneystudios.home.comcast.net/
. . . . . . . .

"When I was in high school I received a letter saying that if I kept doing what I was doing, I would be valedictorian when I graduated. My mother says that when I realized that meant I would have to give a speech at the graduation ceremony, I started to sabotage my future, trying to make my grades drop. I was painfully shy. She called me on it and enrolled me in our local Toastmasters group.

I owe those folks a lot -- their training was invaluable and started me on my way to feeling comfortable talking to almost anybody and to groups of various sizes. The handicap of shyness still creeps in when I usually do not want it to and least expect it, but great advances can be made with the help of this group: http://www.toastmasters.org ."

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

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

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