Permission to Create

Dear Beautiful Art Friends,

I just finished reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.  I love the way she writes, I enjoy her sense of humor, and though the book was not what I expected, it sure hit home in many areas.  After reading it I felt I got permission to create my own art.

You see, I love to paint and create, but over the last three years, when I decided to sell my work online and become a full-time professional artist, I began to feel frustrated. Frustrated because I was not selling my art for what I felt it was truly worth (though other artists told me it takes time), and frustrated because I spent a lot of time on marketing the artwork and felt it took away from the time I could be painting instead.

At the end of last year I decided that after my featured show, which I just had in February, I was going to scale back on social media and marketing so I could paint more.  I have a lot of fans that like my abstract work and I had continued to paint abstract because I do like to sell my art, but in addition to painting abstract, I also want to do more realistic paintings and to experiment with different mediums and just savor the process.

In Gilbert's book she talks about art as a vocation, and how it doesn't have to be your career.  I don't know where I got the idea that my art was supposed to provide for me financially all my needs but I did want it to do so, which put a heavy burden on my creativity.  But how else would I be able to paint all day?  Right.

And although I have always been a bit of a rebel, some people that create art and do make a good living out of their art advice that we should stick to one style if we want to be successful at it. Well, I can't do that, I am full of creative ideas and they take shape and form in so many different ways that a while back I decided I had to be me.  I can not limit my creativity to just one style!

Not that I don't believe down the road I won't be able to make my living out of my art, because I believe I can with the right marketing, time and effort. And it's not like I'm totally going to drop off the art world either. But at this time in my life I am happy just creating, and God has also gifted me with an entrepreneur spirit to provide for me financially in a way that allows me to still paint every day anyways.

With my permission from Gilbert, I am creating again what I want and it may never be seen by others or it may, and it may be received with open arms or with criticism, but thanks to the idea from the book that we all have a genius that needs to express itself through a willing artist, it's really not my business how the world receives my art, its only my business to put it out there, that's all.

I welcome your feedback.

With Love,
Glad

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Loads of Fun

Art From The Heart Opening Reception

Hello Beautiful Art Friends,

Had so much fun at the opening reception of Art From The Heart. It was good to see good friends and to make new friends. People seemed to enjoy themselves and the artwork. I love hearing feedback from people on my art and asking them which piece was their favorite and why. See video of event here: http://gladsart.com/videos.php.

I noticed that for my abstract featured artist reception last year, it was a younger crowd between 22 and 32 and for my realistic artwork, it was people more my age or older.  While both receptions were fun and I sold artwork in both, I found it fascinating to see such difference in the group. Even in the amount of wine and food consumed and how they connected to my work.

I'm currently in L.A. but can't wait to go back home and finish my current painting of Torrey Pines and begin one based on La Jolla for an upcoming show by the La Jolla Library. Excited to participate in that show so I have to do some photo shooting of La Jolla because I want my painting to be creative.

I hope your Valentine's day was lovely.

Until next time...

With Love,
Glad


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20 Things You Need To Do If You Are Hosting Your Own Art Reception

Hello Beautiful Art Friends,

I wrote this article for my new artists friends, to help them with their next art reception.

20 Things You Need To Do If You Are Hosting Your Own Art Reception

I am the Allied Artist Association of San Diego featured artist for the show Art From The Heart, and I’m having my opening reception tomorrow, February 13, 2015. During my last art reception we ran out of wine half way through the reception and I felt terrible. This time I wanted to make sure I things went differently. So these are the steps I have taken, and after the reception tomorrow, I will probably have more things to add to the list but for now here is my list:

1. Once you find the venue for your art reception and date, think of a theme and do a press release. Three months ahead of time from the reception date would be ideal. Other media outlets can have access to the press release in case they want to use it to promote you.
2. Start giving a teaser about the event through social media. Don’t say what it is but say something like “It’s coming in February”. Every other day add more clues to it.
3. Make a flyer for the event and get some good photographs of your artwork and of yourself. Start contacting local newspaper, local online publications, radio stations, and anyone in the media who can help you promote it.
4. I sent an invitation through Eventbright.com to all my personal contacts in the area. This way I could track who opened the invitation, who clicked through the link, who RSVP and who didn’t open it at all. This allowed me to resend several invitations to those who didn’t not open the invitation with different subject headings. I sent those who didn’t not open the invitation on the fourth email in the subject line “I know you won’t open this..” and I noticed a lot of them did after that heading and emailed me to tell me they didn’t know it was me sending the invite. Who knew!
5. Start promoting on all your social media venues. The more people see the event the better, so frequently do so. I actually did a count down that started when there were 5 days left until event.
6. Ask people in your social media network and your personal contacts to share the event with their list. It doesn’t hurt to ask and this will bring people who you would normally not meet.
7. Go to venue and see how much space you do have and start making a map of where each painting will go. See if there is adequate lighting, if not, you may want to figure out a way to brighten up the space before the event.
8. When you make a list of your paintings or artwork for the show, include paintings of different sizes and prices so people can have more options. Make sure you have quality photographs of all your work so when they sell you don’t have to worry about getting a good image.
9. Prepare your artwork for hanging. Make sure your work is signed if you sign your work, and you have a label or stamp with you name and contact information in the back of the artwork.
10. Installed the show. Make sure you take with you extra wiring for the art in case one breaks, hammer & nails (if needed), masking tape (comes in handy when a painting just doesn’t want to stay straight on the wall), labels for the artwork if not provided by the venue. This will take three times longer than you anticipated!
11. Once installation is complete, take photos and video of it. Great to use for your website, social media, and other promotions.
12. Do flyers and go to areas near your venue and put them on their community boards.
13. Make a list of how many bottles of wine you will need if serving wine, better to have extra bottles than to run out. Have some light refreshments, nothing complicated as people should be coming to see your artwork and not to have a meal. Some water for those who do not drink alcohol. Something for your clients to take home with them like a post card with your work, business cards, or book markers with your art (pre-ordered 6 weeks before the show so you have plenty of time to receive them).
14. Make a list of other things you will need during the reception. For example, glasses to serve the wine, platters for snacks, napkins, ice bucket, etc. A waste basket if venue doesn’t have one. Don’t forget a nice table cloth, and perhaps some fresh flowers.
15. As you get closer to the reception, if any magazine did any articles on your show, post them to your website and social media.
16. Remind people who are coming two days before the reception date. Also those on social media, remind them on the actual day of the reception and during the reception so they won’t forget or be more inclined to attend.
17. Enlist the help of other people to help you during the reception with setting up, cleaning up, helping people check out when they purchase the art and keep record of inventory sold, and someone to help you with serving the wine so you have time to talk with your guests. Get s0meone who will photograph you with your guests, video and broadcast through Periscope.Tv the event.
18. On the day of the reception get to the venue early enough to make sure all artwork is still properly hanged. Meet your helpers and start setting up. It helps to have a list of what needs to be done and ask them to choose which part they will each do.
19. Relax, have fun, enjoy the event.
20. Help your helpers clean up. Make sure you turn off air conditioner, all windows and doors are locked, alarm on, and anything else that needs to be done so venue is secured.

I’m sure this list will grow with time, and if you have any other tips, I would love to hear from you.

With Love,

Glad

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Feb. 13, 2016 - Art From Heart Opening Reception

Pelicans, 8"x10" oil on canvas

The AAASD's featured artist for the month of March 2016 is Gladys Jimenez.  The show Art From The Heart opening reception for the exhibit will be on February 13, 2016 from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm.  Gladys will be joined by Beverly Brock, AAASD featured artist for February 2016.

Gladys will exhibit her modern realistic paintings, and Beverly her photography. The exhibit will be on display from January 31, 2016 through March 30, 2016.  

The venue is The Riford Center, located at 6811 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037. Wine and light refreshments will be served.


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Challenge and Installation Complete!

Bob and I installing Art for the Heart show

Dear Beautiful Art Friends,

Last time I posted I had finished updating my website, well so I thought. After giving it a final check I changed a lot of things and now I do think it's perfect! If you have a chance take a look at it, I would appreciate your feedback.

Installation for Art from the Heart show is all complete. It took us almost three hours! It was very hard to level the painting because of the wiring system they use. There are tricks to it though, so next time it should be faster.  

You can go to the Riford Center in La Jolla and enjoy the exhibit now, and though I'm the featured artist for March, there are many other artists exhibiting their artwork, so worth the stop. Better yet, come to the opening reception Feb 13, 2016 at 4:30 pm. I will be there until 7:00 pm.

The 30 paintings in 30 days challenge is over. Gives me a tad of more time to create more of the art I want to create. I ended up the challenge with several Valentine's day paintings which started selling pretty well. I still have a few left and I'm planning to take them to my art reception, which is what I intended to do with them in the first place. You can see them at my website, under Whimsical Paintings.

I was invited by the Escondido Municipal Art Gallery to donate a piece of artwork for their Panache Auction event. It's a pretty fancy event. It's an honor to be invited as they only invite artists that have won awards and they feel meets the quality level of good art.  I'm having a hard time choosing which piece to donate but I'm sure I will figure it out by the time it's due.

This is it for today. I need to head over to 57 Degrees in San Diego and pick up my artwork from the last show.

Have fun and if you find any interesting art articles, send me a link.

Love,

Glad

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