Stay within your Budget
Pump up your art and marketing
Make more Money

Even though it has been years since I went to a school building to learn, September still means "Back to School" to me. The fall fires up my desire to take a fresh look at what I need to learn to be more of who I want to be.

"We all want to be the one who knows. But if we decide we 'know' something, we are not open to other possibilities anymore. And that's a shame. . .We get disappointed because we expect one thing, and it doesn't happen quite like that. Or we think something ought to be like this, and it turns out different. Instead of saying, 'Oh, isn't that interesting,' we say, 'Yuck, not what I thought it would be.' Pity. ... As Suzuki Roshi said in the prologue to Zen Mind Beginner's Mind, 'In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's there are few.

"Beginner's mind is the mind that is innocent of preconceptions and expectations, judgments and prejudices. Beginner's mind is just present to explore and observe and see 'things as-it-is.' I think of beginner's mind as the mind that faces life like a small child, full of curiosity and wonder and amazement. 'I wonder what this is? I wonder what that is? I wonder what this means?'" Abbess Zenkei Blanche Hartman http://www.intrex.net/chzg/hartman4.htm

 

Meet artists and learn from art world insiders across the country by telephone.

What I have learned as a Gallery Dealer that I wish I had known as an Artist.
With Kathy Swift, CowArtandMore
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific

So you are smart, organized and make a well-designed, well-crafted piece of art. You researched which galleries to work with. Some took your work, some didn't. With those you do work with, sales are slow to non-existent. What went wrong? What should you do differently?
Register now for $29.95

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Giclées: Tiny Dots on Paper
with Barry Glustoff and Peter Leafman of Digital Arts Studio
Thursday, September 17th, 2009 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Pacific

How do you make more profit from each original you create? How do you make more money if you can't make more work? How do you offer a wider range of your art to collectors who don't have the budget for your originals? One answer to these questions is to make fine art reproductions. You can leverage your talents and your budget, and still sell originals. That's like having your cake and eating it too.
Register now for $29.95

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"Out of Your Head"
with Chris Welsh, Mastery of Learning®
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific

Being creative can bring the "curse" of idea overload. Ideamapping™ is a non-linear way of organizing your thoughts and notes. Adapt your record keeping to the way that you think, instead of cramping your style. This visual note-taking and brainstorming method is a fun, easy way to get your thoughts out of your head and on paper.
Register now for $29.95

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"Feed Your Whole Mind"
with Chris Welsh, Mastery of Learning®
Thursday, October 29th, 2009 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific

Artists who show and sell their work must wear many hats that are unrelated to making art. If you bring only part of yourself to the business side of art, it can feel like drudgery. Learn how the six stages of creativity can tap into your whole being and make art marketing a creative and enjoyable activity.
Register now for $29.95

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Attend national conferences to learn more about making and marketing art.

• The fourth Artisan's Artist's Material Expo will be held from September 17th to 20th, 2009 at the new downtown Santa Fe Convention Center. The event will bring together great artists, a fabulous selection of world-class art materials at discount prices, as well as opportunities to take classes and explore new ways of thinking and working creatively. Artisan has added an artist direct gallery for artists participating in the workshops. In addition to the free events, there will be over 80 workshops, lectures and demo's that require pre-registration at http://www.expoartisan.com or by phone toll free 800.331.6375. Tell them Aletta from Artist Career Training sent you!

• This is a great environment for beginners to feel comfortable exploring and a chance for experienced painters to learn advanced techniques with top instructors. You can also spend an hour, a day or a whole weekend with Aletta de Wal and Robin Sagara learning more about making a better living at what you love. Classes range from a 1½ hour lecture to a 3 hour hands-on-workshop. Prices range from $45 and up for a lecture to $75 to $155 for hands-on-workshops. Registering early will save you money and you won't have to stand in line.

Friday, October 16, 2009
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Fr132 Artist Statement & Audio-Logo Clinic
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Fr160 Pricing Your Work Just Right
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Fr163 Getting Collectors With or Without Getting
A Gallery
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM MeetUp with Aletta de Wal & Robin Sagara
 
Saturday, October 17, 2009
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Sa132 The Fine Art Of Talking About Your Work
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Sa158 Building An Art Business That Lasts
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Sa161 Affordable Web Sites, Online Marketing & Marketing Materials That Really Work For You (with the Wiz Robin Sagara)

Sunday, October 18, 2009
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Su130 Creating Your Most Important Marketing
Tool: Your Professional Portfolio
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Su148 Making A Living Making Art In Any Economy

While you are there, take advantage of the Exhibit Hall. (There are usually great deals there, especially on Sunday afternoon.) Here's where to find out more about what you will learn in each session and to register: http://www.learningproductexpo.com/pas/classes.cfm

These learning events give you a taste of how we supplement our healthy ongoing programs and communities. Set aside these dates and think about joining us for a better life. You invest in the best art materials. It makes sense to do the same in yourself. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Artist Career Training has been helping artists make a better living making art for 13 years. Experienced artists and teaching members of our ongoing learning community know how to make a social network worthwhile. No drivel here ~ just friendly, focused information to let you get back to making art. Mentors generously share their experiences with other working artists. We serve artists at all career stages who are serious about a career in fine arts: part-time, emerging and full-time. We know that you probably have "other duties as assigned," so we take that into account.

Please forward this e-mail to any friends who want to make a better living making art.

We love it when you share your experiences with us and will share your working wisdom with other loyal readers. Send your stories to Aletta@ArtistCareerTraining.com.