Works Of Wyoming Art Gallery: 2012

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Jeanie Schlump at The Cav. Reception tonight, 5:30

Monday, July 9, 2012

Where Do We Go for Wyoming Art and Craft?

There is soon to be a new, very shopper friendly, place in Downtown Laramie that is dedicated to selling Wyoming Artists' fine arts and fine crafts and jewelry.

The Manager, Gayle, has many years of experience in the field of gift product enhancement and fine arts and crafts production and sales. She is busy right this very moment with our loyal volunteers installing a new wood floor, touch-up painting, and planning the move of the jewelry cases and artist works.

It is very exciting. So many more opportunities to help artists gain more income from their artistic endeavors to come!

Our parent organization, Wyoming Women's Business Center is dedicated to providing artists with better business management skills and funding support to help maximize their income and their success in life and work.

Works of Wyoming
Professional Artist Development Center
New Storefront in Laramie
211 S. 1st Street next to Sweet Melissa's

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Who's Blogging in WYO Part 2

Images by Christopher Amend

Since the last post I have found a couple new blogs!

Blogging is an excellent way to get your work to the public. It does take time and a small commitment to posting regularly. The practice also offers an excuse to write about your work and photograph your work (which you should be doing). To see tips, tricks and advantages to blogging follow this link.

Here are some blogs written by Wyoming artists. Hope they can serve as inspiration for your blog.

Alan O'Hashi - A film production artist from Wyoming Community Media.

Allison Wagg - A student artist.

Christopher Amend's Blog - Chris talks about his work "My work is the visual product of my perceptions, musings, thoughts, struggles, yearnings....Each picture, whatever its stylistic manifestations, strives to be an honest explication and manifestation of the ideas and impulses that gave it birth."

Courtney Googe - Courtney graduated from the University of Wyoming in May and focuses on printing making. Her most recent body of work consists of prints on fabric and turned into stuffed animals.

Doug Russell - University of Wyoming drawing professor.

Detail of "Entangled Worlds" by
Doug Russell

Felicia Follum Art + Design Blog - University of Wyoming student who creates social justice artwork.

Katherine Palochak's Jazzn Jewelry - My blog is about designing and making jewelry from stock sheet and wire, some being shown from design concept through the steps to a finished piece of jewelry, some jewelry tips (with more to come), and occasionally life in Wyoming.

Wyoming Arts Council - A great site that keeps Wyoming Artists updated with Wyoming art events.

What other Wyoming art blogs are you familiar with? Please share them below or on our Facebook page!

If you are considering blogging, feel free to stop by WOW or set up an appointment to discuss your social media marketing campaign and how a blog can work for you. We can also discuss a variety of other options and see what works best for your needs. We are located in suite 271 of the Laramie Plains Civic Center and our phone number is 307.742.6574.

WOW is Moving

We would like to announce that the rumors are true! (All except the ones about the aliens abducting the pottery- those are false!) It is with great excitement that we announce that the WOW gallery and gift shop will be moving to downtown Laramie to

211 First Street

(next to Sweet Melissa's!)

The move is scheduled to happen in the next two weeks and we are hoping to open the new location by mid-July. We would appreciate any help our members can provide, there are so many things to be done like packing, flooring, set-up and painting. If you’re interested in helping you can contact us through email: wow@uwyo.edu or call Gale at (307) 742-6574.

First Street

is a great location with plenty of walk in traffic, great for the gift shop! Our new location will help our artist sell their work and get connected with the community. The Photo below is a mock-up of what the new location will look like! Official Dates will be posted soon and we hope to see you all at our new location!

WOW's new location on First Street

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Work and Play

No using Facebook at work!!!

Many companies have banned Facebook from work computers. Not WOW! The staff here at Works of Wyoming (and the Wyoming Women's Business Center) recognize the role that social media can play when it comes to small businesses, individuals, entreprenuers, and emerging artists.

No one can deny that the art world and job market are changing. Ten years ago, very few people were paid to blog, or update social media sites. Today there are organizations, firms and individuals dedicated to helping people become famous and make money via the online world. How do you go about landing one of these jobs? Well, like any other job you must show that you are good at it. A young man, Jerry Rizzo, landed a job as an NBA team's social media guy the same way you would land any other job. He showed dedication, a valuable skill set, and a passion that drove him to be the best.

Having a Twitter Resume or Twesume is another possible way to land a job. Read this Mashable.com article to find out more about these innovative 140 character or less resumes.

These are not the only ways to land a job in the emerging field of social media. Check out these beautiful infographics to learn more.

Discusses tips and tricks to landing jobs in the field.
Also discusses job titles and salaries.

Facebook = the 24/7 job fair?

Read this infographic to find out what percent of
businesses used social media to recruit in 2011.

Though many people use these sites for fun, there are many practical aspects to blogging, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and all the other social media sites out there. Here are some of the ways I have used social media to promote my art. Alyson B. Stanfield discusses how art is great for social media in her guest blog post a while back.

You can learn more about Alyson on her website or by joining our Shameless Self-Promotion workshop on Saturday, June 23 (next weekend). You can find out more about your business and Alyson on our website (artbizblog.com/WOW).

What did I leave out? How can you mix your work and play? How can you promote your work, your business, or yourself using social media?

Monday, June 11, 2012

MORE IMAGE Twitter Techniques

Though I am not an expert on Twitter, I still figured that I would collect some great tips from both my experience and other sources.

Birds by Alberto from The Running Cat Studio

1. You need to really use Twitter regularly to gain a following (without spamming people). You also post information that is relevant, use @mentions, repost and use #tags. I have read that using twitter once or twice a week, like I do, will not get you anywhere. You need to use it at least daily. It is better to post multiple times a day.

2. Use #tags and @mentions. The # symbol followed by a term is a tag. Tags are typically one work describing the general idea of the Tweet. This will help people find you, your art and your tweet by topic.

3. At Mentions are the @ symbol followed by a name. Using this will send a Tweet directly to that person. @mentions can be used if you want to talk about an artist you like (who has twitter). Tags for this post could include #art #twitter #tip #social media and at mentions could simply be @Sarah Reese (my boss). @mentions also work in Facebook.

More on @mentions from Alyson B. Stanfield, the ArtBiz Coach.

What Twitter tips and techniques have worked for you?

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Monday, June 4, 2012

Jurried Show

As you may be aware of we have started having more juried shows here at Works of Wyoming. I thought I would share some insight on how the process works (since I was given the opportunity to sit in on a session a while back).

Juried shows are excellent resume boosters. Getting work in means that you have quality work and it meets a certain standard. Chances are that not all the work submitted got in, so it certainly looks good on a resume. If you did not get work in, it is not the end of the world. It means that you, like the majority of artists, should keep trying. Also keep in mind that some jurors will chose work based on colors or specific imagery, so it might not be anything wrong with your work. If you talk to many seasoned artist, they have probably submitted work that did not get into at least one show, they probably did not get into many. The truth is, if you are getting into every show you apply for you may be hurting your career more than helping simply because you are not pushing yourself.

My experience with the jurors...
I did not offer any opinions but really just observed. Don't worry, I did not submit any work, so I also had no reason to try to pursued the jurors on their choices. I did, however, agree with the majority of their decisions. As an artist, it was an excellent opportunity to watch the process. Their decisions were based mostly on the work that they thought could depict the direction Works of Wyoming and the Wyoming Women's Business center would like to continue toward. Their job was not to interpret the theme of the show, but pick quality work that represented WOW and WWBC (the purpose can vary).

If you are interested in being a juror, sitting in on the process, or submiting work to one of our shows be sure to stop by or contact us. Out phone number is 307.742.6574. We are located in Suite 271 of the Laramie Plains Civic Center.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Website Gone Easy

Painting by Robert Martinez

If you are like me, you would prefer to create artwork than code HTML and CSS for your website. Fortunately, there are many ways to create an online presence that do not require you to code. We will start with some social media sites that are not websites but will still help with your online presence.

1. Twitter – Update your followers via short messages.
2. Photosharing – You can use create a photoblog or use Photobucket, Flicker, or Smugmug.
3. Create a Blog – Blogs are simple and offer an informal space for you to discuss your artwork. Blogger.com and Worrdpress.com are two places to start.
4. Start a Facebook business page – See 5 reasons why here.
5. YouTube.com – You can post videos of your work and tutorials here.
6. Friend - You may know someone who is a graphic designer. He or she will be able to offer you more options than a DIY website builder. This service will not be free.

Here are some more traditional website builders. There are many more out there.
1. Wordpress.org – Free
2. Carbonmade.com – Free
3. Flavors.me – Free or $33/year
4. Cargocollective.com – Free or $66/year
5. Otherpeoplespixels.com - $160 or $260/year
6. Squarespace.com - $144 or $240/year

If you would like to learn even more about building a website and gain other skills that are crucial for art sales be sure to attend our Shameless Self-Promotion Workshop this summer. You can learn more about our workshops and/or register on the Works of Wyoming website.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Art Biz Coach Quick Bio

Debby L Williams and Alyson B Stanfield lead the
Art Biz Lift Off workshops.

Alyson B. Stanfield, of Golden, Colorado, is an art business consultant for artists, galleries, and organizations. Her work is distinguished by extensive experience working with viewers of art, in addition to working with art and artists themselves. She founded ArtBizCoach.com in 2002 to help artists promote themselves and build their businesses.

To learn more about Alyson be sure to check out her website or visit WOW's website.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Monday, May 21, 2012

13 Great Sources for $$$Art$Money$$$

Not all artist create their work for money or need it to be a steady income; however, as a professional development center for artist our goal is to help those of us who want to make money, and more importantly a living from of our art. Here are some sources for those of us who would like some money for specific projects or materials. Are there any other organizations that offer money to artists or for specific projects???

1. BNSF
2. Creative Capital
3. First People's Fund
4. Indiegogo
5. Pollock-Krasner Foundation
6. Target
7. United States Artists
8. Walmart
9. Women's Arts
10. Wyoming Arts Council
11. GoFundMe
12. KickStarter
13. Wyoming Arts Council
14. Wyoming Women's Business Center

Selling your art may be difficult but if this is you goal be sure to join us for out Shameless Self-Promotion Workshop. You can register on our website. The workshop will include several ways to boost your art career. It will take place on Saturday June 23, 2012.

Friday, May 18, 2012

12 Alternative Art Venues

One important factor about being a successful artist is finding ways to get our work out into the community. Of course there are art galleries, but there are many opportunities outside of a traditional gallery or museum. One term for places such as these is an alternative art venue. Some alternative art venues include but are not limited to restaurants, hair salons, coffee shops, vacant business windows and other small businesses.

1. Coal Creek Coffee Company
2. The Grounds
3. Flux hair salon

4. Local Farmers Markets - Farmers markets often have specific requirements and fees but some do enjoy having artists and crafts people. The Laramie LOCO Market is just getting started and looks like a fantastic opportunity for Wyoming Artists.

5. The street - This is not for everyone, but some artists enjoy going to a downtown area in a large city to create and sell work.

6. Laramie Main street - Organizations dedicated to the beautification of a town or city and the promotion of local businesses may be on option.

7. Arts guilds or clubs - Artist organizations often have relationships with businesses that lease, sell or hang work.
8. Fabcebook.com - Here are 5 reasons why you should have a FB page for your art.
9. Artist Cooperatives - Many large cities have Co-Ops set in place. I believe Northern Front is considered an Artist Collective.
10. Find an artist you are friends with and have a small show in their workspace or rent a loft for a month.
11. Put it on the front of your house, your garage, fence or car.

Source: thefancy.com via Felicia on Pinterest

12. Be Creative

WOW is another wonderful alternative art space for artists looking to show their work in a public space. For information about applying for a solo show or to be apart of a larger exhibition, be sure to contact us at 307.742.6574.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Opportunities to Show Your Art in Wyoming

Image by Jerry Glass Artist Member of Works of Wyoming Professional Development Center

Works of Wyoming 2012 Annual Member Show

Opens This Saturday the 19th with a reception from 1pm-3pm. The show closes on June 23rd.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

5 Reasons to Wholesale Your Art

Wholesaling your Art

Alyson Stanfield Workshop with Carolyn Edlund

If you have ever been intrigued by the thought of wholesaling your art, you won't want to miss my seminar with Carolyn Edlund. Carolyn has 27 years of wholesale experience that she is itching to share with you.
Tomorrow - May 16, 3pm ET HOW TO WHOLESALE YOUR ART OR FINE CRAFT http://www.on2url.com/lnk?RwE24dq2Flw%3D

In this program, Carolyn will share:
+ 5 reasons to wholesale your art or fine crafts
+ How to wholesale if you make only originals
+ How to move from retail to wholesale + How to price your art for the wholesale market
+ How to build relationships with retailers who can sell your work
+ How wholesale buyers think and what they need from you

She'll also share the 5 Biggest Mistakes Artists Make When Wholesaling Their Art or Fine Craft.

This 1-hour, info-packed seminar is just $27. Reading this too late? No problem!
You can listen live and/or download the audio and transcript later.
CDs are also available.

Read more about Carolyn and register for this seminar:

http://www.on2url.com/lnk?SAE24dq2Flw%3D
If wholesaling is an option for you,

I hope you're able to listen live or later.
Alyson

PS The details for this seminar and the RETAIL SALES seminar are at http://www.on2url.com/lnk?SQE24dq2Flw%3D

Monday, May 14, 2012

6 Tips for Creating your Artist Statement

Christopher Amend
Anima, Connate

Dennis Fonfara
Illuminati

Artist Statements can be a huge challenge for an artist and we have all been forced to write them. If you are like many artists, you have probably wondered something similar to "why do I have to do this, no one cares? People want to see my art not read about it"

The simple answer is that you cannot always be everywhere your work is to explain it to people and as much as we may want our art to speak for itself, it doesn't Your artist statement should help others understand you as an artist and your work when you cannot be there. Here are some tips that may simplify the process and help you find the correct words to describe your work.

Jerry Wood
Wind Dancer

Jennifer Howdshell
Sun Goddess

1. Free Write - Sit down for at least 5 minutes and write about your work. Don't stop writing. Most of this will be garbage, but if you are like most people there will be one or two good words and maybe even a good sentence.

2. Talk out loud - Talk to a friend or family member about your work and have them take notes. Often times you will use different language when you speak than when you write. Again most of this will be garbage, but there will likely be something worth salvaging. I tend to have my husband help with this task. He is an engineer so he is intelligent but not necessarily familiar with art jargon.

Mack Brislawn
Alison as Gunslinger

3. Ask for Help - Another technique is to allow a friend to write about your work. You can give them as much or as little background as you would like. Do not forget to have a friend proofread your statement.

Felicia Follum
Phenomenal Woman

4. Reduce Reuse Recycle - In the past I have written individual statements for each show. More recently I have started focusing on a more general statement about large bodies of work and my work in general. A more diverse statement can be altered for shows but can save you a significant amount of time in the long run. You can alter this statement to describe a specific piece or a process but also have a short version for a journal or other publications.

5. Sleep on it - If you have time, let you writing sit for a couple days between proofreading sessions.

Alanna Reid
Legs

6. Education - Be sure to join us on June 23rd for our Shameless Self-Promotion workshop and learn how to "Differentiate yourself with your artist statement." You will also learn what it is, how to write it, and why you need to have one.

For more help writing your artist statement come on in, check out our Facebook page, or give us a call at 307.742.6574. For more information about our workshops be sure to check out our website.

PLEASE SHARE WITH ALL THE ARTISTS YOU KNOW
Works of Wyoming is hosting an art-marketing workshop for artists in Laramie

Early Bird Registration ends May 23rd, Save 25$!

SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION A No-Excuses Art-Marketing Workshop All Artists, All Media

Saturday, June 23 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Laramie, Wyoming

http://artbizblog.com/wow

Workshop leader Alyson Stanfield is the author of I'd Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion and founder of Art Biz Coach and the Art Biz Blog.

I'm writing now because early registration ends on May 23. Artists will save $$ if they register now. Click Here

Thursday, May 10, 2012

4 Tips to Help you Properly Follow a Page

Poster created after surveying on FB.
Felicia Follum
11x17
Black Hair

Following someone’s social media site is not really helping you to network, if you don’t some basic social media strategies.

1. Interaction vrs. Information

The goal of following a page is not just so that you can get information. You are missing out if you are not taking advantage of interacting with artists and other people you may never get to meet in real life.

2. It is Better to Comment on than to Like a Post

Making an actual contribution to the conversation or sharing the post shows your expertise on a given topic.

3. Do Not Spam

The goal of following a page is not to spam people, but to socialize. If people go to a page they follow, they want to know about the page not you (unless it is your art page). If you post on another page, make it relevant and feel free to post as your art page rather than using your personal profile. Ask questions about other people's art on an art group page. If your art focuses on landscapes in Oregon, go to a page dedicated to Oregon and ask where their favorite landscapes are located. There are many ways that your can go about this, but do not post links to your art in every comment.

4. Feature the Page in Your List

Read more about creating lists on FB here.

5. Personal Success Story

One of my most successful was when I was conducting research for my a past art exhibition. This specific research did not show up in the show, but I did create some work in response to the topic. When I was researching for some social issue posters talking about black hair (this really is a significant topic in the African American community), I asked people in groups such as Black Women with Real Hair, and My Black is Beautiful to take surveys about black hair and their experience. When I completed this poster, I posted it to these pages. This technique was mot spamming because these groups are focusing on the same subject my work was focusing on and I was posting information that those on the site would find relevant. I was also thanking them for their input and rewarding them with some artwork.

What are some social media marketing strategies you have used? Show us the work you promoted and tell us why it was not viewed as spam but welcomed. If you would like to brainstorm ways to involve groups on Facebook be sure to stop by the Gallery and gift shop. We are located in the Laramie Plains Civic Center in Suite 271.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Get Answers about Self-Promo

Alyson talks with workshop participants
at workshop in Philadelphia.
Photo by John Pitman Photography

Saturday, June 23
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

You’ll Learn:

1. How to write a better artist statement
2. How to organize and expand your mailing list
3. Email secrets that produce better results
4. Do’s and Don’ts of artist websites
5. Why you need a blog right now
6. How your online marketing components work together to bring you traffic

In addition to learning these 6 tips for selling more work and "shameless self-promotion" you will meet a room full of like-minded artists and go home motivated to sell more art.

The conference is just $75 until 5pm Friday May 23 and $100 after until noon on Friday June 22

Space is limited! Register now by calling Gayle at 1-307-742-6574 or e-mailing wow@uwyo.edu . We use Paypal to charge your Credit Card

About the workshop leader

Photo by John Pitman Photography

Alyson Stanfield is the author of I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse to Self-Promotion. She is also the founder of ArtBizCoach.com (2002) and ArtBizBlog.com (2004). She has taught artist workshops and been a keynote speaker in 23 (now 24) states.

Remember WOW Members get 10% off workshops

For more information visit the WOW website or Facebook page.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Videos of Your Work

Using videos of your work, can be an excellent strategy if you are interested in sharing your work with a diverse audience.

Basic Tips to Keep in Mind While Creating Your Artist Video.

Keep the video short. I would suggest around or under 2 minutes. The more varied, the longer people will engage.

Use top quality video and photographs. A combination of both is often ideal.

Keep the basic principles of art in mind, such as unity and variety. Include a variety of textures, colors, people, to create a unified video that shares your work.

Post them online. YouTube is the most common place to share your videos online. YouTube makes it simple to share your video in other places such as your blog, website, Google+ and Facebook as well.

Here is a sample video that WOW helped Alice Freeman create to promote her harp playing business.

Here is a

Another sample of an incredible artist video that we can learn from.

Have any of you from WOW created videos of you work? What was successful? What would you improve?

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Early Bird Registration

Denise Patton
Saratoga, Veteran's Island Watercolor
9x12" Private Collection

Early Bird Registration for Alyson B. Stanfield's workshop on June 23 has been extended. Early bird registration will end at 5pm on May 23 (not the 15th). Check out the Works of Wyoming site to register or for more information.

This workshop will offer tips to help you turn you gorgeous works of art into a business.

To learn more about Alyson, be sure to visit her blog or website.

Friday, April 27, 2012

5 Tools to Simplify your Social Media

Cat Martin's Glass Platter

Networked Blogs allows you to have your blog posts automatically post to your Facebook business and personal pages and twitter. It is good to keep in mind that Facebook does give priority to hand posted posts so the traffic will not be as high. Networked Blogs is great for building followers and it helps keep your Twitter and Facebook pages active if you slack off for a week or two.

Facebook to Twitter, Twitter for Facebook and several other apps (located under "Apps" in your Twitter User Profile) allows your business page posts to automatically post on Twitter. I don't use Twitter regularly, so this is a great technique to engage twitter when I don't have significant info to post.

HooteSuite and Tweet Deck are pretty common for the savvy social media pro, though I have not fallen in love with either. Check out this wonderful Mashable article on both 5 excellent social media management platforms.

To learn more about how your social media campaign can work together be sure to join us for Alyson B. Stanfield's workshop on Shameless Self-Promotion. To learn more or register on our website.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

7 Ways to Use Your Art in Social Media

Can't forget to use artwork in a blog
post about art in social media
The Dance by Dennis Fonfara

Guest blogger: Alyson B. Stanfield

The Internet is becoming increasingly visual – meaning that images are becoming as important, if not more important, than words. This puts you at an advantage. You have art! Be creative with how you show your art online. I can think of at least seven different ways you can use your art in photographs on your website, blog, or on social media sites.

1. Show the work by itself – the standard way to show your art online. Have your art photographed by a professional for best results, and make sure that it’s categorized for easy navigation.

2. Reveal works in progress. People love to see how art is made! If you’re inclined to let viewers in on the process, this can make a nice series on a blog or even a static Web page.

3. Snap pictures of your art lined up or stored in the studio. When we see one image at a time, we don’t have a sense of an artist’s production schedule. Seeing stacked artwork is a visual of how much work you’re doing. Disclosing how you store art is also one of those little secrets you share with your audience to make them feel closer to you by giving them a virtual glimpse into your studio.

4. Have photographs taken of your art in situ at someone’s home, office, or gallery – even if you have to stage the photos! These will be some of your most-used images, so always be sure to have high-quality photos made of your exhibit installations. It’s powerful to see the work in an environment.

Elixir by Jerry Glass

5. Take pictures of your art with the collectors who bought it and live or work with it. Having other people in the pictures gives another level of credibility. “Someone else likes my work besides me and they like it enough to buy it!”

6. Show people using your art. If you make functional ceramics or other fine crafts, take pictures of people sipping, washing, eating from, sitting on, or stacking the objects. If you make wearable art, show how it’s worn.

7. Get some pictures of you packing and shipping your art. You and I know that the art fairy doesn’t wave her wand and art appears installed overnight. It takes hard work to get the work from completion to installation. Remind people of this with your images.

I’m looking forward to sharing more tricks for promoting your art online and offline at my Shameless Self-Promotion workshop in Laramie on Saturday, June 23. I’d love to meet you! There’s a discount on the price if you sign up by May 23. Visit WOW's website for more details. Don’t miss out – register today! Alyson Stanfield is an artist advocate, art-marketing consultant, and author of I’d Rather Be in the Studio: The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion. She’s the founder of Art Biz Coach and the top 20 art blog, Art Biz Blog.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Shameless Self-Promotion Workshop

Alyson's Book is an excellent resource
for every working artist.

How to Differentiate yourself with you artist statement: What is it? What isn’t it? Why we need them and how to write one.
How to Organize and Expand you Mailing List
Email Secrets that Produce Results
Rules for Putting Toogether Fist-Class Marketing Materials
The Do’s and Don’ts of Artist Websites
Why you Need a Blog Right Now
How to Increase Traffic to You Blog
How to Prioritize your Online Marketing
How Your Online Marketing Components Work Together

WOW is a professional development center for artists. There are many services like this that we provide our clients and the community. For more information, visit WorksofWyoming.org or call 307.742.6574. We are located in Suite 271 of the Laramie Plains Civic Center in Laramie, Wyoming.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

6 Tips to Shameless Self-Promotion

Would you like to sell more art? 
Are you ready to be recognized for your work?
Join us for . . .

A No-Excuses Art Marketing Workshop

Alyson talks with workshop participants
at workshop in Philadelphia.
Photo by John Pitman Photography

Photo by John Pitman Photography

Friday, March 23, 2012

Tips for Making Excellent Pastel Paintings

Gail Watford and Vanda Edington at Works of Wyoming

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Who's Bloggin in WYO?

Images by Christopher Amend

Blogging is an excellent way to get your work to the public. It does take time and a small commitment to posting regularly. The practice also offers an excuse to write about your work and photograph your work (which you should be doing). To see tips, tricks and advantages to blogging follow this link.

Here are some blogs written by Wyoming artists. Hope they can serve as inspiration for your blog.

Alan O'Hashi - A film production artist from Wyoming Community Media.

Detail of "Entangled Worlds" by
Doug Russell

Felicia Follum Art + Design Blog - University of Wyoming student who creates social justice artwork.

Wyoming Arts Council - A great site that keeps Wyoming Artists updated with Wyoming art events.

What other Wyoming art blogs are you familiar with? Please share them below or on our Facebook page!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Our Surprise Workshop Leader

In a previous post about Shameless Self-Promotion we announced that WOW will be hosing a special guest. Here is a little bit more about Alyson B. Stanfield, The Art Biz Coach.

Alyson began consulting with artists informally in the early 1990s in her role as a museum curator.

When she left museums, her old artist-friends approached her for help and advice. Everyone wanted an agent! A little research into that field led Alyson to conclude that she wouldn't be doing artists any favors by doing all of the work for them.

Instead, she decided to teach artists the skills they need for a successful career. She's so good at teaching the "correct" way to do things that her friend calls her "The Martha Stewart of the Art Business."

Almost everything Alyson teaches artists to do, she's doing herself for her business. Alyson was an early adopter of blogging, Facebook, and Twitter, while still stressing the "old-fashioned" import of writing handwritten notes and building personal relationships.

Alyson talks with with workshop participants
at workshop in Philadelphia.
Photo by John Pitman Photography.

In a world spinning with new technologies and ideas, Alyson does her best to stay on top of marketing, business, and art world goings-on.

Alyson's work is deeply affected by her ten years in the art museum--affected in a way that really helps her clients. She has loads of experience working with collectors as well as the general art-viewing public. That means she know how people interact with art, how they approach it, what they fear, and how we can educate them and alleviate their fears. When Alyson works with a client, she uses this knowledge to shape the presentation of their work.

Alyson's Book

Clients also benefit from Alyson's experience working in the U.S. Senate in Washington. She says she learned from THE BEST politician around. She knows how to form and nurture authentic relationships to get results.

Alyson has a B.A. in art history from the University of Oklahoma and, following her stint in Washington, an M.A. in art history from the University of Texas at Austin.

Alyson lives in Golden, Colorado. Outside her office windows is a view of a mesa. Across the way is another view: the Rocky Mountain foothills. When she's not behind her computer or looking at art, you can probably find Alyson hiking, digging in the dirt, or experimenting in the kitchen.

For more information about the workshop check out the WOW website.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Round Table Meetings for Small Businesses

Round Table meeting discussing Pitch Engine.

The Wyoming Women's Business Center sponsors monthly round table lunch meetings in communities around the state to help those with small business network and learn from each other and an expert on the given topic. All interested parties are welcome; you do not need to own a business to participate. These meetings cover a large variety of topics relevant to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and artists.

Artists looking to turn their artwork into a career can benefit from these meetings by learning about tracking their work, income and sales through databases such as Quick Books as well as promoting their work using online and social media resources like Pitch Engine. In addition to business education, these events are another excellent opportunity for small businesses to network with other artists, business people, and community members.busines
Round table meetings are currently held in Casper, Cody, Laramie, Powell and Jackson. Please contact us for more information and locations we may have expanded into.

You can email or call WOW at 307.742.6574. Contact the business center via email or call 307.460.3943 for more information.

Monday, March 12, 2012

WOW’s top ten Shameless Self-Promotion Blog Posts

WOW's main goal is to help you develop your art into a professional business. Here is a list of 13 of WOW's self-promotion tips and secrets from previous blog posts. We hope this will prepare you for a special event that will be taking place on Saturday June 23...

Facebook
Why to Have a Facebook Business Page
Who to Follow on Facebook
Facebook Efficiency

Blogs
Why to Start a Blog
Tips for Better Blogs
Easiest Mistake to Avoid

Miscellaneous

Alternative Art Venues

DO's and DONT's for holiday Marketing and more Facebook Marketing Tips (not just relevant for the holidays)

Help With Social Media Marketing

How to Go Viral

Photographing your Work

Consistency

To learn more about shameless self-promotion be sure to join WOW and a very special guest (we are going to make you wait to find out who). Be sure to follow our blog, call WOW at 307.742.6574, or visit us on Facebook to learn more about this special guest.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Excellent Art Pages on FB

Bethel Anthony's updated Facebook page

In addition to Works of Wyoming's Facebook page here are some other pages you should also be following. If would like to be able to find them in the mess of all the other Facebook posts, create a list. Here's how.

Urban Sketchers - Sketching across America
Art Biz Coach - Wonderful business of art tips (keep an eye out for an upcoming workshop taught by the Art Bis Coach)
Fine Art Tips - More art tips

Image from Heather Storey's Art Page

ThreadBanger - DIY and Upcycling projects
Chronicles of an Afro Art Nerd - An art historian who graduated from the University of Wyoming.

Social Media
Social Media Mashable - Social media marketing tips and facts

WOW Artists With Active Facebook pages

Bethel's Beads
Felicia Follum
Heather Storey
Denise Patton
Yoga Oasis

Who do you follow? What type of inspiration, advice or encouragement do they offer? Let us know in the comments below. For more help with social media marketing be sure to give WOW a call at 307.742.6574.