Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Shameless Self-Promotion Workshop

Alyson B. Stanfield will be leading a workshop on shameless self-promotion on Saturday June 23rd. For more information on Alyson, check out her website, blog, or our recent posts.  To learn more about this workshop registration and payment visit WorksofWyoming.org.

This all day event will cover topics such as

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
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.

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.

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."

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.

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

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.

Monday, March 5, 2012

About the Instructor for our Next Art Class

This drawing was created by the Amalie Baker using the
technique she will be teaching on March 10.
Our next art class will be held on March 10 from 1 - 3pm.  To learn more about the class give WOW a call at 307.742.6574.


Bio


Amalie Baker is a Wyoming artist who focuses on the portrait. She has a beautiful style that has developed through a process of breaking down shapes and color within the subject. Her paintings are inspired by her many travels as a mural painter.
Amalie’s murals and paintings are internationally and nationally known. Her murals can be found in Trinidad, Tobago, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, South Africa, West Africa, Dominican Republic, and Haiti as well as various locations in the United States including Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, Scotts Bluff, and Wisconsin.

Teaching Experience

While Amalie was the executive director, founder and job site manager for Aniimae, a non-profit organization devoted to giving people a voice though the painting of murals, she had many opportunities to teach those around her everything from the basics to the intricacies of mural painting. She has also taught at Eastern Wyoming College and taken on students through private art lessons.

Education

Powell Northwest Wyoming
    Associates in Graphic Design
Bethel University
    B.F.A. in Fine Art (emphasis Painting and Graphic Design)
    B.F.A. in Art History
    Minor in Theology

Thursday, March 1, 2012

"Creating a Portrait" Fun Art Class!!

One of Amalie's paintings
 in the style we will be learning.
On March 10 from 1-3 pm we will be hosting another life drawing class. This class is in conjunction with our Figure Show. 10$ Registration

About the Class

The objective of this class will be to teach a unique technique for creating a portrait. There are many schools of thought on how to draw or paint. This technique involves building the initial drawing based on building up shape upon shape of light. It requires you to trust your eye with intense observation of light and shadow. Then you add your medium of choice to the initial drawing.

Materials for the Workshop


Please bring the drawing materials you are the most comfortable working with. Ink, watercolor, paints, colored pencils or pen are some possibilities.
Also bring 2 – 3 images to work from. The photo should possess high contrast.


Experience Level


All experience levels welcome.

Works of Wyoming is located on the second floor of the Laramie Plains Civic Center.  To get here park on 7th and Garfield and go up the stairs.  You can call us at 307.742.6574.  To learn more about Amalie, keep a lookout on this blog and on Facebook.