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

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?

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?

Top 10 Art Biz Blog Posts

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

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.

Just to wet you appetite I thought I would share some of my favorite blog posts from the Art Biz Coach.

1. Questioning Strategies to Engage your Viewers
2. Words to Avoid in your Artist Statement
3. Create Action Shots for your Art Website
4. 11 Fast Website or Blog Fixes
5. How to Place Older Art on Your Website
6. E-Marketing Strategies
7. 4 Tips to Create a Brochure for your Art
8. Use Your Name and when not to use your name
9. Stop, Then Get Things Done
10. Say "No" with Grace

WOW is a professional development center for artists and we are excited to be sponsoring the Shameless Self-Promotion workshop.  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.

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.