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.

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.

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

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

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.

Get Answers about Self-Promo

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.


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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.