Making the Transition

Well, we have survived my son's first week of kindergarten. We only had one glitch the first day, he missed the bus home. Other than that everything has been going very well. I'm more relaxed too. It's easier managing one child at a time. As far as I know, Evan is enjoying Kindergarten. I ask him, "What did you do today?" and he replies "I don't know? Why do you keep asking?". At least he's not complaining, right?

I spent last week simmering, getting a feel for my new schedule and thinking about schedules and what to accomplish on what days. After taking Part A of Make Art That Sells and participating in The Global Talent Search I realized I have a long way to go in building this career. I have a good grasp on creating art. I need to learn how to adapt it to licensing. I knew I wasn't going to be in the top 50 (I'm pretending I made the top 100) of GTS and I think I would've had a panic attack if I did end up as a finalist. I am so not ready to meet the demands of licensing. I really need a Monday - Friday schedule free of kids to be a full time artist. Right now I need the flexibility to drop what I'm doing if I have to. Caitlyn is only in school twice a week and at Nana's a couple times a week. I also suffer from migraines which will knock me right out. So, the next twelve months will be about building my business and portfolio.

I made a brief list of things I feel I need to do in the next 12 months. I'm analyzing my schedule to determine what days are best for creating art, building my business and learning Photoshop and Illustrator. When Caitlyn is at Nana's I have a huge chunk of time to work so, I'm leaning towards those days being dedicated to art making. Caitlyn's preschool days give me over 2 hours of kid free time so, those may be business or uninterrupted learning time. The next twelve months are going to be about discipline too. I am terrible at planning my week and setting goals. I've got to be better at that! Maybe I need to add that to my list of "things to do".

I did accomplish one thing on my list and I'm not referring to buying packing supplies. I opened an Etsy shop! I'm polishing it up and filling the shelves. I still have my Fine Art America store for prints shipping outside the U.S. I will only be shipping within the U.S. with Etsy for now. Fine Art America will also matte and frame prints if that is what you desire. I won't be doing that in the Etsy shop. Etsy will be signed prints and original paintigs Please, visit it often! Make me a favorite. I'll be adding things each week!

Here is the link for my Etsy shop!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LyndaMMetcalf

And here is also the link for my Facebook Page. Another goal of mine is to utilize Facebook more in showing works in progress and promoting new work. If you like my page you will be updated on new happenings!

https://www.facebook.com/Lyndammetcalf.artist

Thank you so much for stopping by. I appreciate all my readers who follow me. Taking Make Art That Sells has really changed my attitude towards my business. I am motivated and excited about it. I hope more and more people will come along for the ride. I love sharing this journey with you!

 

P.S. If you are serious about your art and want to build your business, I highly, highly recommend Make Art That Sells. The class I took has an awesome Facebook group and Lilla Rogers is an inspiring teacher. I am sure all future runs of the class are going to be as exciting as the first run. Lilla is filled with excitement for part B (you don't need to take Part A first) and may have other things in the works down the road. It is the best investment I have made for my art and my business.

 

Posted with Blogsy

When the Universe Speaks....

In a previous post I briefly touched on having the February Blues. Well, to be honest, February was a crummy month. I went into it with a lot of energy and then I got sick with a morphing cold (it kept changing into other illnesses). And if that wasn't enough to suck the creative juices out of me, I had to give up the Sugar & Spice Art Retreat I was planning to attend this summer. Life threw some unexpected expenses our way, so I had little choice in the matter. I was (and still am) bummed about it. I had been planning on going since I had first heard about it last year. You know how life is though. It throws things at you just to see how you are going to deal with it.

So, I wallowed a bit. It's okay to sit in the sadness for a little while. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I have a family that doesn't want to sit in the sad with me so, I needed to pull myself out. Over a few days that's exactly what happened.

First, I read this great article about artist Cori Dantini in the March/April issue of Somerset Studio. She doesn't write out business plans, she just works. I'm not one for planning so this really intrigued me. Cori does art shows, has a successful Etsy shop and is a licensed artist. Her story for me is not about magic or luck but more about doing what you love and being open to the possibilities and opportunities. I decided after reading this that's what I need to do. Create, create and create some more and put my work out there. Cori does goals instead o a business plan. I can do goals. Cori has deadlines. I can do deadlines.

Here is Cori Dantini's art on the cover of the current issue of Somerset Studio.

The next thing I did was write a to my art friends in my True Free Spirit class about the "funk" I was in. These ladies are so awesome. They poured out ideas and support. I felt like I was getting a great big virtual hug. Talking to people about your heartaches can be so helpful. I also tried not to be "Oh, woe is me" about it either. I asked for help and solutions and these gals totally stepped up.

The following day my husband asked a question over breakfast. "How do you see yourself in your business?"

It didn't take long to answer. "I see myself working from home and eventually teaching in cool places when the kids are older."

Then he asked how I can make money from home and somehow licensing came up (probably the Cori Dantini article). From there the topic of Lilla Rogers' new licensing e-course came up. I had previously dismissed this course because of the art retreat. He and I talked about it, researched it and Lilla Rogers (a very successful licensing agent/artist) and I've signed up for course. That day I ran out and bought Lilla's book and read it over the weekend. Her approach speaks to me. She's not about "make art that sells by sacrificing your style". She's about "make your art and see how you can make it work in the market place".

Lilla Rogers book, I Just Like to Make Things

Her e-course is Make Art That Sells

All these little things that happened over the first few days of March have totally re-energized me. I'm scanning art into my computer to get prints done and open a shop in April. I'm working on paintings because I may have my art displayed in my beauty salon (they participate in a neighboring town's art scene). I'm working on learning Photoshop Elements to spruce up my blog and perhaps creat original art. I'm carrying a planner around to write goals for the week and month. I'm not creating a business plan. I'm figuring out things I need/want to do and putting in a deadline. It's all very exciting.

I know it still stinks that I had to give up the retreat but I also know I will meet the artists and friends attending it in the future. My goal for the year is to focus on my business. I guess the Universe is guiding me to do that.

Some original cardboard art of mine.

Adorable Dog

 

Have a wonderful day! Go create something!

 

Posted with Blogsy

My "One Little Word" for 2013

The New Year has arrived and its time to make resolutions! I'm not a fan of resolutions. I think few people succeed. The resolution is either too broad or too difficult. I like the "One Little Word" concept. You choose a word and you let that be your guide/focus for the year.

Last year was about "creating" and developing my artistic voice. This year I want it to be about my business. One thing I'm terrible with is being disciplined. I know that in order to build my business I have to be disciplined and focused. I don't have a manager giving me deadlines and goals. I am the manager. But "discipline" is such an unromantic word. My artistic friends are choosing word like "soar" and "bliss". So, I turned to the Internet and a synonym finder, plugged in "discipline" and found "to grow".

The lightbulb went off and I thought "grow"! That's perfect!

 

"Grow" is the perfect word for me because I can apply it to all the aspects of my life I want to improve in 2013.

Grow my business.

Grow artistically.

Grow healthy.

Help my children grow.

Grow organized.

How will I apply this word into my daily life? I believe it's about choices and asking myself the question,

"If I choose this will it help me grow?"

What's your word?

 

In 2011 I took Kelly Rae Roberts' Flying Lessons and made lasting friendships with many creative women. We refer to ourselves as "The Fly Tribe". We continue to inspire and support each other every day even though the e-course ended long ago. Want to see what words my artist friends have chosen? Just click the link below and explore their blogs.

 

Posted with Blogsy