Artist As Entrepreneur Boot Camp Part One: Program Summary

First of all: 
This experience was invaluable to my artistic career. 
I had gone into this boot camp hoping to find a sense of direction for Wild at Heart, I have found so much more than that. I have more confidence in my abilities, awareness of what my position is, new and positive friendships, and support from the organizers should I need it in the future. I will write this post as a summary of my experiences. My action plan will come soon after.

Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp was organized and presented by The New York State Council on the Arts and Arts Services Initiative of Western New York INC.

ASI

NYFA

Schedule and Summary

10/20/16: I left straight from work on Thursday to kick off the Boot Camp and meet my fellow artists. I had been looking forward to his camp for over a month a this point. I was so nervous when the day arrived though! It was like going back to school all over again. (Daemen College is a lovely campus and I enjoyed my time spent there.)

Once I arrived I was welcomed by so many smiling faces and immediately found myself in conversation with new friends.The representatives for The New York State Council on the Arts and Arts Services Initiative of Western new York INC presented the boot camp and we got our introductions underway. There were a variety of disciplines in our student group. We had dancers, painters, poets, musicians, visual artists, sculptors and craftsmen.

We did a SWOT analysis. I found this to be the ice breaker and something that is valuable to do at the end of the program too. The first time I did the analysis I was battling all my responsibilities and desires against each other. I was able to identify a few weaknesses and opportunities. The SWOT analysis is much easier to do at the end of the boot camp.

10/21/16: Friday's schedule included fundraising strategy in the morning and copyright/legal functions in the afternoon.

Fundraising encompassed the world of applying for grants and appealing to donors of other types. My current goals don't necessarily need grants or foundation support but I did pay close attention when it came to private donors. My donor base thus far has been the "Bank of Mom."

 I never thought to seek out donors for other artistic interests such as chalking out of state using crowd funding. An idea I have been stewing on is a chalk festival in Wilson, NY. I now have tools to write a grant should I need to for a project of that size.

The copyright/legal portion of boot camp was presented by attorney, Leslie E. Greenbaum. For a topic that is usually dry, he made each point easy to understand. He used examples of cases he had worked in our industry. There were tips to safeguard our images in social media and to read contracts that involve transferring copyright.

10/22/16: Saturday's schedule included finances with a focus on how they measure up come tax season. Then in the afternoon we went over marketing and promotion.

Finance is not my favorite subject. Taxes are pretty much Greek to me. Our presenter, Elizabeth Friedman, went through tax forms and terms and gave us a fantastic document to refer to when its time to do our taxes. This session was a good kick to the pants on where I stand in business.

Takeaways:

• I am still very much a night and weekend warrior. I am a hobby creator yet to make the leap to business. "In business" is an ongoing material effort-500 hours a year. 
• Get a separate business credit card and checking account-this helps with record keeping.
• On New Year's Day you will shuffle your butt out to the driveway to get the starting mileage number from your car. You can write off mileage on your tax form. 
• Home based businesses can break down utilities into percentages to use as business expense. 
• There is a Freelancer's Union for disability coverage, insurance, and pension plans when you are officially a full time business owner.  Fracturedatlas.org is a good resource for insurance. 

The afternoon session included a panel of industry professionals to discuss promotion and marketing challenges. It was brought up again during this session. Scheduling yourself keeps you consistent. I already thought I was a planner by nature but I now realize that there is room for improvement. 

Takeaways:

• Be selective with your online presence. I chose my 3 to focus on.
• 1. Home Website-I will be using this blog to its full potential as a home website.
• 2. Facebook-Learn how to use my Facebook page and pay for promotional ads or posts.
• 3. Instagram-Sign up and use as an easy share online gallery. Instagram gets far more traffic than Facebook. Each hashtag is an audience. Follow other artists too!
• Set a time limit each week to work on social media postings. 
• Public relations is free, marketing is often not. However, do NOT pay more than $50 for a website there are so many free or under $20 options. Always have full control of your website.
• It is wise to have a landing page for your website. (Doable with Blogger just have to read up on it.)
• Word of Mouth will always be the best advertising channel.
• Iphones have quality cameras and will work if you can't go professional with your photos. 
• Don't underestimate the power of a glossy postcard mailing or hand written thank you cards.
• "Grassroots Press"-Write your event like a news story in the text of an email and send it to a local newspaper. They will more than likely print what you wrote. 

Be who you are and what your art is-be true, basic, consistent and authentic.

10/23/16: Sunday's schedule included 1 on 1 consultations with industry professionals. After the consultations, artists were able to formulate some action plans and bounce ideas off one another in break out groups. We ended the day with a presentation from a former boot camp graduate, D. Chase Angier (performance artist).

My 1 on 1 consultation was with Bruce Adams (no relation) and it was eye opening. Bruce is a visual artist and a big part of the Buffalo arts community. He brought to my attention that I was having an artistic identity crisis. I didn't know what my goal was anymore. I had once dreamed about illustrating children's books full time. I still would like to be a published illustrator but it may take a decade to get there. He put it rather bluntly, "Would you quit your day job and do this full time without promise of a paycheck?"

Hells to the no.

Not a luxury I can afford. Not many can. I have a family and they come first.

So we formulated from there what my priorities could be with what time I have to devote to my art.


Takeaways:

• Sign only my initials and put dates on the back of my work.
• Utilize adds on Facebook-relatively inexpensive
• Teach art classes on the side with local galleries. This can provide additional income and give me that soul satisfaction I get when I work with kids.
• Get my work into galleries! Reach out to a few.
• Sell prints at vendor shows
• Target the niche audience
• Do dogs 100% for business
• Work on your illustration portfolio-get out of my comfort zone
• Find a way to describe your style.This was challenging because I do have a style to my work that is not true realism but is not cartoon-ish. We were both stumped on adjectives. 

We met in groups after lunch and bounced action plan ideas off each other.The afternoon break out groups also had great feedback, one of which I'm totally doing soon-videos.

Takeaways:

• Use 1 medium 
• Film your process and post videos!!!
• Get new business cards-show your work on the front and information on the back.
• Price my work higher-worth the hours put in.
• Frame and mat your work ALWAYS

There are a few artists that gave me some great feedback and ideas. Four ladies in particular had a big impact on me during boot camp.

This beautiful soul is Kara:

She is a dancer striving to hold a space as well as teach classes for adults (16+) who want to learn to dance or meet goals health goals using dance. Check out her business: Free Soul Dance.She told me about Wordpress and recommended that I look into selling my pieces with groomers, vet offices, and specialty stores. The most important thing is what she said to me was when I was feeling a little defeated about letting go of the full time illustrator dream. She told me "its not giving up its giving it time." I will get it off my career bucket list one day but right now I'm giving all I got to something I can do now and enjoy-pet portraits.

Stephanie Dubin and I got to talking about photography. She shared a knowledge gem. You can actually get a Photoshop membership for as little as $9.99 a month. There is also Gimp but I prefer Photoshop. Check out the Adobe Creative Cloud. She gave me a lot of insight on Instagram and resolution. She an incredibly bright and resourceful chick. I can't wait to see what she does. 

Colleen Darby encouraged me to keep the goal of illustration in mind. She worked in the children's book world and has an amazing story. Read here. She recommended that I go to conferences and ask questions and see what I can learn there. My illustration portfolio will need work and I can find out what to add to it.

So I plan on going to a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference. There is one in New York City in February but I may have to wait till 2018. One thing at a time. 

Colleen recommended I get an Ipad to show my work on the spot versus maintaining a photo album. I told her about my my missed chalking opportunity in Sarasota due to budget and she agreed that a Kickstarter campaign is a way to keep my goals with chalk art going. I will be checking in with her in the future.

Rachel Macklin Olszewski manages the NACC. (Niagara Arts and Cultural Center). This girl is so cool. She invited me to see the center and possibly teach there one day. They host a variety of shows in their gallery throughout the year and I plan on entering one or two in 2017. She is a fantastic sounding board when it comes to figuring out problems as a woman with many hats. A trip to the falls to get some Violas and visit the center is sure to come soon.

When the program ended it was a bit jarring. You get to really know these wonderful, creative people and then you don't see them rather suddenly. There are a few I didn't get to know and hopefully will find again in the future.

I already miss my friends Dan, Tony, Jason, Ricardo, and Robert too. 

Thankfully we all want to meet up again! 

I would recommend the Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp to anyone pursuing a creative career. 

Holiday Shopping with Heart Challenge

I know! I know! Halloween has not yet arrived and I'm talking about the holidays. However, experience tells me to start early-especially if you are holiday shopping with heart.

Every year I challenge myself when it comes to the holiday shopping, gift giving, and season of cheer. I'm one of those people who LOVE giving gifts and often struggle with keeping them secret until the day of. It's actually genetic, my Mom is the same way!

I try my best to be conscious with my purchases. I do this year round but the holidays are especially hard. It is easy to shop for the big ticket items and big box retailers like Walmart but those dollars don't always keep giving. So, I present to you holiday shopping with heart.

I have made some modifications to my goals and came up with a new guide to share with you all. I grade myself on percentage of items bought that fall within the following categories. So If I bought 12 items total and 6 of them fit then I got a 50%. I have graded myself on amount spent in the past but the Made with Love category skews that number. My goal this year is 85% of my purchases being in these categories.

Holiday Shopping with Heart Categories:

Made with Love

Gifts made for someone you love are always well received. I use my talents to make gifts for family and friends on a regular basis and will always prefer to do so. I plan on doing a love of made with love gifts this year.

Get crafty and make jewelry, home decor, embellish picture frames, custom portraits, art, ornaments, themed photographs of family, mini scrapbooks of memories, wreaths...there are many things you can make that will be special. You can even upcycle materials! Got a dress with beading that needs to be retired? Take the beads off to use in jewelry. Pinterest is a great resource for ideas.

In this category you may buy supplies from major retailers. This category may also be budget friendly if you make gifts in bulk with design variations or use coupons.

Shop Small

I can't stress the importance of this category enough. When you buy from a small business you could be putting food on the table for a family, even pay for their kid's dance lessons, and keep business in your neighborhood.

If the small business you shop with is local EVEN BETTER. An easy way to shop in this category is to use Etsy and to visit surrounding towns in your area, browse boutiques, and buy gift cards from local mom-and-pop restaurants.

Some personal favorites of mine are:

Rare Bath and Body: Buffalo Based and on Etsy
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RareBathandBody

End of the Road Boutique: Lewiston, NY
https://www.facebook.com/TheEndOfTheRoadBoutique/

Shoppe on Main: Newfane, NY (Support Yours Truly)
https://www.facebook.com/Shoppe-On-Main-167891739894020/?fref=ts

Cheri Amour: Lewiston, NY
http://www.cheriamourgifts.com/

There is the Black Friday madness at all the big box stores. Then there is Small Business Saturday in the same weekend. This year it is November 26th, 2016. A lot of small business will participate and offer discounts. With sites like Etsy you may get twice the opportunity because some will also participate in Cyber Monday.

Made in the USA

In a market flooded with tags reading "Made in China" it can be tough to find products made in the USA. There is the actual Made in America store to shop with and then there are companies that are based in the USA and handle their production here as well.

A personal favorite for my family is Yankee Candle. Companies like Lush, Crayola, Harley Davidson, Kitchenaid, and Burt's Bees area also great places to buy from to achieve this category.

For more info check out these links:
http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/8153-brands-made-in-america.html

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/18/ng-brands-that-are-made-in-america.html?slide=1

Proceeds to Charity Products

When shopping pay attention to products that give a percentage of proceeds to charity. Sometimes big brands that are cosmetics, apparel, and sports gear may have products that do this.

A famous product is Charity Pot first introduced by lush in 2007. 100% of proceeds benefit a variety of charities.

http://www.lushusa.com/article_charitable-giving-at-lush.html

Another company that comes to mind with special cause products is Avon. I know they have several items all year long that benefit certain organizations. Shopping with a consultant also helps get that Shop Small goal done too.

Donate in Honor

There is always that friend or relative that may have everything. What do you give, another trinket that collects dust?

Someone on your gift list may love a donation to an organization or charity that means something to them in lieu of a gift. You can write a little note letting them know you made the donation and have it wrapped in a box like any other gift.

The moment of realization on their face may make your heart swell a little. Not gonna lie. Your heart may grow 3 sizes in one day.

We donated in honor of a family member to Niagara Hospice in the past. It was emotional and perfect.

I was dismayed to not use Amazon but learned a little life hack today. I checked it out and it seemed legit. Someone can let me know if it is as awesome as it sounds. 

If you would like to support this small business artisan, please see my contact me page for pet portraits. I have only 1 to complete by Christmas so the waiting time is short. 

http://wildatheartillustration.blogspot.com/p/contact-me.html

Also, feel free to contact me through Facebook or email if you would like a stamp piece made with your favorite breed or different animal. With enough notice I can make it happen. They are $18 custom if I have to special order an individual stamp. Otherwise, they are $12 each.

There are many ways to make the holidays happy and full of heart. I hope that this post has inspired someone out there to try it out. Wish me luck on my goal of 85%!!! I will write up my report after Christmas. Until then, happy shopping! 

Shoppe On Main-Newfane

I have always imagined my creations for sale in a cute little boutique one day. Seeing my effort, time, and inspired ideas in their tangible form for others to enjoy was a dream come true. It may seem simple and ordinary to others, but for me, this is a sign of success.

Tim and I would talk about my ambitions and I talked about owning my own shop one day which launched into his marriage proposal (effectively throwing me off being that my brain was in business mode). I wanted to have a place that felt like home for mine and other people's art to be shared. I could spend hours browsing over little hand made treasures in shops lining small town roads as it is. For example, Lewiston is one of my favorite places to shop for the holidays. Growing up there was Madison, CT and all the many places in the Finger Lakes.

There is an amazing shop in my little town of Newfane, NY. This shop is a collective of more than 50 local artists. I met with Sue, the owner of Shoppe on Main, on October 8th and I got the contract to rent space in her shop. She loved the stamp pieces and my pastel works! I made plans with her to set up my stamps on my shelf and she would display "Handsome the Reindeer" throughout the holiday shopping season as well.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shoppe-On-Main-167891739894020/about/
Website: http://shoppeonmain.com/

Seriously, the prettiest horse jewelry I have ever seen.

I am a sucker for Native American black and white art too. The whole southwestern, earthy and eclectic style has been my thing. So all of this was had me going "Eeeee!"

  

(Sorry about the glare-cell phone shots)

There was a lot of vintage accessories and wood works around the shop too.

Then you see my dogs stamps!!!

 

 I hope that this relationship with Shoppe on Main leads to a profitable and positive movement forward for Wild at Heart Illustration. 

Come do some shopping in my neck of the woods and ask me if you don't see your favorite breed-there are more to come before the holidays and I may have some at home or in the works already. 

Stamp pieces are $12.00

"Handsome the Reindeer" (Original oil pastel drawing in distressed black frame-18x24 inches) $140

I will write again soon about my holiday shopping mission. Thank you for supporting Wild at Heart Illustration!

Hello October

Hello, October! I have been waiting for you. 

What is on my drawing desk? The 18x24 oil pastel piece of Tim Burton's Cheshire Cat. It is in the "stare and tweak" stage. It feels so close to being done but I probably have another 8 hours of work to give it all the creative juice I got. I plan on selling it locally. Not sure where yet but some friends have mentioned a few places.

What is in my planning queue in my brain? 1. Encouragement cards with my own illustrations. I have done the research for a couple companies that accept submissions. 2. Picking poems to make my own illustrations for-working those creative muscles a bit more.

What is already in the works? I have attended my first PTA meeting...as a volunteer (Jackie is 10 months we got time) I will be helping out with artistic family fun nights for my old school district: Wilson Central Schools. I am a big believer in community outreach and giving back.

Where am I with my vintage stamp creations? I have about 30 already completed and ready to sell. I'm waiting on opening my Etsy shop until after the NYFA Bootcamp is complete. However, exciting news...

My vintage stamp pieces will be for sale in the Shoppe on Main (Newfane, NY) 

Check them out!!! I wanted to buy just about everything in there. I'm always blown away by other creative minds. Truly special goods. Consider shopping for holiday gifts there if you are in the Niagara Region. I will be sure to post more about it in the coming week as I set up my space. Here is the link for the website:
http://www.shoppeonmain.com/

Oh yes, the holidays are coming. I am planning on not waiting til last minute for my purchases and like in years past will have my Shop Small, Local, or Made with Love.

My Handsome the Reindeer will also be for sale just in time for the holidays in the Shoppe on Main. 

OK, so other reasons to love October...

It is the month of my birthday.

Halloween (one of the best holidays ever and also Jackie's first)

Fall Fest-annual get together where I get to drink wine and love my friends and get pumpkin crafty.

Nature is so inspiring at this time of year. The colors are magnificent. 

I am partial to the orange and red maples though.

Pumpkin spice lattes-a rare treat that I shamelessly enjoy.

I get to wear my riding/cowboy boots and sweaters. I'm fair and have ancestral ties to Northern Europe the heat is not always my friend. The cooler weather is a relief.

This year-the boot camp to hone some entrepreneur skills is the highlight of my month. I can't wait!!!

Ah, October I have been waiting for  you and am so happy your are here.