The Highs and Lows of my 2011 year:

1.) I RESOLVE TO PROMOTE MYSELF SHAMELESSLY.  (Those of you who read my blogs, encountered me on Facebook and Twitter know this is true! :) I also handed out many business cards and postcards during 2011.

2.) I RESOLVE TO CULTIVATE A GREAT WEBSITE. Well, it’s great website to me! My wonderful webmaster son and I spent an enormous amount of time on it, updating it!

(© 2011 Indigene Theresa Gaskin – Frontview of my 2011 journals).

3.) I RESOLVE TO CONTINUE OPERATING WITH COMPLETE INTEGRITY.  This was done a 100% of the time and gave me great satisfaction, since this is one of my values, to act and serve with integrity!

4.) I RESOLVE TO CONTINUE EDUCATING MYSELF IN THE BUSINESS OF ART. I did this through workshops on and off-line! I made it through 9 workshops this year and in the midst of completing the last one now! I’ve read over (120) books this year, with thirty (30) of them being about art business and marketing (My bookstore receipts state I’ve purchased about 250 books, I still haven’t read them all yet)!

5.) I RESOLVE TO CONTINUE CONNECTING WITH OTHERS AND SHARE INFORMATION. I joined a guild and participated in meetings and continue to mentor others.  This was really big for me, since I am incredibly introverted and enjoy my solitude greatly!  These were all the resolutions I made in the new year of 2011 : (See http://indigeneart.com/happy-new-year-happy-birthday-to-me/)

Additional highlights included winning an award in arts and culture and participating in (2) Art Fairs!

So I feel so incredibly wonderful that I accomplished all my resolutions and lived in true abundance that I gained this year.

(© 2011 Indigene Theresa Gaskin – sideview of all my journals completed in from 2011)

Wonderful highs, also come with lows. The lowest points of 2011 and which will make 2011, unforgettable is that I lost my Mom (August 22) and my sister, Renee (June 27). I can honestly say that I have been in the abyss and on the mountaintop in 2011. I was blessed with the abundance of kindness from strangers and family. The outpouring of love from my internet friends still continue to overwhelm me and kept me held in the abundance of hope and warmth.  I learned so much from this heartbreaking ordeal and I still continue to learn from it. I realized what true friendship meant during this time.

So, 2011 brought me a fire of grief, a rainstorm of love and true growth and will never, ever be forgotten by me.

So with the old year, only a few hours left, I wish you all a very, wonderful, peaceful, spectacular, loving, prosperous, healthy and loving New Year!

I will see you in the New Year, with my intentions and resolutions and I hope to see yours as well! :) Peace to you and yours.

Are you confused about social media?

Do you understand how Twitter and Facebook can help you promote your art?

Do you think social media is just a big waste of time?

MAJOR HELP IS ON THE WAY!

Alyson Stanfield, author of “I’d Rather Be in the Studio: The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion,” is coming to Philadelphia for a one-day-only workshop to help us sort out the benefits (and pitfalls) of social media.

SOCIAL MEDIA IMMERSION

PHILADELPHIA, PA

NOVEMBER 5, 2011

http://artbizcoach.com/philly

For one whole day (November 5) we’ll eat, breathe, and sleep Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and maybe some Google+ before then.

This is NOT a “how to get started on social media” workshop.

This is for people with existing social media accounts and blogs.

If you’re ready to take your online presence to the next level, please join me in at this workshop.

. . . Only 60 seats are available! . . .

People are signing up already and Alyson expects it to sell out.

The price for this 1-day event is only $127 right now and includes lunch.

(Price goes up to $157 after September 27.)

Everything you need to know is at http://artbizcoach.com/philly

We’re going to have FUN. You’re going to be part of a wonderful, social (hey, it isn’t called “social media” for  nothing) Saturday. I hope you’ll follow up on this soon and reserve your spot.

P.S. I’m promoting this because I think it will be informative, fun and great!!! I hope to see you there.

As an artist and entrepreneur, I am always looking at unique and successful strategies to promote my art. (Yes, we artists, need to work and promote our art, just like anyone else, trying to financially support themselves in this world, imagine that).

So imagine my delight when I met amazing artist, coach and consultant, Kesha Bruce. Kesha. She is one of those individuals who’s enthusiasm and no-nonsense approach to promoting one’s art is contagious. Kesha’s consultation on my self promotion has been rewarding and successful!

I wanted to give my blog readers, some new ideas and concepts on how artists  promote their art, especially around the concept of galleries. I got a chance to pin this busy woman down, for a little Q&A and what’s happening new in her world.

Me: I find that there is a comfort factor for people, if they have some background info, so what’s yours?

Kesha: I was born and raised in Iowa. I left the mid-west to seek my fortune in the big city of New York, after studying art at the University of Iowa. I finished my MFA in Painting at Hunter College in 2001 and I’ve been working ever since.  It hasn’t been an easy road, to say the least.  I had to figure a lot of things out by trial and error.  That’s part of the reason I decided to become a consultant for other artists.

Me: How did you come up with the concept for your gallery Baang and Burne Contemporary?

Kesha: To be honest, Baang and Burne was born completely by accident.  A couple years ago, I was in New York for work and my friend and artist Charlie Grosso and I started having one of our long conversations about art, careers, and selling and just general things about the business of art.   By the end of the evening we had decided that instead of talking and wishing that things would change, that we should actually do something to contribute to changing the way art is bought and sold.  We produced our first event six weeks later.

Me: What’s 6×6 all about and why do artists need it?

Kesha: Basically 6×6 is the answer to the question:  What if there were no more art galleries?  The answer, of course, is that if there were no more art galleries, artists would have to take complete control over their careers by creating their own opportunities and ways to market and sell their work. All of the programming events that will take place during 6×6 are about exactly that.

Plus, for artists that aren’t able to actually come to the events we’re going to take the video footage, workshop notes, and podcast recordings and package it all up into an affordable, easily downloadable, step-by-step DIY guide to how independent artists can take all of the tools we used to produce and plan 6×6 and re-create their own exhibitions, festivals, or creative events in their own communities—no matter where they may be located.

Me: What are the nuts and bolts of this concept?  How would you recommend a group of artists start this process?

Kesha: Well I would simply start by getting together with other artists and figuring out one common goal. The goal could be to stage an exhibition. It could be to organize a fundraiser, or even to plan a series of workshops in their community.  The key idea is to work together to share not only responsibilities and tasks but ideas. Ideas are powerful!  Artists can work together to create something that not only benefits the artists involved, but that contributes to the greater artists community. I say this all the time, because it’s true: When a small army of creative people get together–magic happens.

To read Kesha’s weekly articles on art, art marketing, and creativity and to download a free copy of her guide “The 5 Step Art Career Make-Over” visit www.KeshaBrucestudio.com.

If You Want Something Done Right, Do It Yourself: Click Here.

Web: http://www.KeshaBruce.com
Blog: http://www.KeshaBrucestudio.com

Gallery: http://BaangandBurne.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KeshaBruce

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KeshaBruce

I have something very special to share, so stay-tuned for my wonderful unveiling on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 AM!

I’m excited!

Ciao, until then!

P.S. Once again, THANK YOU and an amazing and heartfelt hug to all of you for your cards, comments, thoughts, support and time.

My instinct is to help, so in addition to my donation to the Red Cross, to help the survivors in Japan, I am donating proceeds from the sales of this image from Fine Art America to the Red Cross.

Please go to:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/moon-howl-indigene-theresa-gaskin.html to purchase a print  or card.

Devastation stirs up great emotions and sometimes all you can do is, howl. Thank you in advance for your help and support in advance.

Offered in Peace and Prayers.

I posed my question of  “How do you choose what online seminars and webinars to pay for? Do they work? Or do they just make money for the presenters?” I knew that this year, I needed more information on my next steps in my art world! As usual, when we ask a question, we want a quick answers, not thinking that, when I’m posed a question, I think before answering. Here is a wonderful different approach!

Maria Brophy, a fabulous art coach, featured my questions, in regard to:

Webinars Coaches and Seminars – Are They Worth the Money?”

I’m glad that Maria Brophy chose to answer my question, too. It gives credence to the fact that there are great answers out there and as the questioner, you need to get as much sound advice as possible to make the best decision for you. I love Maria’s direct honest, no nonsense approach! Both coaches gave me good and solid advice. As I move forward this year in making my resolutions real, I will be able to make great choices!

Maria Brophy is a wonderful coach, she is the marketing guru for the success “Son of the Sea” Artist Drew Brophy, whose work is world renown in those tropical places we all love! You can find Drew’s art at beautiful beaches around the world! Maria’s incredible insight is a value to all artists! It is worth your time to invest in a visit to Maria’s website.

So artists, business entrepreneurs and friends, I have now garnered more answers, so I encouraged you to look deep for your marketing answers, because there are some wonderful people out there to help you navigate those sometimes shark-infested waters. Thank you Maria for all your help!

I posed a question, to which,  Alyson B. Stanfield, “ArtBiz Coach” and author of “I’d Rather Be In the Studio!” answered with value added.

My question: How do you choose what online seminars and webinars to pay for? Do they work? Or do they just make money for the presenters?

Read Alyson’s Answer here:  http://www.artbizblog.com/2011/01/learning-experiences.html#comment-35566

This thing called life is such an adventure, I Love It!

It is wonderful to share the same ideal with Indigene Community, which is understanding heritage can give us the tools to move forward in our lives and in our communities. At Indigene Community art is featured for recalling primary human values.  Indigene Community will be featuring me as the first artist to their Indigene Community website!

Here’s the link to my work:  https://sites.google.com/site/indigenecommunity/e-history/6-indigene-community-art

For more information on this new and exciting program, Indigene Community, contact Project Coordinator Douglas Jack, douglasf.jack@gmail.com

(Please note that Indigene Community is an information heavy website).

I am focused on: “The Healing Power of Art!”

“Art has and continues to illuminate me, through creating, sharing; meeting with others to view it, inspire, affirm and celebrate. Creating art lights my path to soul revival. It has nurtured me and help me understand myself, therefore giving me the capacity to understand others.  It is the physical peace in my storms”

Manhattan Arts International’s “Celebrate The Healing Power of Art 2010″ is based on the belief that Art is a natural force that promotes health and well-being for the creator as well as the viewer. Renee Phillips, Director of Manhattan Arts International, is organizing an online exhibition of positive art that uplifts the spirit, plus collaboration with others who share this belief. Interviews and articles reflect the contributions of Art & Healing leaders and causes.

Website: www.ManhattanArts.com

Blog: http://HealingPowerofArt.blogspot.com

After being confined to bed for a bit in December, the excitement of the holidays, returning from visiting my son in Arizona for Christmas, even more excitement awaited me upon my return to blog land!

I am delighted to be the featured artist at the Manhattan Arts International – “Celebrate Herstory” for the month of January.

http://manhattanartsherstory.blogspot.com

What a wonderful New Year’s Gift and not to mentioned birthday gift as well, this youngster (me) celebrated my 51st birthday on January 1, 2010!

This year promises bigger, better, wonderful, joy and amazing friendships!

I wish this for all and always in peace!

Manhattan Arts International HerStory Online Exhibition

The purpose of “Celebrate HerStory” is to offer winning artists international exposure for art created related to the chosen theme. This online exhibition features more than 40 extraordinary artists from around the world in a range of media.