Bob Ragland Art Career Coach

Paintings and sculpture are a record of a people. It seems some people don't understand that idea. Some of our national parks were the subjects of many paintings in the early 1900's. Those works of art are visual records of a time past. Artists to this day, are painting subjects that won't always be present for people to see. Thomas Moran was an artist that helped to get  Yellowstone Park established as one of the first nation parks. Art is not just decoration , it is a record. 

I have some small paintings that fit in a shoe box.  In this current economy, I plan to show these small original works in some of my buyers homes. Kinda like a Tupper Ware party. I will price these works under $125.  I have to be recession resistant, this will be a good way to do it.

I read that the Obamas plan to open up the White House to poets and musicians. 

I hope the White House will make painters and sculptors part of the events that take place in that venue. It seems that the visual artist doesn't get as much recognition as the performing artist. If  painters and sculptors get some recognition from the the Obamas, it will help an  underserved artistic discipline. In my opinion.

Real artists always take resposibilty for their own well being. When I hear an artist say they haven't sold anything for awhile, I wonder what they have done to help themselves sell something. People do not wake up and say they are going to find an artist to spend some money with. At least most of the time. Sad but true. Real artists market as though their very lives depend on it and believe it or not, their art lives do depend on getting some money to continue making art. Responsibility matters for successful art lives. See my advice at www.readfive.com-issue 12.

People who start and build museums are very cool people in my opinion. I always am grateful that these people exist or did at one time. The fact that someone had the courage and the forsight to collect works of art and art objects for us all to see is wonderous. I visit museums at every opportunity. In this time and age of negative news , it's always a great escape to visit a
museum, this gives me a chance to be some where else for awhile. I went to the Leanin' Tree Museum of Wester Art yesterday ,it's outside of Boulder Colorado, the museum was started as result of the founder finding artist's work to be published on greeting cards. I spent about two hours in the museum. It was a very good and educational experience. Hats off to Mr. Ed Trumble founder of the Leanin' Tree Museum. I will visit it again soon.

Over the spring break, I went to one of my favorite states, New Mexico. I had a great research trip in Taos and Santa Fe. I go to galleries to look and to see what I can do better in my city of Denver. My art life ain't too bad in Denver, because I take charge of it. I market as if my art life depends on it, and it does. I found acres of well made art in New Mexico, the thing I didn't see in galleries, except one was, terms available signs. I think galleries lose business to new people if the payment plan data is not posted. I come across NEW people to art on a regular basis, who do not know that art can be purchased on the time payment plan. Many gallery people say that they tell people about the e-z pay plan. I wonder what they do when there's a bunch of people in the gallery at one time? Payment plans need to be posted, that way new people won't be shy about asking. The end result is, the gallery makes money and the artist does also. I just had to get this off my brain. This trip was very special, I am energized. No art,no life.

I learned early that if I wanted to heat and eat from my artistic effort, I'd better learn the basics about selling my work. I have put together a good set of tools to be able to live the kind of art life I want. I treat marketing and promotion the same way I make a work of art, it's always a work in progress. I shape it, correct it until I get what I want from it. The financially successful artists I know, are very good at the promoting and selling part of their art life.Even as I am writing this , I realize that some one some where is marketing their art. The artist that doesn't want to do the business part of their art careers, makes it better for those of us who do.