This weekend I was at the Porcelain Convention in San Diego learning throwing and surface decoration techniques from 4 celebrated ceramic artists. I took a lot of notes on tips and tricks and jotted reminders to try the new things I was learning.
Going to a conference this like gives you a creative boost and inspires you Read the rest of this entry »
There is a moment in the creative process when you know what the end result is going to be no matter what you do. With ceramics, this moment sometimes comes early (the piece is perfect in every way), but often occurs when you open the kiln; especially when you have taken a chance on a new technique. A good piece can go bad and/or ugly during the firing, breaking your heart.
Recently I made 60+ round ornaments. They were perfect, but something went horribly wrong Read the rest of this entry »
I admit it, I regularly lack inspiration. And, I don’t know about you but when I lack inspiration, I think about quitting. The problem is quitting is not an option for me. Letting go of things that are no longer working for me, yes. But not quitting. What’s the difference? It’s really a mind-set shift. Quitting is about giving something up all together. Whereas, letting go gives you the ability to safely transition into something more inspired.
So, back to finding inspiration when it’s just not there. More often than not, if I just start a task, I will find inspiration waiting for me around the first corner, saying “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you.” Read the rest of this entry »
Imagine you are in a box and you are trying to get out. Because of my theatre training, in my mind I am already pantomiming (with white gloves) the four walls. So, you are stuck in this box looking for a way out. What you fail to notice is that there is no top on the box, so you could easily climb out.
The same is true for selling our art. We as artists are stuck in a box Read the rest of this entry »
It’s that time of the year . . . apple picking season. It’s one of my favorite times of year because I have an apple tree in my yard that produces enough apples for me to not have to buy from the store for several months. I love apples and eat one almost every day. Occasionally, I switch it up with another fruit, but apples are mainstay in my diet. I personally prefer sweet/tart apples like Fuji or Pink Lady and luckily I have a variety of Fuji producing an abundance of flavorful apples right outside my door. My friend calls them “Jolly Rancher Apples” because they really do taste just like the candy.
When I moved into the house and the tree started producing, I had to learn Read the rest of this entry »
Avast! As I write this article, on Sunday, September 19, 2010, it is the International “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” I could attempt to continue writing in pirate speak; however, I’m going to walk the plank and tell you how I’ve successfully used holidays in my marketing messages over the past couple of years.
First, how did I know that it is “Talk Like a Pirate Day”? It’s actually on my desk calendar. I also regularly consult the Brownie Locks (www.brownielocks.com) website which lists all known and sometime very obscure holidays; including month and week celebrations. Read the rest of this entry »
There is an old saying about getting a job (especially in Los Angeles), that it’s not what you know, but who you know. Well, this is true not only in getting a job but also in getting and keeping customers. Success (rather than, guilt) by association. If you know or have met a “celebrity,” somehow your “status” goes up. And you don’t really need to “know” the celebrity. You just have to story or photo linking you to them.
I have literally physically bumped into Jay Leno, not once – but twice. Of course he apologized when it was clearly my fault (I can be a bit of a klutz). The first time was at Virgin Records on Sunset Strip. Read the rest of this entry »
I was a production/directing theatre major and as part of my education, I had to go out on stage. One time I was sent out in a full beard as Polonius in Hamlet, but that’s a story for another time. I hated being on stage, because like 90% of the population, I had stage fright. What if the audience thought I wasn’t good enough or I forgot my lines? I much preferred being behind the scenes doing everything from props to directing. Of course, deep down, I hoped that someone would “discover” me. But how could they? I was not stepping into the spotlight to be seen.
I guess wearing the beard on stage did change my perspective, because after you’ve done that – you can pretty much do anything. Read the rest of this entry »
Can I trust you? No, really . . . this is a very important question that I must ask before we do business together and this is what your customers are asking themselves before they start doing business with you.
The reality is we are living a hostile world – full of crooks and criminals looking to take advantage of the unsuspecting. Even just this week, someone replied to my post for housemate trying to run a scam. Read the rest of this entry »
Write Something. I know it sucks to write when you have to; however, it is a way to communicate with your customers and keep them returning to you. It helps build a trusted relationship that they will come to rely on when they need gifts. Who would you rather buy from? A trusted friend or Bob on the street corner?
Write Something More. Unfortunately it is not just enough to let them know about your upcoming events, once in a while. Read the rest of this entry »