Artist Retreat Center Available

Many artists, writers and academics are looking for the ideal "get away." Here is a new space that offers artists a place to live and create their art, or simply to relax from the hectic pace of life…

Beginning on November 1, 2010 and into 2011, a new artist-retreat location will be available to WAAC members. The location is called Valley Ridge Art Studio and is located in southwest Wisconsin in the township of Castle Rock about 20 miles west of Dodgeville.

The 120 acre property is home to a renovated 1200 sq. foot farm house, 2 art studios and 120 acres of beautiful land and rolling hills. The owner has a residence on the property in another home.

Take a peek at the Website to review the property and accommodations.

If you or others have an interest please contact

Bill Malkasian
608 345 9004
wem@wra.org

Arts @ Large Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Join the fun at The Wherehouse/Hot Water Nightclub, 818 S. Water Street (end of National Avenue)in Milwaukee for their 10th Anniversary Gala.

Over the past 10 school years, Arts @ Large has opened "Windows" of creativity for 44 schools with nearly 20,000 talented students, 3,000 dedicated teachers and 200 of Wisconsin's finest artist educators.

Help them celebrate and usher in the next TEN years of helping students see that the sky is the limit! See more than 150 decorative windows created by Arts @ Large Students.
Live Auction - Silent Auction - Cash 'n Carry
$25 per person/$40 per couple

Your night includes a glass of champagne or soda, great hors d'oeuvres & stellar entertainment. Cash bar for the remainder of the evening.

5th Milwaukee Fine Furnishings and Fine Craft Show Scheduled Oct. 1-3

The 5th Annual Milwaukee Fine Furnishings and Fine Craft Show will be held October 1-3, 2010 in The Garage at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. The doors open on Friday night from 4–8 p.m.

The show features handcrafted furniture, furnishings, fine art and crafts for sale, order, or commission from approximately 75 exhibitors. Half of the exhibitors are talented Wisconsin residents, and the show includes artisans from Illinois, Michigan, California, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Vermont. Over 80% of last year’s exhibitors will be in this year's show.

Visit www.FineFurnishingsShows.com to learn about hours, attending and exhibiting, show specials, and to sign-up for the show eNewsletter. Also follow the show on Twitter @finefurnishings or become a fan on Facebook.

Vendors Needed for Local Fine Art Show

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2010
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Westgate Mall atrium – Whitney Way and Odana Road
Sponsor: Madison Bead Society (MBS) – open to all artisans and crafters

Art mediums: Variety of handcrafted artisan creations including: beaded jewelry, wood, paper, repurposed items, metals, fibers, etc. Past shows have seen a wide variety of magnificent art.

All items for sale must be finished work of the exhibitor – no loose beads or components.

MBS is an educational, non-profit organization with monthly meetings year round with the exception of January and December.

For more information about MBS, visit www.madisonbeadsociety.org.
Vendor information and form can be found at: http://www.madisonbeadsociety.org/uploads/vendor_form_2010.pdf

For more information, contact Liz Jones at 608-839-0226 or at ljones11@charter.net

Live Online Art Marketing Workshop

Learn how to confidently and successfully approach galleries in this intensive and interactive online workshop from Xanadu Gallery owner J. Jason Horejs, who wrote the book "Starving" to Successful, which was reviewed earlier.

Two sessions are available: registration limited to 60 for each session
(sessions will fill quickly - register today)
Thursday, August 12, 4-8 p.m. (pdt)
Saturday, August 14, 8 a.m - Noon (pdt)

In this four-hour, intensive online workshop, you and a small group of artists from around the nation will learn how to organize your work, identify and share your unique approach and vision, and successfully research and approach galleries. Listen to a 25-minute demo of Jason. Go to this page if you would like information on all services his gallery provides to artists.

The workshop is $59 and you can register by calling 866-483-1306 or by going to this page.

Two Art Shows Looking for Artists

Contact WAAC member Colin Murray if you are interested in participating in either of his art shows. A small holiday show in Madison on December 4, 2010, and another on March 26, 2011, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Artists are welcome to contact Colin by email colin@artworksmadison.com or by phone: 608-712-3440 for info.

BOOK REVIEW “Starving” to Successful The Fine Artist’s Guide to Getting into Galleries and Selling More Art

By Sue Lukas

I was hungry when I started reading this book, hungry for something different from all the artist self help books out there. I’m happy to say that now I’m full of ideas about how I can approach and become part of galleries all over the country.

When galleries big and small are going under, when the competition to get into better galleries grows tougher, reading a book from the gallery owner’s perspective was enlightening. If you wish to make more money from your art, this book would be a good addition to your library. It’s concise and easy to understand.

He offers many ideas for promoting yourself to galleries and maintaining the relationship. Though he comes on strong with why you should be in a gallery versus trying to sell at art shows. And he also talks about how you can help the gallery, and not so much what he can do for you. From his point of view, it’s a gallery owners’ market, and he represents only a few who apply.

In his first chapter, Jason’s main point - strive for excellence by continuing to evolve and use the best materials. He lists a variety of ways for the artist to improve. One of his suggestions is teaching. As someone who teaches photography, I would heartily agree with him that teaching is a good way to improve yourself. Besides giving to others, you are getting back. It has helped me to remember rules, to stay on top of photo trends that change often, to improve my people skills, and to express myself better. And that’s only one of his suggestions.

Jason recommends that artists don’t follow trends, but follow an inner voice. Produce as much as you can, and when you have 20-25 2D works, you’re ready to approach a gallery. He recommends 10-15 pieces for 3D artists. It’s also important to brand yourself. When you produce work, think of your primary target market, offer a frame of reference, and create work that stands out from the rest.

He also talks about:

Who is your competition? What are they doing?

How should you price your work? He says it’s arbitrary, but offers some guidelines.

What kind of collateral marketing materials do you need and how to use them.

How to write an artist’s statement, resume and bio, and what’s the difference. That may seem basic to many of you.

Why you should have an artist’s Web site and how to maintain it. I’ve been a graphic designer for many years and do my own Web site, but he recommends that you hire a pro to create it for you if you don’t have any experience.

In Chapter 10, he suggests that you should sell at art shows in the beginning of your career. But as you progress and improve, move to galleries and let them sell for you so you can focus on your art. Network by joining art guilds such as WAAC, hang your work in public venues and get out there as much as you can to sell yourself and your work. Learn to sell yourself and your work.

How should you approach galleries? His advice is opposite of what I’ve read in other books and online. He said prepare your portfolio, and just go in the door without an appointment. Do some research first to see if you would fit the gallery. Forget CDs, e-mails, snail mail and other means of contact. He throws them out anyway because he receives so many inquiries.

It’s amazing that he would admit that fact in a book aimed at artists. But it’s a look at the other side of the fence.

There are a lot of good ideas in this book. It’s well written and easy to understand. He also, after saying he throws away the majority of his submissions, offers a pep talk. If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. There are galleries all over the U.S. that might be a good fit for your work. Start small and build up to larger galleries. Ask your current gallery for a written recommendation, which I’ve never heard of before. Convince the new gallery that you work sells well and you are an organized, friendly person. Hmm.

Jason is the owner of Xanadu Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ. He and his wife opened the gallery on Sept. 10, 2001. His father John is an oil painter, and he refers to him many times in the book. The book is small, 182 pages, and I read it in an afternoon. There’s lots of room to make notes. I paid $25 for it on Amazon, and you can order it from his gallery Web site www.horejsgallery.com, too.

This book may seem like a means to get through the lean times for his gallery, but it does offer some meat and potatoes for the “starving” artist. If you look up this book on Amazon, you will see other books that might interest you and other reviews.

Sue Lukas has worked as a photographer, teacher, graphic designer, and editor. She exhibits her work at Art Fair Off the Square and at art shows and galleries in Wisconsin and Illinois. For more information about her, go to www.window2wis.com or to her blog window2sue.blogspot.com.