The Pitch
What is a Pitch?
Just like baseball, a great media pitch is an opportunity to catch the attention of the recipient. The best pitches come from an angle not necessarily expected, which forces the receiver to take notice.
Luckily, I had Alyson B Stanfield’s wonderful book, “I’d Rather Be in the Studio”, a must have for every artist. Following her “how to”, I emailed it to my local newspaper and within 2 hours I not only got a response, but they also wanted to do a feature story on me.
Here is the pitch.
Dear Mr. Mark Derry,
An unexpected thing happened to me on my way to the door after Christmas dinner in 2011. Just like “Field of Dreams” I heard a voice, say I will paint 100 paintings in one year.
I have been an artist for the last 20 years, inspired to follow my dreams as a painter after my son with Down syndrome was born.
After much discernment I decided to challenge myself to paint a painting a week. I completed the challenge to paint 52 paintings on December 31, 2012 and now I have a challenge to paint 20,000 square inches for the year 2013.
“If you Paint They Will come”, has been my motto throughout this challenge. Great things have been happening as a result of this challenge one being an invitation to share 17 pieces of my work at Odeum Restaurant in Morgan Hill from May 30th to July 4th 2013, through the Art Around Town project of Valle de Sur Art Organization.
I hope this may interest you,
Janet Vanderhoof
(408) 460-7237
The newspaper article ended up being on the front page and a two page article with colored photos. Above photo by Morgan Hill Times, Chief Photographer Laura Schraft, article by Scott Forstner, staff writer.
"I Painted and They Came"
Well, it has been a peach of a year. The #paint52 Challenge has come to an end. Not counting one Twitter Art Exhibit painting and a commission shown above, I realized that I not only completed 52 paintings but 53.
What have I learned from this challenge?
Honor your word; it’s not just for you but for others as well.
Challenges can invigorate you.
Reward yourself often.
Set manageable goals and ones that can be measured.
Goals are not an end it iself, enjoy the process or it isn't worth it.
Telling your goals out loud makes you accountable.
You may have more talent than you realize.
Others are watching you, even though it may not be apparent.
The more you paint the easier it becomes.
One challenge leads to another.
Completing a challenge gives you credibility.
A great sense of accomplishment can come from succeeding in a challenge.
You can’t do it alone.
It takes a village.
I want to thank you all for your support, without you it wouldn’t have been the same. I especially appreciate everyone who has left a comment, a suggestion, or observation. I learned from what you had to say.
*Giclees can be purchased of above painting "Underneath II", please contact me for prices.
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
Through Art We Can Change the World
“Fundraising is an extreme sport!” ~Marc A. Pitman
Twitter Art Exhibit the brainchild of Swedish Artist David Sandum, is a nonprofit organization, now in full force with their third exhibit in process. Past exhibits in 2010, at the Moss Library in Norway provided books for children and 2012 also in Moss, Norway provided funds to the Women’s Crisis Center.
The next Twitter Art Exhibit, January 2013, will be held in Los Angeles at the Exhale Unlimited Gallery, proceeds will support underserved youth in L.A.'s Rampart District (ages 18 – 25) in preparation for careers in the visual arts. The goal to surpass their last event of 360 artists from 32 countries. Participate by submitting a 4” x 6” postcard size art piece, which will be sold for $35.00 ea. Please check out http://twitterartexhibit.org/callforartists for further information on participation. Deadline for Submission is Friday, January 4, 2013, so hurry Twitter aritists and create your piece. I will be submitting “Powel Street Cable Car 25”.
Painting 4” X 6” cards can be extremely fun. The following 3 paintings resulted, in desire to capture the right painting for the Twitter Art Exhibit event.
I hope Twitter Artists you can participate in the event it is such a great cause and a wonderful way for artists to have an impact on the world.
“Through art we can change the world” David Sundum
My Tale of the South Pacific
“When all you care about is here, this is a good place to be”. Emile de Becque
Can you remember the first time you cried at a movie? The movie was South Pacific derived from a plot by James A Michener’s Pulitzer Prize winning 1947 book, Tales of the South Pacific, and from the musical by Roger and Hammerstein. It touched my heart and my soul. I was seven-year-old, sobbing, as I watched the scene, when Lt. Cable's fatal plane crash was shot down by the Japanese, unable to return home to his love. South Pacific was a reminder of the times, not only did I relate to being a military brat, and the separation I often felt, when my father had to be stationed away from us, but was mesmerized and in love with the beautiful scenery, in which this movie took place. I also believe I had a deep knowing and premonition of a future with this island and the loss of my father to soon come after his mission in Vietnam.
Unknowingly, at 25 years old I revisited the scenes of South Pacific, in the North Shore, and Hanalei Bay of Kauai? I soon discovered that Bali Ha’i the volcanic island, within sight of the island on which most of the action takes place, really wasn’t an island in real life, but Mt. Makana cut off from a chain of mountains, found at the end of the road. Auntie Louise, owner of Tahiti Nui Restaurant, may have been the recreation of Bloody Mary’s character. The beach on either side of the Hanalei pier was the principal filming location for most of the beach scenes involving the sailors led by Luther Billis played by Ray Walston. It was here that Juanita Hall as Bloody Mary sang the song about the mysterious island Bali Hai.
Hanalei, Kauai, has captured my heart, fortunate to be able to have visited over 25 times, it has become a deep part of me where I have found much respite, enchantment and healing in my life. Once you have visited Hanalei, you will never be the same. It will be calling you as the song “Hanalei Moon” says, and as it has called me even before I had arrived.
When you see Hanalei by moonlight
You will be in Heaven by the sea
Every breeze, every wave will whisper
You are mine don't ever go away.
*Crescent Bay is my 46th painting of my #paint52 Challenge, measures approx. 8" x 11", Atelier Acrylic on 400 lb vellum, price $220.00 Sold
*Old Kauai is my 47th painting of my #paint52 Challenge, measures 12" x 16", Atelier Acrylic on Artist Canvas Panel, price $350.00. SOLD
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
What I Don't Know For Sure #paint52
"What do you know for sure?” Oprah asks Deepak Chopra. Deepak’s answer was quick no need for thought. “What I know for sure is, I know nothing”.
Continuing on my journey to complete 52 paintings in one year, I realize that I may have the same answer. I currently have finished 43 paintings with only 9 more left to go on my challenge. Right now I have questions, more than answers?
Has doing this challenge been worth it? Why? What have I gained?
Will I do the challenge again?
Have I had a good ROI (Return on investment)? Does it matter?
What have been the negatives in doing this challenge?
Has doing prevented me from imagining?
Has the challenge prevented me from exploring other mediums?
What would be another way to challenge myself and still create an environment for action?
What if I had a challenge to do so many square inches? Would that challenge me to do larger paintings?
Have I given myself time to study and improve or do I improve by doing? (Maybe it is a little of both)
Has doing the challenge taken the romance out of painting or just made it another job?
Have I created more followers and do they look forward to my paintings?
Have "I" been an inspiration?
I would love your comments, especially if this challenge has influenced you in any way. I am so grateful for all you who have followed my challenge, supported me and left comments. I couldn’t have done it without you and if I did it would have been very lonely.
"Splendor in the Grass" is my 42nd painting of my #paint52 challenge, Atelier Interactive Acrylic on 400 lb. vellum, measures 16" x 22", price $880.00, plus Shipping and Handling.
"Strength in What Remains Behind" is my 43rd painting of my #paint52 challenge, Atelier Interactive Acrylic on 400 lb. vellum, measures 6" x 7", price $105.00 plus Shipping and Handling.
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!