New Year's Inspiration
I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the years'. Henry Moore
Artists it is a new year and it beckons you to take risks, stretch yourself and become the best you can be. I have heard many times that New Year's Resolutions really don't work. Perhaps this is true. But.....How can we as artists motivate ourselves to be the best we can be? I thought I would make a list of ideas for you to give you some incentive, as well as links from inspiring individuals.
- Be productive by thinking better, use this tool to achieve your goals; this is an excerpt from "Think Better" by innovator Tim Hurson.
- Choose a word that gives you a succinct focus on what you want to accomplish this year.
- Discover a new medium.
- Acquire a new skill.
- Paint larger, smaller, use different tools, or materials.
- Read Big Magic Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Choose one powerful goal. I'm a firm believer if the goal is powerful enough it will overflow to all areas of your career and creativity. Check out my goal to paint 52 paintings in one year. Be sure to listen to the interview for more tips. "Challenge Yourself"
- Plan an art show and find a place to exhibit your art. (In order to sell your art it must be seen)
- Do something scary! Set a goal that is beyond all goals. BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)
- Take an art workshop.
- Teach an art workshop.
- Create a website or update your website, including getting it mobile ready.
- Start a blog.
- Blog weekly
- Create a Newsletter.
- Join Pinterest, Instagram, or create a page on Facebook
- Focus on selling your art
- Find a mentor.
- Follow informative blogs: Red Dot Blog, Barney Davey, Alyson B Stanfield, Austin Kleon, Empty Easel, Lori McNee, Artsy Shark, The Abundant Artist, and of course mine Janet Vanderhoof
- Do a video demo, post it to YouTube
- Go to art shows, galleries and museums on monthly basis.
- Join "Doing one thing creative a day" with Michael Nobbs "Sustainably Creative".
- Read "The War of Art: Break Through Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles" by Steven Pressfield.
- Become involved in your local art community.
- And most importantly be consistent with your art practice daily.
Please mention in the comment area below if you have any more to add. I would love to hear your ideas and what you plan on accomplishing this year.
What I Know About Selling Art
Service, Service, Service
You can’t scrimp on quality.
Presentation is important.
Let your customers tell you what they want and listen.
The best ones do go first, you better be willing to let them go.
The more you sell the more you sell, sales feed upon each other.
Customers want to purchase from successful artists, so let them know you are successful.
Keep in contact with your customers.
Make your customers your friends.
Your customers have something in common with you; you both love your art.
Don’t be afraid to let your customers know what you are doing, your goals and objectives.
Customers love to know the story behind the painting. They also love to know the process.
If you are excited about your work, they will sense it.
Your art needs to be seen, the more often it is seen the more chances to sell your art.
You must be approachable.
Make it easy for your customer to purchase from you, have a variety of ways they can pay for your work.
Respect your customer’s time.
Honor your word and guarantee your work.
What tips do you have about selling art? Please share!
2k14 current footage 6052 sq. inches
*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!
Living On A Prayer
"The outer limit of your potential is determined solely by your own beliefs and your own confidence in what you think is possible." -– Brian Tracy
We’ve all had setbacks. I have had some major ones in my life that started at a young age, especially my father dying when I was 9 years old. My mother sold our home took us out of school and moved to France. I could understand her reasoning’s, since she felt alone and needed to be with her family, but for me that was a lot to absorb. We returned to the United States six months later, due to lack of schools provided in France.
My mother worked full-time, I became a latchkey kid. I was pretty much alone and on my own.
I was brought up to survive.
I had lost my self-esteem and confidence.
We may not realize it, but what we say to others may not seem of any significance, but it may change another person’s life and I thank God for those experiences. My first experience of this was on my graduation day from high school. A simple note from my future brother-in-law saying, “Don’t stop here, the next best 4 years are ahead” had influenced me to go to college. I never believed I could or would go to college. “Wow, someone had faith in me.” It pushed me just enough to complete a two year college and then transfer to San Jose State University, where I majored in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
Believing I was a B or C student and just average, I pretty much went through the motions. I do give myself credit for getting this far, but I needed to push further.
A dramatic change occurred overnight as a result of a question from my Anatomy & Physiology teacher. He asked the class, “What do you believe about yourself that may be preventing you from succeeding?” I knew I had to be honest. I knew I had to dig deep.
I raised my hand shaking and almost in tears. “I’m a B and C student, Dr. Smith”. This was a very competitive department. I think he was so surprised that I was so honest. He told me he was going to change that belief right away. Our talk was unusual. He worked with brain-damaged patients and had first hand knowledge on what belief could do to you; the belief you had of yourself and the belief that others had for you. He reminded me that this was just a false belief and it wasn’t true. After meeting with him a few times he broke this pattern of belief. Astoundingly, from then on I got straight A’s.
Although it was fantastic to raise my grade point average, the real lesson was to question my beliefs. Are my beliefs serving me? I have realized the real strength comes from within despite what has happened in my life. I am what I believe.
Does your beliefs serve you or limit you? Is your perception of your life not true? Is your belief system working for you or against you? Do you have a self-defeating belief system?
Painting above: "Pedicab Pier 24", 36" x 36", oil on museum wrapped canvas Price $3240
2k14 current footage 5152sq. inches
*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!
Chinatown and Pink Plastic Bags
Chinatown centered on Grant Avenue and Stockton Street in San Francisco is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest in North America. The first immigrants to come to San Francisco were two men and a woman in 1848, where it continues to retain it’s own customs, languages and culture.
Grant Avenue is the southern gateway to Chinatown and one of the oldest streets there in Chinatown. The architecture varies from Old St. Mary’s church to the Sing Chong Building of which I painted in “No Parking in Chinatown”.
The town is mainly populated by Canton region of China immigrants and new immigrants including those from Hong Kong and Mainland China.
You will find restaurants galore serving great dim sum, plus wildly colored markets carrying ethnic Asian spices, teas, and Chinese veggies.
Most people who visit Chinatown have a love hate relationship with it. But for a painter it’s a feast for my eyes. Chinatown’s colors are vivid, a colorist’s dream. The chaotic atmosphere, the brightly colored signs and unique shops add to my interest. It’s a Disneyland atmosphere of touristy trinkets. The contrast of the elders selling antiques and tourists carrying pink plastic shopping bags create a wonderful juxtaposition.
I will be showing you many more paintings from Chinatown and I hope I captured the energy of this interesting neighborhood and tourist attraction.
2k14 current footage 3728 sq. inches
*Painting above~It's Not Kiki's Market II, 36" x 36" acrylic on museum wrapped canvas, Price $3240
*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!
A Better Deal Than Kayne’s Shoes & They Are Red Too!
The value of a dollar is social, as it is created by society.~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Societies values have gone awry. What is this world thinking people paying $16.39 million dollars on the previously sold out solid red Kayne West’s Nike Air Yeezy2 “Red October”? Call me crazy but I believe you can make better use of your money by choosing to support the arts. Celebrities and wantabe’s why not start purchasing art instead of wasting your money or do you think the Yeezy2 is a work of art, NOT!
Just completed Red Clay Pot and Chinatown Red, note the RED and worth the value. The paintings were created on museum wrapped canvas, no need to frame. I thought I would try something different and paint the edges a bright color, these are painted Cadmium red a beautiful red that will show off from all angles when hung, plus they would look great as a pair.
Thank you for supporting the arts!
*Red Clay Pot, measures 8" x 8" acrylic on museum wrapped canvas with red edges, price $225.00 Delivered anywhere in US.
*Chinatown Red, measure 8" x 8" acrylic on museum wrapped canvas with red edges, price $225.00 Delivered anywhere in US.
2k14 current footage 2432 sq. inches
*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!