Cavanaugh Blogfest and Christmas Holiday Events

Interview with Lorna Collins.

Please visit:
http://lornacollins-author.blogspot.com/

     

Cheers Cavanaugh Blogfest

I first met Alex Cavanaugh while taking Dani Greer's Blog Tour class in July 2010. Since that time I've followed his blog and watched it grow from not so many to over 1700 dedicated followers. Bravo, Alex!

 

·         In +/- 20 words, what does Alex look like? I imagine Alex at about 5' 10" with dark wavy hair and blue eyes weighing about 165 pounds.

 

·         In +/- 20 words, who could play Alex in a documentary? (Living or dead.) Tom Cruise

 

·         In +/- 20 words, who does Alex remind you of?  Perhaps Houdini because he comments on a zillion blogs each day--a feat of magic.

·         In +/- 100 words, (excluding the title) write flash fiction using all these prompts:

            Since I have never written a piece of flash fiction, I don't want to start today. It's been an amazing experience to meet Alex on the Internet. He has obviously been a role model for many and an inspiration for everyone.

Cheers to Alex! - MMSikes

 Holiday Events Coming Up This Week

Lots of Christmas holiday events are scheduled for this week! 

On Friday, Dec. 14, we have the 3rd annual Resident Artists Gala at Petersburg Regional Arts Center, 6 to 9 p.m. Besides Art and Books, by 57 artists, there'll be an abundance of music and holiday food. It's free and open to the public. Address is: 132 North Sycamore St. in Petersburg VA.


On Saturday, Dec. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we'll have an Authors Book Fair at Regency Square Mall in Richmond VA. Prizes, gifts, and lots of books by 20 different authors.

Making a Business of Art Works for Writing As Well

PRAC features local entertainment during monthly art openings --MMSikes

Putting on your business hat is too often uncomfortable for both artists and writers.

It shouldn't be.

"Right brain people can train their left brains to take over when necessary," according to Marc Wilson.

A retail and restaurant industry consultant, Wilson presented his seminar, "Art as a Business" to an audience of about 50 artists at  Petersburg Regional Arts Center. He works with small businesses all over the country, including artists at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia.

Listening to Wilson speak, I was struck with the close similarities between his advice for artists and talks I have heard and given for writers about the use of social media for promotion.  He even talked about elevator pitches for artists who should have a five-word tag line planned to tell about their work. I knew about elevator pitches for authors but had never thought about using them for my paintings.

Here is one thing Wilson said that surprised me. "One peer recommendation is worth 200 TV ads." Is that possible? It's not the media, but the reviews of friends and relatives that sell your work, according to this veteran consultant.

For the artist's studio, he recommends "curb appeal" with good lighting, focusing on the work and not diffused all over the place. He also suggests placing work with similar colors in groups together. Actually, he is promoting good design for the look of your studio. Branding for you and for your work. Certainly, that's a good idea for book covers as well as for studio designs.

The business needs of artists and writers are similar in many ways. I'll be writing more on this subject during the next several weeks. I would love to hear some of your thoughts about good and productive business practices.

I was pleased that Petersburg Regional Arts Center promoted this seminar. PRAC opened in 2003, moving from Richmond where it began in 1999 as Shockoe Bottom Arts Center. The Center, one of the largest in Virginia, houses 85 artist studios. PRAC will be the site of the 2012 National Juried All Media Exhibition from October 12 to November 3.

Mary Montague Sikes

Praise Goes a Long Way

Monti at PRAC studio

When the shadows get longer and the air turns cooler, I feel a little down. After all, baseball season is over for my team and daylight savings time soon will be over as well.

That's the way I felt as I headed to October opening night at Petersburg Regional Arts Center where I maintain two art studio spaces. But, when I arrived, the wife of the artist in the studio next to mine met me with praise for my novel, Night Watch, which she had bought from my display table. She also had purchased Secrets by the Sea which she enjoyed as well. By the end of the evening she had a copy of Hearts Across Forever already reading it!

My spirits lifted right away! Next, I had some visitors interested in my paintings who exclaimed over my work. Then a college art student found me who said he'd been wanting to meet me for some time because he liked my work so much. And then an old friend, a former pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, appeared with more great enthusiasm.

Needless to say, I left Petersburg with a warm feeling! At a time when I needed validation for my work, I found it for both my writing and my painting. Praise goes a long way! We all need to remember that...

Just Google My Name - A Catchy Song Title?

Having an up-to-date Web site is essential in the ever-changing age of internet promotion. Last weekend, I discovered how important it is to keep my Web site fresh with correct information. After all, if someone Googles my name my Web site is the very first item on the first page that comes up.

On Saturday, I received a phone call from the owners of two of my experimental mixed water media paintings. The collectors explained that for some time they had been trying to locate me because they wanted to purchase a third painting to display with the ones they already owned. Since I am no longer affiliated with the gallery where they made their original purchases, they were unable to track me down there. These collectors were calling from Petersburg Regional Art Center, a location where I now show my work, which they found on my Web site.


After a few calls and several photos sent by e-mail, they selected a painting and we met the next day at a shopping mall between the towns where we live, 60 miles apart. They now have a new painting, and I had the  opportunity to get to know some of my collectors.

Without my Web site, complete with links, I doubt that any of this would have happened. Google your name and see where your Web site falls on the list.

Just Google my name. Would that make a catchy title for a song?

Monti
©Mary Montague Sikes