This week WE LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES

Next week


Jill will share highlights of what she learned in Patti Brady’s acrylic workshop. The workshop focused on all the different ways you can use acrylic paint and mediums. Patti is the director of Golden Acrylic’s working artist program. She is also an artist and author. You can check out her work at http://www.pattibrady.com/.
in case YOU want to attend one of her workshops....

TODAY

Justine and Melanie shared some of what they learned in Robert Burridge’s Abstract Florals class. If you would like to check out Bob’s work, and sign up for a full workshop yourself take a look at http://www.robertburridge.com..



If you would like to experiment with some of the techniques bring watercolor paper that has been gessoed or a canvas. You will also need a brush, water holder and paint.

Off to a GREAT START!

This Wednesday we jumped right in!

Everyone brought paints and sketchbooks and some of us did some painting AND writing!

Check out the BOOK WE ARE READING...SAYING YES by Cindy West. It is SURE to inspire just as much as CREATIVE CALL (which is still a favorite..but we went through it three times (and must say got something different out of it each and every time).

So IF YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT PAINTING...stop thinking and DO IT! What a great Valentine's present of LOVE for yourself or someone else. (FOR YOU TO PAINT AND SHARE THE LOVE INSIDE YOUR HEART FOR SOMEONE ELSE).....send us an email and we will post your creativity!

Blessings!
Allison

THANK YOU HIGHLAND ARTISTS

As we finished up the book CREATIVE CALL,
we also wrapped up a semester of newly developed friendships...
Throughout this fall we began weaving a support network to help us all in our endeavors in stepping out as a creative vessel for God.
We will not be together for a month or so, but
Here is a link to a great source to keep us all on track
SYLVIA GUNTER
(CLICK ON HER NAME TO GO THERE)

As we step farther into who we really are, we also set ourselves up for
opinions....attitudes about who we are becoming.

Just know that GOD knows it all, he plans it all for us and has brought us all together for a GREATER purpose.

We have so many great strides we have made...starting with simply
proclaiming "I am ARTIST"...
all with tiny baby steps along the way....
with hands held,
with vision shared,
with love extended...acceptance
of us each as we were uniquely made.

I thank God that he has brought each of the people in this group
into my life...

actors, writers, painters, cheerleaders, encouragers...

the positive spirit that lives within this group is something that
cannot ever be explained...

it just IS....and I thank God for it.

Blessings during this season that IS ABOUT HIM...

Let us not forget that our visual creations can do more than look pretty,
they can speak words, they can give meaning, they can feed compassion...

they can speak about who we are, as God's children.

My prayer for you this holiday season is that you will find a moment or two
to create....to unleash the gift inside you.

Blessings Highland Artists! And thank you for being just who you are!

See you in the Spring!

Allison

FINLEY LINK- ARTIST from Birmingham

Hello fellow artists!

I received a link to a friend's husbands website, and while I have known they were at Highlands for some reason it escaped my knowledge that he was an ARTIST.

So for some more inspiration, enjoy these works done in oil that take you to a different place and time....

I have requested that he come speak with us next semester about the "how to's" when you get to this level,
he has prints and travels around the country selling his incredible paintings.

BLESSINGS!
Allison
www.donnyfinley.com

Encaustic Painting (with WAX)

Our latest Highland Artist session included Encaustic Painting: a messy rendition of WAXING...
on canvases, that is.

OFFICIALLY:
Encaustic painting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A 6th-century encaustic icon from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai.For encaustic tiles see Encaustic tile
Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid/paste is then applied to a surface — usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used.

The simplest encaustic mixture can be made from adding pigments to beeswax, but there are several other recipes that can be used — some containing other types of waxes, damar resin, linseed oil, or other ingredients. Pure, powdered pigments can be purchased and used, though some mixtures use oil paints or other forms of pigment.

Metal tools and special brushes can be used to shape the paint before it cools, or heated metal tools can be used to manipulate the wax once it has cooled onto the surface. Today, tools such as heat lamps, heat guns, and other methods of applying heat allow artists to extend the amount of time they have to work with the material. Because wax is used as the pigment binder, encaustics can be sculpted as well as painted. Other materials can be encased or collaged into the surface, or layered, using the encaustic medium to adhere it to the surface.


We took melted colored wax and squirted it onto the canvas (some were already painted, some of the artists painted them AFTER the wax) and blowdried the wax, making it flow across the work before drying.

I had a ball with it, adding wax to my "WATER SERIES" paintings, giving them texture and sheen. It is definitely something I will try again.

Joan Ware and Kristen Drew had us flowing in wax from one end of the kitchen to the other, mixing up the wax, organizing it on a warming tray and keeping us flowing with medicine syringes (a great way to control where the wax goes on the canvas).

See the photos to see just how much fun we had!

Allison

Creative Call To the Botanical Gardens

This week we began a new Fall Semester with our artist friends from the
Church of the Highlands.

We visited the Botanical Gardens to see the new show by Amy Crews.
Amy spoke with our group a few semesters ago with great inspiration (see archives)
We can't wait to start again, as we study Creative Call and discover what God has in store for us in new techniques, shows and inspiration.

Melanie Morris is leading the pack...

We hope these glimpses of Amy's work will inspire you!

Allison

Cultural Alliance- DETAILS

I have gotten a few request for info on the Cultural Alliance Workshops.
These are great opportunities to learn more about how to progress to the next level as an artist.

The first was turning passions into profits.
MARKETING YOUR ART

1) You represent your art, do so ON PURPOSE.
2) Renew contacts with gallery owners, other artists, media, editors.
Keep your name out there... NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK

All of the most current projects I am working on were from just talking to people.
Shannon Lindsay, Publisher for Southern Beauty, was looking for a writer...she asked one person in our group, she gave them my name, and she asked a friend of my sister's for a name...which was mine (as my sister told her also about how I love to write) and there it was..she had heard my name three times. We talked, I gave her some work for a couple of issues and now she has asked me to be Editor of the SOUL Section.

The publication, Bay Monthly, in Mobile was looking for artist submissions, my friend, Susan Willingham (also an artist) passed me the email address and I submitted. My painting will be in the magazine just as I am having my paintings featured at a local Interior design shop (Merrill Miller's Interiors- Orange Beach) and in a hot new fashion boutique at the WHARF. This helps THEM as they are mentioned in the magazine for free in my credits section AND it helps me..as they are glad to have my paintings there this month.

WIN -WIN...it always works.

The writing of the book for Birmingham Sketchbook
also came about in a similar "word of mouth" way.

So keep your channels open- in both directions.
As the author, I have also been given the opportunity by the publisher to market the book, set up book signings, etc. In doing this, I have offered for all of the artists to be a part of these signings, so that they too can propel their scope of influence by sharing their artwork and contact information during the signings.

We also have a core group who want to do shows together.

In becoming a serious artist, we need to be good, according to the workshop, at describing what we do.
1) Create an elevator speech...a few sentences to tell what you do and why..capture emotion.
2) Create an artist biography- written
3) Artist statement- What you do and WHY
published articles, clubs, awards, shows, committees

Determine your AUDIENCE
Know their demographics
Price point your art
Know how to reach your audience

Surveymonkey.com has incredible info. You can send them a picture of your art and they rate it, tell you what they like, don't like, how to price.

Attract Sales
at Galleries, Gift Shops, Art Shows, Hosting your own show at your home or business.

At NABO, Natl Assoc. of Business Owners, show there..think outside the box!

When SHOWING:
Have prices at different levels
Create an emotional connection
Show who you are
Have things to keep people in your booth (coloring for kids?)
Be REAL

Printing:
HAVE A BUSINESS CARD..with your art on it.
Brochures, postcards...get your pictures out and let them speak..
in your emails...
Portfolios..picture books...do a professional look
Thank you notes with your paintings

Online Print Resources
Vistaprint.com, kodakgallery.com, shutterfly.com, snapfish.com, evite.com for invitations are GREAT ones.

Keep these simple

Have a website...blogspot is So easy...www.blogger.com
you have no excuse!

Use your name as a logo..on letterhead.. consistent on cards, etc.

Website resources:
godaddy.com (can handle purchases of your work)
facebook.com (create an audience)
askartie.com ***the one by the cultural alliance..great for local Bham area
google adwords
monstertemplate.com
smallbusiness.yahoo.com
cheapnames.com
10-domains.com
etsy.com- can upload work for sale
muserefuge.com

to name a FEW.

Cafepress.com does t-shirts and mugs of your work.

Copyrighting and watermarks are suggested.

Publicity:
Donate to auctions
Trade with other artists, barter
Buy small ads in publications

P/R is free advertising.
Create events for better sales.
Get exposure.
Calendar listings of events.
Write a press release. Arts editors in the papers, local mags, newspaper.

Consult with Stephen H. Craft, PHD or others for info on setting yourself up as a business. You may be ready for credit card machines, tax withholdings each month for sales, forming an organization...and NOT in that order...

so get serious about what you do and WHO YOU ARE.
You are a unique work of art YOURSELF...
treat yourself and your art that way!

Above info from seminar by Cultural Alliance
led by Michael Bell and Bradford Kachelhofer, The Modern Brand Company, LLC in Bham.
www.themodernbrand.com


Grants are available and deadline for applications are due May 16, 2008 for
Crafts, Media Arts, Visual Arts, and Interdisciplinary for 2008)
2009- Dance, Theatre, Literary Arts adn Music)

So write them at grants@cultural-alliance.com
or go to the website activeculture.info
to get detailed information and forms.

TIPS FOR GRANTS WRITING:
coming soon