Join me on Monday, August 13 at 6pm for a free Elevator Speech Workshop in the Cambria Gallery at the River Hills Mall in Mankato, MN. We'll break down the speech-writing process into small, non-scary steps, and by the time you leave, you'll have a concise, effective pitch for introducing yourself and your work to anyone. No registration necessary, and all arts disciplines are welcome! (Unfortunately, the headshot appointments are full. Sorry!)
The Eight x Eight Self-Portrait Exhibition at 33 Contemporary Gallery in Chicago is now online, and has been extended to Sept. 15. This is your chance to see the full exhibition outside of Chicago, and artwork can be purchased right from the website and sent directly to you. To see my self-portrait and all of the other pieces, head to http://www.33contemporary.com/8x8-self-portrait-exhibition/
Most of the creative people I know, myself included, have to juggle their artistic pursuits in the midst of day jobs, multiple projects, and other daily responsibilities. My day job involves marketing and programming at an arts council, and I constantly feel like I'm drowning in a sea of never-ending tasks. When you combine that with my art career, I'm currently managing eight social media accounts, two websites, two committees, and who-knows-how-many meetings, exhibits, etc. It's a lot to handle, and sometimes I feel brain dead by the end of the week, but it's also made me incredibly diligent about creating systems and organizing my life.
I am by no means an expert on the subject, but I'm kind of a dork when it comes to planners, office supplies, and organization, and the chaos of this current year has forced me to make peace with organizational technology, something I had been resisting for years. (I'm a tactile person, and I love the feel of writing on paper.) These are some of the organizational tools I've added to my arsenal, and they've been an absolute godsend.
You know all of those things you're supposed to do every day to be successful? This handy journal takes all of them and combines them into daily pages to help you plan your actions and keep yourself accountable. Daily gratitude lists, goals, inspiration, exercise, meditation---it's all here. Write your appointments in your daily calendar, write down your goals, and see if you're on track for your 90-day plan. I'm not gonna lie, they're a bit on the spendy side, but if you click here, you'll receive a code for 5% off your order.
If you're overloaded with sticky notes and to-do lists, Trello is a great option for organizing all of that information into one handy, and FREE, location. You can download it to your desktop and your phone, and you'll never have to worry about losing your info again. I use Trello to manage info for newsletters and emails at work, to-do lists for each of my jobs and my personal tasks, and to manage calls for art and grant application deadlines by date. It's easy to use, and you'll probably be able to see your desk for the first time in years when you get your information entered into it.
Planoly is a great app for planning and scheduling your Instagram posts. I use the free version, which allows you to manage one account and schedule up to 30 posts at a time. If you're an Instagram Stories user, Planoly can help you manage those, too. Social media can be such a time suck, even when you're just using it for business purposes. Get your photos together, plan your posts for the next several days or even weeks, and let Planoly do the posting for you. It'll free up your time to make art, write that next grant application, or even, you know, cook a decent meal for a change.
Out of all the tools I use, this one is the easiest to create and gives me the most realistic picture of my productivity. I simply created a chart in a Word document, and every time I apply to a gallery, a juried show, a grant foundation, or a shop, I mark it down on my log, along with the date sent, the date I received a reply, and the answer. It's great for keeping track of which opportunities I've already responded to, and how often I'm putting myself out there. They always say that if you're not hearing "no" often enough, you're not trying as hard as you should be. Once you start tracking your activity, you'll realize how much you're actually doing to promote yourself. (And as a bonus, you'll realize that hearing "no" is not nearly as painful as you thought it was!)
How about you? Is there anything you've been using that you're absolutely in love with? I'm always excited to hear about new tools and tricks, so feel free to leave me a note in the comments with your favorite organizational secret.
Now that the hard work is over, I am pleased to announce that I was chosen to be a Selection Committee Member on this year's White House Commission on Presidential Scholars. It was such a privilege to be able to represent the arts in Washington, and to recognize so many talented kids from around the country. I was blown away by the scholars in the Visual Arts category---so many of them are using their artistic abilities to promote change, political activism, and social justice. There were applicants fighting climate change, gun violence, misogyny, poverty, and other important issues. Knowing that these kids are going to be voting in November gives me great hope. The future really is in good hands.
I am super honored to have been chosen to design this year's Record Store Day poster for Tune Town in Mankato, MN. As both an artist and a musician, as well as a longtime record collector, this was kind of a dream gig for me.
Are you going to be going to RSD this year? If so, let me know, and share what you're hunting for!
Beginning Sunday, April 1st, all online orders for my work, including digital prints, original paintings, and silkscreen pieces, will take place through my brand-new Shop section on my website! If you are a current Etsy customer, please be aware that your last day to order from the site will be Saturday, March 31; after that day, the Etsy shop will be closed. I'm excited to show you my new storefront, and I think you'll be pleased with the wide range of works and shipping options. Stop by on Sunday to check it out!
Two years ago I was fortunate to receive a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council/McKnight Foundation to purchase photography equipment so I could learn how to document my work. Our Artist Grantee Exhibit reception takes place on Sunday, January 14, from 1-4pm. I'll have three pieces on display, and will be giving a brief talk about my work.
If you're in the Mankato, MN area, you are cordially invited to attend our Annual Resident Artists Show at the Emy Frentz Arts Guild this Thursday night from 5-7pm. If you can't make the opening, be sure to check the Events calendar for full show dates.
If you're a fan of my work, you can support me by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi. It's only $3, and it helps me to keep creating. http://ko-fi.com/F2F15DLK
