Do you live your life from the outside in? Or from the inside out?

With our responsibilities, bills, relationships, media and all the stuff we fill our existence with, much of the time it's as if the world is telling us how to live our lives. It's no wonder we feel we are pulled in many directions at once and have less time in a day to accomplish our goals, let alone think about ourselves.

In the cult of multi-tasking with electronic gadgetry, (which my students insist does not impede upon their studies) research is showing that it does not really help us to focus or accomplish our tasks any more efficiently throughout the day. When the circumstances of the world feel like they dictate our every move, we can become overwhelmed. Sound familiar? Much of this depends on how we perceive ourselves and the reality around us. Perception is an act of creation.

One of the blessings of my creative life is the ability to brainstorm and manifest lots of ideas. Once my mind gets those RPM's up to speed, it’s hard to stop—especially when I want to sleep at night. When I found the secret of meditation it calmed the chattering monkeys inside my head enough for me to rest. However, the real benefit of meditation for me came from the introspection that graced my consciousness over time. I learned the benefits of living from the inside out.

This post is not so much about the virtues of meditation as it’s about taking some time to understand who you really are and what you are really about. When you live your life from the center of your being, events around you begin to look very different.

Greg Montana is a life coach committed to seeing people discover and follow their true purpose. He helped me see mine clearly so I can help others too. Greg has a freetransformational teleseminar that you might want to check out. Another path to finding who you are is to have a good conversation with yourself. This may sound crazy at first, but its just another form of introspection. Check out this Blog post by Chris Guillebeau and take a step inside who you really are. Once you start living from the inside out you will view yourself differently, understand your motivations more clearly, make decisions more calmly, and probably get a better nights sleep!

To your truth!

—Greg

What sustains your creativity?

Could it be new electronic toys, fashionable attire, fascinating information, splendid entertainment, food, money, sex, drugs, rock and roll?

Long term creativity is sustained by your heart. Creativity connected to your true essence will sustain you for the long run. When not in alignment with your core virtue, boredom, unhappiness, and lethargy creep in.

Creativity is like the electrical juice coming from a car battery. If the engine is hooked up properly it recharges the battery allowing it to last a long time. If there is a disconnect somewhere and the battery does not receive that returning jolt of energy, its power is drained and can die much faster than expected.

Loving what you do will help you keep on keeping on when ideas become scarce and economic downturns put the squeeze on.

The Los Angeles Times article on "A writing career becomes harder to scale" by Dani Shapiro talks about the struggles authors expected to confront  as they gained experience in the publishing world. But now it is sell -- or else. Writers like visual artists must confront the realities of a changing publishing paradigm when it comes to promotion and selling product. In the face of these changes focusing on the source of your power  keeps the battery of creativity charged and ready to go.

Knowledge of your product line, marketing tactics, long term strategies  work only if they are built upon the foundation of knowing what you love. Those individuals who are connected to the source of their true being whether selling their art, writing, music, film, etc. can keep a career energized.

Shapiro reflects, “Each time we sit down to create something, we are risking our whole selves. But when the result is the transformation of anger, disappointment, sorrow, self-pity, guilt, perverseness and wounded innocence into something deep and concrete and abiding -- that is a personal and artistic triumph well worth the long and solitary trip.”

Remain committed to empowering truth within yourself, then experience the bliss of your artful journey.

EMPOWER YOUR TRUTH, ENERGIZE YOUR ART INCOME WITH THE OCTOBER ONLINE GROUP WORKSHOP! SIGN UP NOW.

Artist As Brand® has been on hold for a year and a half to revise and update the entire curriculum as well as finish many of my personal projects. Look for a new Website, Workbook, Online Workshops, and Forum. It is a major overhaul of the site so it is taking longer than expected, but will be worth it in the long run. The new Artist As Brand® Workbook will be the foundation for this renovation. To be released as a PDF, Kindle, Nook and other digital versions. The classic material is there along with new strategies for promotion.

You will absolutely love coming here to Santa Fe to take classes. Look for the roll out in July 2021! It will be a renaissance for art career prosperity.

Revamp and Renew! Artist As Brand has been on hiatus over the last year and a half as I moved to Santa Fe, NM and set up shop. It is a new life in a new land. I have been working extensively on a music album which is about ready to launch. Learn more about about Memory of a Cosmic Heart HERE.

There are changes coming to Artist As Brand in 2019. A new revamped Website, Workbook, Online Workshops, Forum, and new AAB classes presented at the School of Lost Arts in Santa Fe. You will absolutely love coming here to Santa Fe to take classes. Look for the roll out in May. 2019 will be a renaissance for art career prosperity. Ride the wave with us!

Blessings and prosperity to everyone this coming year.

Peace always.

I have everyone repeat after me in my workshops, "Keep going and don't stop!" when it comes to creating your art empire. We can come up with all sorts of excuses to not do the work. Steven Pressfield in his book, The War of Artcalls this apathy, laziness, lack of confidence, resistance. You can call our avoidance to doing the work by many names but the solution is always the same; "Keep going and don't stop!"The Writer's Den is a Blog for writers, however visual artists will relate to spirit of its posts. The flow chart above is from the site. Replace the words with your artful purpose and you will understand the message completely. Amazing how all the arts are connected.

Artist As Brand Rise of the Artist Entrepreneur

Thursday, 7/12/12, 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.San Diego Convention Center, Room 8

I am moderating another Comic Con panel discussion on the ever important subject of art career sustainability with more awesome artists.Dave McKean, Craig Elliott, Shiflett Brothers, Miss Mindy, and Daniel and Dawna Davis creators of Steamcrow.Here is the official program description-Greg Spalenka (Professional artist in publishing, film and higher education, Books of Magic, The Ant Bully, The Golden Compass, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader) moderates a panel discussion on art career sustainability. Learn strategies on how to create an income from your talent on your own terms. Dave McKean (Is an icon of popular art culture, professional artist, photographer, graphic designer, director, musician, Arkham Asylum, The Sandman, Cages, Signal to Noise, Mr. Punch, MirrorMask). Craig Elliott (Professional artist in publishing, film and higher education, Puss in Boots, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Mulan, Dark Horse Comics), Shiflett Brothers (Sculptors extraordinaire of comic and original designs, "Oddworld: Abe's Odysee", Verotik comics, Moore Creations), Miss Mindy (Professional artist, curator, Baby Tattoo Books, Disney, Warner Brothers & Hard Rock Café, Mindstyle toys, Nickelodeon Animation), Daniel and Dawna Davis (Husband and wife team of Steamcrow, publishers of monster books, toys, and other cool products).

Kendall Students

I presented an Artist As Brand workshop at Kendall College of Art and Design this past weekend and wow, these students were on fire! They were already formulating ideas for a multimedia community art event to be held at the school next year. I was impressed with the strong independent art spirits in this group. Go Kendall!The amazing life coach Greg Montana was Skyped into our session pumping up the group. Twenty eight students, alumni and faculty stuck it out for the three ten hour days. You could feel the love! See more pics here.

Artist As Brand was a complete success!!! 3 day illustration boot camp, followed by a lovely dinner with the amazing illustrator that created it!... I have had the best weekend ever!! I mean ever!!.... priceless.-Amanda Schaub

I am going for what I want in life. I'm getting my mind, body, and soul together and failure is a foreign word now.-La'kenya Shauray TerrellI can't thank Greg enough for sharing his wealth of knowledge and more importantly, touching my heart. -Kirbi FaganSweet! I will be back next year.Thank you also to Christine Brown, Nancy Hart, and Jon Mcdonald for introducing me to such an awesome school.PeaceGreg

Director Spalenka

When I decided to publish my first illustrated novel, The Visions of Vespertina,Kickstarter.com came to mind to garner support. This online crowd funding website has really taken off and now their are others to increase the competition. I like the way Kickstarter supports creative projects.  It is amazing how well different projects have done through the help of this funding platform.

In a nutshell you pitch your product to the world and see who is interested enough to donate or pre-order your art, movie, book, etc. You offer rewards for specific amounts of product or extras. If you reach your desired financial goal by your deadline the funds are released to you. A video is a helpful tool to perk up interest. The quality of these infomercials range from sophisticated to doh!

I wanted to create a "trailer" for my book and so decided to film actors and my art using green screen technology. If all goes well I should have it up on Kickstarter in about two weeks. I will keep you informed. So for all you courageous Artist As Brand® (yes I now have a registered trademark!) entrepreneurs, crowd funding is a viable solution to jump start the production on your labor of love.

Peace

Greg

Spalenka

A big thank you to all the BYU talent who took the time to add their opinions to this survey on the state of the arts. This questionnaire included responses from fine artists (painters, sculptors, photographers, etc), illustrators, concept designers and animators for film and games, graphic designers, architects, interior designers, environmental design, and some individual art empires. I am curious about those art empires!

Click here for the results.

What was learned?1. The majority of you are involved in the publishing and gallery worlds, some own creative business, others are graphic designers.A smaller percent were in the film and game industries, environmental design, and architectural /interior design fields.2. 52% of you were up and running in your line of work. 48% were having a difficult time, and half of these were looking to start over completely.3. No one was making too much money, but 28% were doing well in their art careers and 21% were getting by. 51% were struggling and/or changing their direction altogether.4. Illustrators were hurting the most. 17 out of 21 participants were unhappy with the state of their industry. "You can make a living doing this?"5. Film and Game designers, animators, etc. fared better with almost half of them feeling their industry was "good enough". The other half wanted to create their own properties.6. One third of the Fine Art group was doing well. The other two thirds unfortunately were not happy campers and were desiring more prosperity.7. Who felt they were living and working from their heart and doing what they love? 31% felt they were doing just that. Most 52% were living from their heart "part of the time." 17% wanted more of that connection.8. Who was ready to take their life, creativity, and career to another level of fulfillment? 2 individuals were flying high! The majority by far were open to taking their abilities to new heights, and 3 decided to take the Artist As Brand workshop to explore their potential.

CONCLUSIONS

This slice of the BYU art community tells us that about half are doing well enough to pay their bills, while the other half are struggling and/or looking to start over. The graphic designers and film/game crowd appeared to fare a bit better, but they were still looking for something more.I applaud the talent that is weathering this downturn in the economy. For the rest of you creative art spirits who are struggling, be the change you wish to see in the world. That change starts with you of course.The economy will always go up and down. Our goal is to implement a strategy now that will take advantage of the new upswing, as well as minimize the results of a down turn in the future. Its important to remain pro-active, so do something!69% of you were living from the heart part time or less. My question is why not all of the time?! Living from your heart is vital for creative/financial sustainability and happiness. I surmise most of us were not taught this concept. Yes, it is is possible to live from your heart all of the time. This paradigm shift in awareness is powerful and profound, because it is really core to who you are.

Learning your Core Virtue is the foundation of the Artist As Brand workshop. For some students it is the most important part of the class. Professional illustrator Katy Betz states, "Deciphering my Core Virtue has given me radical entrepreneurial energy!”More.

I am curious about those individuals who are creating individual art empires. Who are you and what are you doing that is bringing you prosperity? Speak to me and I will share your story! I am sure many artist would love to hear about your success. Please contact me directly.Lastly, those of you who are ready to take their life, creativity, and career to another level of fulfillment, what is your plan? Let me know and I will share your ideas with the art community. Each of you is a singular powerhouse of potential, but when we work together anything is possible.To Your Prosperity,Greg SpalenkaArtist As Brand Workshop at BYUJune 15, 16, 17Tuesday-Thursday 10AM- 8PMArtist As Brand WorkshopProvo, UT 84602Tuition- $300.00Students- $250.00SIGN UP until Friday

I am presenting a lecture about my work and Artist As Brand tomorrow Sat. May 1, 3:00 California State University Northridge, Art & Design Center Purple Crit Room. It will be a show and tell of my art, history, and what this branding concept is all about. See you there!

I am honored to have Douglas Rushkoff answer a few questions about artist empowerment, sustainability, and living inside or outside the corporate model. Rushkoff is one of today’s most engaging and perceptive commentators on the impact of technology and media on organizations and society. A globally recognized thought leader on marketing and Internet culture, he explores how communications affect our lives. Rushkoff is a professor of virtual culture at New York University.Roxana came across Rushkoff on an Etsy speaker series and suggested I might like to hear him. I immediately felt a kindred spirit. Here was an individual who understood how the box of corporate culture really stifled much of the entrepreneurial spirit in people. Artist's became locked into this system too. It is time to wake up and throw off those shackles.Rushkoff is a social media master. His ten best-selling books on new media and popular culture have been translated to over thirty languages. They include Cyberia, Media Virus, Playing the Future, Nothing Sacred: The Truth about Judaism, Get Back in the Box: Innovation from the Inside Out and Coercion, winner of the Marshall Mcluhan Award for best media book. Rushkoff also wrote the acclaimed novels Ecstasy Club and Exit Strategy and graphic novel, Club Zero-G. He wrote a series of graphic novels for Vertigo called Testament, and is currently working on another book for Vertigo as well as a new series of graphic novels for Smoking Gun Interactive.His latest book,Life Inc.: How the World Became a Corporation and How to Take It Back, is an astute examination of the moment in history that currency was centralized and society moved away from local trade and bartering. He demonstrates how corporate culture has literally changed human values and profoundly altered the way we now relate to one another.This Friday and Saturday, April 16-17  at the Newport Public Library he will be presenting one of his dynamic lectures. I will be there Saturday. Come join me!Rushkoff was gracious enough to answer a few questions about some issues I believe are important to all artists. This is an opportunity to comment and possibly start a dialogue with him about how the world of commerce is changing as well as your opportunities in it. So jump in there.GREG SPALENKA: In your national best seller Life Inc. you talk about the how the corporate world reduced an individuals self worth. Artists like to think that they are not part of an industry, but the gallery system and the blue chip elite in particular has its own rules and regulations. How would you define artist empowerment?DOUGLAS RUSHKOFF: Honestly, empowerment for an artist is probably the ability to which s/he can work independently of the marketplace. An artisan can always look at what is useful in the short-term, and just sell a pretty teapot or t-shirt. But an artist usually needs to think in longer cycles, and this might mean creating work that isn't deemed valuable by the marketplace for a decade or more - especially if the work is critical of the status quo. Most people don't want to spend money undermining their world view.So empowerment either comes when the artist can generate enough income regardless of market considerations - or when the artist can learn to live without constant income and recognition. It's not necessarily an easy life, but many poor artists are more empowered than wealthy sellouts.GREG SPALENKA: Most colleges and universities teach art making skill sets with an eye on preparing artists for the publishing, gallery, and entertainment industries. What would be your suggestions for artists graduating with this mind set and do you feel its sustainable?DOUGLAS RUSHKOFF: You mean for artists who decide to become commercial designers instead? Nothing wrong with that, but it's not one's real work. It's no different from an artist working as a bookkeeper or bed salesman. Whatever pays the bills. In some ways, it's harder when you use your craft for some corporate purpose, because you can fool yourself into thinking you're a working artist, when you're really just an artist, working.On the other hand, if you keep the extra work related to your artistic field, use it as zen training. I know great painters who worked their days or nights as scenic artists on soap operas. So they still work their technique, their brush strokes, their perspective tricks, all day long. And then they do their real work when they've got the time. But at least the commercial work isn't so much about conceiving ad campaigns or packaging, and much more about flow.GREG SPALENKA: I stress in my Artist As Brand™ workshops the importance of creating a solid fan and patron base over time, hence creating multiple streams of income. Are artists better off handling fluctuating economic factors inside or outside the corporate system?DOUGLAS RUSHKOFF: Diversify.Thank you Douglas, for your insightful answers! I have some questions around a few of your answers which I will place in the comments. I look forward to your presentation in Newport Beach. I hope to see some of my creative colleagues there too.In Life,Greg

***FOLLOW UP***

Photo by Eve Villa Nuehart

Just returned from a packed house at the Newport Public Library where Douglas gave a stellar presentation focused mainly on the concepts of his book, Life Inc.: How the World Became a Corporation and How to Take It Back Close to two hundred people listened intently as Douglas explained the history behind the rise of the corporate empire. Its a story of power, greed, and suppression of independently owned business and commerce. In the 1200's a model of corporatism emerged which in essence is still with us today.The upside is we are finally beginning to see changes in this system as people embrace their own possibility and manifest new models of personal business. You see it in our farmers markets, online shops like Etsy, and in creative markets where the hand made object is making a comeback.Douglas made the comment that, "Solutions are small." I loved it. Keep it focused, intimate and doable. One step at a time will get you there. These are principles I teach in my Artist As Brand™ classes. In the visual arts we see the concept of simplicity throughout the design world.People asked him what we could do to change a system that has been around for so long and is very powerful. Douglas responded that change is possible through "community value creation." When we empower the community one individual at a time by inspiring and supporting local projects a holistic model of power emerges. Over time this new paradigm of economic potential will give corporatism some serious competition.  It may knock them out or force them to change their paradigm too. Wow! I recommend picking up Life Inc. it will open your eyes.I had an opportunity to meet with Douglas for the first time. He signed my Life Inc. book, and we talked briefly about possibly aligning our forces. Ahhh, what does this mean exactly you may ask? Stay tuned my friends!PeaceGreg

How do you choose to see your life, your family, your neighbors, your city, state, country, world?I just had an interesting political discussion with my parents. They listen to Rush Limbaugh, Fox news and what I consider right leaning news media. It makes them angry that our President (who is not an American citizen according to their news sources) and his cabinet are trying to turn our country into a socialist empire! Wow! What?!Now everyone is entitled to their opinions and I respect and love my parents dearly, even though I disagree with their political views. What struck me most about our conversation is how upset these newscasts were making them. Yet they watched them and listened to them day after day.Buddhist's and sages throughout history have offered that all events are essentially neutral and it's only the judgment we place upon them that infers good or bad, right or wrong. Its an interesting concept considering we are conditioned to look at much of the world through a black and white lens. But the bigger question for me is how does it make you feel? Outward appearances can evoke a specific response, but if you see, listen, feel through your intuition another sense of awareness can tell us something different.I suggested my parents take a media fast to see how it feels not to ingest all that angst and negativity."Why would I want to do that?" my Dad responded. "What is the point? How does that benefit me?""Well, you might find you feel more relaxed, happy, peaceful by taking a break from that bombardment of information," I suggested."No, no, that is not going to do me any good."You can tell this is a big issue for me. I know I cannot change anyone. If I can nudge someone into thinking a little differently, that is a miracle enough for me. That is why I like this video.Peace,Greg

Raise your arm if you love self promotion!I don't see many hands. When I was illustrating full time aspiring illustrators would always ask me how I promoted my work. In the 80's it was generally through source books like American Showcase (now gone), The Workbook, and juried annuals like the Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, American Illustration. They were really the only promotion available except for direct mailing of postcards and other material. During the 90's the internet kicked in and the website opened the new doors of high tech marketing. The last decade the digital world has kicked into high gear with all sorts of social media from Blogs to Twitter to Facebook.When I talk about promotion now we are looking at a hybrid. I call it High Tech/High Touch marketing. They work hand in hand creating a synergy.Much or your promotion these days will come from your own volition. The source books, juried showcases, and community websites are all valid exposure (any promotion is good promotion) however meeting your fans firsthand will take it all to another level. This is happening across the arts spectrum whether it be with musicians, actors, dancers, writers, artists, talented individuals are reaching out to the public and creating their niches. How you reach out can be a way of making a unique promotional splash!Check out this article by Carolyn Kellogg, Book Tour? More like a Safari about a Texas-based couple who celebrated the simultaneous release of their debut books this fall by jumping in their car for an 8,500-mile, 27-day, do-it-yourself tour.Now that's the spirit!Moving out of your promotional comfort zone may be a challenge for some, but pushing the possibilities of advertising can be fun too. Simply approach it with the same creativity you bring to making your art. Who has some cool out of the box ad stories to share? I will talk about unconventional promotional strategies in the coming weeks.To the new box,Greg

Do you live your life from the outside in? With our responsibilities, bills, relationships, media and all the stuff we fill our existence with, much of the time it's as if the world is telling us how to live our lives. It's no wonder we feel we are pulled in many directions at once and have less time in a day to accomplish our goals, let alone think about ourselves. The cult of multi-tasking with electronic gadgetry (which my students insist does not impede upon their studies) research is showing does not really help us focus or accomplish our tasks throughout the day. *When the circumstances of the world feel like they dictate our every move we can become overwhelmed. Sound familiar?Much of this depends on how we perceive ourselves and the reality around us. Perception is an act of creation.One of the blessings of my creative life is the ability to brainstorm and manifest lots of ideas. Once my mind gets those RPM's up to speed its hard to stop it, especially when I want to sleep at night. When I found the secret of meditation it calmed the chattering monkeys inside my head enough for me to rest. But the real benefit of meditation came from the introspection that graced my consciousness over time. I learned the benefits of living from the inside out.This post is not so much about the virtues of meditation as much as it's about spending some time understanding who you really are and what you are really about. When you live your life from this center of your being events around you look very different. Greg Mooers is a life coach committed to seeing people discover and follow their true purpose. He helped me see mine clearly so I can help others too. Greg has a freetransformational teleseminar that you might want to check out.Another path to finding who you are is to have a good conversation with yourself. This may sound crazy at first, but its just another form of introspection. Check out this Blog post by Chris Guillebeau and take a step inside who you really are.Once you start living from the inside out you will view yourself differently, understand your motivations more clearly, make decisions more calmly, and probably get a better nights sleep!To your truth,Greg* http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/

What sustains your creativity?Could it be new electronic toys, fashionable attire, fascinating information, splendid entertainment, food, money, sex, drugs, rock and roll?Long term creativity is sustained by your heart.Creativity connected to your true essence will sustain you for the long run. When not in alignment with your core virtue, boredom, unhappiness, and lethargy creep in. Creativity is like the electrical juice coming from a car battery. If the engine is hooked up properly it recharges the battery allowing it to last a long time. If there is a disconnect somewhere and the battery does not receive that returning jolt of energy, its power is drained and can die much faster than expected.Loving what you do will help you keep on keeping on when ideas become scarce and economic downturns put the squeeze on.The Los Angeles Times article on "A writing career becomes harder to scale" by Dani Shapiro talks about the struggles authors expected to confront  as they gained experience in the publishing world. But now it is sell -- or else. Writers like visual artists must confront the realities of a changing publishing paradigm when it comes to promotion and selling product. In the face of these changes focusing on the source of your power  keeps the battery of creativity charged and ready to go.Knowledge of your product line, marketing tactics, long term strategies  work only if they are built upon the foundation of knowing what you love. Those individuals who are connected to the source of their true being whether selling their art, writing, music, film, etc. can keep a career energized.I am committed to empowering truth within you and your artful journey!Greg