Having lived as an independent artist for 28 years I can tell you that it takes a serious commitment to yourself if you want critical and financial success.

Lots of talented people over the years have told me how they really wanted to focus on making their own art, but could not live on that income. So they decided they would do some illustration, concept design work, or teach to pay their bills while creating their personal art on the side with the hopes of finding a gallery. These artists have become part of the corporate machine, are still struggling, or have dropped out altogether.

The amount of time, energy and promo it takes to make your mark in any one of those industries is extensive.Doubling them up makes it difficult to find the extra time and creative focus necessary to make sophisticated meaningful art that you love.

Even fine artists who have always relied on galleries or curators to bring in the right collectors complain that even though they do all the right things sales are dismal. I can tell you that playing the role of what licensing expert Maria Brophy calls an art banker (a person who spends their own money and time creating artwork that they then “loan” on consignment) is not good business. There are other ways to sell your work.

Where do you want to place your time, energy and artistic genius? How old will you be when you decide to finally pursue your dream of artist freedom?

Are you serving a design firm, publication, or film/game company to help them build their corporate empire? How about investing in your own unique art empire instead?

Let me show you how to build your own in two and a half days at the Artist As Brand Workshop. See exactly what you will learn on the ABOUT page.

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WOODLAND HILLS WORKSHOP

SILA MEMBERS! IT'S TIME TO STEP OUT OF THE CAVE AND INTO YOUR POWER! I KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME FINANCIALLY FOR MANY OF YOU. THIS IS WHY I AM OFFERING THE WORKSHOP AT A SPECIAL LOW PRICE. IF YOU USE THE PRINCIPLES TAUGHT IN THE CLASS YOU SHOULD SEE A RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT MANY TIMES  OVER WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR. COME ON TEAM, PUMP UP YOUR FORTUNE AND HAPPINESS.

September 17, 18, 19 Friday-2:00-9:00, Saturday & Sunday 10AM- 8PM

With special guest lectures!

Register now for this one time special offer of $225 for SILA members and students.$295 for all others. Enrollment is limited to 20 participants.Sign up ends September 12.All credit cards accepted, payment plans available.

Held at the Holiday Inn21101 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 913641-818-883-6110Special room rates for overnight guests$99.00 a night with breakfast or $89.00 without.

Society of Illustrator Members and students only

$225.00!

Others $295.00

Please read the REGISTER page before signing up.

Greg Spalenka

In this high tech world it can be easy to forget the importance of human connection. An infant and mother understand this crucial bonding, and as we grow this personal connection to touch and intimacy never really leaves us. In life our relationship to others reflects how successful we are at communicating our passions, desires, ideas. Union is key.

In business and commerce this facet of interconnectivity is called networking. In art networking we endear ourselves to our peers, fans and patrons to help build our art empires. Our supporters become the mortar between the bricks. I am always on the lookout for alignments, new connections and venues where I can meet extraordinary individuals. I contacted Peter Clothier whom I learned about through his lecture at LCAD. Though we initially met online which culminated in an interview of him for my Blog we also recently had a lovely lunch together. It is truly wonderful to meet like minded souls in person! We realized our viewpoints were deeper than expected and are now talking about collaborating on some workshops.

Mark Murphy whom I just interviewed is another alignment with who I am collaborating with. Roxana my wife and I are part of his Survey Select exhibition opening this Thursday, and I am presenting an Artist As Brand workshop in San Diego in conjunction with the show.

Two fantastic networking opportunities are coming to California. The  Illustration Conference is this week in Los Angeles!  Artists are coming from all over the US to this event. I will be there networking and meeting awesome new people. Who else is going?

How about the largest event for popular art culture in America?! The San Diego Comic Con is held next week July 21-25. I will be there at my booth 5553 and moderating an Artist As Brand panel discussion Friday 23, 6:00-7:00 RM 8, with Arnie Fenner, Mark Murphy, Ciruelo, Tara McPherson, Donato. My new  Flowers of Fortune limited edition art card set and scratch off game premiers at Comic Con too, (and at FlowerFortune.com on July 21) where you can win one of my giclee prints, other printed items, and up to $1000.00.

Events like Comic Con increase your fans and patrons. 125,000 people move through the doors of this convention in five days. Imagine if only one in every one thousand people stopped by your booth. Being a part of this event for over 20 years has taught me the value of  growing your support group in venues like this.

Some people will argue that it costs too much to be a part of these gatherings. All promotion has a price. This is an investment in yourself.

Events like these are important to the artist for exposure, new ideas, inspiration, sales, support, and new connections. Like the mother and her new baby, union and bonding with your peers and your buyers will bring you closer together. Technology has it's place, but remember the importance of face to face.

To artist empowerment,

Greg