Whenever a new idea is born it is often greeted with awe, disdain or simply, ‘What?’

When the synapses in my brain aligned to create a class on artist empowerment and prosperity, it was crystal clear as to the concept and worth of what I was manifesting. However, the idea of Artist As Brand is so unique to any education taught in any school, college or university out there, so it's understandable that there are some questions about what it is I teach exactly. This post is going to clarify the principles/manifesto of this course (some call it a movement) and exactly what value you will receive from your time and $295 investment.

What is Artist As Brand?

The goal of Artist As Brand is to connect the individual to their purpose, art and prosperity. Connecting your art deeply with your truth creates a mark that is so authentic and profound it embodies a unique power. Align this vision with your individual collectors through targeted marketing techniques and you begin to build a one-of-a-kind art empire that can sustain you financially for the rest of your life.

ARTIST art·ist [ahr-tist]–noun 1. A person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria. 2. A person who practices one of the fine arts. 3. A person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc… A commercial artist. 4. A person who works in one of the performing arts, actor, musician, singer; dancer, public performer. 5. A person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.

BRAND [brand]–noun and verb 1. Kind, grade or make, as indicated by a stamp, trademark or the like. 2. A mark made by burning or otherwise, to indicate kind, grade, make, ownership, etc… 3. A kind or variety of something distinguished by some distinctive characteristic. 4. To impress indelibly. 5. A brand name.

The essence of these two words together can be defined thus: A creator who has made their mark!

Some fine artists scoff at the word brand. Whether you like the word or not, all visionary creators throughout time who have made their mark on humanity are brands. They are remembered for their impact on the collective consciousness of the planet and many are household names. I call the Artist As Brand workshop an artist boot camp because it is highly focused with the intention of aligning and defining (in some instances re-aligning and re-defining) the purpose and direction of an individual's career path. We start deep in the heart and move outwards connecting your talent to your marketing, patrons and collectors so there is perfect alignment.

The knowledge for this workshop is derived from 28+ years working as a professional artist inside and outside of the publishing, film and gallery industries as well as teaching higher education.

The following is an outline of the course and what students will learn and come away with. This is an evergreen online course. Students get lifetime access to the course including all future updates and resources.

MODULE ONE: DECLARE YOUR PURPOSE: You will learn your Core Virtue. Knowing your core virtue is the first step to establishing a foundation which your career is built upon. This intimate part of yourself is a driving force in your life. It goes deeper than your art. Declaring your core purpose aligns your heart with your art in a profound manner.

Design a Personal Logo/Heraldic Shield: You will create a simple image that will represent what you just learned about yourself. It will represent your Core Virtue.

Design a Vision Board: This template is defined by everything you love in your life—what turns you on and keeps you motivated as a unique individual. The Vision Board represents the niche markets that will be your domain and will make up your one-of-a-kind art empire.

Practice The Art of The Blurb: You will learn how to introduce and represent yourself to people. Most artists do not have a clue how to speak with others about who they are and what they do. This exercise is designed to increase your confidence and generate interest in who you are and what you have to offer.

Every workshop includes special lectures by esteemed individuals who encompass the Indie Art Spirit. Guests include art writer Peter Clothier, licensing expert Maria Brophy, social media master and botanical perfumer Roxana Villa.

MODULE TWO: PLAN YOUR BRAND: You will learn to design your art and product line. We will look at artists who are successful in this area and discuss new approaches to making income from your art. We will define what art and products can manifest from your Vision Board.

Create An Innovative Marketing Blueprint: You will learn to create a marketing blueprint that integrates high tech and high touch medias. We look at these two very different but synergistic marketing models. You learn how to best utilize these promotional mediums.

Learn The Simple Yet Powerful Art of Business and Commerce: Are you an art hobbyist or an art professional? This is a short lecture on straight up, common sense business practices. If you are selling art, you are a business. Start acting like one.

Connect With Artist Entrepreneur Leaders: Learn to create a community and hook up with those who are successful in order to keep yourself inspired and in the company of great people.

MODULE THREE: EMPOWER YOUR PROSPERITY: Commit to sustainability. You will design a five-year marketing strategy that takes a serious look at your finances, living situation and overall goals personally and professionally. What is possible? Connecting to your BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal).

Recognize the Potential of Team Building and The Power of a Mastermind: Your peers can be some of your greatest assets from a personal, professional and moral support capacity. You will start this process right in the class!

Conceptualize a Product Ready for Manufacture: We begin to look at the details of what it’s going to cost in labor, time and materials to create a product from start to finish.

Review: In addition participants will have access to other career enhancing promotional opportunities only available to Artist As Brand students! Some of these details can be found on the ABOUT page. Now you are ready to create your own Art Empire!

I hope this information helped to clarify the purpose and design of my class. Come on and join the Indie Art Revolution! Sign up today! Lifetime access is included and you may complete the class online at your own pace.

See what participants are saying.

To Your Artist Empowerment and Prosperity,

—Greg

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

In a recent post I celebrated Sean Fitzgibbon who finished the Artist As Brand Workshop, embraced the principles and then reaped the benefits. When he finished his graphic novel grand opus, “What Follows is True: Crescent Hotel” I was curious about the evolution of the story and comic, but also how he managed to fund such a beautifully printed, high end, hard cover book with a slip cover.

Sean shared that he had crowd funded the project through Kickstarter and pulled in almost $29,000. I asked him if I could interview him about the process and he graciously agreed. His responses were a gold mine of crowd funding knowledge! Below are a few excerpts from the interview.

Sign up for the Artist As Brand Online Workshop and access the entire interview!

-Tell us a bit about the journey of creating the story for your graphic novel, “What Follows is True: Crescent Hotel.” What piqued your interest in this particular story?

When I was a kid my family would visit Eureka Springs, AR. I was always intrigued by its charming, Queen Anne dwellings perched on limestone bluffs, steep elevations, and serpentine roads that don’t intersect.  However, the most compelling and mysterious feature to me has always been the 1886 Crescent Hotel with its bizarre, dark and varied history. Years later I stayed at the hotel and went on the ghost tour.  What lingered with me was the story of the fraudulent medical practitioner that transformed the hotel into an abnormal hospital. Elements of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Stephen King’s The Shining left me morbidly intrigued.  Who was he and how could something like this have happened?  After conducting extensive research, I learned of his assorted and controversial past.   

-As you wrote the story and worked out the panels of the comic, did you decide to roll out the comic as a series, or was the goal to premier the final product as a finished graphic novel? What was your strategy?

This was my first attempt at a full-page graphic nonfiction book, so the process was all new to me. I always envisioned the book as a standalone piece.  If I were putting together the book today I probably would have broken it up into smaller segments and combined them as a way to build up interest in the project as I’m working on it. However, when I was working on this book I was working on many other art projects as well so the release of various segments or chapters of the book would have been irregular. Nowadays, I’m focusing primarily on my “What Follows is True” series of books so when I’m working on larger books, I can release small segments in regular intervals and then combine them into a nice hardcover edition. 

-After you decided to produce a series or a finished graphic novel was the plan to find a publisher or did you decide to go another route and self publish?

 My original plan was to find a publisher once the book was completed so I submitted to literary agents but was unable to stir up any interest. Just as I decided to search for publishers on my own, I was contacted by a literary agent who is also a working graphic novelist. He represents both graphic novelists and children’s book authors. He submitted my book to major publishers for one year and despite the praise the book received from many publishers, none decided to take a chance on the book. Publishers have become extremely risk adverse to unfamiliar projects and authors whose work they feel doesn’t fit into a specific niche. Nonfiction books are common but graphic nonfiction books are not as well known. 

 After careful consideration I decided a crowd funding platform to fund the printing costs of my book would be the best option. I then had to figure out which platform was right for my project. After researching the various platforms, I chose Kickstarter because it’s a major platform that focuses on creative projects like art, music, film, and it is well curated with quality products and the fees are reasonable.  

-After you decided to crowd fund the project what was your promotion strategy at this point?

Most of my promotion at this point was from my website and social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I find online platforms to be a decent way to promote your work but it’s also passive and I prefer to connect with people directly, so I knew I had to come up with a more effective way to reach potential backers. 

-I understand that there is much preparation and organization for the Kickstarter campaign. Can you share some of the highlights and main points for pulling it together?

 Once I decided on using Kickstarter for my campaign I began learning as much as I could about how the platform works and how to run a successful campaign. I read various books about the platform and listened to a very insightful podcast called Comix Launch.I also had to think about budget and printing costs, production, shipping etc. and I’d use this information to set my funding goal.  

 Another important factor to consider when preparing a Kickstarter campaign is the readability and design of your Kickstarter page. I researched similar projects on Kickstarter that were successful to understand how they built their page. I made sure that not only was the site well organized and user friendly but also that the overall aesthetic worked well with my book and overall brand. Videos are also a very effective way to engage potential backers and tell them about the project, so I created a trailer for my book utilizing iMovie with images from my project. 

 Also, Kickstarter is more than a platform, it’s a community, and before launching my campaign I made sure to support other Kickstarter campaigns that were similar to mine. Potential backers see that you’ve supported other projects, and you get to see how the process works from the backer’s standpoint. Most importantly it makes you feel good to invest in the success of another project.

Thank you Sean, for sharing your process!

Sign up for the Artist As Brand Online Workshop and access the entire interview. After reading it you will be informed and inspired to create your own successful crowd funded project.

I like to celebrate individuals who finished the Artist As Brand Workshop, embraced the principles and then reaped the benefits. Sean Fitzgibbon is one of those people. He attended my live class years ago, and then slowly finished his graphic novel grand opus, “What Follows is True: Crescent Hotel.”

Sean crowd funded the project through Kickstarter and pulled in almost $29,000. He has since then been promoting the book at different venues to great effect. “I learned more about the business and marketing aspects of being an artist from Artist As Brand® than I did in both undergraduate and graduate school.”

Sean recently reviewed the new Online Workshop and remarked, “I find it so inspiring and invigorating! I can't tell you how many times I've recommended your course to various students over the years. In fact I was giving a lecture to students at the University of AR at Monticello on Wednesday and I mentioned Artist As Brand in my lecture as being one of my biggest influences in building my career as an artist.”

“I loved visiting the new additions to the course workbook such as the updated videos, artist examples and interviews. Also, the updated use of social media applications and Google Analytics and other statistics services. I also was unaware of Funnel Software. I found this extremely helpful as well. “

Sean is such an inspiration that I intend to interview him in the near future to share more of his experience. I have hundreds of success stories like this that I will be sharing throughout the months.

Take one step into the Artist As Brand Online Workshop and your art career will never be the same.

Grow a voice- by Roxana Villa

Out of the box solutions for selling art and promoting it, get people’s attention. One suggestion is to start an Art Block Party. Gather all your neighbors who have some talent to share (artists, musicians, chefs, etc.), go to the city to get a permit to close down your street to traffic, then send out flyers promoting your amazing outdoor event to showcase the talent of the community. Now you have an outdoor gallery!

Betsy McDermott Altheimer, associate director for an artist service organization called Springboard for the Arts, located in the Twin Cities had another great idea for selling art. She was inspired by community-supported agriculture (CSA), where consumers receive a monthly lot of produce through purchasing shares in a farm. She thought if it works for farmers it could work for artists. “We should just do a CSA! Only this time, the ‘a’ would stand for ‘art.’”

Altheimer believes that food systems are the perfect metaphor in the reality of today’s art scene. “People have this mythical notion of what a farmer does. In reality, there is a lot of risk. You can’t guarantee every crop will be successful,” says Altheimer. “Likewise, an artist can’t guarantee that everything they do will be great. But he can ask people to invest in the value of what they do.”

Each season, nine artists participate. By signing up for a $300 share, a patron receives nine original works, plus admittance to three parties where the artists will be in attendance. Of course where the program seems a little less than ideal is the artist’s commission — for producing 50 pieces, he or she will only receive $1,000. But it’s up to the artist to create small, sensible works with a budgetary restriction in mind. Limited Edition prints might be a way to go.

The hope is that the artists will pick up new fans and patrons who will continue to follow and collect their work beyond the CSA share. “Our version of success is when the relationship continues beyond us,” affirms Altheimer. Check out her interview and then start your own CSA. If you have other ideas let me know and I will share them in a post.

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.

-Richard Chang is a journalist, editor and writer serving as Senior Editor for Culture OC and specializing in arts and entertainment. I interviewed him years ago to hear a reporter's perspective on the state of the arts as well as his thoughts on artist sustainability. Surprisingly it still relates to what is happening today.

Greg Spalenka: Could you be considered a champion of the arts, or do you feel your strength and purpose is to focus a critical eye on a subject?

Richard Chang: I document the arts and artists around me, and shed light on efforts that otherwise would not get widespread attention. I’m particularly interested in ethnic American art – Native American, Latino, Asian American, etc.

Personally, I am a champion of the arts, but I’m also a journalist and a critic. I have to be careful not to give the public the impression that I’m frequently taking sides in one issue or another. Even in a highly subjective field such as visual art, it’s important for me to maintain some kind of objectivity. So, while I do share a passion for the arts with my readers and subjects, I have to keep a critical eye and distance to a certain degree. I am not an activist.

GS: What are you committed to? Are you attracted mostly to the arts and entertainment fields or is there another facet you would like to explore?

RC: I love being a reporter and writer. I feel that I was born to do it. I am committed to shedding light on darkness and allowing the truth to find a voice. “Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,” as they say. I am probably most attracted to the visual arts field, but the reality of my job is, I have to pay attention to popular entertainment. We can’t ignore the subjects that most readers want to read about. That includes TV, movies and celebrities. As part of my beat, I do cover independent film.

GS: What is the most amazing form of art you have experienced and written about?

RC: That is a difficult question. I have to say, I’m kind of old fashioned. I love painting. There’s nothing like a fantastic Kandinsky, Basquiat or O’Keeffe. I’ve had the privilege to see and write about each one of them.

GS: How would you describe artist sustainability in terms of historical longevity and in the context of making a living from your art?

RC: As for making a living, it’s undoubtedly a difficult venture. You have to have mentors and advocates. You have to have awareness of the marketplace. It’s good to have champions of your work. You need to be your own champion. Don’t stop working.

GS: Historically artists have used the gallery system as a way to showcase and sell their art. At one time the gallery system was king but that has changed within the last decade. What are some alternatives you have seen?

RC: Obviously, the Internet has had a major impact on the way art is viewed, discussed and even purchased. One can simply go online to see an artist’s work, converse about it and buy a piece or two. There are also websites such as artnet.com where you can learn more about an artist’s background and participate in online auctions.Still, nothing beats seeing work and meeting an artist in person. Alternatives to the gallery system may be venues (in Orange County, CA) such as the Festival of Arts, the Sawdust and Art-A-Fair, as well as swap meets.

GS: Most art colleges focus on teaching conceptual and technical image making skill sets with an eye on preparing artists for the publishing, gallery, and entertainment industries. Have you seen alternatives to these corporate models? What about the challenges writers face in this regard?

RC: Sure, there are alternatives. Some art colleges focus on basic to advanced visual art skills, without much attention to corporate industries. I’d say the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is a good example.

GS: My question really pertains to venues for selling your art beyond publishing, gallery, and entertainment industries.

RC: Well, as I mentioned above, art fairs and swap meets are viable alternatives. Municipal art centers sometimes have salon shows where you can sell your work. Also, getting your stuff online and selling it there. But make sure the site and company are reputable.For a great account of the conceptual critique class, read the chapter “The Crit” in Sarah Thornton’s “Seven Days in the Art World.” It’s hilarious and illuminating.

As for being a writer, yes, there are professional pressures as well. Don’t we all face them?I think you have to be practical to a large extent, get your stuff published and get paid. Otherwise, you can write all you want, but you won’t make a penny.

GS: However, the publishing world is changing dramatically and traditional income outlets for writers are disappearing. What are some alternatives to getting paid from your writing without going through the established publishing industry? For instance how could you, Richard Chang thrive financially doing what you love now without working for Culture OC or similar publishing venue?

RC: An alternative to the established publishing industry would be self-publishing a book or writing for a blog or website. Unfortunately, very few blogs and websites actually pay. If one has considerable Internet know-how, one can create one’s own website and collect revenue through advertising. But that takes a lot of work, much of it not related to writing. I imagine the Internet will play a bigger and bigger role for writers, as mobile devices take over the world, and the printed word becomes more and more obsolete. The writing field is changing constantly, and the news isn’t always great for writers -- or content producers, as they’re sometimes called.

Editors Note- Substack and other online platforms have the option for paid subscriptions, not available during the date of this interview.

GS: It appears sometimes as if the changes are coming faster! I have observed over the last two decades the walls breaking down between the so called fine art world and popular art culture. What is your opinion of this evolution?

RC: Honesty, I think it’s great. Art needs to grow and expand. In order for a field to stay relevant, it has to evolve, change, adapt and take on new movements. How does it benefit the artist?It benefits the artist because there’s no longer a strict definition limiting what an artist can do or be. He or she can do or be anything.

GS: Lastly, please offer some pearls of wisdom for artists and creative souls everywhere.

RC: It may sound cliché, but follow your heart. Follow your passion, your vision. Fulfill your destiny. Don’t let the naysayers get you down. Remember, rejection is part of the process. Persevere. Enjoy the process. The journey is just as important as getting to your destination.

What does Artist As Brand mean?

ARTIST art·ist [ahr-tist]–noun

1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.

2. a person who practices one of the fine arts.

3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist.

4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, actor, musician, singer; dancer, public performer.

5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill

BRAND [brand]–noun and verb

1. kind, grade, or make, as indicated by a stamp, trademark, or the like.

2. a mark made by burning or otherwise, to indicate kind, grade, make, ownership, etc.

3. a kind or variety of something distinguished by some distinctive characteristic.

4. to impress indelibly.

5. a brand name.

What do Michelangelo, Beeple, Geogia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Tom Cruise, Auguste Rodin, Apple, Beyonce, Frida Kahlo, Porsche, Picasso, Damien Hirst, Mark Ryden, Annie Leibovitz, James Jean, Greenpeace, Maxfield Parrish, Ray Bradbury, Joseph Beuys, and Emily Blunt, all have in common? They are all brands. A brand is a purpose transformed into a product or service that connects to people, the planet, and beyond.

The key word here is purpose, and specifically your purpose. This is where the heart of your essence resides, where your most potent art manifests, and the strength of your perseverance matures. The purpose inside you aligned with your personal vision is the foundation of your creative power. When your heart is joined with your art, a vital one of a kind signature is formed. This brand is unique to you and your intimate product.

The word “brand” is derived from the Old Norse brandr, meaning “to burn.” It refers to the practice of burning a mark (or brand) onto a products.

The artist’s mark is unique to its owner even if its a copy of something else. However the ambition of most artists is to make a mark that touches their so audience deeply, it burns this symbol into memory. The lifetime of a creative mind can burn a series of meaningful marks into the mindset of a generation, but if their passion is great its possible to start a fire that contributes a brighter light to the world.

Sign up for the October, Online Group Workshop. Your art, life and prosperity will never be the same!

Whenever artists decide to go it alone, make their own way,  fear comes along for the ride.

As freelancer for so many years I understand where this fear comes from. The goal of being secure in your finances, being safe in general  (food, clothing, shelter) are real considerations and pounded into our brains since we were kids. However fear is also an illusion. What would it feel like if the concept of security was an illusion too? Would it freak you out?

We live in an unpredictable world. What I have learned over these many years of going it alone is that security is an illusion. Making friends with that reality brings a sense of freedom and empowerment. I can do what I can in this moment to live in my highest potential and reap the fortunes of what life has to offer. It is a mind set most people are not used to.

The following is short post by Chris Guillebeau that touches on this concept too:

“Micro-entrepreneurship is changing the world. The best opportunities in the new economy are centered on creating your own assets. It doesn’t matter who wins a U.S. election, at least not in terms of how the economy affects you. No matter what happens, the unemployment rolls will continue to be full. Perhaps even worse, many people will remain underemployed by working at jobs that offer few benefits and little opportunities for advancement.

Speaking of opportunities, however, there are now more than ever before. It’s never been easier to take matters into your own hands. All over the world, people are thinking differently about risk and security, and many of them are taking action on their new perspectives. This is a good thing.

What is risky? Whether you work a “real job” or strike out on your own, relying on someone else is risky. What is secure? Creating your own freedom through side projects, independent work, instant consultancies, and creative self-employment of all kinds. What is freedom? The ability to make your own choices. Ultimately, freedom relates to value, which is taking responsibility for yourself by making something valuable for someone else. More...

You know the day destroys the night

Night divides the day

Tried to run Tried to hide

Break on through to the other side

BEYOND THE CORPORATE WORLD

Welcome to my Blogging Ensemble!

*In the early days of Artist As Brand® I would create these blogging ensembles with other talented individuals to expand the reach of our reader base. It worked amazingly well. This is an older one from 2010, but it all stills rings true! Check it out and remember when it comes to promotion, your community of like minded individuals can be a powerful tool.

I have invited some amazing bloggers, art writer/author Peter Clothier, artist licensing expert Maria Brophy, champion of the handmade Nicole at Lillyella, San Francisco painter Anna L. Conti, and popular art culture icon Miss Mindy to expound upon a subject which strikes fear in the hearts of most people in this country: creating a living outside the confines of the corporate world. It takes some courage and a plan, but it can be done! Read how to break on through to new possibilities in the links below.

*****

I remember having conversations with my Dad when I was studying at Art Center College of Design about what my plans were going to be after graduation. My Dad had worked for many years as a salesman for a plastics company. "Well Dad," my mind raced, "I am learning how to take my drawing and painting skills to another level of expertise... I am learning how to conceptualize..."

He would interrupt me, "But what are you going to do when you graduate?" I muttered something about magazines and newspapers and then quickly change the subject, "How about them Dodgers?!"

The idea that I would "freelance" was a scary proposition to my Dad, and frankly to myself. My Dad was a salesman but he still received a salary. Going your own way takes a certain amount of boldness, courage, and rebel entrepreneurial spirit. Making a living this way takes a lot of hard work, self volition, and bill shuffling until you get off the ground.

The benefits of this model help you gauge the value of your worth more directly, shows you how your career is advancing, and allows more flexibility as well as freedom to make changes. The corporate world is like a drug. It is easy to get comfortable with a check that enters your bank account every two weeks. The company sets your work time, job tasks, schedules, lunch time, goals and deadlines. Security never felt so good.

When I lived in New York City in the 1980's my neighbors who were corporate cohorts working downtown in Wall Street, could not imagine how anyone made a living freelancing. I distinctly remember them shivering when they said to me, "We could never do that!" The fear was tangible.

I created illustrations for Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune magazines and was awed when I would walk into the 48-story Time Life building, with it's large murals by Josef Albers and Fritz Glamer in the lobby. The editors, art directors, and staff were amazing people who headed these prestigious publications for years. The Time Life empire of 28 years ended over night when Time Inc. and Warner Communications merged in 1989, becoming Time Warner. Within a short month or two the hundreds of talented people that staffed these magazines for decades were gone. Security was an illusion. Freelancing was a dance with the corporate world that had it's advantages until the economy shifted or the industries (like publishing) that I relied upon faltered.

It really was my renewed interest in the San Diego Comic Con (in 1990) that opened my eyes to the concept that artists of all kinds could make a living outside the corporate machine. Here writers and artists were forging a new model of artist sustainability with their own products. I saw my many years as a freelancer dependent on corporate America, transform into an independent art empire built by my fans and collectors. 

Now I teach others how to become empowered with new possibilities. Pulling away from a corporate paradigm that has been ingrained in our brains since we were very small is a challenge. However there are many successful creative individuals who have broken through stereotypes imposed on them through family, education, the media. Break on through to success as you define it. Become the industry of your dreams.

Peace and prosperity!

Read the other uplifting and fascinating posts here-

Persist: The Blog

Maria Brophy

Lillyella

Miss Mindy

Working Artist Journal

ARTISTart·ist [ahr-tist]–noun1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.

2. a person who practices one of the fine arts.

3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist.

4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, actor, musician, singer; dancer, public performer.

5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill

BRAND[brand]–noun and verb1. kind, grade, or make, as indicated by a stamp, trademark, or the like.

2. a mark made by burning or otherwise, to indicate kind, grade, make, ownership, etc.

3. a kind or variety of something distinguished by some distinctive characteristic.

4. to impress indelibly.

5. a brand name.

What do Michelangelo, Ralph Lauren, Geogia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Clint Eastwood, Auguste Rodin, Apple, Sting, Frida Kahlo, Porsche, Picasso, Damien Hirst, Mark Ryden, Annie Leibovitz, Henry Moore, Greenpeace, Maxfield Parrish, Ray Bradbury, Joseph Beuys, and Elizabeth Taylor, all have in common? They are all brands.

A brand is a purpose transformed into a product or service that connects to people, the planet, and beyond. The key word here is purpose, and specifically your purpose. This is where the heart of your essence resides, where your most potent art manifests, and the strength of your perseverance matures. The purpose inside you aligned with your personal vision is the foundation of your creative power. When your heart is joined with your art, a vital one of a kind signature is formed. This brand is unique to you and your intimate product.

The word “brand” is derived from the Old Norse brandr, meaning “to burn.” It refers to the practice of producers burning their mark (or brand) onto their products. In the beginning, before multi-national corporations, before boards of directors and proxy fights, before mergers and franchises and takeovers, there were family businesses founded on individual enterprise or invention. Before the corporate image or the company logo, there was the individual name stamped on a product, a service, a laborsaving device, or a form of entertainment, usually because it was the proud handiwork of one individual.

The artist’s mark is unique to its owner even if its a copy of something else. However the ambition of most artists is to make a mark that touches their so audience deeply, it burns this symbol into memory. The lifetime of a creative mind can burn a series of meaningful marks into the mindset of a generation, but if their passion is great its possible to start a fire that contributes a brighter light to the world.

Peace and passion, Greg Spalenka

The workshop at CURA in Orange, CA was amazing! Thank you to Carolin Hosac Peters for inviting me. Ron Brown, Dean White, Aixa Oliveras, April Solomon, Katlin Evans, Jeni Geneva are a very talented group of artists and I was honored to be in their presence.

More to come!

©Greg Spalenka

This post by Daniellexo, Etsy’s Seller Education Coordinator reflects on the evolution of ideas and how a good idea can spark a great one.

One morning I woke up to a Facebook message from one of my favorite college professors. I was excited to hear from her; she taught me so many lessons about creativity, and I often think about her when I’m sketching or working on new designs. Soon after we connected on Facebook, I caught one of her updates,

“Even if they seem like good solutions, avoid ‘clenching’ ideas. Hold them lightly, let them evolve and swim. Good ideas often transform into great ones if you give them enough room to play!”

I think I’ve had good ideas, but I know I often don’t give my ideas enough room to play. I wondered why that was, and I set out to write my own plan of attack. Here’s that plan-

©Greg Spalenka

Whenever artists decide to go it alone, make their own way,  fear comes along for the ride. As freelancer for so many years I understand where this fear comes from. The goal of being secure in your finances, being safe in general  (food, clothing, shelter) are real considerations and pounded into our brains since we were kids. However fear is also an illusion. What would it feel like if the concept of security was an illusion too? Would it freak you out? We live in an unpredictable world.What I have learned over thirty years of going it alone is that security is an illusion. Making friends with that reality brings a sense of freedom and empowerment. I can do what I can in this moment to live in my highest potential and reap the fortunes of what life has to offer. It is a mind set most people are not used to. The following is short post by Chris Guillebeau that touches on this concept too:Micro-entrepreneurship is changing the world. The best opportunities in the new economy are centered on creating your own assets.It doesn’t matter who wins the U.S. election, at least not in terms of how the economy affects you. No matter what happens, the unemployment rolls will continue to be full. Perhaps even worse, many people will remain underemployed by working at jobs that offer few benefits and little opportunities for advancement.Speaking of opportunities, however, there are now more than ever before. It’s never been easier to take matters into your own hands. All over the world, people are thinking differently about risk and security, and many of them are taking action on their new perspectives. This is a good thing.What is risky? Whether you work a “real job” or strike out on your own, relying on someone else is risky.What is secure? Creating your own freedom through side projects, independent work, instant consultancies, and creative self-employment of all kinds.What is freedom? The ability to make your own choices.Ultimately, freedom relates to value, which is taking responsibility for yourself by making something valuable for someone else.More...

Cedar City Airport

I departed the plane at Cedar City airport and walked into what appeared to be a living room or a snuggly lodge in the mountains. Plush chairs, side tables with plants, wood paneling and a fireplace greeted me with a down home quality I had never experienced in an airport before. It was really nice!When Ben Sowards invited me to present a workshop at Southern Utah University I jumped at the opportunity. Ben had taken the workshop at BYU two years earlier and now wanted to share the experience with his students.Cedar City is known for Bryce Canyon Natl. Park. and its Shakespeare Festival. It has many cute Inns and Bed & Breakfasts. I stayed at the Big Yellow Inn an elegant Georgian Revival Bed & Breakfast.

The students, faculty and alumni at SUU were so warm and friendly I felt embraced like family. Ben took me to the Centrum Arena where I lectured to an audience of two hundred.

Some of the SUU Workshop Participants (Ben is on the left)

The workshop was more intimate and filled with a group of enthusiastic students, alumni and faculty. I love seeing the lights go on in people's hearts and minds when they dive into the work and see themselves clearly. For many it is a powerful and cathartic when this happens so there are always tears at my workshops. This group jumped in with open hearts and much transformation was realized.

After that first realization they focus on melding their talent with the entrepreneurial spirit. There is real excitement when they recognize the potential of their unique ideas becoming reality. Building an industry around their creations instills a sense of freedom. It still takes fortitude and hard work but at the end of the day the productions are their own and so is the prosperity.

Student, Vachelle Thomas had this to say: "The Artist As Brand workshop was truly transformational. I feel so hopeful, like I have never felt before, and I want to thank you. I've spoken about the workshop daily, with people who attended and with others, to refine my core virtue statement and to sound out opportunities."

That's the spirit, Vachelle! I am looking forward to seeing the results of this group's passion.

The morning before I flew back to LA, Ben took me to see the sun rise over Zion's Kolob Canyon.

It was spectacular.

Thanks Ben! And thank you to all my new art spirit friends in Cedar City.

All photos by Ben Sowards.

Christine Brown

One of the best parts of teaching, lecturing and presenting workshops for higher education is the people I meet. I love connecting with all the talented, passionate individuals who enjoy teaching and inspiring others to greatness. Some of these special people work in the Career and Professional Development departments. Recently, I lectured at the AICAD and CIAD conferences at Ringling College of Art and Design and learned much about this group of professionals who guide students toward career opportunities.

Let's celebrate one of them!

Christine Brown is the Director of Career and Professional Development at Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University.

GS: Tell us about your journey to becoming a Director for Career and Professional Development at Kendall.

CB: Like most people it was not a straight and narrow path but more like a bouncing balloon. It was a journey of learning about myself. I started out in college studying biology and chemistry, then becoming very interested in law and finally graduating with a Business and a Paralegal degree. There was something common in my choices of the various majors and it became more apparent when I began to volunteer at the local Women's Resource Center. I wanted to empower people. I discovered that whatever occupation I chose, working with people to improve their quality of life had to be a big component of the job. Whether graduating with a law degree and working for children's and women's right's or becoming a health care provider I wanted to make a difference.I had a couple of wonderful mentors who saw my passion. They provided me with the opportunity and training to work and volunteer helping students in a college environment as well as at the Women's Center. You cannot help but grow and flourish when you are doing what is your passion. I worked in Career Services at the business college where I received my degree, then asked to interview for the Director of the Career Office at Kendall in 1998. I have been here since and enjoy coming to work everyday.

Besides the paycheck, the real pay off is the box of letters and thank you notes I receive from people who feel that I made a difference.

.GS: It is wonderful when your work is aligned with what you love. What do you feel is the most important and fulfilling facets of what you do?

CB: That I have the opportunity to meet so many students, alumni, and people in the business community, then bringing these constituents together.GS: After returning from the AICAD and CIAD conferences it was apparent that much of the career councilors work is gathering statistics for government funding, fulfilling accreditation requirements, and seeking out job openings for graduates. The amount of bureaucracy you must wade through is immense. How do you prioritize these responsibilities and how does the student fit in?CB: We have had to be smarter in the way we work. Technology has become and important part of the equation in delivering services and information to our students and alumni. I am a one person office with an assistant which I share with another director. When I started enrollment was 550. We are now at an enrollment of 1400 so I have to be creative. I believe my mission is to prepare these students to be self-sufficient and resourceful. I still meet with students one-on-one, but the traffic is down due to the technology we have implemented. Students today like having 24/7 access online to services.GS: Self-sufficiancy is vitally important to sustainability. How do you learn the needs, and ambitions of your individual students?CB: Shut-up, Listen and Observe!GS: Sounds like good advice!It appears that the success of much higher education today is determined by its job placement capabilities. Preparing and plugging graduates into industry positions is a priority. I have never seen curriculum that focuses on creating an industry around an individual's talent and vision. Any thoughts on this?CB: I do not place people in jobs. I provide them with the skills to manage their careers whether it is job searching or starting their own business. Many of our alumni who come to the college and share their stories with our students are running their own consultancies. I personally would like to see more business-related classes geared towards artists and designers. West Michigan has some great support resources for anyone wanting to start a business. Just by the nature of art and design, most artists/designers should be prepared to negotiate contracts, work with clients, price their work, understand their markets and create new markets.GS: It has been my experience especially over the last decade that more and more students as well as professional artists are looking for ways to create a living from their own creations and stories. Have you noticed this shift at Kendall?

Yes, entrepreneurialism is on the rise.

.With the all the new community resources, business education and venture capitalists in West Michigan, I see more people making that leap. It is great to see how many of our graduates have opened their own design studios, art businesses and galleries. I recently met with our new college President who asked me what ideas I see in the future for Kendall. My response was to develop an entrepreneurial center/incubator for artists and designers. Guess what? He liked the idea and said he was sure there were grants and funding for this type of endeavor.

GS: Wow, that is awesome. Go to the top when you want to get something done!  The entrepreneurial center/incubator for crowd funding etc. are ideas all colleges/universities can implement now.You were instrumental in bringing me to Kendall last year to present an Artist As Brand workshop, and are now having me return again this November. What has been the feedback of the students, faculty and alumni?CB: I had students and alum who attended the weekend session call or stop by my office to thank Nancy and myself for sponsoring your visit. It was a great success and attendees felt they were connecting the dots of their life, aspirations and their work. There was excitement in the room because they felt like they had a focus and a direction. It was always there inside of them, but you gave them the window to look inside and discovery it themselves.

Artist As Brand Workshop at Kendall 2011

GS: That is wonderful to hear, thank you. I look forward to returning! One of the goals in the workshop is to bring clarity to an artist's personal vision, then connect that to a plan of action. I find that there is tremendous empowerment when tapping into ones own volition and seeing success rise from it. How do you define success?

Success to me is living the best life you can and becoming an inspiration to others.

GS: Sounds like a Heart Virtue to me!Art is like fashion, it changes and morphs throughout the years. Any suggestions for an artist’s sustainability and final pearls of wisdom?

CB: Stay connected with your art community and do whatever it takes to remain inspired to create.

1.  If you're not making mistakes, you're not taking risks, that means you're not going anywhere. 2. Don't be afraid to ask for help! 3. Trust yourself.

Inspiration is the word! Thank you Christine for sharing your journey, and insight into the world of Career & Professional Development! See you soon!And thank you to all the Career Service professionals who are beacons of light for students everywhere.

If your work is well done, has integrity and is imbued with love it will most likely reflect exceptional value and longevity. So it is with Blog posts. The following post by Chris Guillebeau is from 2010 but still vital as ever:I’m a big fan of Jim Collins’ work, especially the modern day classic Good to Great.Even if you’re not interested in business, the book is inspiring and practical. Nine years after publication, it’s still kicking ass, and deservedly so.I recently re-read my favorite passages, and I especially liked the introduction Jim used to convey how much the book meant to him before publication.

As I was finishing this manuscript, I went for a run and an odd question popped into my mind: How much would someone have to pay me not to publish Good to Great?It was an interesting thought experiment, given that I’d just spent the previous five years working on the research project and writing this book. Not there isn’t some number that might entice me to bury it, but by the time I crossed the hundred-million-dollar threshold, it was time to head back down the trail. Even that much couldn’t convince me to abandon the project.

One hundred million dollars! Can you imagine creating something you love so much that you wouldn’t part with it for less than that? Wow.Aside from making sure I have enough to live responsibly and have my adventures, I don’t focus a lot on money. But I think Jim’s right: most of us have some kind of walk-away price. It’s good to know what it is, because then you know how valuable your work is—even if it’s something you keep to yourself. More...

©Greg Spalenka

By Jack Kelly, CEO ofAdva Mobile, a mobile marketing and technology firm for Artists, successfully crowdfunded via IndieGoGo.Crowdfunding is this decade’s new tool for helping Artists raise money to reach their goals – and it just got better. Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, RocketHub, and other Crowdfunding service companies are being used successfully by Artists to raise money for projects, but the average Kickstarter campaign raises about $4,500.For the Artist with more serious aspirations – and a need for more serious funds – the new JOBS Act signed by the President has a provision that can help.Kickstarter and other Crowdfunding services require “rewards” for donations, but don’t allow you to offer a share of your profits as a reward for your successful project. That’s called “equity”, and only wealthy people were considered smart enough to invest in businesses – and Artists ARE businesses – where the risk of losing money was high but the potential for making money was significant.That’s what changed in the JOBS Act. Small businesses – again, that’s you – can now incorporate and sell ownership in their business venture, to the general public, exchanging a portion of your subsequent profits for an initial investment of capital. Equity Based Crowdfunding could become a disruptive force in the music industry, providing capital for the kind of marketing, production and touring support previously provided only by major labels to large Acts. This level of capital – up to $1 million (and there are restrictions on individual investment levels) is now available to small businesses, including those small businesses known as “Artists”.Continued...

I have heard artists say, "My art is not a product!"If you sell your art it is a product. If you create an edition of prints it is part of your product line. One of my favorite indie artists, Jeff Soto just started a product line of clothing.The name Stormcloudz came to Soto several years ago- "A storm cloud can be one of the most beautiful, powerful and sometimes dangerous forces of nature. I think the same can be said of art. It can be beautiful and at the same time it has the power to make people think and great art can make people act! I titled my last NYC art exhibit Stormclouds and thought that someday it could be a fun name for a brand."A brand you say? Jeff Soto is the brand, Stormcloudz is the name of the company.

Stormcloudz is rooted in Soto's love of the natural world, with designs featuring owls, skulls, flowers and mythical beasts. Visually the line takes inspiration from Soto's involvement in different artistic genres- graffiti, gig posters, skateboard graphics, illustration and fine art. It is very much an apparel project designed by an artist for people with artistic, creative minds.Currently, Stormcloudz apparel can be found online at Tilly's.He also asks to keep in touch on his Facebook page, Twitter feed and website. He would also like you to get involved! They have stickers and want to give them to you. Send a self addressed stamped envelope to:STORMCLOUDZ Stickerzc/o F4D Studios9960 Indiana Ave, Ste 9Riverside, CA 92503Jeff Soto is turning into an Artist As Brand master! Go Jeff!

Pinterest is one of the new stars of the social media world.Set up an account at Pinterest.com. You can then start creating boards where you can "pin" photos and videos around a common theme that you find on the Web. This is another way of sharing your story, your lifestyle, and connect to others who love what you love too. I have not started a board yet but Roxana is obsessed and creates some of the most beautiful ones I have seen. Check them out HERE.Here is an article on Copyblogger explaining "56 Ways to Market Your Business on Pinterest."Who is using Pinterest and how is it helping you?