Listening to our heart is an important part of any sustainable business passion. It is the science of our Heart/Mind connection that keeps us going and glowing. Jason Silva eloquently discusses our infinite potential as a form of existential jazz.
Creating Prosperity Consciousness
I am a firm believer in balancing mind, body and spirit in love, art and life. Mind and body are generally first in line for attention, but it is the spirit– with its subtle, underlining influence that keeps us inspired. Spiritual principles can be a tricky subject with people especially if they are atheists, but I think we can all agree that there are universal laws, and intelligent energies in this reality even though we may not understand them completely.
Paramahansa Yogananda was a yogi from India who came to America in 1920 to open people's minds and hearts around the concept of a divine essence that is in everything, and how we can access this power for our well being and others. There is a well done film on him called, Awake.
Here are some edited excerpts from one of his lectures about the superconscious mind and prosperity:
Abundance, material as well as spiritual, is a structural expression of rita, cosmic law or natural righteousness.... Every saint who has penetrated to the core of Reality has testified that a divine universal plan exists and that it is beautiful and full of joy.
If you feel love for all the world’s inhabitants as for your own family, recognizing no inner difference between any of the outwardly different nationalities, then you are establishing a legitimate astral right to your share of earth’s capital.
Those who seek prosperity for themselves alone are in the end bound to become poor, or to suffer from mental inharmony; but those who consider the whole world as their home, and who really care and work for group or world prosperity, activate astral forces that lead them ultimately to the place where they can find the individual prosperity that is legitimately theirs. This is a sure and secret law.
Whether one prospers is not dependent solely upon one’s creative ability, but also upon his past actions, and on his present efforts to activate the astral law of cause and effect. If mankind as a whole behaved unselfishly, the power of that law would distribute prosperity equally to all men, without exception. Those who by potent good thoughts and actions rouse this astral power to create positive prosperity succeed wherever they go, whether they are in prosperous or poverty-stricken environments.
There is a way to overcome the unfavorable results of past actions. The causes of failure must be destroyed and a new cause for success set in motion. Contact the superconscious source of success and prosperity. The conscious mind alone cannot initiate a new cause that will bring positive success in any direction; but when the human mind attunes itself to God, in the state of superconsciousness, it can be sure of success; for the superconscious mind is in tune with this unlimited power.
Absolute success signifies the power to create at will what you need by developing your unlimited superconscious power. Western brothers and sisters need to learn that the mind is greater than its inventions.
...learn that money without health and peace is not success, and that peace and health without money for necessities do not make a complete or successful life.
Exercise the manifesting power of affirmation. ...you must eradicate from your mind all thoughts of limitation and poverty. Universal Mind is perfect and knows no lack; to reach that never-failing supply, you must maintain a consciousness of abundance. Even when you do not know where the next dollar is coming from, you should refuse to be apprehensive. When you do your part and rely on Spirit, you will find that mysterious forces come to your aid and that your constructive wishes soon materialize.
Affirmation: “I am always rich, for I have access to the Cosmic Storehouse. I will go forth in perfect faith, in the power of Omnipresent Good, to bring me what I need, at the time I need it.”
Click on the image to enlarge.
I have moderated the Artist As Brand panel at the San Diego Comic Con for five years now. This time the table was graced with the talented Daniel M. Davis and Dawna Davis of Steamcrow, Shiflett Brothers, Jeff Soto, Melissa Pagluica and Diana Levin.We had a large crowd and reviewed the art of the start, social media, conventions and facing our fears. Much inspiration was to be had by all. A big thank you to my amazing guests and the attendees.
Are you are goal setting, goal getting maniac? If you are reading this you probably have some ambitious genes floating around your DNA.
Defining your goals creates a blueprint for the path you can take, then you must start with those first steps. There is an art to being a goal getter, and this article by Joy Cho, the founder of the graphic design studio, "Oh Joy" shares some wonderful insight on the finer points of staying the course. HERE.
If you want some direction and empowerment on setting these goals for yourself don’t miss out on The Artist As Brand® Online Workshop! This is a great opportunity to work through your goals as an artist to create your own prosperity and abundance!
Get ready for some transformation!
Next workshop begins Feb. 1, 2023 - Sign Up Now! $295 until Jan 15! ($495 after!)
Every decision you make - every decision -is not a decision about what to do.It's a decision about Who You Are.When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes.You begin to see life in a new way.All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunitiesto do what you came here to do.
- Neale Donald Walsch
There are so many movies that reflect the art spirit– usually stories about individuals who believe in something so completely they have no choice but to follow that muse.In "The Worlds Fastest Indian" we see the story of New Zealander Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins), who spent years re-vamping a 1920 Indian motorcycle -- with the goal of setting a land-speed record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.I reference this film because the art of the start is really about diving in there, giving it a go, then not stopping. Like Munro in this sweet spirited film, you keep moving forward no matter what with increasingly greater speed and success.
Art by the amazing Anthony Russo
The new science of spending points to a surprising conclusion: How we use our money may matter as much or more than how much of it we've got. This article by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton shows that the art of spending can be a sort of transcendence. More Here.
This post is about the courage it takes to create a career your way. Artist and writer Debbie Millman presented a commencement speech on the virtues of following your path (also in her new book, Looking Both Ways). This is her art...
Continue to read more and also listen to Debbie HERE ...
Connecting your vision to a cause that is larger than yourself can energize your fan base with people who are interested in the same.WhenWhale Tails Tortilla Chip company decided to use art for their environmentally conscious product and packaging they wanted to align with someone who was as passionate about the ocean as they were. Connecting the iconic marine artist,Wyland to their organic product was a match made in heaven.
Wyland ©
When your art is aligned with a strong purpose a vibration is set in motion that will connect with others who are in tune with it. I have seen this principle happen over and over again in my thirty year art career. It is a profound testament to the potential power of your vision.
Just presented another AAB Workshop for the third year in a row at Kendall College of Art and Design. This school has one of the strongest entrepreneurial art programs in the country. Jon McDonald, and Nancy Hart are preparing and empowering their students to make decisions about their art businesses before they graduate and it shows.Participants of past workshops have returned to share with the new students what they are doing with their entrepreneurial knowledge. It is a fascinating mix of art events, personal projects, and freelancing. Most of these students (some have graduated) are working toward their goals of artistic freedom and financial independence.Madyson Blair for instance has not even graduated but already is selling her self published book, The Weather Inside.It is encouraging for me to see after only three years what is possible when students are infused with the potential to create a living their way. I love it when they get it! Go Kendall!
The well known street artist, Bansky set up a booth in central park and sold pieces of art for $60.00 each. People did not know it was the famous artist's work, but some bought the art anyway, and now own art investments worth thousands of dollars. Ultimately this was great promotion for Bansky (which he a master of), and it made a fun comment on the art world, but more importantly he also made $420 in one day, with a stripped down booth and an elderly man who sat out front doing absolutely nothing.What I love most about this piece of theater is that it affirms what artists in SOHO, NYC have told me before– you can make a living selling your art on the street. The artists I spoke with made between $250-$500 a day with a booth on the street. That is pretty good money folks. Add it up. If you make an average $400 a day and sell five days a week that is $2000, or $8000 a month. Not bad.Thank you, Bansky for reminding all artists that street art can make for a very profitable business.Go here for more-Three older AAB posts about selling art on the street- Taking it to the streets. Artist As Brand Grassroots. Artist As Brand Grassroots Part 2.
Art by Edel Rodriguez
Knowing your rights as an artist is important to your survival. Tattoo artists are increasingly claiming that they own the copyright to the images they create. And when those images, attached to living people, appear on the silver screen — or a computer monitor — the artists want to get paid.This Los Angeles Times article gets into it here.Check out more Edel Rodriguez art here.
Launching any project can take a lot of time and effort, and that is not including the promotion. There are many factors that go into advertising the premier of a product that may have taken a year or more to birth. Business strategist Tara Gentile has some great advice about preparing for a launch and the psychology of your patrons.She says, "Many of my clients come calling because they’ve had the scare of a launch that didn’t preform to their expectations. It’s not because their plans were bad. Nor was it that the product design was subpar. It might not even be that the messaging or positioning was off.Often, it’s because the wham-bam-thank-ya-ma’am style launch that everyone from that super successful life coach to the latest iPhone wonder app developers make look highly effective is actually the wrong choice for most new products or programs.That blitzkrieg-style launch is actually the final iteration of careful planning, testing, and incremental sales cycles.Why is this important?Sure, planning and testing is always a good idea. But really, the reason the initial stages of introducing a new product, program, or service to the public is that there are 3 kinds of good customers and you need to sell to each differently.Moreover, you must sell to each in their own way in the right order. More...
The tagline for publicity expert Joan Stewart's website, The Publicity Hound is Tips, Tricks & Tools for Free Publicity. Personally I would use the tagline, The Science of Free Publicity because much of the promotional research and knowledge that Joan garners and shares is time tested and always pushing the envelope of possibility.http://publicityhound.com/Joan is a master at online visibility and print and broadcast publicity.She has written more than 1,000 blog posts and articles, offers hundreds of learning tools, and lots of free advice on how to tell your story to the world. Her popular ezine, "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," is a treasure trove of tips for free publicity. I highly recommend signing up for this free advice at the end of the article.Joan was gracious enough in her busy schedule to answer some questions about publicity for the artist entrepreneur. Greg: What is the best social media for artists right now?Joan: Google+ is the best social site for ANYONE. That's because it is now part of Google's algorithm that determines where Google ranks your website when someone types keyword phrases into the search engines. As soon as I started using Google+, I started ranking high on Google for my keyword phrases. It can be confusing, but stick with it. The payoff is huge!
Get onto Google+ today and start sharing information that includes the keywords and keyword phrases you want to rank high for.
Pinterest is second best, because it is visual. Also, I see so many artists who are paranoid about having their works appear online for fear that another artist will steal the idea. This is nonsense. I'm betting that most of your competitors are online, displaying their works and linking back to their websites.G: Google + will energize your search engine rankings but artists must get their work online for that to happen. I'm always stressing the importance of of getting the artwork in the public eye. What makes a great personal website and blog?J: Explaining who you are, what you do and why visitors should stay---all within about 10 seconds. If your site doesn't communicate that, visitors will leave. I see so few artists capturing email addresses at their websites. This is a mistake. There's gold in those email lists! To get an email addresses, promise something of value to the visitor.Easy navigation.Calls to action on every page so people do exactly what you want them to do.Also, artists, do NOT use white type on a black background. This is too hard on the eyes.
G: Getting people to talk about you is the best promotion ever. Any thoughts?J: Say something that's either helpful or interesting. If you have a contrarian viewpoint on a controversial topic, say so. Offer tips advice and helpful information---yours and others---that will help visitors.G: What would be some online and offline strategies to finding a target audience?
First, identify the target market.
Too few people bother to do this. Once you have defined the target market, look for them in LinkedIn Groups, in Google+ circles, on Twitter lists, in Facebook Groups, and on Pinterest.G: You are the queen when it comes to the art of the press release. Is promoting through traditional median outlets like newspapers and magazines still a vital form of marketing?Yes, of course, if your target market reads those newspapers and magazines. Since the question deals with press releases, it important to add that you don't get major publicity through press releases. You get them through a customized pitch to each media outlet on your targeted list. I have an entire category at my blog on the topic of pitching at http://publicityhound.com/blog/keyword/pitching. I also offer a free email course on how to write and distribute press releases. More than 6,000 people have taken it. Find it at http://publicityhound.com/prwriting
Most people use press releases incorrectly.
That is, they use them to get major media publicity. Truth is, the media hate press releases. You need a customized pitch so that each blogger or reporter who you pitch think, "This is PERFECT for my audience!" You can't do that with a one-size-fits-all press release.You can, however, reach consumers directly via online press releases. That's the real value. Make sure they include keywords in the headline, first paragraph and throughout the release. Also make sure you use a few links and a call to action, telling readers exactly what you want them to do. My press release writing course explains all this.G: Plus you have great suggestions on how to follow up on those pitches. I was so impressed with the work you are doing I decided to become one of your affiliates. Tell us a little bit about affiliate programs and how it may benefit artists.J: Affiliate programs pay an artist for promoting someone else's products and services. For example, let's say the artist paints animal portraits. The artist should look for affiliate programs for companies that sell thinks like dog beds and dog strollers. You join their affiliate program and they will give you a link that your unique ID code within it. The best way to promote their products and services is through enthusiastic first-person endorsements. Or even reviews. When someone clicks on that link and buys, you earn a commission. When sharing an affiliate link, let your readers know that you are a compensated affiliate.
G: What about creating an affiliate program around our own products?J: If you have a lot of products, to do it right, you need a program that has an affiliate module and automatically calculates sales, commissions and payouts. I have a lot of products and I use-1Shoppingart.com which has an affiliate module. I am their affiliate, by the way, and if you want to take a free test drive and watch their tutorials, you can use this affiliate link: Marketers Choice. If you buy, I get a commission.That's a high-quality shopping cart but most artists probably don't need that.There are many other option. E-Junkie performs very well. By the way, I am also an affiliate for them. Click on this link to take a look: e-junkie.comG: That was great! An affiliate model is one that artists could really benefit from. Any last pearls of wisdom?J: Yes. If you like these tips, you can get more of them, for free, every Tuesday and Saturday by subscribing to my ezine, "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week." It focuses on free for very inexpensive tools you can use to self-promote. Subscribe in the box at The Publicity HoundConnect with me on Google+ HEREFollow me on Twitter at TwitterRead my weekly tips on my Facebook page HEREExcellent! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us, Joan! You are an inspiration.
Brave is the academy award winning cg animated movie about a young lass who dares to look societies conventions in the eye and changes a tradition that no longer serves her generation. It is a powerful and moving masterpiece of a film and I highly recommend everyone see it.The film confirms that following your own road can be full of adventure, and hazards, but at the end of the day it is the visionary courageous art spirits that show the way.We are all brought up believing you must get a JOB working for someone else to make a living. It is simply not true in this day and age no matter what your school or college may teach you. All artists can take heart that creating a business around your art and making a living YOUR way can be profitable in more ways than one.What other films have you seen that focus on the creative individual making their own way in spite of opposition from their family, friends, and society in general?
Spectrum Fantastic Art Live was a beautiful and inspiring venue. Arnie and Cathy Fenner along with their talented and devoted crew pulled together another stellar event that celebrates fantasy artists. My Artist As Brand Workshop was held at TAD (The Art Department). Here you see part of my booth setup with Roxana. More pics to come.
See an Artist As Brand master in action at the ARTISAN FRAGRANCE SALON and Chocolate show this Sunday, May 5th in Seattle!Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume will be showcasing her botanical essences and speaking at the event too. She sells her products to all fifty states and over seventy countries. See how beautiful a traveling booth can look. I will be there too. Stop on by!You must purchase tickets online before the event at the ARTISAN FRAGRANCE SALON website. There are no onsite sales of tickets.
FOR DEVIANT ART MEMBERS, ETSY SELLERS, AND STUDENTS
NORMAL REGISTRATION $495
Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2 and I are bringing the workshop that has been called "phenomenal, and life transforming" back to Kansas City. Learn the secrets of connecting the power of your art to your collectors, and see how these principles can be applied at an event like Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2. It is an amazing opportunity.
All participants will receive a free pass to all three days of Spectrum Fantastic Art Live. The workshop is held at the Historic Aladdin Holiday Inn Hotel, just blocks from the convention center.Learn more about the workshop on the ABOUT page. Read the FAQs page before signing up. See what art professors, professionals, and college students are saying on the RESULTS page.Want to take the workshop but need more time to pay for it? Take up to six months to pay (no payments, no fees, no interest for up to six months) with PayPal’s, Bill Me Later financing option. Details on the PayPal site when you purchase.
$395 for Etsy Sellers, Deviant Art Members, and students
$495 for all others“The Artist As Brand workshop has revolutionized the way I look at everything about my work and its relationship to my overall level of fulfillment. I am certain that the Artist As Brand experience will mark a pivotal point in my career. Thank you Greg, for your hard work, innovation, and inspiration in the creation of something so significant."-Ben Soward, Illustrator, Professor at Southern Utah University, "Your workshop was amazing! Every hour was packed with useful information--I feel like I learned a year's worth of material in only three days. You'd think that having that much info crammed into my head in such a short period of time would be exhausting, but instead I feel re-energized. I've been so focused on trying to find an art job that I'd almost forgotten what it was like to paint something that I felt passionate about. Your workshop showed me that making a living and living my dream could co-exist after all. Thank you, a million times!"-Alyssa Parsons, Student at Kendall College of Art and Design“We received a map and tools—where to go and what to do when we got there. And confidence, that we CAN be entrepreneurs with our own art and not have to rely on other people giving us work. If you are an artist and feel a pull to be making a living doing what you love by your art, TAKE THIS CLASS. No, seriously sign up, and TAKE THIS CLASS. NOW."-Gina Terzino, Artist“Truly life changing and inspirational.”-Chad “Hero” Hardin, Illustrator, Comic Artist“I want to thank you for your dedication and hard work. You are amazing. I believe that small business ventures are essential to the health and wealth of our country. You have found a path through the forest of corporate trees and soon it will be a well traveled road.” -Shelley Masters, Artist, Muralist, Teacher"I really enjoyed my experience at Greg Spalenka’s Artist As Brand workshop last May (Spectrum Live). It gave me a lot of insight and really helped me to clarify where I come from as an artist and as a person. This is helping me more authentically shape my current choices and know that what I’m choosing is in alignment with my very essence! Nothing is more important to me. Big thanks to Greg for guiding and supporting me in this process."-Tara Larson Chang, Artist, Founder TLC Workshops
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A pic from my patron Kelly Alton
Fans, patrons and collectors who truly love your art want to you to know they appreciate it beyond just purchasing it from you. They will send pictures of how they framed it or where they placed it in their home. Above is an example of a simple print that one of my collectors has framed, then took a pic and sent it to me.
How sweet is that!?
Of course some of you may think what is the big deal, it is just a framed poster on a wall. The big deal is that next time it could be a much more expensive piece that is hanging within this fan's home. To take the time to frame, take a pic and send it shows these people are proud of their relationship with you and your vision and are most likely sharing you with all of their friends too.
This is the bond that artists can expect when they connect with the people who love their art. It is a different paradigm when someone buys a piece of yours in a gallery for investment purposes. Generally you will not see that art again, nor will you know who the buyer is.
Nurture these relationships and they will nurture you in return.
I was invited to bring an Artist As Brand Workshop to Seattle through the TLC Workshops. Tara Larsen Chang, the founder of TLC invites stellar artists to inspire and instruct at the Arts Umbrella studio. Greg Manchess, Brom, Iain McCaig, etc. have been guest faculty and so I was honored to bring AAB to this venue.The day before my class, Julie Baroh of Krab Jab Studios invited me to a round robin discussion with Jon Schindehette, Creative Art Director for Dungeons & Dragons at Wizards of the Coast as well as author of The ArtOrder blog and the iconic fantasy artist, Todd Lockwood to speak about the world of commercial art and its alternatives.The students for my class were an amazing group of artists consisting of a wide range of ages. A wonderful synergy developed between all of us and new alignments were created.
The class was small and cozy.
Todd Lockwood stood strong voicing his heart virtue! Much transformation took place and tears were shed as individuals realized their potential. I always feel blessed to share in this awakening of creative development. See more of the workshop here.
The day after the workshop ended I arranged a photo shoot with the amazing model Jessica Lough for imagery to accompany the new fragrance, Noir, by Roxana Illuminated Perfume. Jessica's partner Andre and Tara helped assist in the shoot. What a team! The art spirit is alive and well in Seattle!All photos by Tara Larsen Chang.