Presenting an Artist As Brand Workshop in Cali, Colombia via the Colombo Americano in association with the American Embassy, Festival Calicomix and the Universidad ICESI was an amazing experience! Michael Cadena the Director of Cultural Affairs with Colombo Americano was a gracious host along with his team of photographers, videographers, translators, and organizers. I am grateful for his focus and attention.

The participants were  group of students, professionals and professors. There is a tremendous desire for artists to make a living from their talent but they have some hurdles to jump, one which is Colombia's unreliable postal service.  There was a lot of brainstorming  on how to overcome these challenges and a much needed confidence booster.

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 The government which subsidized much of the art for years has now pulled back and the art communities suffer. They must find their own way now.

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The workshop was very much needed and I hope to return to continue the teaching and inspire this group to start their own art festival.

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Overall the artists were passionate and talented. The language difference was not an issue as we had instantaneous translating via headsets and microphones. It was awesome.

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I was in a national paper and...

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 on TV answering questions HERE.

I presented lectures at Colombo Americano and a special library of comic art keeping my translators very busy! I enjoyed Cali and Colombia very much and hope to return soon.

Get your hashtag mojo on! #HashTagMojo These little symbols have power to move your visibility up the search engine chain in a big way. It's all about metadata folks. There are some great resources and articles about how to use hashtags effectively.Overall view on hashtags- Here.Trending hashtags- Hashtags.orgAnd why its ruining the English language- Here.Ha!

The Artist As Brand Workshop is coming toKendall College of Art and Design for a three dayclass, Thurs-Sat November 20-22.

This is the first time an AAB Workshop has been open to the public in Grand Rapids! It is a great opportunity  to learn the Artist As Brand principles and then see how they can apply at an event like the Grand Rapids Comic Con that same weekend.The Artist As Brand workshop is the only course that aligns the purpose of your artistic vision with entrepreneurial principles for long term prosperity. Get ready to pump up your art career in a brand new way. 10:00 am - 8:00 pm each day.

$150 for Kendall students and alumni$250 for the general public

$150 Click Here

$250 Click Here

Learn more about Artist As Brand Here.

"I needed help getting my own personal art and business off the ground and running. That is where the Artist As Brand Workshop came to my rescue. It allowed me to plan for my success while still having time to create! It even made me a better artist in general, because it gave me the confidence to KNOW that I can succeed with my art. Knowing I could succeed with my own art made me want to BECOME a better artist!"-Alex Ruiz“Setting out on a career in art is like walking a tightrope. For many the way will prove to be too narrow, the tensions will change, or the wire will take an unexpected turn. But what if you could turn the tightrope into a road? The Artist As Brand Workshop contains all the tools you need to build the road to success in art: tools, motivation, and personal insight. It is invaluable. I highly recommend it.”-Todd Lockwood“Greg’s class helped me to clarify my vision and build confidence in my goals. Deciphering my Core Virtue has given me radical entrepreneurial energy!”-Katy Betz“I can’t thank Greg enough for sharing his wealth of knowledge and more importantly, touching my heart. I feel more confident in what I am capable of as an artist and a business woman. I now can answer honestly the hard questions about the future of my business and can see the Art market in a different perspective. Greg proves that you can do what you love and have sustainability. I am empowered!”-Kirbi Fagan (KCAD graduate)

See what other art professors, professionals, and college students are saying HERE.

Please read the Artist As Brand policies HERE.

I have been following Chris Guillebeau and his Art of Non-Comformity newsletter for a few years now. He has felt his way through the entrepreneurial maze with wonderful result. It is always fascinating when you go it alone because you must confront yourself day after day. Your success depends upon your effort.This journey can take some interesting twists and turns and may not turn out as you expected. This article by Chris reflects this sentiment and why going your own way can bring delightful results, even if it takes a while to see them."A long time ago, I sent a thick packet of information to Yale, explaining in considerable detail how awesome I was and why they should accept the honor of my giving them tens of thousands of dollars a year.They sent me back a short, polite letter, saying that while they were happy to accept my initial contribution of $75, they had plenty of other applicants, even more qualified and more awesome than me, all willing to pony up the tens of thousands of dollars for the next few years.Regretfully, I was informed, the $75 was all I'd be able to pay them. "We wish you well in your future endeavors" was how they ended their brief reply, and they didn't even follow me on any online social networks.Every year, a large number of young people go through the same ritual -- hours upon hours spent explaining why they deserve the privilege of becoming indebted to a system that probably won't train them for a job. For many (not all, but many), the main benefit of graduate school, or even college or university in general, is a form of life avoidance: I'm not sure this is what I want, but at least I won't have to think about it for a while."More...

Wholesale to Retail Equation

Most artists underprice their work. I have been guilty of this too but have been slowly kicking up my prices based on the following marketing formula.

• Cost of Goods = Supplies + Overhead + Labor

• Cost of Goods x 2 (or more) = Wholesale Price

• Wholesale Price x 2 (or more) = Retail Price

Cost of Goods- This is all the energy, time, and money you put into making your art. What do you want to make for an hourly wage? Work up a number.

Cost of Goods x 2- Double the cost of goods amount (or more)and you have arrived at your wholesale price. This means you have paid your bills for making the art and have made a profit.Wholesale Price x 2- Double the cost of your wholesale amount  (or more) and you have arrived at your retail price. This means you have paid your bills for making the art and have made a profit and if you are selling the item will make twice the amount again. If it is your gallery or other vendor who is selling your items they will be making income too.So if you are selling your art retail yourself then you should be making a nice profit overall per piece. If you are having someone else sell it retail for you then you still make a profit selling wholesale but the amount is reduced.Got it? Great! Probably time to pump up your prices. If you want to raise them slowly over a year to two year period that is OK but look at everything you sell from here on out using the the retail equation ASAP. 

I have been talking about the importance of your niche markets for a long time but I like the terminology of a micro audience even better. The idea that your fans, patrons and collectors are considered a market in the first place is not very intimate. Your supporters are more like a family than a market place so I will be changing my vocabulary around this issue.

An audience is much more snuggly than a market place don't you think?

Here is a great article about how micro audiences are changing the way the studios and tv stations create their shows. As a singular artist you are doing the exact same thing but on an even more intimate level. It is all about people, your people.

Go here.

Artist As Brand-Rise of the Artist Entrepreneur was the title of my San Diego Comic Con panel on art career sustainability with Donato Giancalo, Daniel Davis of SteamCrow, Drew and Maria Brophy, and Dawn Schiller.We had a nice crowd and a super conversation on the art of the start (begins in the heart), and outward toward what projects to make, how to connect with our fans, what social media is working or not, and ways to integrate your lifestyle into all of it.Donato spoke about listening to your inner path, Daniel talked about the power of experimentation in art and marketing, Drew reflected upon the importance of  fusing lifestyle and art, Maria touched upon licensing agreements, and Dawn about being respectful of your fans and fellow artists and many more topics.I thank my incredibly talented panel for sharing their expertise and love with the comic con audience which was filled with newbie art professionals.I was also signing my new book published by Titan Books in London. See more about my book and Comic Con here.

Love this woman!

 Looking for feedback on your website?Peekis a user tester platform that allows random internet users to give you feedback on your site. It is a great way to learn how your site is communicating from someone who comes across your site for the first time.Peek is in BETA format at the moment so it is free! I highly recommend that you take advantage of this offer.You can see the results of a critique of Roxana Illuminated Perfume,here. It is fascinating to watch and learn from.

In case you missed these pics on Facebook here is the amazing group that participated in the Denver Artist As Brand Workshop. Jon Schindehette, Tom Samo, Keith Goble, Cayce Goldberg, Crystal Sully, Tawny Fritz, Elliot Lang, Michelle Barnes, Kayla Edgar, Charlotte Ricker rocked their art empires at the Helikon Gallery.Cayce is the brainchild behind this amazing forward thinking gallery. Go and see Helikon now and see what the future of a gallery can be. Check out each of these professional artists and the amazing Jon Schindehette, who is also a mentor to artists everywhere.Lastly, I spoke at the Denver Comic Con about my career and moderated an art career sustainability panel with Jon Schindehette, Daniel Davis, Dave Rapoza, and Michael C. Hayes. I will be back in Denver next year!

 Join me at the Denver Comic Con, Friday, June 13th, 2014 - 5:15 PM - Room 203 for a panel discussion on art career sustainability.

Artist As Brand: Rise of the Artist Entrepreneur

Learn strategies on how to create an income from your talent on your own terms.On the panel will be Jon Schindehette (Award-winning Creative Director for Wizards of the Coast, Treehouse Brand Stores, Founder of The ArtOrder community, mentor), Daniel Davis (Artist/Designer of Steam Crow, publishers of monster books, serigraphs, and other art products), David Rapoza (Illustrator, creator of Skull and Shark! Bethesda, Hasbro, Blizzard, Universal, Lionsgate, MTV, Riot Games), Michael C. Hayes (Award winning oil painter and illustrator, Magic the Gathering, Blizzard Entertainment, LucasArts and numerous book covers).Don't miss it!

June 11-12 10:00 - 8:00 $195

Register now at Helikon Gallery

3675 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80216

720-502-5635

I was surrounded  by a powerhouse of talented Goddesses at the Kansas City Artist As Brand workshop. The workshop was sponsored  by the Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Artist thanks to Vania Soto (behind to right) and president of the chapter, Carlos Gomez. This group of women (from left) Eva Maria Toker, Eugenia Ortiz, Vania and Pavina Tonsavanh are going to ROCK! I see amazing success in their futures.

To present a workshop, and man a booth at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live all in one week is a lot of work but also very fulfilling. You can see my booth set up here. I was projecting images on fabric at the back of the booth. A few highlights of interesting booth design are below. Click on the images to see larger.

Awesome gallery look with lights.

Black on Black works nicely here.

A tad messy but nice use of tiering the art upward to get more real estate out of the booth.

 David Frizell was in my AAB workshop two years ago and has embraced the convention circuit by building a system that goes up and comes down in a short period of time. He also has his family there as an amazing crew to help with the set up and break down. Go David!

If you come across cool booth designs please let me know and I will share them here on the blog.

In the past I recommended Facebook as being one of the fantastic four social media venues to use when it came to promoting your work. Your Website, Blog and Twitter are the other three. Of course that list keeps changing, but in general these four working together create a powerful synergy.I am beginning to rethink Facebook. Recently it appears there is a reduced return on investment for using this service. There are many articles out there on the decreasing reach Facebook posts actually have.HERE is a great piece on why this is happening, and why it may be a good time to start checking out other venues like Google+. 

The Artist As Brand Workshop is returning to Spectrum Fantastic Art Live in Kansas Cityfor a two day class, Wed. & Thurs. May 7 & 8.

All participants receive a free 3 day pass to Spectrum Fantastic Art Live (May 9-11). 

This is a great opportunity for all artists to learn the Artist As Brand principles and then see how they can apply at an event like SFAL. The Artist As Brand workshop is the only course that aligns the purpose of your vision with entrepreneurial principles for long term prosperity. Get ready to pump up your professional art career in a brand new way. 10:00AM-8:00PM both days. Will be held at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Building, 2001 Grand Blvd Ste 700, Kansas City (one half mile from the convention center).

Registration is $195 and ends April 27.

Learn more about Artist As Brand HERE.

"I needed help getting my own personal art and business off the ground and running. That is where the Artist As Brand Workshop came to my rescue. It allowed me to plan for my success while still having time to create! It even made me a better artist in general, because it gave me the confidence to KNOW that I can succeed with my art. Knowing I could succeed with my own art made me want to BECOME a better artist!"-Alex Ruiz“Setting out on a career in art is like walking a tightrope. For many the way will prove to be too narrow, the tensions will change, or the wire will take an unexpected turn. But what if you could turn the tightrope into a road? The Artist As Brand Workshop contains all the tools you need to build the road to success in art: tools, motivation, and personal insight. It is invaluable. I highly recommend it.”-Todd Lockwood

See what other art professors, professionals, and college students are saying HERE.

Please read the Artist As Brand policies HERE.

I am an advocate of DIY publishing. Save yourself the time of looking for another company to do it for you and self publish. Just get it done. It may sound like I am making light of this process which I am not– it will be hard work and take some cash to self publish even if the end result is an e-book. Bottom line is get the product made.

This post is about what to do after that product is living and breathing. Promotion comes next and one component of that is the book tour. The book tour usually consists of traveling from place to place to read and share your creation, but that is only part of it.

Here is a great post that offers some strategies.

Joan Stewart is a master at online visibility and print and broadcast publicity.I interviewed her last year and she shared all sorts of great promotional tips HERE.She is offering a free download of “The Best of the Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week of 2013.” This is a compilation of the best tips from her popular ezine of last year. To download go HERE.I also encourage you to sign up for her newsletter HERE.

What are the important shopping dates throughout the year and why should you care? Keeping these dates in mind will help you strategically plan out sales and marketing campaigns and make sure that you're able to optimize for seasonal traffic spikes and create content that is timely and effective.Great article and calendar HERE

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

The Artist As Brand Workshop is returning to Spectrum Fantastic Art Live in Kansas Cityfor a two day class, Wed. & Thurs. May 7 & 8.

All participants receive a free 3 day pass to Spectrum Fantastic Art Live (May 9-11). 

This is a great opportunity for all artists to learn the Artist As Brand principles and then see how they can apply at an event like SFAL. The Artist As Brand workshop is the only course that aligns the purpose of your vision with entrepreneurial principles for long term prosperity. Get ready to pump up your professional art career in a brand new way. 10:00AM-8:00PM both days. Will be held at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Building, 2001 Grand Blvd Ste 700, Kansas City (one half mile from the convention center).

Registration is $195 and ends April 27.

Learn more about Artist As Brand HERE.

"I needed help getting my own personal art and business off the ground and running. That is where the Artist As Brand Workshop came to my rescue. It allowed me to plan for my success while still having time to create! It even made me a better artist in general, because it gave me the confidence to KNOW that I can succeed with my art. Knowing I could succeed with my own art made me want to BECOME a better artist!"-Alex Ruiz“Setting out on a career in art is like walking a tightrope. For many the way will prove to be too narrow, the tensions will change, or the wire will take an unexpected turn. But what if you could turn the tightrope into a road? The Artist As Brand Workshop contains all the tools you need to build the road to success in art: tools, motivation, and personal insight. It is invaluable. I highly recommend it.”-Todd Lockwood

See what other art professors, professionals, and college students are saying HERE.

Please read the Artist As Brand policies HERE.