Volume 44                                                              Issue 4

 

Next Meeting – April 9

At our Gallery - social hour 9:30 a.m., business meeting at 10:00 followed by a polymer clay demo (details below). Refreshments will be furnished by Pam Blaydes and Judy Wood.

On the Agenda

Spring Art Show

Gallery improvements/usage

Nominating Committee report

 

Polymer Clay Demo Program

Our April demo will feature Tracy Miller, former President of Pikes Peak Polymer Clay Guild. Tracy, who teaches art at the community college level in Colorado Springs, will be conducting a demo to overview polymer clay basics. If you’ve never experienced polymer clay before, this will be a treat. Polymer clay is an incredibly versatile medium that can be used for bead-making, jewelry, sculpture, figurines and integration into other art forms, such as paintings. The color possibilities are endless and a myriad of techniques continue to be developed to make this one of the most fascinating and amazing media imaginable! Find out why many painters also do polymer clay. Tracy will also bring sample items of her jewelry available for purchase.

 

The Tiling Workshop by Laura Richardson held March 15 was a great success. All the tile was cut and according to Suzanne Jenne, looks beautiful! Volunteers to adhere and grout the tiling are still needed, so if you would like to help, please contact Suzanne at (303) 681-0274 or email sjenne@suzannejenne.com.

 

 

¯¯¯¯¯¯

 

Spring Fine Art Show

 

Entry forms are attached. Please observe the deadline and get your entries in before May 15.

 

Suzanne Jenne and Margarete Seagraves are co-chairs and Bonnie Wendelburg is Food Manager for the reception. There will be some discussion at the April 9 meeting on the feasibility of having a silent auction.

 

The show will run from June 3-27. It will be juried by artist/teacher Victoria Kwasinski. Delivery of artwork May 31, pick-up on June 28. The reception will be held Saturday, June 7 from 5:008:00 p.m.

 

 

¯¯¯¯¯¯

 

 

Member News

The Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts is sponsoring a workshop for intermediate level oil painters, "Dancing Lights," conducted by John DeFrancesco, May 17 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Cost is $45. Contact TLCA at (719) 481-0475 for information and registration (limited to 8 artists). 

 


 

 

Other Events/Exhibits

 

Golden Paints Workshop on Contemporary Acrylic Techniques

 

Friday, April 18th At Washington Park Rec Center from 10:00 - 3:00.

In this popular workshop we'll cover the many new Golden Products including the latest Digital Grounds for laser printers.  Also learn how to transfer xerox and drawings into gels, create collage elements with pours and marbleized colors, glazing, mix new colors with iridescent paint, and try the best fabric painting medium.  All paints, gels, medium and prepared grounds are provided by Golden with plenty of product to take back to your studio.

 

To sign up, just respond to this notice and you will be sent payment info, directions and a short supply list.  All events are listed on http://www.goldenpaints.com/, click on working artists, click on Mary Morrison.

Japanese Flower Arranging

 

Jan Cashman, President of the Ikebana International Colorado Springs Chapter,

invites you to visit their website at www.ikebanacos.itgo.com.

Click on Exhibits to view a series of beautiful arrangements – including one spectacular one by Jan!

 

 

 

A Reminder About PLAG’s Website

Don’t forget to visit our own website, www.palmerlakeartgroup.com. Take advantage of the opportunity to purchase one page on the website to display your own artwork for $10 per year (including a link to your own website should you have one). Susie Arnold will set it up for you. She will need digital photos of your work plus misc. information. Susie may be reached at susie@table-rock.com or phone (719) 495-9674.

 

 

 

J  Happy Birthday!  ¯¯

Barb Fraser, April 2

Barbara Roeming, April 7

Sherry Rogers, April 10

Anita Smyth, April 10

Ann Shimek, April 16

 

(If your birthday isn’t mentioned, please let Mary Krucoff know and it will be added it to the list.)

 

Please welcome new members:

 

Andy Borden

 

Marysia Grant

 

 

 

 

Please Note: If you would like to have an official PLAG member name tag, please contact Bruni Berkowitz,

and she will order one for you.

 


²²²

 

MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT BEING

A SUCCESSFUL ARTIST

by John DeFrancesco

 

            From time to time, we’ve reviewed ideas on things artists can do to be successful.  Following are some additional thoughts on that topic. 

            In a recent article in Art Calendar magazine, artist/writer Jack White stated that there are some 17 million artists in North America and that 95 percent earn less that $1,000 a year selling their art.

            He went on to enumerate about a dozen reasons why many artists fail to do better.  Sifting through his reasons, I thought it would be more positive and productive to translate potential failures into tips for success.  Here are eight:

1.       Be Visible.  You and your art need to be prominent in the art marketplace, which includes a whole host of various audiences, ranging from prospects to galleries.  Take time to consistently promote yourself and to exhibit your work.

2.       Be Focused.  Find your style and develop it to the max.  Dabble if you must, but develop a singularly-focused body of work for which you will become known and collected.

3.       Eliminate Distractions. If art is your passion, treat it as such.  Make the time you devote to art (and marketing) the most important part of your day.  Cut out interruptions, phones, chores and errands until your block of “art time” is done.

4.       Do Business.  Become an art business person in addition to being an artist.  Learn and understand as much as you can about the business of art.  Write a business plan, and one, three and five year goals for your art career.  Follow the plan faithfully week by week to get where you want to go.

5.       Cultivate Other Artists.  Never view fellow artists as competitors.  Instead, cultivate them as friends, associates, sources of information, champions of your success and mentors.

6.       Price Right.  When you’re selling all you can produce, you’re being successful.  Even if your prices seem too low, it is better to own cash than inventory.

7.       Produce What the Market Wants.  Selling art is not so much about you or what you create as it is about what the market wants.  Create what you want for your own walls or home, but make and display art that people are buying.

8.       Have Fun.  What good is success if you’re not enjoying what you do?  As Jack White suggests, “Great work comes from great joy.  Do art that is fun.  Select art you enjoy.  If you love what you’re doing, there’s a good chance others will feel your happiness and connect with what you are producing.”

To all that, I’ll add a ninth thought:  Talent is God-given.  Whatever does not begin with God will end in failure.  Pray daily that He guides you.

 

²²²

 

 

 

 

Reminder: contributions to the Newsletter are greatly appreciated. Also, please let me know about exhibits, sales, etc. Call or email: Mary Krucoff, (719) 488-8101 or emkaymonument@q.com. Deadline is the 25th of the month. Also Please Note: if you haven’t received your newsletter by the 5th of the month, please let me know. If you currently receive your newsletter via postal delivery and would be willing to switch to email delivery it would save us the cost of postage.