Mollie February 4th, 2008 Business , Mixed Media , Show Comments(0)

Below I’ve attached an image taken from www.framations.com of a small selection of the Centerpieces created for the Marti Gras Event. For more information go to www.bcifoundation.org/Events.htm and click the tab “Behind the Mask.”

Mollie January 16th, 2008 Business , Mixed Media , Show Comments(0)

I have the concept and most of the materials needed to complete the base and surround for my centerpiece (see below inspiration). Now I need to narrow the ideas for the arm and hand.

My ideas
All Seeing Eye with palmistry symbols: I love this idea, but I’ve had a hard time finding the right materials to complete it.

Harlequin diamonds: Simple and elegant, the contrast of the bright colors against the black & white centerpiece would stand out nicely.

Inspiration found at www.viewimages.com

Mollie September 20th, 2007 Business , Show Comments(0)

Here is the postcard that I designed to send out to friends and family for a Meet and Greet at Framations Gallery.

Mollie August 15th, 2007 Business Comments(0)

Yesterday my business cards arrived in the mail from www.overnightprints.com; and I’d like to thank Matt for suggesting them! I would definitely suggest them to others. The detail is fantastic, the card stock is nice and thick, and the glossy paper exceeded my expectations. I’m definitely going to be proud to hand them out now.

Guess this means there’s no excuse for me to start promoting myself a bit? Actually, I’ve already emailed nearly everyone on my contact list to let them know where my work is hung, and I’m considering setting something up to do a meet and greet with friends and family.

Mollie August 7th, 2007 Business Comments(2)

With the possibility of selling some of my work comes the responsibility of keeping records. My ten years working for H&R Block has shown me the advantages of being organized and prepared for tax time. Today I created an Excel document that will allow me to log in each expense, any income, and even an inventory of all my artwork. Of course creating the document is the easy, collecting all the information that needs to be in it is the tedious part.

Tonight I hope to wrap up most of my projects around the house. The sooner I get them out of the way, the sooner I can focus on what I need to do to get this art business off the ground.

My To Do List

• Find a place that prints professional business cards and pamplets relatively cheap.
• Finish creating a promotional pamphlet.
• Go to the hardware store and get wood for cradles and possibly framing.
• Build cradles onto the mixed media pieces and prepare them for hanging.
• Purchase more mat board, hangers, and frames from the craft store.
• Find someone to make prints of some of the larger paintings. Some for me and some to sell.
• Mat and Hang a few more drawings.
• Finish some of the dozen pieces I’ve started but never finished.

I’m sure there are more, but that’s what I have so far.

Mollie August 6th, 2007 Business , Show Comments(0)

This weekend was crazy. It’s funny how one phone call can change so much. Just last Friday I was thinking about painting the bathroom and building a window seat in the living room, and now I’m consumed by getting my work ready to show. I don’t have many pieces that are ready to hang so I was busy cutting mats and framing last night. Today I need to do some touch ups and try to get a couple of the smaller paintings ready. All my walls are going to be bare; I can’t tell you how much it freaks me out to think that a few pieces might sell before I have anything else ready. I have to get working!

Yesterday I created new business cards, and by the end of the week I hope to have a new artist statement and a pamphlets created to display next to my work. Tonight I need to get a look at what content some of the other artist’s have in their pamphlets.

Each piece of art that I create has a special place in my heart; it’s incredibly hard to let them go. So far I’ve only had one small breakdown thinking about selling my babies and never seeing them again. I absolutely refuse to part with them until I have good prints made at least for myself. Is it truly horrible to hope that I’m not a success so I don’t have to say goodbye? I’m sure it will get easier, but it already feels like an empty nest and they aren’t even gone yet.

Mollie August 6th, 2007 Business , Show Comments(0)

Quite a while back, before I joined the Oak Leaf Artist Guild, I inquired about getting my work shown at Framations Gallery. At the time there wasn’t any space available, and I was put on their waiting list. I didn’t hold out much hope of getting in, since it was clear that the current artists in residence didn’t plan on going anywhere any time soon. Since then, I’ve conversed with the owners at a couple other events and even had a couple pieces in an Oak Leaf Show at the gallery.

Last Saturday, I received a phone call from Amy a co-owner at Framations; who asked if I was still interested in showing my work at the gallery and if I wanted to be one of their resident artists. Of course I said yes, and the next day (Saturday) I went down there and picked out a space. Amy explained that none of the current artists had left, rather due to remodeling a few more spaces opened up. She also mentioned that this website and some of the things I had said in this blog helped to make up their mind to approach me from the other twenty something applicants. Guess that means I need to get to work hehe.