I-Park Artist Enclave 2009

Wow, this is the most wonderful artist residency!  They take such great care of the artists and I met such creative people from around the world.  The environmental artists make the 300 acre walk chock full of wonder and amazement.  I was given my own studio to create in and it had a gas fireplace and a/c unit.  All creature comforts were afforded us, as well as the creatures themselves filling the night air with a full chorus of calls.  Close to the Long Island Sound and to a nearby waterfall, this place was magical in so many aspects.  My favorite part was the artists I met.  Sharing a house, meals and our art was a really beautiful experience.

The work I created there can be viewed on my website:  www.CallieArt.com

I ended up selling two of my new creations, one to a fellow artist from the Netherlands, the other to a "friend of I-Park".  I can not speak enough about what a simply fantastic time I had during my two week stay.  I will truly miss my new friends!  

Get noticed!

Association of Women Artists, Invited Member, Inducted 2007

I always belong to one artist group or another. It is a way of meeting like-minded people, and getting into shows consistently. Association of Women Artists is a wonderful organization, if you are a woman. They have four or five shows a year, at different locations, with a juried application process. Every town probably has a group similar to this. The need for showing art is everywhere, so it makes sense that their is a venue to support this need. I also belong to the Rockaway Artist Alliance based in Fort Tilden, Queens. It is right on the water, on Government property, and is a fun get away for any Brooklynite. It is through this group that I heard of the open call from the MTA, Arts for Transit commission. I also belong to New York University's Administrative Management Council's art committee. We are in our 11th year of showing and sharing, the artwork of NYU administrators.

You can not underestimate the value of networking and should pursue opportunities that give your work public exposure, because being seen is half the battle. Selling is a whole other story....

Explore the world of Etsy.com

callieart.etsy.com


Selling on line is a mystery. Buyers have to trust that you will deliver the goods, and that the goods will be top quality. If you are one who desires to purchase one of a kind, quite unique artwork at an affordable price point, then this is the place for you.


Displayed in this store are many things of interest. The objects that most catch my eye is jewlery made out of wool. This seems to be a new fad, also made out of wool are cuddely little animals. I put in the word octopus and find everything from wall decals to earings made from molds of real octopi legs. Slightly disturbing, all extremely facinating. It is a great way to buy unique items from all over the world, with set pricing. Happy searching! callie

Tough times, easy measures..

I am told it is a tough time to make money on artwork, ok, then it stands to reason that it is not a good time to spend money on advertising my art either.  So how do I get my work out there to be seen?  Find free publicity to showcase your artwork!   

I have had several people find work on my site and ask to use an image on a book and magazine covers.  It provides great exposure, at no cost to anyone.  I also contribute to a monthly zine called Mungbeing.com.  I enjoy waiting on the new theme annoucement each month and being part of a collective.  During the winter holidays I sent out postcards with my work on it to a list of magazine art editors.  From that I received interest from a new magazine, LX magazine. They are doing an article about my work to be published in May!  I found the magazine in my gift bag from an art auction fund raiser I donated a painting to.  To sum up, reach out and offer the world your work, and enjoy the wonderful responses!

A writer friend who I met at a artist colony in Costa Rica, just came out with a book about the "In -N- Out Burger" food chain.  It is all about the history as well as the family behind the first burger joint to invent the drive-thru and two way speaker box.  This friend needed publicity shots to be taken for her book tour.  I did two photo shoots in barter for her networking abilities.  She also a writer for Business Week and included me in an article on artist survival techniques.  Barter, barter, barter, is my mantra.

Art Licensing, how to begin...

Wow, the idea of "renting out my images", for a year or so and never losing the original, certainly is an enticing venture worth trying. What I have going for me is that my iridescent acrylic on black etch paper work is really unique. To think that no one in the world works quite the way makes me want to share more of it, not hide it away in my flat files at home....

At the moment I have work for sale in the flat files at Metaphor Contemporary Art, and Pierogi 2000 Gallery, both in Brooklyn. But to be able to mass produce and sell my favorite images at affordable prices would be ideal.

I got the book "Licensing Art 101" on Amazon and am starting to take in all the options of how to get my work out there. Recently I went to a gift show in NYC and watched as people tried to sell their shiny new products to buyers from all over the world. It was wonderful to see how sellers created different ways to package, capture and entice buyers to their booths. It is a very costly endeavor for artists to undertake on their own, $3,000 to get a share in a booth, if you can find a company to let you in on their turf. I can not even begin to tell you how much work goes into these booths and how exhausting selling for three days straight can be, but many do it and find it very worthwhile.

Which brings me back to the idea of licensing my art. My day job pretty much keeps me strapped to a desk five days a week, eight hours a day, so little time is left to create art, much less sell it. So licensing seems a good alternative to the cold sales approach. First I need to find my niche of product, should it be notebook covers, greeting cards, or textiles? The options are actually endless, like my images could be used on puzzles, or made into wall hangings to name just a few options out there. So the next step is to find a company that sells "like work", where my visuals would fit in. Then approach that company with 10-12 samples so that they understand your body of work. If they are interested, you should have a body of work that is about 24 pieces for them to choose from.

Now it is contract time, and I can not even begin to advise you except - hire a "intellectual property lawyer" to assist you. Your contract should include a royalty fee, many companies try to just pay a fee upfront to use your work for a certain period of time. You could lose out on some big money if they do a second and third run of your work and your contracted was a one time fee to use your work for a period of time. Be smart, hire a professional in helping you to understand how this all works.

I will end here, for this is where I am about to begin. Happy painting! Callie

2009 is here to stay...

A new year, yay!  It has been a good start so far.  I was interviewed for LX magazine, www.lxmagazines.com   

It is a new magazine out of South Dakota.  Funny because they appear to be pretty ultra hip, says this New Yorker.  Their first issue was in my Glaad auction goodie bag. Impressed with the quality of the magazine, I sent most everyone on staff my holiday postcard. They all looked at my site and loved it enough to put me in their next issue.  

If you are in Brooklyn, NY, please stop by Metaphor Contemporary Arts on Atlantic Ave before Jan. 29th.  I have three pieces up in the group show, mine are behind the reception desk.  They make that wall pop....

www.metaphorcontemporaryart.com

Now I am waiting on Sweetriot candy tins to come out with three of my paintings on them. They will be for sale at such stores as Balducci's, Fairway, Zabars, Whole Foods, and Gourmet Garage.   Can not wait to see how they turn out.

And lastly, but just as important, is that my oil painting "Fertility Goddess" is on the cover of a new Anthology out.   

(M)othering the Nation Constructing and Resisting Natl. Allegories through the Maternal Body.  

I know you can purchase it on Amazon.com, but it is like the price of a college text book.  Women from around the world submitted papers.  I look forward to getting my copy and become enlightened.

I hope everyone else is enjoying the thrills of starting over again in the new year.  Be good to yourself and others will follow.  (what the ...?)

Time for gift giving!

happy holidays & wishing you a very healthy new year!

I have an on-line store that prints and frames my work, your choice of frame!  Go to www.CallieArt.com  and click on store link, start shopping today to adorn your walls with CallieArt.

If the artwork you like is not there, drop me a line and let me know which one you would like me to upload:  callie@callieart.com