This economic crisis

Keeping Watch
9" x 12" Oil On Hardwood $125.00

With this whole financial meltdown it is becoming harder each day to make a buck. My shows are just about average which is not great or not bad. I am selling small paintings which helps because that is all I am painting at this time. I am going to be teaching hopefully if I can get enough students out of my friends studio in Roswell. That will help me out a lot.

I have a big show coming up soon in Nashville but I cannot seem to get started on a big painting because all I am doing is chasing work or payment. I hopefully can get accept to the daily painters website and begin selling there. I am going to try etsy it seems to be more geared towards arts and crafts unlike ebay. Every time I sell a painting on ebay I end up giving it away which is not my idea of career success.

I sold two paintings this past weekend but I had to drop the prices which is ok I needed the sale. My print sales were way down which I am not sure why. Hopefully some of the commissions will come through at least one has and I can make some money on that.

So if you know anyone who wants to take art classes kids or adults please contact me for specific details I need about 10 students to start a class. On the same note if you know anyone who would like a commission please let me know.

~mike

My Blog A Soap Opera

Confederate Buglar
18" x 24" oil on canvas $500.00

For the few of you reading this blog you know me and the fact that I am a good person, who doesn't wish any ill will on anyone except a select few people in this world. I am a very happy artist doing what I do best. I had this blog set up so readers could see my paintings enjoy them and hopefully buy or order a limited edition print. I was and still am receptive to comments by readers and some had nice things to say.


But then along came a stalker! Not your average stalker but an angry psychopath person that was saying some really disturbing things about me an my blogs. The first comment was ok the second was worse then they started getting really disturbing. Almost like I am dealing with the "Uni-Blogger" stalker. In order to get rid of this person I had to change the security of my blog site to not allow anonymous comments. If you would like to leave a comment good or bad you will have to identify yourself.


Readers this is just what it is a blog site where I am trying to make a name for myself not change the world or condemn the world. You have to understand I am a very simple artist I do not have some disturbed outlook on this world. I simply just want to blog talk about what is on my mind and that is simply that. I am blogging as a means of marketing. By the way I was very successful in my career as a marketing manager. I know what I am doing and where I want to take my career as a fine artist.


This blog is just one avenue for me to make a name for myself as a fine artist. I never dreamed some psychopathic angry person who had way too much time on their hands would erupt and spew so much hate towards me. To the rest of the normal readers out there I hope you enjoy this blog and will continue to read it and possibly buy a painting or two.


That is all for today I have a lot work to do because I am in show mode.


~mike

Set Up Day

"A Day at the Races"
16" x 20" Sold Giclee available

Today is set up day for the Duluth Fall Festival, the weather is nice and the weekend is going to be perfect weather.
Setting up my mini gallery is like setting up a circus tent by myself it takes a long time but time flies when you are sweating in the hot sun. There are 760 vendors at this festival the largest I have ever attended. This should be an interesting weekend with the lack of gas in Atlanta hopefully people will decide to come to Duluth rather than drive to Al for the football game.


I hope many of you reading this blog will come out and support me and the other vendors this weekend. I have a couple of new paintings for this show. Next week I am going back to painting a larger size painting for the Nashville Show. I was given a large hardwood panel by a friend and former teacher. I am going to paint on that but unfortunately it will be too heavy to hang in my booth. I can put it on a easel outside the booth but hopefully I am going to sell it in Nashville.


I am planning on painting a harbor scene from British Columbia in anticipation of our upcoming vacation. Shelly and I take our vacation in November during the off season which is great due to lower rates and no crowds. We have a few large goals which are to be totally debt free and see the world. We have to be debt free in order to afford to see the world.


I choose to be an artist for many different reasons but the best part is the freedom. Freedom to create what I want when I want. Most of the artist you will meet in this world are past or present are free spirits independent thinkers. I have always been a free spirt who follows the beat of a different drummer.


It makes my heart feel good to see my son evolving into the free spirit of his father. Chris my son and I traveled over the summer together to Ky, Tn and Al exhibiting in shows and we had the best time together. Chris is a great kid and I really enjoy his company. His younger cousins think of him as a big brother. They hang on him play jokes on him and which really makes me laugh.


I love living in Georgia but I miss my family in TN, however Georgia is home and has been since 1983. I am growing tired of the crowds in Atl but as far as a city is concerned it is a nice place to live. When Shelly and I eventually sell this house we are not going to move too far away. We have property in North GA just 45 min away we will live in Jasper still near our family and the mountains.


~ mike

My thick skin

16" x 20 Pastel on Canson Paper
Bird Girl of St. Marks Square $90.00

Many people may not know it but I also am a pastel artist. I really like working in pastel sometimes for a change. I also love to work in oil pastel in fact I am sending out 4 oil pastel paintings today to a new gallery for me in Orange Beach Al. My favorite medium is oil paint it always has been I have no reason other than I like it. I guess the illustrator in me draws me to pastels. I use to work a lot in pen and ink but I much prefer color over monochromatic.

We artist have to have thick skin to put ourselves out on display for the world to judge our talent. Often times we are judged by individuals with a lack of talent. People who say well my kid could do that. I have only heard that once in my career but it does not hurt my feelings. There are kids who are much more talented than me or many other artist.

It takes a certain amount of talent to do anything, it takes a dedication combined with talent to do something well. The best artist I know are like me they know that practice is key to success. I learn new techniques everyday and I honor the chance to learn from anyone. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I may think to myself a painting is bad to someone else may think it is the best painting in the world.

Many people may love your art and many may hate your art but you will never have a piece of art that everyone will love or hate. That is why thick skin is necessary in this business, people say what ever they think to your face when you are an artist. Some people think they are art critiques and others know what they like. I always do the best I can sometimes a painting just comes together and other times it does not.

Just like everyone who reads this blog some may criticize me and my work others leave nice comments. I have thick skin and I don't take anything personal. If I took everything personal then I would not write this blog or produce art. I personally keep my feelings inside if I see something I don't like. But I welcome all comments good or bad I am an artist with thick skin and I know who I am.

I have accomplished many things in my life and I will continue to do so. Those people who know me personally know who I am. When I introduced Shelly to my family my sister summed me up best to Shelly. "With my brother what you see is what you get." That is the best way to describe me I do not hide anything and I have nothing in my life to be ashamed of. I am a open book with nothing to hide. Just like with my art I have nothing to hide I put me out for the world to judge some people like me others don't.

I am proud of who I am with no regrets.

~Mike

Happy Blog

"Rainy City"
18" x 24" Oil On Canvas $550.00

I have been told by "she who must be obeyed" that my blogs need to be more happy otherwise it is the nut house for me. Van Gogh was committed to a nut house. Just because we are creative and speak our minds does not make one a nut job. I can write about what boring things I am going to do today but that would not be interesting. I could write that the weather is nice outside but you can find that out by the media. I could write boring things like many other bloggers do but what fun would that be.

So I have chosen to risk my future and the future of my blogs to let the creative spirit remain free. After all I was stifled for 20 years as a Graphic Designer to make the logo bigger, use that awful color because it is the corporate color puke yellow. Let creatives do what creatives do best, be creative! If I want to rant and rave about someone in the past, present or future I will. This is America right? At least until January 1st then we could all be in trouble if the democrats elected that shady Muslim character.

Besides if the economy gets any worse I will be working at McDonald's and then there will be no time for this blog. So enjoy the blog for what it is today, who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Well I have to go and prepare a shipment for a new gallery hopefully they can sell and I can keep producing art rather than hamburgers.

~mike

It's a small world after all

"No. 7"
9" x 12" Oil On Board $125.00

The third blog I wrote "another day another quarter " was written about the job I had 15 years ago at Alexander-Seewald. The tone of my blog was from the cynical perspective of an ex employee. Quite frankly I never thought anyone would read it much less the grandson of the owner of the company. The company went out of business about one to two years after I left.

I never stayed in contact with anyone there. I actually think they might have been bought out. Whatever happened I don't know I heard a rumor about someone in the family embezzled money and ran. What ever actually happened I do not know much less care.

The reason I say it is a small world after all is that the grandson found my blog and contacted me through my website. How strange is that? So the moral of this blog is be careful what you put in writing someone out there may stumble across your blog and call you out.

I just hope the ex wife never comes across my blog. Well that is not true I don't care if she does come across it she knows I don't care.

~mike

Frugality is an art

"104"
9" x 12" oil on board $125

I am an artist and I am proud to be frugal. Living frugal is an art in its self. Shelly worries about debt and should we go on vacation. I worry about almost nothing now. I use to worry so much that I made myself sick and was hospitalized for strange illnesses that were brought on by stress and constant worry. I tried to live frugal then but I was married to the worst financial manager the world has ever seen. I don't even want to describe how bad that life was.

Now I have a small income more than I made when I graduated from art school and was working my first and second job. What did I do all the time? Work two jobs and I still did not have enough money to live. Why because of the first wife. Now life is fantastic! I have debt who doesn't? But Shelly and I live frugal and we always will. It is actually how I was raised and I thank my parents for the values and morals I have today.

Shelly and I never go out to the movies, never eat out unless we have to and never spend money on things to make us happy. Yet we plan a nice vacation each year that is our reward. We are frugal on vacation as well. Yet we visit some amazing places meet amazing people and enjoy our week together.

We don't want for any thing now or ever will. We have a nice moderate house two cars that are paid for and we control our own destiny. Yes we have debt and times are tough for us due to the economic problems in the US. We manage just like everyone else but we love life and we love each other what more could anyone ask for?

We dream about things but we are different we make dreams come true. Everything I have dreamed of in life has come true for me. But my dreams are not materialistic. I do not dream of owning a fancy car or living in some mansion. I dream about being an artist and selling my work. I do not say one day I will be rich because I am rich today in happiness.

My next dream is to own a cabin in North GA and live on a sail boat with Shelly and sell my art. We have land in North Ga and I have a sailboat. But I cannot live on the land without shelter and I cannot sail my boat without sails. But that will come with time. At least I have a start.

Shelly and I will live frugally for now and the rest of our lives, success is a misnomer to most people in the world. Our society tells us that to be successful you must be wealthy. I am successful beyond my expectations and I am not wealthy. I am happy and to me that is the true measure of success.

I have always worked as an artist except for a three year period when I bought and remodeled houses, but I was still freelancing as an artist. I needed that break to make a major change as I have done.

When you buy art you are buying a part of an artist and therefore you are supporting a dream. When you buy a luxury mass produced item you are supporting the economy but you are not supporting a dream.

Support a dream every once and a while you may see that you will be blessed with the good karma from the person who is living a dream.

~Mike

Business Cards

N0.7
Oil on Hardwood 9" x 12" $125.00

I received a call today from a lady who was trying to locate the artist in Marietta who was selling a particular painting of a girl on a rope swing. This lady was apparently a Secretary or assistant whose boss told her to find the artist that was selling the painting so he could buy it for his wife. Unfortunately I was not the artist whom she was looking for but I told her to check out my website if she does not find that particular artist then maybe she might find something on my site.


The point is this business cards and websites are essential to survival in this modern world. If I was the artist she was looking for then she would have my business card and would be able to go to my site and buy the painting directly unless of course it was sold. I give out at least 1,000 business cards per year and every one of my paintings is on my website. If the painting has been sold then it is indicated as sold but I keep the sold painting on the site for at least 3 months plus I still sell the prints.


In addition to business cards every one of my prints has a bio on the back plus all my paintings on hardwood also contain a Bio. All my paintings on canvas have my website written on the backside of the frame in sharpie. I am a marketing machine. I place business cards on bulletin boards all across the city. I track my website hits like baseball stats. I am obsessed with marketing my name and work.


If this artist was me she would not be loosing the sale to a secretary calling all 250 artist if she has their number to find out who has the painting she is looking for.


~ mike

Cover Art

"Playing The Blues"
Oil on Canvas 16" x 20" $400.00

Today I received an e-mail from an old friend and former neighbor way back in 1988. He also quit the corporate and did shows for 20 years selling stained glass. His wife is the author of the Ronay Guide a list of all the shows through the southeast. Bill and Camille Ronay now head up the Georgia Made Georgia Grown commission for artist and farmers in GA. this is a movement to get people to purchase from us artist, crafts people and farmers who make a living doing what we love.

Well a photograph of my work made the cover of the magazine. After 20 years designing magazine ads I finally have had my work published and I did not have anything to do with the design. I have more good news but I am going to save it for tomorrows blog.

This weekend is the Sandy Springs Show and hopefully it will be a good show. So far the fall has proven to be ok as far as sales are concerned in shows. I am pretty sure the economy can not possibly get any worse so things have to be on the way to getting better.

No matter how bad it gets I still am doing what i always wanted to and I am in control of my own destiny.

Well I have to get back to getting ready for the Sandy Springs Show.

~Mike

Expanding My Sales Horizons

Cycling Road Race
9" x 12" Oil On Board (Sold)

Every time I get busy with shows a million opportunities arise for me, more than I can keep up with. I have just been picked up by a gallery in Orange Beach Al, Artz's They are going to carry my oil pastel musicians. Orange Beach is an eclectic town for Al. Sort of like Athens, GA on the beach. I actually sold two of my musicians there in the spring.

Now I have to re-frame some ship them out make a inventory contract etc. I have come across about 5-6 galleries and shops who want to carry my work the problem is dealing with all that is a paperwork night mare for this artist. I have enough trouble keeping up with shows, meeting deadlines, painting framing, writing this blog, photographing and cataloging work.

I am in desperate need of a personal assistant. The only catch is I cannot pay but I can provide valuable experience into the art business. When I was a marketing Manager I could juggle 6-7 magazine ads, tv commercials, direct mail campaigns, trade shows, 100 phone calls per day and the most stupid bunch of worthless sales people you ever could imagine. Plus on top of that design and produce all the ads and brochures. That was all easy for me because I was chained to a desk all day and I never got my hands in paint.

Not much has changed except I don't have a salary like I did before, now I work for Free. I had rather work for Free any day than go back to that rat race of corporate bs.

So if any one reading this would like to work for free with an easy going boss for an artist then please e-mail me, oh I almost forgot, must like dogs!

~Mike

My Happy Side

Fat Albert Plays The Trumpet
20" x 24" Oil On Canvas $550.00

Shelly my wife and art manager tells me I need to be more happy and less critical in my blogs. So this blog will be more happy. Last weekend the show Summers Last Kiss was not the best sales for a show in fact it was on the lower end of sales for the year. The good part was the show was well laid out and the people were nice.

I did sell two paintings to a lady who was volunteering in the show which were the only two originals I sold the entire show but at least I made money. part of the problem was the sudden rise in gas prices because of the storm in Texas. I will consider the show next year if the timing is right.

I have Sandy Springs comming up this weekend so hopefully it will be a good show. I am painting a lot of bike racing paintings to prepare for the show. I am trying to apply for some of the Fl shows and today I just found out I did not make into the Deland Show and it was not even a Zapp Show. They claim a record number of applications. With the economy down and gas prices high I would think less people would apply for shows.

Oh well if I got into all the shows I apply for then I would not be able to afford them all. I consider myself lucky to be in the shows I get into since most of the time I can stay in the show year after year.

Well time to go put paint to canvas.

~mike

Art Collectors

"Rainy Day In New York"
9" x 12" Oil On Hardwood $125.00

Art collectors come in all shapes, sizes, age, race, and income bracket. When I first started exhibiting during art festivals I thought I knew my collector base. Was I ever wrong, in marketing and advertising you must know the demographics of your target audience. My target audience is just about anyone who comes to art festivals there is no rhyme or reason.


The one thing I can count on is generally 99% of people who come to art festivals to buy work are honest and write checks or present credit cards which are good. That is the best thing about art collectors, they are honest and understand that I made the piece they fell in love with.


The one thing about being an artist is that every time I create a peice of work it is there for all the world to judge. The other great thing about art collectors is that if they do not like something they keep it to themselves. Many times I am covered in praise but not dollars. My favorite statement is the best comment you can pay me it to pay me.


This weekend is Summers Last Kiss Festival in Hiwassee, GA a very beautiful place and I decided to give this festival a chance over Roswell. I am going with my gut on this one the cost is less than Roswell and a smaller number of artist plus I have a corner booth. I have a good feeling about this show plus the weather is going to be near perfect. A great combination for a great festival.


Time to go and put paint to canvas...

~ mike

A Day To Paint

"Rainy City"
20" x 24" Oil On Canvas $550.00

This is one of my latest paintings, I really love the way the background turned out. Today I am going to paint well I try to paint every day some days are more productive than others. As I sit her and stare at my computer like it is going to give me some idea.

When I was a designer I would take paper and sketch out ideas before I executed a design. The same still holds true a s as a painter. I have to have an idea before I begin to paint. Sometimes I use photoshop to arrange images. Other times I just make it up as I go along.

You just never know what someone is going to like and buy, it is impossible to predict. I have just about everything ready for the show this weekend. If I just knew what would sell then I would make sure and take it with me.

Time to go and put paint to canvas.

~mike

Hiwasee Show

"Hillary Sings Karaokee"
11" x 14" Oil Pastel on Watercolor Paper $125.00 Framed

This is not the devil Hillary Clinton, actually this is a festival singer in North Carolina. The reason I call this Hillary is because she sort of looks like a girl that use to work for Shelly. One of only a few bright employees Shelly has had over the past few years.

Shelly and I are off to Hiwassee, GA this weekend for a fine art show Summers Last Kiss. We are space number 1 a corner spot so hopefully that will help sales. I had good sales last weekend in Birmingham I think the economy is starting to rebound some. Lets just hope O~bomb~us does not some how get elected then we are all going to be in trouble.

Was great to see my old friend Grant and his family this past weekend. We go way back to the beginning of High School. Well I ahve a lot to do today to get ready for the show I sold a lot of prints and a few originals last weekend and I need to replace my inventory.

Time to go and put paint on canvas.

~Mike

New place to show my work

"Roping"
9" x 12" Oil On Hardwood $125.00

I have a new venue to sell my prints. Wills Park Equestrian Center in Alpharetta, GA. I am excited about this venue for the exposure more than anything else. I could spend every day submitting images for galleries and gift shops etc then I would never get any painting done. At the rate I am going I barely have enough inventory for the shows I am attending much less supplying galleries.


I was contacted yesterday by a gallery in Orange Beach a rather funky place that is looking for more contemporary work. I am going to submit a cd of my oil pastels to them but first i must shoot more images convert them to digital and then burn a cd mail it follow up etc. All this would be easy if I sat at a computer all day and was not in a hundred different locations each day.

It is hard for me to start painting then quit to work on images, print out giclees, apply to shows etc. I need a personal assistant who can type. My assistant has paws and terrible spelling, she is good and guarding the studio from cats, squirrls and the UPS man.

Today is a short blog I need to finish my latest painting so it will be dry by this weekend for the Hiwassee, show.

Time to put paint to canvas,

Mike

What is art

Competing For The Win
11 x 14 Oil on Hardwood $150.00

What is art? A reporter asked me this during the Birmingham Art Walk 08 this past weekend. I thought about it for a minute, then I responded "art is something you create and if people other than friends and family members think it is good then maybe you have something." I know a lot of people who claim to be artist yet these people are better salespeople than artist. They are more like magicians creating an illusion for people to believe.

Many of these so called artist have not the least clue about perspective, foreshortening, composition, warm and cool colors, or even complimentary colors. Many of them could not even draw if their lives depended on it, yet they throw paint on canvas and see what sticks. I have been next to these kitchen table painters in festivals for years, lost sales to them and even not been chosen for juried shows that they got in.

I can play chop sticks on the piano but yet I cannot read music, nor do I have a clue what notes are in music. Does that make me a pianist? Should I be allowed in a recital? I personally do not like abstract art to me it is no different than a magician who can make himself vanish. Did he really vanish? Maybe if you are stupid enough to believe people can vanish. Yes it is interesting to watch, abstract art is interesting to see but does it take talent? Can an artist who paints abstract draw a person, a place or an animal? Some can many cannot.

I lost a sale this past weekend a man dressed very nice came into my booth looked at my musicians walked out into the booth next to me. He then purchased a child like painting of a musician a sax player like I had, the difference was the one he purchased looked like a child had painted it. Even worse it was an adult who teaches children art. I am lucky that the art teachers I had as a child were really artist. I would never be to the level which I am if I was taught by someone who thought they were an artist.

So the next time you purchase art, ask yourself am I buying from a real artist or a pretend artist. There is a difference and in the end it shows.

Time to go put oil on canvas.

mike

On the Road Again

"Mountain Mustangs"
11" x 14" Oil On Hardwood $175.00

Well as Willie Nelson says , I'm on the road again. This weekend is The Birmingham Art Walk 08 Fri night and Saturday. Last year was my first year and the show was decent for me. Since this year I am officially full time and I have a complete inventory hopefully I can exceed last years sales. Last year I was in one of the lofts but I got in the show from being on the wait list. Our loft was dead we were on the wrong side of the tracks. The party was huge on the other side of the tracks.

This year I told them if I am on the wrong side of the tracks then I do not want to participate. So I guess my threat worked. I am in the artist bazaar parking lot which I prefer, I applied early and was once again wait listed for a loft space. Apparently those who have participated the longest get 1st choice. The artist bazaar is better for me because I can set up my tent and display more stuff anyways. Plus how can you miss 20 tents in a parking lot right in the middle of the bars and restaurants.

Unfortunately I have not been able to paint for the past week since I have been running around trying to make deals happen and prepare for shows. I did however deliver 10 prints on canvas to Wills Park Equestrian Center to sell. I am excited that this will help get me more recognition in the community.

Sorry no blog tomorrow I will be on the road.

-Mike

Pet Peeves

9" x 12" Oil On Hardwood
$125.00

I really get a kick out of people who come into my booth during art festivals and ask me, did you make these all by yourself? No I go to Roswell, GA and pick up some illegal day labors and ask then to paint these for me. You know how they are all good at painting. what would make a person so stupid to think that I am selling all these paintings with my name on them for some one else.

The other pet peeve I have is people who want to make a low offer usually 50% off or more like I am some used car lot. Do I ask you to cut my yard then say I will pay you half of what you charge my neighbor to cut his yard. Do yourself a favor if you cannot afford the painting then don't make a offer. This is not lets make a deal.

Also don't ask me if that is your best price? I am going to start replying no my best price would be 2x the price I have offered. Finally do not tell me what I am going to give you in addition to the painting like free shipping, etc. I am not a charity you buy a painting because you like it not because you feel like I am homeless and I need a meal.

For those of you who do the the above actions you must have a huge inferiority complex. For every person who treats artist's the way you do there are many more who pay the asking price, love the painting and become a collector. These are the people who are truly sophisticated art buyers. They are educated and appreciate things that are not mass produced by low paid factory workers. The rest of you need to go to Walmart or Goodwill and cover your walls with the worthless mass produced velvet elvis paintings.

Time to go put paint on canvas...

-mike

Be Backs

11 x 14 Oil on Hardwood
"A view from the sidewalk" (sold)

In the world of art festivals vendors such as my self we all sit behind our booth and watch the crowds. We judge potential customers and try and guess who will purchase , who just wants a card and who will be a "be back."
The "Be-Backs" are the people who give us artist false hope. If you are categorized as a be back then this is not a good thing. 80% of Be-backs will give false hope and never return 10% will come back with a spouse or worse a teenager and ask the spouse or kid to make a decision. 5% will come back and ask for a card and tell you they will contact you and then only the remaining 5% - 0% will come back and make a purchase.

I had rather someone tell me nothing and take my card than to fall into the be-back category. This past weekend I had a lot of be-backs none of whom made a purchase. I am not the best salesperson in the world but I am getting better. I lost two sales to screaming kids this past weekend. If you are going to purchase art then you cannot make a decision when you kids are running wild like a rabid animal or are crying so loud my ears are hurting.

I have actually performed two miracles last month I converted two be-backs into sales after the shows on following weeks, this is rare however. If you are serious about purchasing art then let one parent watch the kids in the kid area while you shop. Once you find an item trade places at the kid area and send the other spouse to view the item. Make a decision and pay meanwhile the kid stays in the kid area.

Kids hate art festivals and artist hate to loose sales or have merchandise damaged by kids. We artist all paid a lot of money to be at the festivals and we think of our 10 x 10 space as a gallery or museum not a play ground with interactive art displays like a Chucky Cheese restaurant.

One more rant then I am finished. Dogs are all cute and I love our dog but pavement can be very hot in the summer. Dogs love to go on walks but paws can burn on hot pavement. Also dogs need water, it is not the responsibility of the art vendor to provide water for your dog while you are drinking a nice cold beer or beverage. That leads me to one more thing. Birds on your shoulder, what are you a pirate? I see the same freak with the bird on his shoulder at every local show I exhibit. If you want to be a pirate then play pirate somewhere else besides in front of my tent. You are distracting to the few customers I have at the time and I for one would love to see that bird take off in flight or better yet see a cat.

Time to go and put paint to canvas...

-mike