The new year brings me anticipation and hope. This past year had some ups and downs certainly, and from an economic view, it was indeed crappy. What it *did* do was force me to look into other products and skills to learn and offer. I'm not sure I would have done many of these things if not for searching for more sales, so I count it as a good thing. I've developed more items, and learned a number of techniques that I can continue to work on this coming year.

The most important thing I do for the start of the year is get several calendars. Actually, three. Why three? Each has it's own purpose, and I've found that they're cheap enough that I can just get them and use them for their own purpose rather than struggling with only one. The struggle is not worth the 10 bucks it costs for a different type. For me, anyways. If one works for you, I admire that!

First, I have a monthly calendar hanging on my wall, with a little sticky note on the current date. As soon as I walk into the studio, I can see what day and date it is and where I am in the week/month. It has a nice picture on it, so adds some beauty to my morning. I usually get this from Gladstone Media.

Falling Waters Wall Calendar

Next, I have a daily desk calendar - one of those little square ones. Each day, I reveal a new page. It gives me the current date and day, a place for any notes and a nice little image on my desk. I start the day off by taking the prior day's page, turning it over and making a ToDo list for today. I try to pick something I'd like to look at - pretty paintings, flowers or a daily chocolate confection. I choose NOT to have a cartoon, puzzle, word or something that doesn't make my day brighter. I would spend too much time on a puzzle and something snippy or cursey isn't good for all day. This year, I have a Kittens daily, although I was considering the cupcakes one. I also got this through Gladstone.

Kittens & Friends Calendar

Now, the third calendar is the most important. I have a weekly engagement calendar. This is where the meat of my marketing happens. The other calendars are there to remind me of the day and date when I'm doing email or phone calls, but the engagement calendar is where I plot out future plans. I like to use the Audubon calendar, cause it gives me a nice picture to look at each week. Many of them have inspired watercolor or glass paintings.

Audubon Engagement Calendar

Audubon Engagement Calendar - Open

I keep this on my desk while I am working and write down notes of appointments, followups, etc. that I need to do in upcoming days. I also mark in there future conferences and then backtrack notes to when I need to ship items, when I need to have the pre-publicity flyers or mailers done by, how many of each product I need to do in each of the previous weeks ahead of the show, etc.... I also mark when to start Valentine's production of hearts, etc. and when to start Christmas production of ornaments. I make a note on the days I want to remember to blog (like today's!) and note when I need to start the newsletter so that I can send at the beginning of each month (which is also marked). I can easily pick it up and take it with me to my worktable, or on a trip.

I also have blank sheets of paper attached to it that I can make project lists on. Headings could include "Internet updates" (adding testimonials, researching affiliate sites, looking for retail outlets), "Blog Topics" where I jot down ideas for future blog posts, "Current Projects" (upcoming list of shows, new products I am developing, ideas I want to try, etc..), "Future Ideas" where I write things I might try in the future if I get time ("lamps, fountains, wavy bowls") A lot of times things on my future ideas list have stayed there for years until finally moving over to my current projects list. A good idea may still be a good idea when you have time, so write it down so you don't forget it!

This engagement calendar goes with me when I travel, even if I'm only going for groceries. If I get an idea while out shopping, it can get written into one of the lists. Or if I remember that I should send an update to a client, I can write it on today's or this week's calendar page. I have tried the computer calendar programs, but they only work well for those who are at their computers all day, which I am not. The phone apps are alright, but I haven't found one that does well enough for me yet, so I hang on to the engagement calendar for now.

For a flighty artist, this system keeps me up to date and from missing appointments or being disappointed because I didn't plan for a show well enough. I don't as often lose track of time and have a duedate sneak up on me. It's not perfect, but it helps tremendously.

Peace,
Joy

Related Posts

1. My Art Marketing System, Part 1
2. Happy New Year
3. Am I a “Space Artist”?

Idon't know if it will be completely successful or not, but it combines things from years past that have been, so should be well on it's way to bringing us some more sales. I thought you would get some insight and some tips and hints from it. If you have ideas to add, please comment!!!

The first thing I get is several calendars. Yes, several. Since I work here at home, I find it very difficult to always know what day it is, or date either. I have three calendars. I have a monthly wall calendar on which I have a sticky note that indicates the day of the month. With a quick look at where the sticky label is, I can see where I am in the week and where I am in the month.  It also has a pretty picture on my wall to let me dream/relax. I got this from Gladstone Media.

Falling Waters Wall Calendar

I  have a daily desk calendar. Each day, I reveal a new page. It gives me the current date and day, a place for any notes and a nice little image on my desk. I start the day off by taking the prior day's page, turning it over and making a ToDo list for today. I try to pick something I'd like to look at - pretty paintings, flowers or a daily chocolate confection. I choose NOT to have a cartoon, puzzle, word or something that doesn't make my day brighter (like a daily curse word, daily snide comment... you've probably seen similar things). I need to surround myself with nice, warm and fuzzy feeling things or the devils in my mind get too much fuel.

Most importantly, I have a weekly engagement calendar. This is where the meat of my marketing happens. The other calendars are there to remind me of the day and date when I'm doing email or phone calls, but the engagement calendar is where I plot out future plans. I like to use the Audubon calendar, cause it gives me a nice picture to look at each week. Many of them have inspired watercolor or glass paintings.

I keep this on my desk while I am working and write down notes of appointments, followups, etc. that I need to do in upcoming days. I also mark in there future conferences and then backtrack notes to when I need to ship items, when I need to have the pre-publicity flyers or mailers done by, how many of each product I need to do in each of the previous weeks ahead of the show, etc....

I also have blank sheets of paper attached to it that I can make project lists on. Headings could include "Internet updates" (adding testimonials, researching affiliate sites, looking for retail outlets), "Blog Topics" where I jot down ideas for future blog posts, "Current Projects" (upcoming list of shows, new products I am developing, ideas I want to try, etc..),  "Future Ideas"  where I write things I might try in the future if I get time ("lamps, fountains, wavy bowls") A lot of times things on my future ideas list have stayed there for years until finally moving over to my current projects list. A good idea may still be a good idea when you have time, so write it down so you don't forget it!

This engagement calendar goes with me when I travel, even if I'm only going for groceries. If I get an idea while out shopping, it can get written into one of the lists. Or if I remember that I should send an update to a client, I can write it on today's or this week's calendar page.

For a flighty artist, this system keeps me up to date and from missing appointments or being disappointed because I didn't plan for a show well enough.

Next, I'll detail out some anti-distraction items I have that make sure my tasks get accomplished. Until then, leave me a comment!

Peace,
Joy

Related Posts

1. New Year of Marketing
2. Focus on One Thing, or Many? – Part II
3. Am I a “Space Artist”?

Anyhoos, anything on any site we have can get the discount.
Spherical Magic - http://sphericalmagic.com/
My site - Glass Nebula - http://glassnebula.com/
Our marbles - Losture Marbles - http://losturemarbles.com/
BJ's work - http://imperialearth.com/
and even My Cat's Cradle bowls - http://glasssculpture.org/artglass/cat-beds/

Just enter the code "Yes We Can" into the cart and it will give you the discount.

Send me a note if you don't see something you know I've talked about, like the new winestoppers...

Peace,
Joy

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1. Fire Sale!!!
2. A new painting for sale!

Commissioned work is fine with me, as long as I can get along with the client. I certainly like being paid up front and having a solid job as I work. If the piece comes out different than originally thought up, I can chalk it up to experience and learning and start another one that will be the commissioned art piece.

If the piece is close to what was commissioned, and I feel it's a better work of art, I'll talk with the client, explain my views and usually the client agrees and accepts the piece. I don't think I've ever had a client that refuses and wants their money back. One was very close, but after a week, she called back and said she wanted it after all!

As for personal works, I do like to work on these, as they let my creativity go where it needs to go. Sometimes commissioned works can be this way, if the client says "Whatever you want to do!" (And I just LOVE those clients!!). I have so many interests and so many techniques available that I never run out of ideas for personal works. In fact, I have so many projects going, it is sometimes overwhelming! Sometimes, they sell and sometimes they don't. That's the rough part - not knowing if all the work I'm putting in will help me continue as an artist. I guess that's why some of the projects still sit, months and years after I started them, unfinished. I don't know if they'll sell, so I feel guilty about spending time working on them.

I wish I had the freedom to just paint or build what I want without having to worry about the business end of it, but I guess very few artists ( or anyone for that matter) has that kind of freedom, so I'm not alone.

Peace,
Joy

Related Posts

1. The Bummer of Being a Commissioned Artist
2. Am I a “Space Artist”?

http://sphericalmagic.com/ and all the sites listed there, and also
http://spaceart.org/ and any of the artists listed there as well.

Here's your special discount code to enter into the cart when you place your order: 451F

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1. Fire Line
2. Massive Sale
3. A new painting for sale!

Clients tend to immediately classify and pidgeonhole - why help them? If you state that you're a "space artist", chances are you are immediately overlooked for multiple other jobs that you could do wonderful work on. Even with the multitude of abilities we possess, we see this pidgeonholing on us time and time again. it's infuriating. Now that we've seen it so many times, we recognize it when it starts and immediately try to deflect it. Doing this has gotten us jobs as building designers, park sculpture design, film production, environmental work, performance work, voiceover jobs, abstract sculptural works, woodcarving, fantasy, landscape, writing, web design, portraiture, engineering, etc.

Yes, maybe other artists don't have the range of capabilities that BJ and I have, but I bet most of them can do more than just only "space".

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1. This is Why I Like Being an Artist.
2. The Bummer of Being a Commissioned Artist
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