On the weekend I...

...went to Taree.
I work in a school. Sometimes the journal writing there inspires me to write. Looks like it didn't work very well this week.

What was inspiring though was the (can I say absolutely fabulous again?) Absolutely Fabulous Neil Cuthbert exhibition on at the Manning Regional Art Gallery.
I hadn't heard of Cuthbert before but wow! I now know. I love his paintings and it is a huge exhibition. It really is a 'must see'.
I'm often a bit of a sucker for a good narrative painting anyway, but these are really remarkable. And yes, I am inspired. I am thinking figurative narrative thoughts...
The Taree Regional Art Gallery was also the venue for the latest Building Blox forum I spoke at. Once again I was thrilled with the day. I met so many interesting people and I was able to spread the word about how Etsy is a great way for artists and crafts people to sell online. And about how DUST is a wonderful support network for Australian Etsy sellers. Doing something similar in Port Macquarie in the next few weeks. I hope you will come along if you can.

Um, what have you been doing?

I was 'busy.'

OK, prove it. What have you been 'busy' doing?

Um. Well. Lots of things really.

This is all very fascinating but do you think you could spice it up a bit for the readers?

I'd really like to talk about someone else, if you don't mind. Yesterday I met lots of lovely local artists and crafts people. I was lucky enough to be asked to speak at a Marketing and Networking Forum at Bellingen. We all had a great day. I'd like to talk about the people I met there!

Like who?

Well, Ashley Johnston was one of the other speakers. He is a local and international street artist and has now opened his own studio gallery. He was fascinating! You can see his work on Big City Freaks website. He uses Snarl as his street name (I don't know if he wants me to say 'tag' so I won't. There seems to be a lot of rules.)
Like what?

Apparently if one was just starting out doing a bit of graffiti here and tagging there, one would NEVER spray over the work of a better or more experienced artist (better, more experienced = respect). Apparently if one did there would be 'consequences.' The nature of these consequences were not disclosed.

Damn. I really wanted to know!

Yeah, me too. Maybe you could ask him when you visit his gallery. Head off to corner of Vernon and Duke Streets Coffs Harbour on a Wednesday or Saturday and Ashley will entertain you with delightful paintings of birds (Willy Wagtails are my favourite birds too) and other works on canvas with a graffiti flavour. And you can see his graffiti on the outside of the building too, or in 'Snarl Lane' nearby. Tell him I sent you.

Sounds like a really interesting day. Who else did you meet?

I met Jane Wilson, another local artist with more usual art practise than Ashley's, but no less an impressive one! The thing I particularly love about Jane's work is the range of her subject matter, from mandarines to the nude and from self portraits to landscapes. If you are near Bellingen you can see her work currently on exhibition in the Federal Hotel.
And the others?
There were lots! My friend Annie Matheson travelled out with me and supported me in that little rush of nerves just before I started speaking by giving me a couple of squirts under my tongue with a herbal remedy that really helped! She is such an inspiration in so many ways. I must have been able to inspire her for once because she rushed home afterwards and started adding more artwork to her Etsy shop. Now that is the kind of reaction I was after!

What were you speaking about at the forum?

I was showing off Etsy and DUST (the Down Under Street Team of Etsy). I showed how the Etsy site works, how easy it is to use and that it doesn't require a large outlay of money to get started. I also really wanted to show them the DUST team because it has been such a help to me personally over the last year or so and such a wonderful group to be involved in. I'm hoping that soon we will have a strong North Coast contingent in the NSW section of the forum. That's my goal!

What did they think about Etsy etc?

I'm pretty sure they enjoyed my talk, I know I got lots of questions which was great! I could really only give them a taste of it in the time I had, but I'll be sending them a list of links I've done up to help them get started. I'd say most of the people there hadn't heard of Etsy before yesterday. While the website it growing hugely I think it shows the potential of it's future growth. If we can all tell another 20 or so people who haven't heard of Etsy, well, that will be a great boost for makers from all over the world, because really, who can resist buying stuff off Etsy!?

I know I can't!

No, me neither!

One last question, when did you decide to take talking to yourself to the next level and start interviewing yourself?

It wasn't a conscious decision. It is something that just evolved. I quite like it though. I think I might ask you some questions next time, when I get the links to the other lovely artists I met. OK?

OK.

A special day

Today is a special day for more than one reason. Firstly it is Australia Day! We Aussies are not the most patriotic bunch, but we do love a good bbq on a nice hot day followed by a fairly swift pretense at playing cricket, a quick swim and a long cool drink in the evening. Ah, Australia Day!

The 26th of January is also the day that the first class at Handmadeology begins! I'm quite excited about this. I've had my Etsy shop for a year now, and while I have enjoyed the experience unreservedly, I have come to realise the importance of marketing. This year I plan to follow other more successful online sellers advice and see if I can make it work for me. Timothy Adam is one such successful seller, and like most of the folk on Etsy, is a generous and friendly person. He has worked out what works for him, and is sharing the knowledge freely - and for free! I've had a sneek peek at the site and it looks like it will be really helpful.

I also plan, this year to describe my forays into marketing here on my blog. I am really not a marketer in any way, shape or form. So this will be a big challenge for me. I suspect there are lots like me out there. I think we can learn from each other as we bumble along. I hope others will join me in trying out the tips with me and providing their feedback too. If you do, I'd really appreciate a comment about your experiences and/or a link to your own posts on your blog.

And finally it is also a special day because it marks the end of my long summer holiday. Back to work tomorrow. I can't believe the time is over already. It has just absolutely flown. I've had a great time and am looking forward to getting back to work. This year on the job also will be full of new challenges, so I'm happy for that.

p.s. don't forget that the 26th in the US where Timothy Adam is doesn't happen until almost tomorrow Australian time, but it's all OK. Click on over now, and enter in you email address so you don't miss a thing no matter what day it is!

New, New and New

I've been learning so many new things this week! Much of it I've been learning from Timothy Adam who creates really different jewellery and sells it online in his Etsy shop. He has such a successful business going and he decided to share how he did it. I've been reading, learning and refining (I hope!) my business practices. Well, he has taken it one step further than that now and is creating a website dedicated to assisting online sellers to sell their handmade wares. Handmadeology is new, but it is going to explode if I've learned anything about Timothy! He will be running classes! The first one starts soon, it is free and all you have to do is click on over and subscribe in the form at the bottom of the page. I recommend you do that right now!

Are you still here? Oh well, before you go I'll tell you what else is new. Over there... on the right... just under my welcome in my side bar... see the 'NEW! I've got a newsletter!' box. Well, that's it! Yes, I've worked out how to do a newsletter (thanks to Janell!) I've been wanting one for a while so I can tell you a little bit more personally about some of my art goings on, and it's a good way to organise a give-away too! So subscribe to it if you would like to be the first to know about my discounts, giveaways, exhibitions etc. I won't spam you! I will probably rustle up a newsletter every couple of months, so it won't be a burden.

OK, go check out Handmadeology now!

Oh, you are wondering what the other 'new' in the title is for, huh? I'll admit it! It was all for show. Off you go. Bye!