Art Tip Networking for Artists and Social Phobs

To be an agent of change, to follow your dreams and your creative endeavors, (I personally always need to remind myself of this one) you must become a pragmatic visionary.  What does that mean? Well, as an artist and creative how do you find the support you need--the collector, the art dealer, the gallery, the funder etc?  One essential ingredient to your success is to develop a practical business strategy that is symbiotic with your vision (i.e. become a pragmatic visionary). An important aspect of your art business is the networking and self promotion plan. This is a weakness of mine since I am social phob and an artist. 

Connecting with the right people to support our art career is essential. 

I feel so uncomfortable talking about my work to strangers, I wish it would magically just speak for itself and I could be swept up by an art dealer like Picasso’s -- Ambroise Vollard. There is a good chance that this just ain’t gonna happen.
You must learn to talk with confidence about your work as well as your goals to the world. One simple and effective way is the creation of your own elevator speech.  I know this is difficult since you have to put yourself out there and “work the room” as they say.  It takes a lot of courage, persistence and resistance; but as an artist you cannot be an island, you must start connecting with the world to find the support you need to aid you in the manifestation of your dream.

What is an elevator speech?
It is 30-60 second speech that talks about your work and why it is important.
How do you craft an elevator speech? 

• Reflect on "What are your goals with your art and art career?" 
  My answer: Get Museums, sell your work, change the world or all the above.
• Think about, "How is your art different, new, and unique? Why is your art important?"
• Create a short 30 second speech that is a description of yourself, your art or your project. Include your goals and a short vignette, the positive benefits others have gained from your work.
• Practice with friends
• Communicate with pride and enthusiasm

Good Luck All!! Also never forget your business cards and always be prepared to meet your own version of Ambroise Vollard.  You really never know who will be in the next elevator with you!!

Super excited to have my webpage up and running at Terra Firma Gallery in San Rafael. I am looking for some awesome Art Collectors to acquire my work. Please contact Daniel at Terra Firma Gallery  for more information and if you are interested in adding to your collection.
Namaste, Lisa

Lisa Rasmussen

Lisa Rasmussen is a painter, art advocate, environmental artist, and educator. She was born in Wisconsin and has her roots in Scandinavia and Ireland.  Lisa comes from a working class family, who has always supported her to follow her dreams to become an Artist.  Her late Mother, Mickey was Lisa’s Muse, she fostered  in her the practice of Art as being a form of expression and personal healing. Early on Lisa developed a thirst for travel and distant cultures. A key conceptual element of her artistic process is the study and travel to ancient cultures and sacred sites around the world. Some of her travel adventures include Nepal, Peru, Ireland, and Brazil. She has also lived and taught English in the mountains of South, China, as well as she had studied antiquities, the Art of the Renaissance, and Ceramics in Florence, Italy. For her painting is a very visceral, physical, and metaphysical process. Rasmussen’s paintings have been called abstract expressionism, with a spiritual twist. Her paintings reflect her holistic worldview and her deep connection with the natural world. For Rasmussen, art making is a transcendental experience.  When she paints, Rasmussen taps into a force greater than herself; a force that creates through her. Each painting is a product of her dance with divinity. Through her process she hopes to invoke in herself and the viewer a deeper connection to the world within and around us through reflection and inspiration. Rasmussen was named “Graduate Student of the Year” during her MFA commencement exercises in recognition of the strength of her paintings and her use of her artistic gifts to transform the lives of victims of abuse. Rasmussen is the Co-founder and Co-director of the ArtCart and of Art Break Day 2011, the mission of both these projects is to empower individuals and communities through ART and its process. Rasmussen’s work has been featured in numerous media outlets. Currently she lives in Santa Monica with her three cats

Featured Collection (Total Items: 9)                                Price: Low to HighPrice: High to LowNameNewestAvg ReviewReview CountFree ShippingOn Sale                                                       Lucidity  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,300.00 Prana  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,500.00 Wu Wei  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,300.00 Phoenix Rising  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,500.00 Illumination  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,900.00 Pneuma  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,900.00 Raramuri  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,900.00 Caol Ait  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $4,000.00 Maya  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $2,000.00

Metamorphosis of Painting-B

My painting took another shower yesterday. Is it done?? 

Absolutely!!

Transform your Collection Today!!

Metamorphosis is for sale

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 36" x 40" Depth 2 3/4

Price $4000

"Just start," Rasmussen said gently. "Art can be anything."

Diverse group embraces open offer to create art

Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos. 
 Stephen Sondheim

Inspirer William Blake and the Getty

If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. 

 William Blake

The Getty Center is amazing. On Saturday while visiting the center, this image arrested me and then I found it was the brilliant mad man~ William Blake. Need to analyse this image as I have been a watching a lot of Joseph Campbell recently.

Metamorphosis of Painting-A

Of course it always starts with a blank canvas, then a lot automatic painting-reflection- a shower or two. Then I destroy it, then I create, and then destroy. Reflect-react intuitively-This painting is still in the works.  It kind of nags at me to change it all the time.

Portfolio from TheWhole9.com

Check out my Portfolio from TheWhole9.com

I won a Peace Prize for the Hands of Creation!

My work was chosen from 1000's of International Artist's, whose amazing ARTworks had  the breadth of vision and the empowerment of creativity and of PEACE!! for the  Peace Project Exhibition Fundraiser 2011. I  am very honored to be  chosen to be part  of such a new paradigm of creativity and peace. You can acquire a museum quality print of the "Hands of Creation" at The Peace Project and the proceeds will go towards  this amazing project. Funds from the sales of all the artworks will  give much needed support and aid  to the people of the Sierra Leone.



Your piece Hands of Creation won a peace award and was selected as part of the visions of Peace that will travel with The Peace Project Exhibit!   Know that your involvement with this art competition helped thousands of people RISE UP in Sierra Leone.

My Vision of Peace
The Hands of Creation series manifested from my teaching transformative art to vulnerable and emotionally troubled children at a mental health agency in the Bay Area. I was looking for a way to honor the creative powers of my amazing students. Because of privacy issues I was not allowed to photograph their faces. So I decided to take pictures of their creative tools —- their hands. Through the Hands of Creation project, I seek to honor that state of the soul where the artist/child experiences the ultimate liberation, which is the act of creation itself. It is my way of honoring the children’s essence and creativity, and counteracting apathy. My portraits are the revelation of the “other” to many viewers who know little about the struggles these children face. They bring to light the horrific plague of abuse that exists in our society. Through my practice and my teaching, I attempt to heal the wounded soul and to empower these magnificent and marginalized children~ lisa

Join me at one of the openings!

Exhibition Schedule:

Los Angeles

October 22nd
Gallery 9

___________

Long Beach
November 4th
EXPO Arts Center

_____________

Bay Area
November 9th
Swarm Gallery
Oakland, CA
___________

New York

Exact date and venue TBA

______________

Orange County, CA

January 7th
Showcase Gallery
Santa Ana, CA

Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2011

ARTbreak 2011 San Francisco Site 
Just the Beginning of the photos!!!

What an amazing day!!
Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2011 was a stellar success!!
Five San Francisco Bay Area communities and 1000's of individuals from all walks of life and continents were on fire with the creative process at our first annual Take 5: ARTbreak Day.  We are happy to report that the event received rave reviews! The vast majority of participants who left AIM's free art making sites were filled with joy and pure gratitude for having such an amazing opportunity to create, connect, and be inspired by their own imagination and the fellowship of humanity.
Below are four wonderful articles written about Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2011

•  Diverse group embraces open offer to create art Jill Tucker, San Francisco Chronicle



• Forget your coffee break! Take an art break instead  Steven E.F. Brown, San Francisco Business Times



• Art Break Day: A chance to take a moment to create Mary Ellen Hunt, San Francisco Chronicle



• Take 5' and make some art By Jennifer Modenessi,Oakland Tribune/Contra Costa Times

If you were at ARTbreak Day let us know your story! Thank you for ARTbreaking and a huge Kudos's goes out to all our ARTreach Ambassadors, Volunteers, Sponsors, and Community Partners!!!