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!!

MOCA: Art in the Streets

On April 23, 2011 I went to go see the exhibition at MOCA: Art in the Streets in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. I was really excited to see the exhibition. It had been getting a lot of press from The New York Times and the Huffington Post. It seemed it brewed up the age old controversy and debate of folks perceptions on what is ART and what is not ART.

As we approached MOCA the lines of people waiting to get in was off the hook. We decided to go to lunch and check out the other ART that was being created on the streets. Here is what we saw outside the doors of the museum.

The coolest thing was Little Tokyo was a mad house of people. The Sushi houses and stores were filled to the brim with folks either waiting to see the exhibition or who had just finished. Studies have shown that at art events individual people spend around $27 each. And who said Arts bring nothing to our economy? I think that was the Republicans.

JR'S eyes. I thought graphiti artists did not tag over others art? Maybe it was collaboration.

JR's great talk on Ted, I was happy to see an artist win this award.

I felt this key was placed there on purpose. What does it mean? Art?

Space Invader...

A man checking out the art.

Next I will go into the exhibition inside closed doors of museum.

philosophical discussion about napkins

philosophical discussion about napkins.

What does the way a person handles a napkin tell about that person? I am so curious, I feel it could this be another form of self-analysis. Check out these two napkins. Which is the lawyer's and which it the artist's? Ha! I would say mine is a sculpture. I want to start collecting people taking pictures of their used napkins. Send me your images! artistlisarasmussen@gmail.com

Latest works that have SOLD!

I am very happy to say I just sold two more works at the the Room Art Gallery in San Raphael, CA.


Wabi-sabi "if an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi-sabi.[Wabi-sabi] nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect."


Shen
This dictionary entry for shen lists early usage examples, and many of these 11 meanings were well attested prior to the Han Dynasty. Chinese classic texts use shen in meanings 1 "spirit; god", 2 "spirit, mind; attention", 3 "expression; state of mind", 5 "supernatural", and meaning 6 "esteem

A big thank you to Danielle for making this happen.

Art Review from Cynthia Hanson

That is how I feel when I am visiting her studio with her paintings piled up or hanging from the walls all around us. I feel that her paintings are showing me both personal and universal truths. They are about Lisa, of course, but also about myself connecting to that which is dark and deeply within, or that which is light- arising and emerging to engage with in sacred conversation.


I view Lisa as a kind of artist/ archaeologist: using painting as a tool for expression, but in a manner that embodies self-discovery and excavation of connections that yield both personal and universal truths. There is also a strong element of healing in her work, not only for herself but for the Earth. "I see the sprit of the Earth as being continuously tortured, destroyed, and ostracized from civilization," Lisa says."I empathize with her pain and her victimization, but I also marvel at her power, strength, and spiritual resilience. I drawn upon my link with the earth and infuse my paintings with life force to activate the human/ divine connection to help create balance within our collective consciousness," She speaks of the earth as the "Ultimate Artist."I feel that by integrating the divinity of the natural world into my fear of our modern world," she goes on to say, "I will heal-thus equalizing myself and then the world."
Cynthia Hanson

New Works for Sale

OverLay

Size: 30" x 40"
Price:$2200

Phoenecians
Size: 24"x 24"
Price: $700.00

Contact me lisarasmussen08@gmail.com

Refinement and New works for Sale!

I just had a studio visit and I really worked hard on refining the presentation of my work. Sides are always a tricky thing in painting. Do you leave them messy or fix um up? The good news is I was super productive and created some new works! And now my body of work is refined!

Akashagarbha "Womb of Space" Tibetian
Size: 30" x 40"
$2000

Wabi Sabi
30" x 40"
$2000

Alchemy II
36" x 36"
$2000

Contact me if your interested in buying these amazing works! lisarasmussen08@gmail.com