Making plans
Tuesday I had a great meeting with Jenny, my artist friend, http://www.periwinklepapers.com/creative-designs.htm . She and I are both on the art licensing journey. The goal for our meeting was to encourage and inspire each other to move to the next level. Having another artist looking over my shoulder, pushing me on and sharing wisdom is wonderful. Jenny is a sweet and generous person and our meeting definitely gave me that push to move to the next level.
What is the next level for me? Atlanta Mart in July is my next level. After talking with Jenny I am more determined to be there, walk the show. meet with manufacturers to show my portfolio and see how things look at the next level.
The next two months will be filled with lots of “to dos.” My list is long; however, it is doable and I am determined. The first step is to go through my portfolio with a fine tooth comb, add more designs, mock up products and make sure it is in excellent shape. I am working on that every day. The key will be working hard everyday so I check off those “to dos” on my list.
I am excited and confident I am going in the right direction with my plans. Without a plan I wouldn’t be able to do this, so I will stick to my plan and I will be in Atlanta in July.
beauty surrounds us every day, our job is to see it. vlos 2010
have a wonderful week
This week I will be meeting with an artist friend, http://www.periwinklepapers.com/creative-designs.htm; I am looking forward to seeing where her art licensing journey is taking her.
On my calendar are a number of other tasks I need to complete…taking art files to the printer to have prints and cards made to sell in my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickieleadesigns, finishing up journal kits and listing them in my Etsy shop. All of this along with creating new art for my portfolio will keep me busy.
Making a list or writing out what needs to be done helps me stay on track and in turn helps me have a wonderful week.
“The harder you work, the luckier you get.” Gary Player
Here’s to a wonderful week!
Art licensing resources
Last night I participated in a Tara Reed Ask Call…there were great questions and Tara gave valuable information on a number of topics. I have purchased a number of art licensing resources from Tara including the audio recordings of some of the Ask calls. These resources are valuable for the beginning artist as well as the seasoned artist.
Tara is upbeat and encouraging and injects enough “reality” into the mix to keep the artist encouraged and aware of the ups and downs and ins and outs of art licensing. The hour last night was well spent and the other resources are very valuable.
As I continue this journey of art licensing I continue to be amazed at the willingness of other artists to share their knowledge and encouragement with others. It is really a blessing and I so appreciate the wealth of information and expertise available.
So I continue this journey….
for disclosure purposes I have not received any compensation for providing the above information.
a little flower and sunshine inspiration from nature
a gorgeous day…lots of sunshine and wow the colors of the flowers are stunning. getting outside for a walk was just what I needed.
I couldn’t resist this picture….a place in the sun to read a good book or soak up some rays…what a way to spend a spring afternoon.
Spring time and creativity
Spring has arrived…and this year it totally took me by surprise. Of course, that could be because I have been on the road traveling from home to Texas, back home, back to Texas on to Arkansas and now back home. Since the end of January I have been on the go and have experienced weather changes on the road from North Carolina to Texas to Arkansas to North Carolina. Spring happened while I was on the road and upon arriving home this week it looks like it has been around for a while. However, that is ok since spring is my favorite season, and I certainly am happy to see warm weather, green grass, blooming trees and flowers dotting the landscape. The cold dreary days of winter are gone and now I can come out of hibernation.
So, that brings me to creativity…I’m working on new artwork and photography and creating handmade journals for my Etsy shop //www.etsy.com/shop/vickieleadesigns.
My goals for licensing my art haven’t changed…just have had a few delays in my progress. All of this traveling has made me even more aware of how much I want to create art. The trips were necessary, I’m glad I could go and because I am an artist I took my art with me…maybe didn’t get as much accomplished as I would have liked; however, even sitting and doodling is progress for me. Doodling seems to lead me to new design ideas and keeps my mind connected to my art.
Hope your spring brings creative activities and lots of wonderful sunshine!
Bloom
Just around the corner…sooner than we think…blooms will appear on the trees and flowers will spring up in all their glory and I will be happy! Spring is my favorite season. We have begun shaking off the short days of winter that have given little sunshine and been filled with cold, rain, snow and sleet. Spring brings relief from the wintery blast and the earth begins to live again with bright, beautiful color with longer and warmer days. The promise of new life is enough to make me sing!
So…I will bloom with renewed vigor…planting seeds and flowering plants in my little flower garden. And…I continue to plant new designs into my portfolio of hope!
Enjoy the sunshine when it arrives…
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~ Charles Dickens
new artwork and a fresh perspective…
Having a dream of licensing my artwork has never diminished, but some days it seems such a remote possibility and working through that is difficult.
However, since the beginning of the year my perspective has changed and there is a renewed sense of “yes this will happen and it will happen soon.” In fact 2010 is my year, and there is a feeling of urgency to create new designs and push harder to make this dream happen sooner, rather than later.
I am creating every day and some of my best designs are appearing on my computer screen and that makes me happy! New ideas for old designs are shaping up and my goals are narrowing down to the fine details of polishing up my portfolio, refining designs and setting up mock products with my designs.
As with any dream the hard work has to be done before the rewards materialize. Right now it is ‘hard work time for me.’ Soon the rewards for my hard work will start rolling in and that is exciting and motivating!
Here’s sneak peak at what is happening at my desk…..
Core values
Core values….those values that keep us focused on what is important. These values are the compass of life and no matter what happens we have our core values to guide us. If we always keep those values in the fore front of our plans, we can’t go wrong.
Dreams can come true and we can keep our core values in tack.
looking back and looking ahead
Reflecting on the past is good; a way to see how far I have come and what I have accomplished. Being honest about the journey….accepting the good and the bad and learning from the experiences. This time of year always makes me do some of that looking back…remembering and reminding myself of my blessings and being kind to myself for my failures and letting go of stuff that I don’t need for the journey that lies ahead. I am thankful for the new year; this chance to grow my art licensing business, learn new skills, accomplish goals, and grow personally.
So I look forward….leaving behind those things that might keep me from accomplishing goals or growing personally. 2010 is a new year of great possibilities and I will find something good in every day. I will look for all the opportunities, walk through the open doors, stay focused on what is important, let go of excess baggage and most of all I will LIVE!
