I’ll be teaching a series of workshop style artist career development classes at the Dougherty Arts School here in Austin throughout 2011 and 2012. Each workshop is 3 hours. I am especially pleased to be at the Dougherty as it makes the classes extremely affordable for artists! To register, call the Arts School at: 512.974.4040.
All my classes are hands-on with small class sizes, so you get personalized attention. I don’t want you leaving my workshop with your questions unanswered! My teaching style is informal, yet well organized.
NEW! Surface Design Basics. See class description below.
Marketing for Artists Workshop Series
at the Dougherty Arts School
What good is an artistic voice if no one is listening? The difference between art that sells and art that languishes is not the quality of the art, but the effectiveness of the marketing. This series of workshop-style classes will teach you both traditional and innovative methods that will help you translate your artistic vision into revenue and a loyal collector base.
4 Class Series
Weekly subjects: Intro to Marketing & Branding: What It Is and Why You Need to Do It; Tell Your Unique Story: Artist Bio & Resume, Websites; Blogs & Newsletters: You Suspect You Need Them… Now What?; Social Media: How It Can Help You Without Consuming or Compromising Your Life. (See topic descriptions below.)
Limit: 12 students
Class in Digital Lab 205E.
Session 1: Wednesday 6:30 – 9:30 pm
1/11 – 2/1, 2012
$100 / 4 classes
Session 2: Wednesday 6:30 – 9:30 pm
4/18 – 5/9, 2012
$100 / 4 classes
6 Class Series
Weekly subjects: Intro to Marketing & Branding: What It Is and Why You Need to Do It, The Dreaded Artist Statement: Make It Matter!, Tell Your Unique Story: Artist Bio & Resume, Websites, Blogs & Newsletters: You Suspect You Need Them… Now What?, Social Media: How It Can Help You Without Consuming or Compromising Your Life, Collecting Collectors: Fostering Great Collector Relationships. (See topic descriptions below.)
Fall 2011: Limit 12 students
Class in Digital Lab 204E.
Wednesday 6:30 – 9:30 pm
10/26 – 12/7
$149 / 6 classes
NOTE: No class 11/23 due to Thanksgiving
Spring 2012: Limit 12 students
Class in Digital Lab 205E.
Wednesday 6:30 – 9:30 pm
2/29 – 4/4, 2012
$149 / 6 classes
Class Topic Descriptions
Intro to Marketing & Branding: What It Is and Why You Need to Do It
Contrary to what some in the art world would have you believe, “marketing” is not a four-letter word. At its most basic level, marketing is simply sharing – sharing your passion, your art, your brand. Yes, most artists would rather hide in the studio than do any sort of self-promotion, but if you are serious about success, brand creation and marketing are essential! This class provides insights into what this actually means, what it can do for you, and how to approach it – from determining your goals to taking those first, sometimes scary, steps.
The Dreaded Artist Statement: Make It Matter!
We’ve all read – and perhaps even written – artist statements that are filled with nonsensical and pretentious Art Speak. What a missed opportunity! A well-crafted statement helps the viewer understand your art on new levels and compels them to take a closer look. This class provides the writing tools you need to start composing artist statements that enable your viewers to connect to your art on a more meaningful basis – artist statements that communicate and help you sell your art!
Artist Bio & Resume: Tell Your Unique Story
It’s no secret that people buy art from artists with whom they connect. In an ever-expanding sea of artists, how can you stand out and make those connections? Nobody has exactly your combination of experiences, talents, and interests. This class teaches you engaging and fresh ways to write your biography and highlight what makes you unique.
As your art career develops, part of your story is quickly and easily shared through an art resume. If you’ve wondered what to include and how to format it, this class will answer those questions, too.
Artist Websites, Blogs & Newsletters: You Suspect You Need Them… Now What?
“If you’re not online, you don’t exist.” Those strong words come from a 2009 study that sought to understand how consumers find the businesses they patronize. And make no mistake, your art career is a business!
This class teaches you how to determine the kind of online presence that will work for you, shows you how to get started, and steers you around common pitfalls. Don’t let an art buyer’s online search for you come up empty!
Social Media for Artists: How It Can Help You Without Consuming or Compromising Your Life
Everyone you know seems to be tweeting away or spending their life playing games on Facebook. The powerful marketing tool that is social media sometimes gets lost in the noise. This class teaches you to use New Media to effectively market your art and cultivate your brand. Covering a wide range of social networking options, it focuses on best practices that allow you to create connections and develop relationships – without drastically cutting into your studio time or infringing on your privacy.
Collecting Collectors: Fostering Great Relationships With Your Art Collectors
Personal referrals are a powerful force driving everything from which restaurants we patronize to what music we have on our mp3 players. Developing good relationships with your art buyers can turn them into collectors – collectors that can become some of your strongest marketing allies through their personal referrals to others.
In this enjoyable and creative class, you’ll learn how to communicate with your collectors in ways that make you stand out; discover how to make it easy for your fans and supporters to spread the word about you and your art; and brainstorm fun and unique ways to thank your supporters and collectors.
NEW! Surface Design Basics
at the Dougherty Arts School
Tuesday, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
6/5 – 7/10, 2012
$149 / 6 classes
Tuesday, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
7/24 – 8/28, 2012
$149 / 6 classes
If you’ve ever wondered how artists create depth, glorious color, and amazing visual texture on fabric, this hands-on class is for you! Students will learn basic surface design techniques from dyeing to discharge, stamping to silk screening in a small class setting. No prior experience is necessary, only a desire to have fun and create! Student must be 18 yrs old and up. Class in 5W. Limit 6 students.
Week 1: Learn to mix dye and dye fabric
Week 2: Learn to make stencils and stamps
Week 3: Explore silk screening
Week 4: Learn to use discharge and resists
Week 5: Explore alternative mark making techniques
Week 6: Learn basic embroidery stitching of created fabrics
Private Training Sessions
I am available to work with you individually on any number of topics, including (but not limited to!): blogging; social media; marketing; website content management; skills for using photos online; basic computer skills.
1 hour minimum
Cost:
$75 per hour at my location
$100 per hour at your Metro Austin location (contact me to see if your location will work)
What you need depends on the topic, but generally an Internet enabled laptop computer is necessary.
