Tag: Promoting Oneself

Check out these One of a Kind Artful Fabric Business Cards

fabric business cards, about 3″ x 4″

Artful Fabric Business Cards

My Artful Fabric Business Cards reflect my art quilt business. Business cards generally give basic information about a business; location, phone number and email .  Yet, I take my business cards a step further. They are small art quilts. For people who do not know what an art quilt is,the business card gives them an actual example to choose and take with them.

Reducing Waste

Reducing waste is a major motivation for me. My cards are made of fabric that most people would throw away. I use a fabric pen to write on a plain piece of fabric. The batting inside has no other use either. I also found that as my business grew my info changed. Because I hadn’t printed out my cards, I was able to adjust easily without wasting paper.

Artful Fabric Business Cards
I started with this info on one side.
Artful Fabric Business Cards
Later I needed to add more information as my business changed.

Each card is unique. Most people enjoy choosing their favorite colors or patterns. My cards are a committment statement about my work.

Making the Cards

People often say ,”Doesn’t it take a lot of time to make the cards?” I use the assembly line approach to production. First, I write the info about 20 times on white or plain fabric. Then, maybe at a different time, I sew small pieces of left over fabric together. At another time, I baste the three layers together with a glue stick. Followed by sewing two curvy lines, horizontally across the pieces. Zigzagging the edges comes last. I generally find that there are times when I don’t feel top notch or I need a break from creating. Those times are when I turn to making my fabric cards. So it is not as if I am taking productive time away from actual work.

Artful Fabric Business Cards

My First Fabric Cards

I made my first cards when I was still working full time. I tried different things and learned from people’s responses. When I shared my card with a coworker, she actually shrieked. That was a surprising response. But I took it as a yes, I was on the right path! My first attempts were to make each card extremely special, like a real art quilt. I soon learned that that was not really necessary. People were thrilled with a simpler more random piece. So I simplified my process.

Starting Out

I admit that these cards to require more effort than a paper printed card. It was my decision to give them away. Yet, another early experience made me make adjustments. At a gallery show I was in, a woman proudly came up to me and shared that she had taken four of my cards and used them as coasters. I was such a newbie I didn’t know how to respond.

Now I would say, the first one is free. The others are $10. Because of that experience,I found a finer tip fabric pen that would let me write smaller. I reduced the size of my cards also  so that they were closer to 3 or 4 inches rather than 5 inches.

Another benefit was that I could easily  change the information on my cards. When I moved my studio downtown,I made new cards with the address on it. Later I decided to add my phone number. These changes would have been costly and wasteful if I had used paper business cards.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

In conclusion, fabric business cards do take longer to make. However, I make them with fabric and batting that many would throw way. They allow me to reuse and reduce while making a memorable art quilt.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/11/decorative-mouse-pads/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2023/03/why-i-love-my-unique-business-cards/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2022/05/do-you-believe-serendipity-brings-joy/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2022/05/reuse-dont-toss/

Now is the time Develop Your Own Art Style!

Splendid Fairy Wren, abstract art quilt

Develop Your Art Style

Ann Baldwin May wrote Develop Your Art Style  as a potential  Zoom talk at a NorCal /Southern Nevada  Regional Meeting of the International Art quilters organization,SAQA. Although this post’s original audience was art quilters, many of the points apply to all forms of artists. Especially artists who are just beginning to put themselves and their art out into the world.

Introduction

Ann Baldwin May developed her art style to become a quilt artist. Ms. May reinvented herself in retirement.  Her art friends call her resilient, a prolific artist and a master at social media. She was accepted into the New York Art Center in Tribeca in 2019.

purple black ,white medium blue,Develop Your Art Style
Splendid Fairy Wren, 30″ h x 25″ w, an abstract art quilt

Develop Your Art Style

How to develop your own art style? Do you want to make a career out of art ? Do you want to sell items that you make? Is your goal to be in a museum? These decisions are part of  the process. An answer does not need to be made right away. Only one person can make these decisions. It is YOU.
In the beginning,I would visit shows and see no art quilts that looked like mine.  At first, I  worried about this, but then I realized that it was a good thing.  I had my own unique style. I focussed on developing it more.

Honing your Craft

  • Develop your skill set .This will be your bag of tricks that you will draw from.What skills are you good at? What skills do you like to use while making your art? Use these to develop your own style.
  • Classes are great but at some point one has to work on developing their own style.
  • Attend  SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) conferences. The workshops offer great advice for all steps of your career.
brown and golden tree art quilt,Develop Your Art Style
Celebrating Fall 33″h x 31″ w

Putting Yourself Out There

The 20th century model for art and many things was make or do great work. Then the world would come to you.  The 21st century model is different. Each person needs to let the world know what they are doing. This can be difficult for some of us to do. However,I found this phrase helpful when I started out. Hi, I am shamelessly promoting my work. This phrase shows  that it is uncomfortable yet it still needs to be done.

  • Let people know what you are doing. Share with your friends and the groups you are in. They will be a big support for you especially in the beginning.
  • Start a list of people who want to hear from you. Gather names and emails at each show you participate in. Use it to notify people of what you are doing. I do a monthly newsletter about where I am showing my art or what I am making.
  • What is your digital footprint? If someone sees your work and googles you, what will they see? What do you want to see when you google an artist?  A website announces to the world that you are serious about your art.  Online sale sites are growing. Besides  sales, I have gotten commissions from my Etsy shop. I was also contacted by an editor for Art Quilting Studio to write  articles for them. I was interviewed by a freelance writer for the Smithsonian Magazine due to my digital footprint.

Each Community is Unique.

Each community is unique. I happen to live in a community with a vibrant art scene. Santa Cruz, California is  fifth in the nation of listing  artists as their livelihood.There are opportunities to show your work at restaurants, coffee shops, quilts shows, county fairs, festivals,real estate offices,First Fridays events, Open Studios Art Tours.  Your community is probably different. join together with others and form a group. Accept the opportunity to create your own events.

Educating the Public about what You Do

Take the opportunity to educate the public about art quilts. I usually say art quilting is  a new form. It (SAQA) began in 1989 in Northern CA. Yvonne Porcella was actually born and raised in my county. Many people still don’t know about it.

an underwater fantasy art quilt,Develop Your Art Style
Sea Turtles,23″ x 35″,an underwater fantasy art quilt

Further Steps

  • Create a laser statement, sometimes called a elevator talk. Explain what you do in a sentence or two. Most people know what quilts.But they are still unfamiliar with art quilts.  I usually say art quilts use quilting technique to make wall art. My portfolios are Nature, Abstracts and Mexican inspired art quilts.
  • Reach beyond the art quilt world to the art world in general. Enter shows that accept fiber art.
  • Local press- If you are  having shows or creating events the local press with search you out. Of course, you can also let them know.
  • Be professional. Be a person someone wants to work with. Leave your ego at the door.Be prompt, prepared at all steps.

About ten years I began my art path into the world. I gleaned these ideas presented here mainly from my own search to develop my own style. I find that they have worked for me. As one takes baby steps into the art world, people will comment on what they see or like. This feedback  from the public will  help  you define your own style.You may have one but you may not truly recognize it.  I offer these suggestions to help as you  develop your own art style.

You may be interested in reading more about my style.

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/12/coming-into-my-own-as-an-art-quilter/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/01/creating-movement-in-abstract-art-quilts/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/03/using-redirected-fabrics-and-materials/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/05/be-ready-with-your-laser-statement/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/smaller-art/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

New York Art

How to Make Your Own Luck in Art

Dry Tree

Artists Making Your Own Luck takes Work.

Making your own luck through self promotion involves planning, organization and bravery. If you are an artist, the work begins by making great art. In this age of self promotion, one must present themselves in a professional manner.

Artists,make your own luck with People Skills.

Having strong people skills is essential. Working with people in a way that shows integrity and honesty. Be easy to work with. Go out of your way to help for example make things easier for the curator or organizer. Save those picky, finicky thoughts for when you are creating your art by yourself in your studio. Don’t create problems for others.

Artists,make your own luck by being ready to jump on an opportunity presents itself. This takes a bit of bravery.

Be consistent in your production of posts blogs or newsletter. Show that you are dependable and reliable.

Be someone who others want to work with. When a new opportunity comes up, they will think of you. Conversely, when I am planning a project or activity, I will leave out people who having proven to be a problem to work with in the past.

Dress the part.

Be yourself. Be authentic. But in general the public expects an artist to dress a bit differently. Sometimes I dress as a person working in an upscale gallery might.

When I am at a reception for an individual show or a group show, I wear something that identifies me as an artist. As a fiber artist I have made special clothing that I save for shows. Save the paint covered clothing for your studio.

Keep your own name tag with you. You never know when you will be at a meeting or a show where they forget to make name tags. I was one show where they made me a name tag. They had my name and a photo of my art on it. They even placed it in a plastic cover.That is the one I saved. Perfect.

Have unique business cards with you at all times. My cards are small handmade art quilts.People love my business cards. They illustrate what my art is while giving the contact information on the back.

Artists,make your own luck by Recognizing the Strengths of Others

Others in your field have strengths that should be recognized.Share or post about others, not just yourself all of the time. Promote the work of your friends or other people working in your field. It encourages others to look at your posts.

They are some people’s posts that I just delete because they just always about themselves and do it too often.When I share about others’ work, I find more people share items about my work.

Authenticity

Part of being an authentic person is realized our own strengths and weaknesses. While one may lead with their strengths, one must also develop their weaknesses. It is not as much fun and it is often a lot of work. Many artists find meeting with the public the hardest part of their job. Others find the paperwork and organization to be difficult. Overcoming a weakness begins with baby steps. Choose one weakness to develop your skills in and take small steps to improve in that area. Taking a class may help. Being brave helps.

In conclusion, what may appear as good luck is often the result of hard work, bravery, planning, and organization. Be persistent and don’t give up. Magic isn’t instantaneous.

You may want to read other articles on this topic,Ten Proven Ways to Make your Own Luck by Deep Patel.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/286336 https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/04/forging-your-own-art-path/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/

https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2019/09/becoming-more-creative/

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