Interaction!!

Develop a list on blogs that interest you and fit nicely with your field and read them regularly and make comments. Talk to your Twitter followers and help them out – retweet valuable information they have provided.  The Golden Rule applies online as well – Treat others as you would like to be treated. Let them know you hear what they are saying. Let them know you have thought about them. Let them know you care.

My mama always says, “To have a friend, you have to be a friend.”  It applies in the world of social media as well!

The month of June, I joined the Georgia Etsy Team, began regularly reading blogs of people I admire, and developed several relationships through Twitter that I truly cherish. It is both enriching for my personal life as well as beneficial for my art marketing to do these things. I learned from Natasha Wescoat that people buy art from people they admire personally as well as artistically. I learned from my friend Tom that the Golden Rule does indeed work wonders. I learned from Rebecca Salcedo and Kym Hepworth that in doing all of these things always be yourself!

Thank you everyone out there in the e-sphere that has helped me to grow as a personal and as artist!  You are all appreciated greatly!

LCS, the Illustration News Portal, publishes a short article about The Heirloom Jewel Series. Check it out!

Win a 20 x 30 Experiential Jungle Metallic Print!

How do I enter?

There are four methods to earn an entry into the drawing. Drawing Entries will be accepted until 11:59pm on June 3oth.

1. To get 1 entry

Leave a comment on any Blog on this site; Please venture away from this page to do so. (limit 1; not in combination with #2)

2. To get 2 entries

Link to my Blog from your website and comment on my site. Make sure you let me know you have linked to me (limit 1; not in combination with #1)

3. To get 3 entries

You have to already own a piece of art by Rachel for this one! Write a testimonial telling me how my artwork has influenced or enriched your life. (limit 1)

4. To get 5 entries

Book a Commission or Buy an original or print. (no limit)

More Information

1. The maximum number of entries allowed per person is 10. You may use any combination of the entry methods above, but you may not combine entry methods #1 and #2.
2. Comments made on this particular post will not count as entries.
3. If you link to my site from your site, you MUST email me or contact me to let me know so that I can add your additional entry.
4. The drawing will be held Wednesday, July 1st under the supervision of 2 witnesses.
5. The prize will be shipped to the winner free of charge.
6. The Prize winner will be announced the afternoon of July 1st.

Note: The print is NOT framed.

1. I am one of those people that believe that people would free themselves and be much happier if they listen to their inner child.

Even when I interact with little kids, it is my inner child that is playing with them and understanding them.  I have this fabulous knack for easily identifying and encouraging my inner child. This video brought out that inner child, and I needed to see her today (my inner child, that is).

2. The video was wonderful!

In addition to being really well done technically and musically, the video is education and about my favorite subject – ART! The little art reporter with the big beautiful eyes professionally interviews the humorous and historically educated Dali resulting in a delightful account of Dali’s artistic and personal beliefs. I also hear that there are 2 more of this series coming out – one about DiVinci and another about Van Gogh.  I can’t wait to see them.

3. I am in awe of the support and encouragement of Sophia’s creative mom.

You see, Sophia’s mom set all of this up when Sophia was 2 to keep a record of the cool art that Sophia was making. Sophia is now 6, and not only does Sophia have a YouTube Page, but she also has a website, a blog, and you can buy her work.  How is that for supporting and nurturing a gift? I wanna be that cool of a parent when I have kids.

4. This is something I would want my kids to watch – if I had any.

This is the type of programming I would like to see on “Family” Channels. I can see us as a culture moving back to this wholesome, inspiring educational programming.

5. The subject was Dali!

Salvadore Dali - Thanks to Kirk Frazier for this fine photograph!!

Dali, the Surrealist Painter, that believed in pushing the boundaries of art and making people question what they saw both visually and existentially. Laying the subconscious onto paper – what? Isn’t that what I am trying to do with the new series? I was pumped to see this. My artistic path has been drastically shifting the past few months, and although I feel more confident about its direction now more than ever before, I hadn’t stopped to contemplate my standing within the history of art – how do I relate to it, if at all? The answer came in the form of this wonderful production, and so my continual search for self-wisdom has again been sparked. Oh, the “coincidences” of life!

SO check it out! And then let them know what you think.

We are artists, people! If you don’t tell us you appreciate the work – how else will we know?

I have come across several articles lately that talk about nurturing the inner child.

Through various meditation practices, these articles encourage us to revisit and reconnect with our inner child at various ages in order to heal past wounds. These articles (which I have listed below) insist that many of us overlook the inner child in ourselves, only to distance ourselves from who we were at certain points in our lives and the pain or needs that were not met. The psychologists suggest that becoming so removed from our distant selves can be harmful to our present selves.

Deliberating the Existence of My Inner Child

I found this all very interesting, and began to wonder if I was removed from my inner child, but I have to admit it. I am often the equivalent of a 4 year old child. Or a 7 year old or 11 or even 17 for that matter. I have always loved to entertain my inner-child. It keeps things exciting and fun. Upon further review of myself, I notice that much of my artwork is testimonial to nurturing my inner child.

I have recently finished 3 new pieces for the Heirloom Jewel Series.

The imagery is clearly child-like, and I have found that in addition to the imagery, I have fallen in love with the symbolism tbehind each of the animals I have depicted. This, too, is quite child-like and intuitive. So check out the images and the symbology and listen to what your inner child has to say about them.

The Octopus Jewel

The Octopus is an animal that holds very strong symbolism that is so extremely layered. A bottom-dwelling water creature, the octopus symbolizes emotion, intuition, and creativity that is also grounded. The fact that an octupus may loose a limb and regenerate that lost limb symbolizes self-healing, cycles, and regeneration. When an octupus is frightened it “inks” it’s predator clouding the water so that it may escape or it can even shed a limb to form a distraction. These are forms of creating an illusion for the sake of survival or self-preservation in the same way that people are often outwardly deceptive for the sake of survival.

The Dragonfly Jewel

A dragonfly is a magical symbol of agility in the face of change, especially changes having to do with deeper consciousness. A dragonfly can fly in any direction, but their wings are very sensitive to the smallest changes in the wind, thus they encourage us to heed the winds of change and not fight against it but work with the change. In addition, the Dragonfly is an animal of born of water and maturing to the air, thereby this beautiful creature is also symbolic of the passion and emotion of youth giving way to control and clarity in maturity.

The Sea Turtle Jewel

The Turtle is a special animal that takes the comfort of his shell with him on his travels. In this respect, the sea turtle is a symbol of protection, inner knowledge, and healing especially within the elemental water areas of emotion, intuition, and creativity. The sea turtle depends on water currents (tides of change) for fast-progression, but without the strong exterior currents, the turtle must courageously stick his neck out and patiently yet persistently progress on his own. Many Tribal Native American cultures believe that the continent arose on the back of a great turtle, and such they often referred to it as Turtle Island.

Articles about Nurturing the Inner Child:

Nurturing and Caring For Your Inner Child: How to Heal Emotionally and Master the Art of Self-love

Inner Child Focus, Work and Therapy from Elevated Therapy International in London.

Inner Child

A few months ago, I realized that although the design work was helping to pay the bills, the fine art was my passion.  After a review of my progress through the first year of business, I found that my fine art always sold almost immediately after completion.  In addition, wouldn’t it be easier and more cost effective to focus on promoting one skill rather than six?

I haven’t currently done enough self-promotion for my work, and I know it.  And I am not alone.
Far too many artists and creatives either don’t know how to or choose not to spend the time and money on self-promotion.

I took several classes in grad school on the art of self-promotion.  I just haven’t put my know-how into practice.  Time is sparse for me, when I am creating I am on a role and don’t want to be interrupted.  I often become a hermit, not wanting to answer the phone or leave my studio.  Promotion can feel like an interruption.  And money – well honestly, starting out full-time, how many artists actually have the money to spend on self-promotion?  It’s hard, but everyone should have a plan, especially when you rely on your craft to pay your bills.

So here it is, my marketing goals for the next six months.  Hopefully this will help someone else too:

1. Spend more time on self-promotion. Schedule it into my calendar.
2. Send out quarterly mailers to Art Directors, Local Galleries, Children’s Boutiques, Art Collectors, and Art Directors
3. Monthly e-newslettters highlighting the news of the month as well as the new artwork, blog entries, and artist interviews.
4. Give-aways enticing people to visit and comment or link to my site.
5. Blog 1-2 times a week on pertinent artistic/entrepreneur information. Share the clog posts on Twitter, Facebook, Friend Feed, etc.
6. Interview other artists once a month, and share those interviews with the world via my blog.
7. Join 2 “in real life” networking groups.
8. Find a Gallery in Savannah to show my work.  This will include preparing digital portfolios, fine-tuning artist statement, and setting pricing.
9. Teach a Class – I love to teach. I find it enlightening and stimulating.
10. Research and Create Digital Art Statements.

I will keep you posted on my progress and my results. Now, make your marketing goals, share them and stick to them.

For more articles on self-promotion, please check out the following links. Special Thanks to Natasha Wescoat, Mashable, and Empty Easel for the following articles:

The Artist’s Guide to Flickr
Imitation and Art Marketing: How to Imitate your Way to Success
7 Popular Blogging Styles for Artists to Choose From
Artist Guide: Artist Brains
Tweetable Art: 10 Twitter Tips for Artists
Artist Guide: Digi-Art Statements

The Big Question flying around in my head lately -”Why do I make art?”

The perfectly obvious answer to anyone that has ever known me – “Rachel, that is what you do.  That is who you are. You are an artist.” It seems as if it is the act of making art that defines me as a person, and without that attribute I would not be the Rachel that I am. My family and friends agree, “Rachel and Art are like Peanut Butter and Jelly.”

But for me that does not answer the question – WHY? I have an ever present knack for questioning everything, especially my own motivations.  When the answer seems so simple to most people, I tend to delve deeper. What is this persistent driving force that will not allow me to stop creating? The truest answer is far less superficial than a personal definition and more an element of survival instinct.  Let me explain.

When I was three years old, I began having night-terrors, extreme nightmares that seem so real they often cause the dreamer to scream and fight in their sleep.  My Mama would try to calm me, but still asleep, my fears were difficult to calm. As I got older the night-terrors invaded the daylight. The best description I am able to forge is that of a massive deep dark hole residing in the pit of my stomach threatening to grow and swallow up any sense of happiness or contentment around it. Often it would grow so large that I couldn’t breathe, and a Panic Attack would prevail.

Genetically, I found in my early 20s, my hard wiring is crossed and I have what is called Panic Disorder. The best way to describe this chemical imbalance uses the balloon example. When a balloon pops and you are unprepared, your body panics.  You heart rate elevates and your breathing increases. Once you realize what has happened and that you aren’t in any present danger, you heart rate slows down and you begin to calm, maybe even laughing to ease the panic. For me the “balloon” can pop anytime – without a true external stimulus. The difference is my body doesn’t calm down right away, because it doesn’t know that everything is okay, so the panic increases and peaks.  A Panic Attack can last as long as 15 to 20 minutes, and it is a completely helpless feeling.

Experiential Jungle - Soul Painting Series by RM Cotton

I also started drawing at the age of three, and I have never really stopped.  There have been very brief interludes in my life where I neglected my creative instincts, and in these days or months my black hole would expand and threaten to swallow me. The act of creating has always tames that deep abyss, and I believe that when I create art, I am using a divine gift to commune with the creation aspect of divinity. Artists around the world will tell you they often “get lost” in creating their work. I feel this is a sort of “creative meditation” through a deeper level of consciousness.  I know I am able to tap into my inner spirit when making art. Throughout my life, making my art has always helped tame the beast within me.

Lately, something new has awakened in my spirit, and I feel very strongly that I am meant to siphon the tapped energy of divinity thought INTO my artwork. In order to embark on this rather difficult artistic journey, I have begun a series of paintings, entitled “Soul Paintings” to focus on this practice of inviting the divine into my work by modifying the levels of my consciousness through prayer and meditation.  I call these “Soul Paintings” because I believe that the love and light of God is alive in each of us, and through my work and attunement with my spirit and soul I may better use my artwork to honor Creation and possibly help others pacify the beast within.

My Booth at Art in Reese Park

I volunteered to share my booth with a local doctor that is also a painter, but he ended up not showing up, so my booth looks a little bare.  The entire park was covered in booths by 20 very talented artisans. We set up chairs outside of our booth to offer friends and family a place to congregate during the festival – many people came and offered their support, and my sales were very impressive considering I had very few originals.  I was also approached to do several commission works, and some of my work can now be found at Cafe Campesino, a VERY AWESOME free-trade coffee roasting and brewing company based in Americus with the most welcoming and knowledgeable staff.

I was featured in a photo in the middle of the Americus Times-Recorder front page, but unfortunately no one could give me a copy and their site leave much to be desired. If anyone has a copy of that article, I will bestow upon you a free print for sending it to me! And Reese Park, I will be back again next year!

]]> http://www.rachelmcotton.com/2009/04/art-in-the-park-2009/feed/ 0 http://www.rachelmcotton.com/2009/04/savannah-barstinations-the-guitar-bar/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www.rachelmcotton.com/2009/04/savannah-barstinations-the-guitar-bar/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:15:22 +0000 Rachel http://www.rachelmcotton.com/?p=1003 On our second trip out, we also checked out The Guitar Bar located at 348 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah.  The owner/bartender Elaine and the bartender Andy were so extremely hospitable and friendly that this quickly became one of out favorite bars in Savannah!  We overstayed our intended time frame because we couldn’t bare to leave.

The Famous Guitar Bar Mannequin

The Guitar Bar is a small establishment decked out in guitars and posters, St Patty’s beads, and the famous mannequin that will be featured in an upcoming HBO pilot.  Andy, the barkeep, showed us the proper way to take THE MAN SHOT proving his manhood beyond a doubt.  The Man Shot begins with a snort of salt, then lime in the eye, followed by a shot of tequila, and then a heavy slap across the face – Amazing!  We enjoyed our $2 PBR drafts, a large array of imported beers, and a Hookah loaded with Apple Tobacco.  To top off the amazing trip, we held out for the live entertainment.  Two musicians performed together with a Guitar and a Violin – it was amazing.  If you haven’t been to The Guitar Bar, you MUST check it out.  And tell Elaine we said hello!

The Guitar Bar

A Little Detail

First we hit The Distillery.  We had a wonderful time taste testing several of the beers.  They have 92 different beers on tap and in bottles.  An endless array of beers and mixtures of beers to create delicious concoctions.  One fabulous mix is called a Berry White – a mixture of Allagash White and Lindeman’s Framboise – delicious!

Here are the sketches from The Distillery, but I must confess there is so much to record visually and via taste buds, that we just may have to make a second trip!

The Distillery Bar

The Hostess Stand at the Distillery