What A Difference A Sandwich Makes

You guys know how I blogged about Taking a “Big Boy” Step well yesterday while Hannah was making a sandwich for lunch and I was washing dishes, we were talking about what we wanted to do. Right now one thing is for sure - we want to sell our house, its been fun but we belong in a building.

Well as the sandwich was being made we talked about how we want to move to another city and live downtown in that city or even just move downtown here in San Antonio. I talked about how I could go work at one of my galleries which is downtown and help sell my work. We talked about how much better it was to live downtown, maybe have a store front for my own gallery or something. Only thing we know is we want to be downtown.

When we first moved in together we lived in a building just outside of downtown (on San Pedro and I-35 if you know San Antonio) we both worked downtown and loved walking to work and if we wanted to go to the Riverwalk it was right there. Then a friend of ours wanted us to take over her lease in a house just a little farther but it was a house and at the time we thought it was a good idea. Then after about 2 years we were ready to buy some land and build our dream home. Well, building our dream home cost way too much, so we just bought a house instead which was even farther away. I know some people would think we are not that far being only a mile away from the Alamo but it feels like it’s almost a life time away.

So we get back to work and Hannah received an email about a job in Denver and the office is downtown and they pay for us to move, what luck right? So we talk it over and she agrees to go back to work since the pay is very good. I mean we are doing ok with just my art sales but we have debt and can’t pay much on it. So she is going back to work full-time in an office and we move to Denver. We will move as soon as we can sell the house and if any of you out there know Denver we want to move to lower downtown also known as “The LoDo District”.

This also gives me a chance to hit up a new city and maybe we can learn something about being in a new place and how to set up shows and sell in a new place, like I said yesterday “I only do this stuff for you guys”. So if anyone knows anyone in Denver I would love to know so I can have stuff to do there or if you live there I would love to have lunch with you once I get there. Can’t wait to market “Join the Mile High Club with Art by NEMO”

Art Show At A Bike Race

Hannah’s dad owns Flat Rock Ranch and this past weekend they had a race and since we can take credit cards anywhere now we decided we should set up and see what would happen (note: I only do stuff like this for you guys). Oh and this race wasn’t held by Hannah’s family it was another group that came in and put this one on.

It was a good start to a good day but once we got the tent up and as the art was going up it started to rain and the wind came and the wind didn’t stop. We were staked in really well but its still scary when all your art is attached to your tent. By this time everything had a layer of dust on it since it has been so dry. We didn’t get any sales on Saturday but there was a free keg of beer there, so how can I complain, right? The bar-b-q was good and we ended the day with a very good cupcake and the Spurs game. I always find it a little hard to sleep in any other bed than my own, but I managed to get a good nights sleep.

When we woke up at 6 or 7 in the morning it was in the 30’s but there was no wind and the tent had stayed up all night, so if nothing else it was a good test to our tent pitching, hahaha he said tent pitching. The fire was going strong and I got to talk to a lot of the riders that were going to participate in the race that day. Most of them were cool even if they didn’t look at my work, but they were focused on keeping warm and winning the race.

It seems like there were more people out the second day but once the race started every one was on a bike so no one was left to buy art. We pretty much gave up but some how got a sale near the end. So it was a bust for us, but Flat Rock Ranch has a better bigger race later on in the year that we might try to see if more people = more sales. At least it turned into a really beautiful day and another free keg, what I life huh?

So we will see what happens, is there anywhere you would like me to show my art and report about how it goes. I think music concerts would be kind of the same story as this one but who knows right…..

This Week's Art

Hey guys just wanted to show you one of the many commissions I have been working on. A good client of mine had this idea and we made it come to life, it’s a wedding gift for a couple getting married on Arbor Day. Great idea, I am very happy with the way it came out. I like when my clients have great ideas, keep it up.

This Week's Art

I took my brick to the Wall Symposium I forgot to take a picture to show you guys, I always do that with the stuff that’s not on paper. Oh well, here are some hearts I did for an art show this second Saturday which just happens to be Valentine’s Day.

Are You Ready for a Gallery?

Once you have a solid style or voice down. Have made some sales and not just to your family but to complete strangers. Have a nice cohesive body of work (about 10 to 30 will do) and it would be nice if they are framed the same and the same size or if they are in groupings of 3’s and 5’s with one or two really big ones. As long as they all look like they belong together no matter how you break them up. Then maybe you can approach a gallery.

If you are looking for a gallery in your home town it’s just like meeting that guy or girl of your dreams - you check them out, get to know them and see what makes them tick. Make sure they are the one for you before you go in and put your foot in your mouth. Get on their mailing list, go to shows there, try to meet other artists that work with them, meet the owners, and remember to have fun and have confidence. If it’s the right place for you the time to show your work to them will become apparent. Oh, and always have art in your car so if someone wants to see what you do you can quickly go get some.

It’s a little different if you are traveling and don’t have time. You approach this one a little differently - you are there to get a job done. If it’s a big art town you must go check out every gallery before you hit up a place, but if there’s only a hand full of galleries and you see one you like go for it. Make sure you fit into the place in style and in price.

Go in and start talking to who ever is there. Find out if they are the owners or have any say in what goes in the gallery. If not ask if you can meet the owner. Compliment them on their place and tell them you like to check out galleries when you are on the road. It helps a little to say you are on vacation or taking a break from all the big sell out shows you have been having. It makes it seem like they need to know more about you. They might ask you what kind of work you do - I hand them a business card which has two of my best pieces on it. Most of the time they like what they see (which is why I say you need to have a unique voice) and say something like “I would love to see some of your work some time”. That always gets them. Then with out acting like it was your plan all along tell them you have some in your car and run out and get a few.

Even if a gallery looks at your work and doesn’t want it in their gallery ask if they know of another gallery who might. Always ask about other galleries in the area, sometimes they will even call ahead to let the other gallery know you’re coming.

Don’t let getting shot down get you down. There are so many galleries out there and so many other venues to sell art in and at, they’re like buses if you miss one another one will soon be there. Just remember to have fun and keep working on that voice and improve your style everyday and great things will come.

Share with me some stories you have about getting into a gallery or talk to an art dealer. Tell us how you got into one of your galleries or how you felt when you were shot down.

Oh Man Oh Man

I have had a few crazy days this week and last. We went down to Say Si last Thursday, when we got there my two pieces I donated have bids on them already. Check out all the work here - mine are numbers 119 and 120.

The show was great and the food was the best I have had all year, I know its only February but I think its going to stay that way most of the year. It is Say Si’s 15th year in business and they had little blue glass wine cups that we could take home with us.

Well I don’t have much to say because I am overwhelmed with commissions. I just got 5 more this week and two more are on their way, hope my hand can keep up with me.

Thank you and remember to vote at the top to make my blog into a movie, I will have a part for all of yall.

To Be An Artist Or Not To Be An Artist

A few years back when I was in school taking an art history class, I made the stupid mistake of asking the teacher if there was a class that talks about getting into galleries and other stuff like that. What I thought would be a simple yes or no came back as a full on lecture about how I needed to graduate before I could even think about getting into a gallery. Then she went on to talk about how lawyers and doctors can't even call them selves lawyers and doctors until they have all the school to back them up. Then told me that I could never be an artist without going to school to become an artist, it went on like this for a while.

Don’t worry folks, I didn’t believe her and shortly after that dropped out to become an artist despite what she had to say. I don’t know what it is that makes people think that way. I know a lot of these so called artists with degrees who aren’t even selling any art much less in galleries or even doing it full time. I have also seen a lot of these artists do some of the ugliest art I have ever seen, but since they have all the schooling it must be good, right?

Now I am not saying anything negative about going to school, I feel if you want to go, GO. Just don’t think you're any better than me. Now I don’t have much schooling and I know I can’t keep that art talk up with the big teacher types and sometimes it may seem like I don’t even know what the hell I’m talking about, but…..

I am a full time artist and I pay my bills with my art and I am in 10 galleries and have collectors all over the world and you know what, no one has ever asked me what school I went to. No one has asked me who I studied under. Everything I have done, I couldn’t have learned in school. Most of the teachers I have met don’t handle the kinds of stuff I run into. To learn what I have learned, I’m still learning, you need to get out there. You need to go to galleries and talk to them. You need to go to shows and talk to everyone. You need to, as Nike says “just do it” - do they even say that any more?

But for those of you who can’t do it without school or a class or a workshop, for a limited time I can tell you all the secrets to making it big in the art world:

1. find out what it takes to get into galleries
2. discover the one true way to being a big time artist
3. how to make it look like you know what your doing

All this and more for a small price of one million dollars, and with your small payment I can guarantee your work will hang in a gallery as soon as the check clears. Who falls for stuff like that?

Please share with us any info on or about anything I have said here today, I would really like to get feedback here on my comments. Thanks.

The Sketchbook Project Tour

As some of you might know I have been drawing famous people in a sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project well I am done with it and wanted to share all the pictures with you, hope you enjoy.

31st CineFestival In San Antonio

I am trying to get the word out for a good friend of mine Angela. So, it’s this week February 5-8, 2009 at the Guadalupe Theater, 1310 Guadalupe St. here in lovely San Antonio, Texas. Come one come all.

I just saw you can meet Wilmer Valderrama on the 7th, that’s Fez from “That 70’s Show”, man o man some people have all the luck.

Here is their site, CineFestival. If you can’t make it out at least go to their site and show em some love.

Resolutions

1. Take more pictures (see bunny photo!)

2. No more fast food
Well I have given in a bit on this one but I feel like I have been pretty good at just saying no to the fast food call. I try to go to H-E-B instead and get some real food.

3. Only one beer or glass of wine
Ok, well, alright, I have been drinking a little less but not as less as I wanted to. One good thing or bad thing is are art bar closed down so I wont be out drinking my weight in beer every Friday. I still find my self drinking a lot at art shows but I like drinking at art shows.

4. Exercise
I have been doing jumping jacks and sit-ups everyday. I have not tried to get on my skateboard yet but I will soon. Oh and I can now do a chin-up but only one. I also wear ankle weights on the days when I am just here at home working, since your thigh muscles are the best and burn more calories, plus if I every do get on my board I will be able to jump higher.

5. No TV till 7
Done, this one was easy.

Pencil Project Update

I have not done well on my pencils this week. I didn’t count on all the color pencils I would be using. I spent 4 days last week working with blue color pencil, I did use a few up but I don’t know how I should count them so I won’t till the end of the year.

Hello February And Good Super Bowl To You

Welcome to February. This month we really start rolling. We are in a few group shows and also in our first tent show of the year. So we are getting down and dirty but still need to focus. We have been getting a lot of invites to group shows and something I said early on was I was going to take every invite, every chance to donate a piece of art and do everything short of a solo show this year.

I feel that my style, my voice, is so original that it would benefit me to do so because anyone that sees my work will know its mine and if they don’t next time they see it they might and hopefully I will be there to explain what I do and who I am.

Now I know I down donating and hanging art in weird places and I know I tell you that its not a good idea to do so, but sometimes when you have worked really hard on something it’s time to make that push and make people learn your name.

Don’t try this at home if you are painting landscapes with rolling hills and bluebonnets if half the artists in the show are going to be painting them too. If your art looks like someone else’s work and you hang it next to theirs its going to look like one artist painted the whole group show. Remember even if your paintings look similar to others make sure you sign it big and clear, get your name out there.

Well with that said only time will tell how things will work out. If you have any comments about anything I have talked about here I would love to hear them. I know a lot of you out there are joining these group shows and donating work, I would love to hear why you do it and how has it worked for you and also if it hasn’t and why you would never do it again.

Thank you and I call Steelers 32 to 29….