Thank to all who tuned in for our podcast on the ins and outs of blogging (for artists). The discussion was interesting and it’s an important and expansive topic. If you didn’t get a chance to watch live, or if you would just like to see the broadcast again, the recording is available below. Click on the image to watch.

Remember, this is a large file and may take some time to download, depending on your connection speed. If you are on a Mac and the video doesn’t seem to play, you may need to download Flip4Mac (it’s free) to be able to watch the video in QuickTime.

We have had some reports that this particular podcast is not streaming with video. We are looking into this and will let you know if the problem can be corrected from our end.

Please leave a comment about the broadcast below.

RedDot Podcast | Blogging For Artists

Some of the resources and websites mentioned in the broadcast:

Hootsuite.com (for social media)

http://x.co/blogtopics – Barney Davey “52  Blog Topics for Artists”

http://www.squidoo.com/blogging-for-artists – Katherine Tyrrell’s Squidoo has excellent resources in it

http://www.finearttips.com/2011/03/should-artists-have-their-own-blogs/ -Lori McNee “Should Artists Have Their Own Blog”

In his post, Learning How to be a Professional Artist is  a Life-Long Process, Daniel Grant cites labor studies offering encouraging job statistics for artists.  The projected job growth rate for artist occupations is expected to increase faster than the projected increase in the over-all labor force.  Grant describes how the approach to making a living as an artist has evolved since the 1970’s, and that with technology it continues to change. Grant observes that galleries too are trying social networking to see if they can increase their outreach to collectors.

As owners of Xanadu Gallery, Jason and I have  witnessed the conversion of buying art online.  What was once was considered inconceivable (that a collector might actually purchase an artwork after viewing only an image on a screen), is now  commonplace.  It’s an exciting time to work in the art world.  The gallery, artist, and collector relationships are evolving  and allowing more artists to make a living doing what they love.  Technology is truly awesome.

How have the technological advances of the past decade helped your art career?

This story I read in the Huffington Post is a great excuse to write about one of my favorite 20th-century artists.

I was born in 1977, the year Norman Rockwell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his “vivid and affectionate portraits of our country”.  My grandparents had a large Rockwell coffee book on their living room table in Bedford, Wyoming (a small town in Star Valley, not so unlike many of the places Rockwell portrayed in his paintings).  I enjoyed many a stroll through those pages on my summer visits to their home as a child.  It strikes me that the truth, charm, and optimism of Rockwell’s scenes which so captivated my childhood imagination, are still the elements of his work which captivate me now.

There are those who argue against Rockwell’s merits as a true artist, stating his work is too sentimental, idealist, and kitsch to be taken seriously.  I guess I’m an idealist, because when viewing his work, I’m swept away in the moment, and feel gratitude, hope, and cheer; emotions for which I’m rather fond.

Do you have any thoughts about Norman Rockwell and his take on all things Americana?  Please share in the comments below.

Join us for a new Art Marketing/Art Business Podcast on Tuesday, May 15 at 4:00 pm Pacific. (7:00 Eastern, 6:00 Central, 5:00 Mountain, 4:00 AZ). This month Jason Horejs and Barney Davey will discuss blogging. Many artists have a blog in addition to or in place of a traditional website - is it worth the effort to maintain a blog? Will it lead to sales? Barney and Jason help you weigh the pros and cons of blogging, and will give you tips on how to make your blog more effective. Have questions or comments about blogging? Email Jason at jason@xanadugallery.com. He and Barney will try and address your question and comments during the broadcast. Would you like Barney and Jason to review your blog during the podcast? Email a link to your blog to jason@xanadugallery.com. to submit your blog for critique. A note about start time: Because listeners are registering from all across the country (and a number from around the globe) start time always causes confusion. There is just one broadcast and it begins at 4:00 p.m. Arizona (which doesn't observe daylight savings time) - this corresponds to 4:00 Pacific, 5:00 Mountain, 6:00 Central and 7:00 Eastern. Check the chart below for your start time. Time Zone    Local Start Time Local End Time Eastern 7:00 7:40 Central 6:00 6:40 Mountain (Including AZ) 5:00 5:40 Arizona 4:00 4:40 Pacific 4:00 4:40

Join us for a Free, Live Podcast on Tuesday, May 15, 4:00 p.m. - 4:40 p.m. Pacific When you register for the broadcast it will show you registered for 4:00 Pacific - you will simply need to remember to translate that to your time. We will send out a reminder on Tuesday with the start time again, so please don't panic when the broadcast system sends you the reminder in Pacific time.

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Silvana Ravena, a long-time artist on Xanadu Studios was recently feature on MN-Original, a Minnesota PBS series. Terrific video.

When I asked Silvana how she got on the show she replied:

“Last year, people from PBS TV found my website, fell in love with my work and contacted me. After talking about my working process, they invited me to have my art featured in the series ‘Minnesota Original’. It was filmed last November in my new studio. I have had great response to it, particularly from art scene people ( galleries, art centers, collectors). It is great honor for this Brazilian born artist to be considered a ‘Minnesota Original’!”

If you wanted evidence of the importance of a good website, this seems like a pretty good case for it!

Check out Silvana’s website at www.silvanaravena.com

Silvana Ravena on MNO Minnesota Public Television

The recording of my interview with Gail Levin is now available for download. I would like to thank Ms. Levin again for sharing her insights into Lee Krasner’s life. I have just begun reading the book and am already caught up in the narrative.

Remember, this recording is in .wmv format – in order to play on Mac you may need to download Flip4Mac, a free translator for Quicktime that will allow you to watch the recording.

Also note that the recording may take several minutes to download and start playing, depending on your internet speed.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts about the interview – leave your comments below.

Click on the video image below, or here to watch the video

Click image above to watch recording

If you Haven’t Already, be Sure and Sign up for our Book Club.

Order the Book From Amazon.com Today!

Or for Kindle by clicking here.

Xanadu's Virtual Book Club   Join us for an interview with Gail Levin Author of Lee Krasner A Biography [UPDATE - TIMING UNCERTAIN - Please wait for recording]

In conjunction with our upcoming book club reading of Lee Krasner, A Biography, I am pleased to announce an interview with Gail Levin, the author of the book. Ms. Levin will be joining me for a live interview where we will discuss the writing of the book and what she learned about this fascinating artist. This is a recorded interview, but you can listen to us as we record by clicking on the link below. If you can't listen live, be sure and register so you get a link to the rocording when it is available. Please also note the Ms. Levin is taking time out of a very busy teaching and writing schedule to join us for this interview and the timing of the interview is subject to change up until the very last minute (that's why we're recording the session!). Recording will be available shortly

Join our new Book Club FaceBook Page to Discuss the Book

We've also created a facebook page where you can share your impressions and thoughts about the book. Just go to http://www.facebook.com/XanaduGalleryBookClub - be sure and like the page, and then add your comments to the discussion on the page.

It's not too Late to Join the Book Club

And, if you haven't yet joined the book club for this book, be sure and register (free) at: http://www.xanadugallery.com/wordpress/index.php/virtual-book-club-lee-krasner-a-biography/

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THIS CALL FOR ART IS NOW CLOSED – WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL IMAGES.

We are working with a client in Scottsdale who is seeking a sculpture for his entry niche. He has expressed a specific interest in contemporary figurative sculpture, but may entertain other options. The niche measures 57″ high and about 36″ wide at the base. We need something vertical.

The client has budgeted up to $5,000 for the piece. Please keep in mind that this is the retail amount – after the gallery commission proceeds to the artist would be $3,000. Also, this must be an existing, available sculpture – our timeline does not allow for casting or creation of the piece.

If you have a piece that might be a candidate for the space please email me an image directly: jason@xanadugallery.com. Please keep in mind that the client will be making a selection from the image, so background and image quality are important. Image file should be no more than 6 MB – larger files may be rejected by our email server.

Please include in the body of your email:

Title, Dimensions (h,w,d), Material, and retail price.

If you don’t have an appropriate piece but know someone who might, please pass this request along.

We are on a tight deadline for this project – all images should be received no later than 4/26/12.

If you wish to receive future calls and updates from Xanadu Gallery, please sign up for our mailing list at: http://www.xanadugallery.com/Contact/MailingList.asp

Jason Horejs | Owner, Xanadu Gallery - Host of Xanadu's Virtual Book Club

Xanadu Gallery’s online book club will next meet on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. PDT. Our selection will be Gail Levin’s recent biography of Lee Krasner.

I visited the Cleveland Museum of Art about a year and a half ago and enjoyed their excellent collection of art. The modern galleries included several nice de Koonings, Pollocks and a great Rothko, but my favorite piece from the collection was a mural-sized work by Lee Krasner. I was, of course, familiar with Krasner as Jackson Pollock’s wife, but had never realized what an accomplished artist she was in her own right.

I was pleased when several members of the book club recommended Gail Levin’s book. I read Levin’s masterful biography of Edward Hopper several years ago and consider it to be one of the best-written biographies I have read – I am looking forward to her biography of Krasner and invite you to join the club! Registration and participation are free.

Amazon.com Book Description

Order the book from Amazon by clicking here.

Or for Kindle by clicking here.

Watch a brief, extremely well-produced interview with legendary LA art dealer Irving Blum as he discusses discovering Roy Lichtenstein and giving him his first LA show.

http://www.sothebys.com/content/dam/sothebys/sleepinggirl/index.html?cmp=N08853_0512_1_VIDexample2

You can also see it here (in case the Sotheby’s stream is only temporary) http://www.nowness.com/day/2012/4/17/2067/irving-blum-on-sleeping-girl